Looking for a great gravel event in northern Italy, specifically in the Veneto region?
Then check out the homepage of Marca Bianca.
Led by Massimo Panighel, Marca Bianca organizes four top-notch gravel events each year:
LA CLASSICA, LA PROSECCO UNBOUND, LA NOTTURNA, and LA EPICA.
Each route takes you through stunning landscapes — the Prosecco hills, the Piave region, and the Treviso countryside. Beautiful cycling paths are connected into carefully scouted loops, some even covering parts of the Strade Bianche used in the 2023 Gravel World Championships.
The mix of gravel and asphalt is very well balanced, with over 60% gravel, ensuring that off-road enthusiasts get their full fix.
And what all the events have in common are the often „secret“ gravel paths (sometimes opened exclusively for the event) and quiet, low-traffic backroads.
Except for „Prosecco Unbound“, there’s no timing, meaning no pressure — just relaxed riding. All you need to do is make sure you reach the aid stations (with delicious refreshments!) and the finish line in time for the Finisher Party.
The type of bike is completely up to each participant — even e-bikes have been spotted on the routes.
short description:
LA CLASSICA (in april)
One route, two options. The ride takes you through the cultural and natural landscape south of Vittorio Veneto, featuring over 20 “colli” (hills) — some of which pack quite a punch with their steep gradients.
One size: 100 km with 1,350 meters of elevation gain, in tribute to Ottavio Bottecchia, the legendary cyclist from the area who won the Tour de France in 1924 and 1925.
If you prefer something shorter, you can take the Aperigravel shortcut — still a solid ride at 64 km with 950 meters of climbing.
No worries — you’ll still reach all the perfectly stocked aid stations!
Get a feel for it with my short video Marca Bianca Classic 2025 — and join in for 2026!
I’ll definitely be riding to the start again … maybe someone will come along!
LA NOTTURNA (im Juli)
This year marked the inaugural edition, starting in Morgano. It was certainly no coincidence that the „festa dell’anatra“ (duck festival) was happening on the same day.
Before the ride, there were delicious dishes to enjoy—not just featuring duck.
The route, 106 kilometers long with only 350 meters of elevation gain, combines four wonderful gravel bike paths. These include the idyllic path along the Sile River and the Treviso-Ostigila trail, which runs on a disused railway line.
Montebelluna, Castelfranco, and Asolo are just three of the beautiful towns with medieval centers that you cycle through, creating a very special atmosphere at night.
my video: Marca Bianca La Notturna 2025
LA EPICA
Sunday, October 19, 2025: A unique tour through the gravel zone of the Prosecco Hills.
LA EPICA is not a race but an immersion into the historic, natural, and—certainly—wine-growing wonders (and who says a ride can’t end with a nice glass of Prosecco?).
There are three routes that don’t just test your endurance (okay, maybe a little), but let you discover the beauty of the UNESCO-listed Prosecco Hills—the area that made the 2023 Gravel World Championships legendary.
But don’t worry: there’s no stopwatch chasing you, just breathtaking landscapes that will inspire you to pedal on.
report & video 2024; I’ll rode there by bike and will probably do it again in October… Come along!! Report 2022 in german/ italian
LA PROSECCO UNBOUND
With 350 km and 5,000 meters of elevation gain, this was definitely the most challenging Marca Bianca event of the year. Hermann participated but unfortunately had to quit after two-thirds of the route because he lost his smartphone and didn’t want to navigate through the night without it.
Starting in Conegliano, the route takes you through the Prosecco Hills, Montello, Pedemonte del Grappa, Asolo, and more…
The elevation profile promises quite the challenge…
See you! Next year … – I still need to train a bit for that. …
LA COMBINATA
And why not combine LA CLASSICA and LA EPICA?
There’s a medal for it — one half after finishing CLASSICA, and the other half once you complete EPICA.
Here’s the route for this double challenge:
