After the great success of 2025 at the Bandie, the magic of The Hills Gravel Race it was repeated on March 28th in Borgoluce: an enchanting place whose logistics added a touch of value to the event conceived, desired and organized by Mattia De Marchi, Xevent and Niccolò Donatacci.
The Padua-based agency, which also has events such as River&Peaks and Sardinia in its portfolio Gravel Race, he grasped the scope of The Hills and supported it with the experience of Federico Casalini, President of Xevent SSD, whom we contacted to get a handle on the situation. And also to understand if a race like that won in Susegana by Lange Bradyn can also have a tourist impact on the areas in which it takes place.
With his unkempt beard and his uncommonly knowledgeable approach, Casalini lends himself to the story, leading us through themes that are evidently also close to the hearts of the organizers , aware that the magic cannot end after the finish line, but must spread like a wave until the next edition.
An edition full of new features, how did it go?
It went well, I can say I'm satisfied with the race, but also with the overall 360-degree event, which also included the evening party and DJ set. It went well, and that wasn't a given, because in addition to the change of venue, which always involves organizational disruption, there was also the fact that we only had one route. Last year there were two: 160 and 80 kilometers, this year there's a single 120-kilometer route.
How did people respond?
In terms of membership, we have more or less equaled last year's membership: 25 fewer people, so it worked. There are some things that need fixing, but considering it's a second edition, we can be satisfied. Feedback from professionals and participants is also good, according to which The Hills Gravel Race can be considered among the top 10 events gravel Europeans.
How important can a racing event like The Hills be to telling the story of the area in which it takes place?
So much! Not just before and during the race, but especially afterward . Just yesterday I went to collect some more material from the route, and in some wineries I was told that some participants who had stopped by in the days before to test the route stopped at the unofficial refreshment points they had set up during the race and then contacted them again to order bottles . This concerns the commercial aspect, but above all it maintains a strong bond with the participant.
What are we referring to?
I'm talking about Sicilians, Romans, cyclists from all over Italy who have discovered the beauty of the area. This is very important, especially since The Hills Gravel Race is an event that takes place annually, it's not the World Championship or a European Championship or an Italian Championship that will be repeated in twenty years' time. It is a regular event that is repeated and therefore brings knowledge of the area around the worldWe had 25 countries registered, representing 5 continents.
Could this be a useful business card to present to institutions to gain their support?
It's not easy to get support, and I won't deny that the first edition left some discontent in the area. However, this year the Local Police confirmed that everything went well . We worked well, even from a technical perspective, which is what interests me most and is my own. From the outside, you can see the event is very tied to Mattia De Marchi's image . We at Xevent are not very visible, and I'm even less so, because I don't like the role of frontman, but technically we're very satisfied.
How did the logistics of Borgoluce work?
Good, because it fits in with the circuit on which the race takes place. Many races gravel or mountain bikes, the same Cape Epic in South Africa, start from wineries. Also considering the participants' ethos, whose average age is 24 to 35, the logistics were perfect for this type of event. Borgoluce It has huge spaces for parking, perhaps the finish line left a little to be desired on a technical level, but the place is amazing and as organizers it creates fewer problems for us, because it is close to the hills. We will have a debriefing with the owners in about ten days and we will discuss 2027.
We mentioned De Marchi's image: how important is The Hills Gravel Race for Xevent?
In terms of value, it's definitely the first organization in our portfolio . We've added some new events, which we still need to get to grips with. We definitely don't want to focus on just one project because we have others. Sardinia, with the stage race in collaboration with the Oristano Organizing Committee, which organized the Cyclocross World Cup. We have River&Peaks in Friuli , which I'm working on flat out.
What is this?
It will take place on June 6th and is another test event, important both for the area and for us , as we would like to include it in our circuit. I have just returned from site inspections of the route and can confirm that it is in no way inferior to the one in the Prosecco Hills , which is distinctive because it feels like being on the moon.
What about in Friuli?
You pass through the Dormiti Friulane and run along the Claut and Cimolais streams. It's very, very beautiful. You're right in the middle of nature; it's a truly wild race that will be a great test for us too.
How important is the pursuit of beauty in designing events like this?
As organizers, we started in Cortina d'Ampezzo, which demonstrates how crucial the pursuit of beauty is in our work . We've always sought it: sometimes we've found it, sometimes we haven't. In my opinion, the fundamentals of an organization are three: route, logistics, and budget. Everyone puts them where they want.
What are the strengths of The Hills?
The Hills course, in my opinion, accounts for almost 75 percent of the overall experience. It's very beautiful. I noticed this when I went to restore the seats after the race. It was very beautiful; this year, Mattia built a course that had little impact on traffic and kept the guys off-road.
De Marchi is an athlete, but The Hills is his creation: what could his role be in Xevent?
First and foremost, he's an athlete and also the team manager of The Grip, Wilier Triestina's project . We started working with him in 2024 for the first edition in 2025. Mattia is a partner and organizer of The Hills , but we also collaborate with him on River&Peaks . He'll evaluate the route with us, give us his feedback, and we'll do the photoshoot with him. And then we have other projects together. I think Mattia can play an important role in the future, even on an organizational level. I've collaborated with many former professionals, but in him I find an organizational focus that's very similar to my own , which, however, I do as a profession. He's an athlete, but I think he has a good future.
