"The Valtellina It's perfect for gradually approaching cycling, it's a destination to be discovered on two wheels, starting from the valley floor, following the Sentiero Valtellina or the Ciclabile Valchiavenna, until you climb the great mountains."
Words that have carved the experience, words of an athlete who at just 11 years old climbed the Stelvio. Iván Basso He is among the countless interpreters who have given their contribution to the creation of the Valtellina Bike Magazine 2023.
A collection of stories, initiatives, and itineraries that unravel the infinite beauty of a unique place like Valtellina. Pages to browse that give a foretaste of a vast array of ideas, climbs and events capable of making you fall in love with a sport and a territory.
A container of emotions
A collection divided into 76 pages, which succinctly yet comprehensively summarizes an in-depth selection of the offerings that a region like Valtellina has to offer.
«It's a magazine – he says Lucia Simonelli, project manager of Valtellina Turismo – specializing in two-wheeled tourism. This idea was born from the need to summarize all the two-wheeled offerings in Valtellina in a single narrative that we renew year after year. We are convinced that this area is a cycling paradise And it's often difficult to convey how much there is to discover in this wonderful setting. The magazine covers all aspects of cycle touring, mountain biking, road cycling, gravel, and, of course, all the events.
«We have now almost reached a printing of 20.000 copies for the Italian/English version plus another 4.000 copies for the Italian/German version. A sharing during the Giro d'Italia with a Valtellina stand which will be located at the starting village. Another initiative is linked to more than 150 specialized bike shops in Northern Italy.
Stories and events
The events and initiatives included in the tourist proposal are varied. Classic Rheatica, a corner that connects Lombardy and Switzerland with pedal strokes. Enjoy Stelvio Valtellina, 14 dates where it is possible to tackle iconic passes such as Stelvio, Gavia and many others without the stress of traffic. And again, the Gravel Marathon, the Melavì Ebike Festival, the Wine Bike Tour, and so on.
«In recent years – continues Lucia Simonelli – the magazine has also evolved from an editorial point of view. In this edition we have hosted the reviews of ambassadors, local lovers and athletes professionals. Two-wheel enthusiasts who love cycling through Valtellina. This first-person account of the most iconic climbs allows the reader to empathize with the experiences. before experiencing them firsthand.
«We have found great availability from these people and obviously also from the professional athletes like Andrea Bagioli or ex as Ivan GottiThey are experts and first-time users of this territory, and therefore enjoy talking about it and describing the emotions they experience as they travel through it."
Food and wine and well-being
Sport is synonymous with well-being. It's a means of encouraging enthusiasts to adopt a healthy lifestyle. Furthermore, Italy is fortunate to enjoy afood education and typical products which blend perfectly with the same goal. Specifically, Valtellina produces typical products that are cornerstones of a good and healthy diet.
"Valtellina's proposal," explains Lucia Simonelli, "is an integrated offering. Those who come to our area do so for the bike-related initiatives, but they still come attracted by the flavours and our food and wine peculiaritiesOur typical products, such as specifically the Bresaola della Valtellina PGI, is one of the products that lends itself very well to a healthy diet and also an excellent refreshment for those who ride a bike. In this year's section we have explored Bresaola and its properties, but we have also talked about Rye bread and its benefits, of the whole yogurt and Cupeta, sweet with honey and walnuts».
Cycling tourism and territory
Valtellina is therefore an ecosystem ready to welcome two-wheelers, with specially designed locations, historic climbs, and initiatives and events open to all.
«Certainly – concludes Simonelli – the whole part of the cycle tourism has great potentialResearch conducted at a national and international level demonstrates this. People are increasingly embracing these ways of discovering the area. Furthermore, as we know, the bicycle is a sustainable means which allows you to explore places that would normally be inaccessible except on foot. The perfect recipe lies in the combination of all these factors combined with an area like Valtellina that lends itself so well to offer different routes and opportunities for cycling enthusiasts but also for beginners and newbies."
