Gran Fondo Nove Colli
Riding Days
3
Number of Nights
3
Total Distance
130-205km
Total Climbing
1870 - 3840 metres
Difficulty
4/5
At a Glance
Gran Fondo Nove Colli is Italy's most popular Gran Fondo, and it's not difficult to see why. Started in 1971 by a group of friends, the race now attracts over 12,000 riders from all over Italy and beyond. Starting from the beautiful seaside town of Cesenatico, the route heads into the hills that mark the Marche / Emilia Romagna border. The hills come thick and fast and although the highest point - Monte Pugliano - at 791m is no alp, the constant undulations are sure to take their toll by the finish. With 200km to cover and total climbing of 3840m, the Nove Colli is a guaranteed tough workout. There's also a shorter option of 130km for those looking or something slightly less taxing.
Both routes take place on completely closed roads and you'll love the many well-stocked feed stations to keep you fuelled throughout the event. The unique atmosphere is no more obvious than as you grapple up the steep Barbotto climb with the crowd giving you encouragement and the announcer at the top calling out your name to give you that extra bit of energy to keep pushing on the pedals.
Enjoy the warm and sunny seaside setting early in the year, and set yourself a target to give you some motivation to keep riding through the winter.
Tour Highlights
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Asphalt
Ride one of Italy’s most popular cycling event – Gran Fondo Nove Colli – on the beautiful closed roads of Emilia Romagna. With a peloton of 12,000 riders, the flat sections fly by leaving you just the nine climbs to think about.
Tour Highlights:
- Stunning course over the rolling Italian countryside
- Great pre and post-race food in classy Cesanatico
- Closed road event course
Book Tour
€1,050.00 – €1,800.00
Overview
Gran Fondo Nove Colli - Overview
Gran Fondo Nove Colli is one of Italy’s most famous and oldest cycling sportives. Described by the organizers as “the most passionate Gran Fondo in the world”, the event is held annually in the beautiful port town of Cesenatico on the Adriatic Coast. The start line is a remarkable experience with helicopters flying overhead broadcasting images live on TV and with the Polizia showcasing their liveried Lamborghini roaring the engine to the excitement of the crowd. The fireworks and celebrations belie the fact that the start takes place at 6 am and all riders have already been up for several hours.
The first edition of the Nove Colli Gran Fondo was back in 1971, the brainchild of the local cycling club bearing the name of the legendary Fausto Coppi. In fact, it is the very same club that a local boy, called Marco Pantani, joined at the age of 11.
Apart from the rich history, warm local support, and fantastic setting, it is the challenging route that attracts thousands of cyclists from all over the world to this truly Italian affair. Literally translated, Nove Colli means Nine Hills, which gives a big clue to what the route profile will look like.
The nine climbs you’ll be tackling are:
– Polenta
– Pieve di Rivoschio
– Ciola
– Barbotto
– Monte Tiffi
– Perticiara
– Monte Pugliano
– Passo delle Siepi
– Gorolo
Mediterranean coast & Romagna Hills
Cesenatico has traditionally been a fishing village which grew in statue. It was largely destroyed during the second world war, with the town needing to be rebuilt after liberation from the New Zealand troops in 1944. The reconstruction largely concentrated on attracting tourism and started the development into the town you see today.
With bronzed beach goers filling the beach volleyball courts or lining the beach loungers, you’ll surely be tempted to join them in relaxing underneath the parasols.
Although officially in the region of Emilia Romagna, the region firmly identifies itself as Romagnola. The flat lands of the coastal area give way quickly to the Apennines mountains. You’ll be climbing these mountains at the Nove Colli event. They are characterised by rolling pastoral lands interspersed with dramatic rock faces, fortified buildings, and churches appearing to hang off the rock faces. The climbs of the Nove Colli were familiar training roads for Marco Pantani, he prepared for all of his climbing victories by riding the roads around this region, preferring to stay at home than go to train in the Alps of the Dolomites.
Emilia Romagna is considered to be the culinary capital of Italy, with many of the famous dishes we think about when Italian food comes to mind having originated from this area. Two familiar ingredients to originate here are Parmesan cheese and Parma Ham. Over the weekend, you’ll be treated to some excellent cuisine, and no doubt, try out the traditional Piadina beach snack popular with the beach goers at lunchtime.
Marco Pantani
Cesenatico’s most famous cycling son is undoubtedly the fateful climber Marco Pantani. Having started cycling with the club that organisers the Nove Colli, GC Fausto Coppi, Pantani didn’t take long to show his talent for climbing. Having won many races as a young amateur, including the amateur Giro d’Italia, he turned pro for Carrera in 1993 and soon started to win big races.
He managed to come back in 2000 to win 2 stages of the Tour de France, one of them against Lance Armstrong on Mont Ventoux, but ultimately he was never the same rider after 1999. He died alone, having a well-documented addition to cocaine, in a hotel room in Rimini on Valentine’s day in 2004. After providing entertainment to millions with exciting and attacking riding in the mountains, he was embroiled in court cases related to doping and rode his last race in the 2003 Giro d’Italia.
Cesenatico remembers their famous son with a museum dedicated to him and a memorial in the centre of parkland close to the finish of the Nove Colli.
Details
What's Included
- Three nights accommodation
- All breakfasts and evening meals at hotel and local restaurants*
- Airport transfers for you and your bike
- Supported warm-up rides with guide and following car
- Complimentary sports nutrition
- Mechanical support by our professional mechanic
- Race entry
- Expert advice and race strategy
- Exclusive race finish tent
- La Fuga Welcome Pack
*Meals are included up to a specific budget after which a supplement will be applied
What's not Included
- Flights
- Travel insurance
- Drinks with evening meals
- Incidental expenses
- Tips / gratuities
- Sports massage
- Bike Rental option available during the checkout
Itinerary
You will be met at the arrival gate in Bologna Airport by your La Fuga guides and transferred to your hotel. The transfer takes about 1.5 hours. Our mechanic will assemble your bike and make sure it is in perfect condition for the weekend.
There will be enough time to wonder around the town or have a stroll on the beach or even a short ride before we head out for dinner. Your La Fuga tour manager will introduce the weekend and how it will unfold. Your race number pack would have been delivered to the hotel already, so tour manager will talk you through what you’ll find in there.
We’ll eat out of the hotel at a local restaurant along the sea front.
After a relaxing breakfast, we will gather for our traditional loop out from Cesenatico. The loop stays on quiet roads and allows you to enjoy the warm spring sunshine, no doubt riding in shorts for the first time. The aim is to spin the legs and loosen things up for the challenge tomorrow. A short hill at the course’s far end allows you to test all your gears ahead of tomorrow. There may even be time for a quick espresso out on the route.
Lunch will be had at a cafe back in Cesenatico; time to sample some local piadine. There will be a time in the afternoon to visit the race village (although your numbers will be collected for you). The rest of the afternoon will be free to relax, hit the beach, and make final preparations for tomorrow. Your bike will receive a final check-over and your race number fitted. A briefing about the course and specific details of the event will be given just before tucking into a dinner to fuel you up for the big challenge. We will eat in the restaurant close by so you can get to bed early for a good night’s sleep.


The Big Day – Gran Fondo Nove Colli! The hotel will serve a breakfast suitable for the day’s activities. We will then ride to the race start and arrive with enough time to grab a pre-race espresso or two. Your guide will be on hand to pass on some last-minute words of wisdom and escort you to the starting pen. After a tough (and hopefully enjoyable) race, we’ll be waiting for you in the post-race gazebo with some cold drinks and snacks. A perfect chance to recover and relive the experiences with fellow riders.
Then we’ll hit the pasta party for some serious refuelling and a chance to check the results board. A refreshing shower and perhaps a power nap await you back at the hotel. Our celebratory meal will be out along the seafront where no doubt there will be some celebrating with your fellow riders.


A mid afternoon flight allows you the chance to enjoy a leisurely breakfast overlooking the Mediterranean. Your bike will be packed up by your La Fuga mechanic before a being driven back to the airport in plenty of time to catch your flight back home after an enjoyable weekend or riding and soaking up the unique atmosphere of the Nove Colli.
Accommodation
The Grand Hotel Cesenatico has been the place to be seen in Cesenatico for almost a century. Inaugurated in 1929 is it majestically placed in piazza costa as a gateway to the beach and near the old town of Cesenatico.
With it’s own private swimming pool and beach bar you’ll be able to hang out on the the beach in the run up to the event and relax in preparation as well as enjoy the post race celebrations.
The hotel is still a family run affair as it has been for nearly a century and you’ll enjoy a warm welcome and some excellent dining in the original grand hotel of Cesenatico.
For the Nove Colli you couldn’t be any more central with access to the race expo being just outside the hotel and the start lines being just a minute away by bike.