Header image courtesy of Luca Calcagno
The Valtellina region of northern Italy isn’t that well known to anyone from outside Italy, but that might change in the future after the inaugural Gravellina Strade Rurali event was held earlier in the autumn. Stunning views, some unique trails and amazing feed stops sounds like an ideal combination. Shimano Gravel Alliance rider Claudia Gerosa headed along to take part and sent in this beautifully illustrated ride report. Read on for some Italian gravelly inspiration.
The first edition of Gravellina Strade Rurali took place on September 21st/22nd in Valtellina, Northern Italy, a region that’s most famous for its mountain passes like the Stelvio, Mortirolo and Gavia. The Gravellina was conceived to introduce riders to a different side of the valley - through quiet villages, on rural trails and crossing vineyards. The organisers promised a different kind of event, where cycling meets culture during the season of falling leaves, just before the wine harvest began.
Image courtesy of Luca Calcagno
Before the official weekend, I had the chance to check out a few of the routes, traveling back and forth from the Bergamo area for “taster” rides. It gave me a bit of an idea of what was in store for the weekend. Even with that, the longest route, 73.5 km with around 1,600 meters of climbing, was still a decent challenge.
Image courtesy of Luca Calcagno
Image courtesy of Luca Calcagno
Image courtesy of Silvio Speziale
The event was based in a city park on the banks of the river Adda in Sondrio. Participants had three distances to choose from on both days. On Saturday, all routes headed east (towards Bormio/Livigno) while Sunday pointed everyone in a westward direction (towards Lake Como), each offering a unique perspective of the Valtellina region. Known for having some of Europe’s steepest vineyards, the valley set the stage for plenty of climbing. Fortunately, the benefit to starting in this park was that you always got a gentle warm-up along the traffic-free Sentiero Valtellina river path to begin.
Image courtesy of Luca Calcagno
Unlike other gravel events, this weekender wanted to fully immerse you in the “real” Valtellina. This led to the creation of wiggly routes along the valley sides, skirting along dry-stone walls and showcasing the perfectly geometric terraced vineyards where the Nebbiolo grape grows. Along the way, we passed through various subzones like Inferno, Grumello, Valgella and Sassella, which each have their own variation of this celebrated grape.
Feed stations offered the chance to sample local wine too, making the experience even more immersive.
Image courtesy of Luca Calcagno
Deeper into Valtellina, closer to the bottom of the Passo Mortirolo, the landscape shifted from grapes to apples. Here, the autumn colours were really popping, with rows of red apples ready for harvest. Higher up, around Teglio on the longest course, we also passed buckwheat fields, a reminder of the changing landscape as we climbed.
Image courtesy of Lorenzo Scarpellini
Image courtesy of Luca Calcagno
Image courtesy of Silvio Speziale
The name Gravellina Strade Rurali was a reflection of the type of terrain we covered - the routes mostly followed old rural roads, the kind where you’d usually see locals driving 4x4 Pandas or three-wheeler Apes, connected by dirt tracks and singletrack.
Image courtesy of Luca Calcagno
The ride on Sunday, called Gravellina Ovest, included some more technical off-road sections. It was a great way to explore the valley far from the usual tourist route and these quiet backroads were perfect for gravel riding, especially when you’ve got the right gearing for the steep concrete ramps - I ran a 1x12 GRX setup.
Image courtesy of Silvio Speziale
I thought the organisers had hit the perfect balance of off-road and road riding. Passing through small villages sporadically gave us a chance to take a breather and enjoy the views, which changed constantly.
Image courtesy of Silvio Speziale
Image courtesy of Lorenzo Scarpellini
Image courtesy of Lorenzo Scarpellini
The feed stations were a highlight, with local treats like Bresaola (a type of cured meat Valtellina is famous for), homemade jam and local wine. Back at the finish line, the event dished up heaped plates of polenta, a local favourite.
What made the event so appealing was its non-competitive nature, which took away some of the usual stress of riding in unfamiliar terrain with a lot of other participants. There was even the option to join a guided eMTB tour led by Bernina Bike, which highlighted just how open and accessible this event aims to be. Between the beautiful scenery, tough but fun routes and amazing local food and wine, it was an event that had something for everyone.
Image courtesy of Luca Calcagno
If you’d like to find out more about the Gravellina event, head over to their website.
If you’d like to follow in Claudia’s tyre tracks, check out the komoot collection from the event here: