From May 1st to 3rd, among the hills of Valdera, Peccioli hosts the first edition of the peccioli Gravel Clinic: three days that go far beyond a simple cycling tourism event. Here is the bike gravel It becomes a tool for learning, improving, and truly preparing for the journey.
One of its creators, Marco Pavarini of Extragiro , explains what this initiative is and how it came about . "It all stems from a dual trend," he says. " On the one hand, the ever-growing number of cycle tourists in Italy, and on the other, the regions that want to showcase themselves and become attractive to slow tourism. That's why we decided to help these people who want to take increasingly longer trips. Help them master the bike, master their experience, and prepare for these great journeys."
Casagrande mentor coach
The choice of Peccioli is no coincidence. A Tuscan village that has reinvented itself in recent decades, it represents the perfect laboratory for slow tourism.
"It's an open-air contemporary art museum, spread across a series of towns," Pavarini continues, "which in recent years has worked tirelessly on the routes with the Touring Club (in 2024 it received the title of Italy's Most Beautiful Village, ed.), creating these dirt roads that are a protected space where I would take my family cycling in safety. While you pedal, you discover not only classic Italian cuisine, but also extraordinary works of art: it's truly one of the must-see places of contemporary Italy, a place that knows how to transform itself."
But let's get to the point Gravel Clinic. Its heart is training. The three days alternate between theoretical sessions and practical sessions, led by a high-level team: il mentor coach it will be the former pink jersey of the Giro d'Italia Francesco Casagrande, then Luigi Veneziano, Marco Pantani's historic mechanic, and biomechanic Fabrizio Pederzoli. On Sunday 3rd there will also be Paul Bettini.
"All these professionals will improve the participants' riding," he continues, "they'll teach them how to manage mechanical emergencies, bike setup, and energy management... We'll also have a nutritionist joining this project. All of this will help prepare them for the trip, whether it lasts one or more days."
Video analysis upon return
There will be a classroom portion and a cycling tour portion, covering distances between 40 and 80 kilometers. "The instructors will see firsthand whether these people are improving in any way. They will be accompanied on enjoyable rides, at times challenging, with exercise sessions, but also refreshments, museum visits, tastings, and even a nighttime astronomical observation at the observatory built by the Municipality of Peccioli." In short, all the things you'd expect from a cycling trip.
The theoretical part of Peccioli Gravel Clinic is mostly scheduled after the ride. "We'll have an initial briefing the evening before starting," adds Pavarini, "and a briefing in the morning where the route is explained, the debriefing in the afternoon upon returning from the outing, with video images produced by our operators on site which will be used to collect the members: it will be a real technical analysis".
Regularity test with Bettini
One of the most special moments will be the final ride: a regularity trial led by Paolo Bettini, on a short route of about 22 kilometers. "Paolo will lead the group, setting a faster pace than the touring bike pace, and whoever has the legs, the strength, and the will to apply what they've learned will follow him. Obviously, no races, no time trials, no competitions. The goal will be to emerge from this three-day experience with improvements in oneself and one's cycling condition, and, in addition, a strengthened spirit of adventure."
The clinic is open to everyone, from beginners to experts, with bikes gravel but also mountain bikes and e-bike, you can also rent bikes on site. There are still free spaces and The fee is 350 euros for 4 nights, breakfast and refreshments included. (for companions the price is 180 euros).
The cycle tourism cluster
"We have a couple of people coming from abroad," he says, "couples, friends, even a mother who wants to keep up with her son on his bike. For now, she just wants to train, but maybe she'll try a bike tour too." He adds that the clinic was born in Peccioli and will be repeated here, but since it was conceived as a format, it's possible it could be replicated in other parts of Italy.
After all, Extragiro has clear ideas: through the development of tourism (and cycle tourism in this case), many objectives can be achieved, such as creating jobs for all social classes, for different generations with different levels of education, maintaining the territory , and building a new narrative of Italy, free from useless stereotypes.
"Among active tourism, we chose the cycle tourism cluster to act as a springboard for many types of development, social cohesion, and redevelopment," Pavarini concludes.
