Mountain Biking Booms at Garda’s Gran Fondo Paola Pezzo, Doubled Participants
The boom of mountain biking is here. For the second edition of the Gran Fondo Paola Pezzo, scheduled to take place tomorrow, April 22nd, on the Veronese shore of Lake Garda, registration had to be closed after reaching an incredible number of three thousand participants! Last year, there were 1,600; now, it has doubled.
Alongside the top competitors, Miguel Martinez, Marco Bui, Hubert Pallhuner, Mirko Braschi, Dario Acquaroli; among the women, of course, the hometown favorite, two-time Olympic gold medalist, there are simply enthusiasts. Many come from our province.
Start and Route
The start will be given at the lakeside promenade of Garda, at 11 a.m. Every ten minutes, groups of 600 will set off. The route length: 40 kilometers.
Passing through Val dei Molini and Cortina, participants will reach Cardino, at 410 meters above sea level, after 10 kilometers of race. This will be followed by a short descent to Albisano. Just enough time to catch your breath, then the final ascent to San Zeno, at 750 meters altitude, at the 22nd kilometer, which is the main challenging section.
From this point, technical skill will be more important than endurance. After crossing a beautiful pine forest, the route will go through the Rocca. The final segment involves a downhill stretch. Finish line at the lakeside promenade.
Services and Infrastructure
Beyond the Gran Fondo, the lake has attracted bikers. A designation marks hotels offering a range of services: repair workshops, storage rooms, changing facilities, and menus for athletes.
The Malcesine-Monte Baldo cable car allows cyclists to be transported up to 1,760 meters at the upper station. From there, downhill routes lead either along the lakeside slope or through the Val d’Adige. In 2002, the cabin capacity will be increased: from the current 22 seats to 40 and 80.
During the summer, from June 11th to September 8th, two bus lines operated by the azienda provinciale dei trasporti (provincial transportation company), equipped with dedicated bike racks, serve tourists and their bikes.
Transportation and Future Projects
One line starts from Bardolino, passes through Garda, Torri, and Albisano, and reaches San Zeno di Montagna and Prada. The other, from Garda, arrives at Novezza with stops at Costermano, Caprino, and Spiazzi.
In the coming days, a map showing detailed routes inland will be published. Hoteliers in Garda and Costermano have decided to organize training schools. The technical director is Pezzo, with collaborators like Brescia native Paolo Rosola and Maurilio Cavalieri, instructors Rasmussen, Acquaroli, and others.
All the news was presented during a press conference at Castello di Torri. The reasons for the event’s success were explained by Olympic champion Paola Pezzo.
Motivations and Characteristics of the Territory
“This area is a little piece of paradise,” she says. “The climate is always favorable: it’s rare to have days that are too cold, even in midwinter. You can find trails of all types: some very easy, with long stretches of up-and-down terrain that are always pedalable; others very challenging, with steep inclines, breathtaking climbs, and technical descents.”
“Dozens of bikers venture onto more or less mapped trails, seeking challenging sections, unique scenery, and must-see views. The lush forests are home to holm oaks and oaks. All kinds of typical coastal plants bloom here.”
“The land beneath the trails has excellent drainage, rarely experiencing the annoying mud that, by sticking to the wheels, hampers progress. Even when leaving marked paths to explore less frequented areas, no particular issues are encountered.”
And our Paolo Rosola, who has won 14 stages of the Giro d’Italia, states: “In collaboration with local authorities, we would like to permanently mark all the trails, indicating their lengths and difficulty levels. We also aim to offer additional services, such as local guides. This would bring economic benefits and enhance the area’s image.”
Impact of Sports Tourism
This form of tourism, which has been widespread for years in the upper lake area—for example, along military roads around the Nota pass—has also taken root in the Veronese. Sports tourism is beginning to become a valuable resource for the Garda basin.
