PUNTA ALA (GR) – There are events gravel that manage to condense into a few hours everything that makes this way of cycling special: exploration, effort, encounters and a certain dose of improvisation. The opening stage of the circuit Unpaved Roads in Punta Ala, which took place last Sunday and in which we participated, was exactly this. A return to Tuscany after having taken part in Unpaved Roads in the Casentino ForestsThis time, however, the beech and maples of the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines have given way to the pine forests, the dirt roads and the glimpses that suddenly open onto the sea (opening photo).
The event headquarters was the PuntAla Camp & Resort, glamping version of a perfect base for cyclists: The right atmosphere was already in place here on Saturday, with technical briefings by organizer Peppe Esposto, collection of race packs, lotteries with prize draws for technical gadgets, and chatter among enthusiasts. Among these also Andrea Borchi, soul of the Tuscany Trail, fresh from returning from Patagonia: one of those meetings that immediately give a sense of the level and spirit of the event. After all, Unpaved Roads and Tuscany Trail (which will start on May 20th) are part of the same family of Bike Adventure Series.
No race, no stress
On Sunday morning, at 9 o'clock sharp, the group moved together but then almost immediately broke up, due to the division between the two routes planned, one of 83 and one of 56 kilometers. Our choice fell on the short route, more than enough to fully enjoy the day following that “no race, no stress” which over the years has become the mantra of Unpaved Roads.
One of the most interesting aspects of these events, already noticed a year and a half ago in the Casentino Forests, is the variety of the public. Next to gravel polished and pushed by sculpted legs and tattooed calves of seasoned cyclists live together e-bike, first-time cycle tourists, couples and groups of friends pedaling slowly.
A thrill downhill
The first few kilometers, for us, are on asphalt, just long enough to get into a rhythm and leave the coast behind. After about seven kilometers, the turning point: you enter the woods and everything changes. The dirt road takes over, initially with gentle slopes, then increasingly steeper. A flat dirt road accompanies the climb towards the highest point of the short route, Just above 500 meters, the fatigue builds gradually, without any sudden bursts of force, but with a perceptible consistency.
The next descent is one that requires attention. Loose ground, some stones, some technical sections, in short. Those who opted for the mountain bike descended more… cheerfully. We, on the other hand, on a faster downhill stretch, drew a “wild card”: a curve taken with too much confidence and the front wheel ending up in a puddle of sand which, for those of us who live in Umbria, we are not used to. Nothing serious, just a laugh with those who follow us and the confirmation that in gravel the unexpected is part of the game.
A chat
Along the way, different stories intersect. "I come from the Castelli Romani," a participant tells us, "and I'm here to change things up a bit and see new itineraries." Another one arrives from Verona and, on an easy stretch that allows us to pedal side by side, we ask him how it is cycling on the shores of Lake Garda in the grip of theovertourism: "I'll go against the grain," he explains, "but I'm in favor of banning bicycles on the lake shores during red-flag days. Personally, I enjoy cycling during the winter."
After the descent, the trail becomes gentler. You cross the Bruna river and right on the bridge some are struck by the view ("But how beautiful it is here") They take the opportunity to apply the brakes and take some photos. We enter a more fluid, almost relaxing phase, and the landscape changes again: fields, wild vegetation, bright colors. We come across a small group of twenty people riding in single file, and behind us, a female voice pauses. to observe the colors of the thistle flower, describing how it is cooked in his area: “In Romagna we make cardoon pie,” we hear her say, “but since we’ve been living in Bolzano we can’t find them anymore.”
In Diaccia Botrona
La Natural Reserve of the Diaccia Botrona introduces one of the most evocative scenarios of the day. While walking along the marsh you may also come across a group of flamingos and a good part of the group stops to immortalize them. In the distance appears Castiglione della Pescaia, with its medieval village overlooking the sea. To reach it, however, you still have to zigzag through dirt roads and passages within the reserve, a natural labyrinth that makes the approach even more fascinating.
The refreshment area, located on the seafront, marks a well-deserved break. The contrast between the tranquility of the woods you've just crossed and the liveliness of the already quite crowded beach It's clear. Here the group regroups, exchanges impressions, and recharges before the final stretch.
The next one? In Val di Sole
The return to Punta Ala still holds a few surprises. A misinterpreted crossroads leads a small group to detour. on a short but challenging climb. Our fault. «Don't worry – jokes one – my gravel it's electric." Shortly after, the "debt" is repaid when we are with a whistle to call back the others who have taken the wrong path, due to a misreading of the track provided by the organizers. Better then form a group and move forward together.
The last kilometers flow like this, between collaboration and sharing, tackling the last obstacle before the final descent. L’arrivo al PuntAla Camp & Resort chiude il cerchio, bringing everyone back to the starting point, but with something more: stories to tell, tired legs and that hard-to-explain feeling that only certain days on the bike can leave.
Punta Ala has thus opened the circuit Unpaved Roads, confirming its philosophy: no competition and no stress. The next appointment is already set, on 27 and 28 June, in Mezzana (Trento), in Val di Sole (registration closes May 3rd). A dramatic change of scenery, from the Tuscan hills to the Trentino mountains: different elevation gains, but to be tackled with the same spirit.
