A 2023 “in the saddle” – what Emilia-Romagna offers to all cycling enthusiasts, from athletes to bike tourists. The calendar is full of events: the return of the Giro d’Italia with stages in the Cesena area and the Reggiano Apennines, many Granfondo races, MTB races, and the Italian Bike Festival at the Misano World Circuit in Misano Adriatico. All this, in anticipation of the start of the Tour de France 2024.
The Giro d’Italia 2023, Granfondo Races, and Tips for Bike Tourists
The 106th edition of the Giro will feature two stages in Emilia-Romagna: the individual time trial Savignano sul Rubicone-Cesena (on May 14th) and Scandiano-Viareggio (on May 16th). Nearly 224 kilometers, of which 33.6 in Romagna and 190 in Emilia, across plains and the Apennines, in the provinces of Forlì-Cesena, Rimini, Reggio Emilia, and Modena, with a passage through Cesenatico, the city of Marco Pantani.
Bike Tourist Tip: The Via Romagna
During the Giro stages, bike tourists can take the opportunity to explore the Via Romagna, between art, nature, and historic villages, the first permanent regional route in Italy dedicated to bicycles, using secondary low-traffic paved roads and some “white” roads. The “Via Romagna” covers 463 km of protected routes between the sea and the hills, crossing the provinces of Ferrara, Ravenna, Forlì-Cesena, and Rimini. It connects about 30 municipalities and touches 20 castles and historic villages, with over 100 bike-friendly accommodations, B&Bs, and agritourisms.
Emilia Romagna
The Granfondo season begins on March 19th with the Granfondo del Po in Ferrara, included as a stage in the Unesco Cycling Tour and Romagna Challenge circuits, with the captivating start from the Castello Estense; there are two distances: 134 km and 81 km.
Bike Tourist Tip: The Po Delta
In the area, those looking for a slower pace can explore the Po Delta Park Cycling Route at the boundary between the provinces of Ravenna and Ferrara. We’re in the heart of the Po Delta Park, in an oasis of biodiversity and beauty that includes the Southern Comacchio Valleys, which annually serve as a meeting point for flocks of flamingos and birds migrating from Africa to Northern Europe. The route follows the embankment dividing the Furlana Valley from the Magnavacca Lido Valley, and can be traveled entirely on foot or by bike.
Emilia Romagna by bike
On March 26th, the Granfondo Riccione kicks off, with a 100 km route and 1,500 meters of elevation gain through the hills of Valconca. On Sunday, April 2nd, the Granfondo Via del Sale takes place in Cervia (Ra), now in its 26th edition. 5,000 amateur cyclists are expected to compete on two routes: the long one, 174 km with the climbs of Montefinocchio and Montepetra, and the shorter one, 118 km, with its grand prize of the mountain on the climb to Montevecchio-Cima Pantani.
On May 21st, the 52nd edition of the Nove Colli takes place in Cesenatico (FC), traditionally organized by Team Fausto Coppi, with participants from over 50 countries. There are two routes as always: a long one, 205 km for the more trained, and a shorter one, 130 km. On May 28th, the Ride Riccione departs with a 141 km route passing by the Pantani Memorial in Carpegna.
On Sunday, June 4th, in Albinea, there’s a race that qualifies for the UCI Granfondo Series: the Granfondo Matildica with its three routes, including a challenging 126 km route with 2,700 meters of elevation gain. Finally, Sunday, September 17th marks the end of the season with the second edition of the Gialla Cycling in Misano Adriatico, featuring a unique 100 km route with 1,500 meters of elevation gain. This race is part of the Italian Bike Festival, dedicated to top international cycling brands, held at the Misano World Circuit from September 15th to 17th, 2023, with thousands of visitors, 500 exhibitors over 50,000 square meters of expo space, and three days of fun.
Bike Tourist Tip: The Surroundings of Bologna
To explore the territories, if you’re not looking to compete, there are plenty of opportunities, such as the Ciclovia del Sole, 50 km of flat terrain, 50 km of pure Emilia. It’s an easy and light bike path on a protected route from Mirandola (Mo) to Sala Bolognese. A 50 km stretch of the Ciclovia del Sole, built on the old Bologna-Verona railway, passing through small abandoned stations. Crossing the sturdy metal bridges of the old railway on a bike is an experience rarely encountered.
Emilia Romagna Cycling Tourism
Offroad Races and Ironman
There are also numerous Mountain Bike competitions, including the “Rally di Romagna” MTB (http://rallydiromagna.com/it/) from June 1st to 4th in Riolo Terme and the Appenninica MTB Stage Race 2023, from September 4th to 9th, in the province of Reggio-Emilia. For the more experienced, there’s the IRONMAN Italy, returning to Cervia on the weekend of September 16th-17th.
Tour de France 2024
Preparations are underway for 2024, when the yellow jersey race will start in Emilia-Romagna, the region that will host the first arrival in Rimini, an entire stage – the Cesenatico-Bologna – to pay tribute to Marco Pantani, and the start of the third stage from Piacenza.
This is the Grand Départ Florence Emilia-Romagna 2024: for the first time in over a century of history, the Tour de France will start in Italy. An extraordinary event, not only sporting, that will feature – from June 29th to July 1st, 2024 – Florence, Emilia-Romagna, and Piedmont, regions where cycling has deep-rooted traditions and has produced champions like Gino Bartali, Marco Pantani, and Fausto Coppi.
The kilometers raced in Italy will exceed 600, divided into three stages: Florence-Rimini; Cesenatico-Bologna; Piacenza-Turin. À bientôt!
