The play date is set for the 8 – 10 September at the PuntAla Camp&Resort: join Grinduro Italia hosted by Wilier and get carried away by a perfect blend of sportive endeavour and party time. Shimano is Global Presenting Sponsor.
Grinduro comes to Italy for the first time – to Punta Ala in Tuscany, in fact – bringing all the fun of one of the most innovative and coveted events in the gravel world; a festival that in 2017 earned the title of ‘Event of the Year’ from the Design & Innovation Awards committee for its unique and modern format, incredibly popular among riders for the party vibes it brings about.
Grinduro Italia hosted by Wilier will take place during the weekend of September 8 – 10 and is going to make for a lively penultimate round of what is truly an international series, fresh off a new agreement with Shimano as Global Presenting Partner for 2023 season, which will also visit Germany, California, Pennsylvania, United Kingdom and Japan.
The ingredients for an event that you don’t want to miss are all there: the unique experience of an exciting adventure all participants will embark on; the exclusive location of the venue, the PuntAla Camp&Resort; the big brand names that support the event globally and nationally and that will be there, with their ambassadors and some gems still to be revealed.
GR as Gravel Road Race and NDURO as Mountain Bike-Style Enduro: the Grinduro format combines the best elements of a MTB enduro with a gravel road race. Mass-start rollout, four timed Special Stages – all different to one another but all made up of a good mix of climbs and descents – linked by Transfer Stages where time doesn’t matter for race ranking. A real challenge that will test the limits of your riding skills.
The route spans from the coast towards the hilly hinterland of Maremma, with great views over the sea and a number of totally different natural settings to get through: this is really going to be one of the most varied race courses in the series. Participants in the saddle of their bikes will tackle a mix of different types of terrain: fast-rolling gravel roads – never dull though! – long technical singletracks in the woods and asphalt sections on Tuscany’s classic minor roads.
“The route has been specifically designed to allow everybody to experience the best the place has to offer, and locals have contributed to its planning: I consulted with them many times in order to be able to polish the route up with some wonderful passages and otherwise unknown variants” explains Luca Bortolotti, the person in charge of the route. “This is a loop about 100km long, with 1500m of climbing, all within Tuscany’s Maremma. In a few occasions the route goes through the Bandite di Scarlino agro-forestry complex; this is where the well-known Punta Ala Trail Area is located, but we will push far beyond it – going through places like the long avenues of cypresses in the prestigious Morisfarms estate – which will also host the main feed zone of the race”.
And yet Grinduro is not just all about sport – it is great fun too. On Saturday evening, after the race, it’s going to be time to embrace the party at the PuntAla Camp&Resort: drink a beer, enjoy great Italian food and wine, keep the groove going with The Sunny Boys and their live music while getting to know the other participants – all by the sea, with your feet in the sand.
Sunday morning, for those who still have energy to burn in the saddle, it’ll be play time once again, with the Hangover Ride: a panoramic, relaxed social ride towards Punta Ala and Castiglione della Pescaia town. For everyone else, the PuntAla Camp&Resort offers plenty of options to have a good time with SUP, beach volley or just a drink on the beach!
Grinduro Italia hosted by Wilier is the festival for all those who love a good challenge, as much as being in nature and making friends. And if you don’t want to miss this adventure, sign up now – there is an early-bird special price available until May 12th!
Those who want to find out more about the festival will be able to come and see us at the Bike Festival in Riva del Garda, where we will be amongst the guests at the Shimano stand and the EVOC stand; a good chance to chat with us and get into the mood of the Grinduro Italia hosted by Wilier – maybe with a good glass of Tuscan wine, who knows!
