Europe’s Largest Mountain Bike Festival Draws 17,000 Enthusiasts to Garda

The community of mountain biking enthusiasts is arriving. In a couple of days, 17,000 mountain bikers from all regions of Europe will converge on Garda to take part in the eighth edition of the Bike Festival, their ultimate celebration. An almost biblical horde will occupy Riva and all its accommodations throughout the May 1st holiday weekend.

Eco-tourism, focused on enhancing and monetizing the local natural heritage, is now replacing the concept of a “traditional” vacation. Today, from a tourist perspective, the bicycle—also known as light travel—is taking precedence. This phenomenon, which has exploded in the Lower Sarca area for several years (as we observed in a recent investigation), finds its highest expression at the Bike Festival.

Origins and Success of the Bike Festival

The festival was born nearly a decade ago from an idea by the German publisher of “Bike”, the leading European magazine in the sector. Over time, the Riva event has become the most successful mountain bike event in the world. For four days, Riva transforms into the mecca of off-road cycling.

The former Cattoi area hosts the entire biking community, in all its facets: from champions of the discipline to amateurs, exhibitors to casual visitors. It’s a sort of symposium on new technologies and the latest models, but also the perfect opportunity for exchanging opinions and testing the newest market offerings.

Shows, Competitions, and Budget

But the Bike Festival is also entertainment and, above all, competition—the Warsteiner Marathon (discussed on the side)—the most challenging race in the world. Participating in the Bike Festival costs 60,000 lire, excluding the race (the Warsteiner registration is 70,000 lire). A small saving can be made by purchasing the Kombi package (competition plus festival): 100,000 lire all-inclusive.