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On 13 October, the third edition of the Marca Bianca Gravel took place in Pieve di Soligo on the ‘white roads’ of the 2023 Gravel World Championships.
I have already participated in the MB 2022 and was enthusiastic about it.

This year I combined my participation by cycling to the start and then cycling back home, just like then.

What is Marca Bianca?

First my video:

The Marca Bianca as an event aims to enhance a rural area in the middle of a highly urbanised territory with the philosophy of ‘gravel’. With nostalgia and passion, it aims to recall the cycling that no longer exists and revitalise a spirit that seems to have been weakened by extreme professionalism.

Just a few kilometres from Venice, the Marca Trevigiana is an area rich in historical, cultural, artistic and gastronomic attractions. The most important centres are: Treviso, Montebelluna, Castelfranco Veneto, Asolo, Valdobbiadene, Conegliano, Vittorio Veneto and Oderzo.

A wonderful quote from Enrico Caracciolo sums up my cycling at Lumacagabi speed perfectly:
„Le ruote di una bici sono come le lancette di un orologio: girano lentamente ma possono andare molto lontano rotolando verso il futuro senza fretta.“

… which means as much as:
The wheels of a bicycle are like the hands of a clock: they turn slowly but can go a long way, rolling towards the future without hurry.

The Prosecco hills of Conegliano Valdobbiadene, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2008, can be explored on four different routes:

a short one with 50 km, a medium one with 90 km, a long one with 140 km and the Percorso Extreme with 180 km; here are the route details.
Incidentally, all types of bike are permitted, including e-bikes.

The route of my choice is the 140 km/ 1800 m ascent, as I want to be back in time for the cosy finisher’s get-together …