The Gran Fondo Nove Colli – Selle Italia Returns for 2018

The Gran Fondo Nove Colli – Selle Italia is returning to the streets of Cesenatico in 2018 for what promises to be an epic event.

The 48th edition of Europe’s largest cycling event will take place on 20th May 2018, with over 13,000 cyclists travelling across 9 hills. The Nove Colli – Selle Italia is the oldest Gran Fondo in the world and is a hit with athletes from across the globe.

This race is incredibly well prepared and offers a lot for the keen cyclist, aside from spectacular scenery and fantastic cycling. Every participant will receive a package for the race, which will include exclusive gadgets from Sportful and an SMS chip with Winning Time technology. Furthermore, riders will have medical and mechanical assistance en route, snacks along the way, shower services, secure bike parking, a medal, and perhaps most exciting of the lot, the famed pasta party.

To claim a place, you can pre-register online from 18th October at www.novecolli.it. Pre-registration ends at 10am on 7th November. It’s worth noting that this pre-registration does not guarantee you entry into the event, but does make the registration progress much quicker.

Registration itself takes place at 12:00 noon on 7th November, ‘click day’. 10,000 race numbers will be available on this day. These numbers tend to sell out within minutes so it does help if to be quick.

Don’t worry though – if you aren’t successful in this instance, there are still many options! You can sign up to the waiting list from January 15^th, on the same site. In the case of any cancellations or withdrawals, participants will be drawn from this list.

Alternatively, if you fill in an online registration form for a hotel such as Hotel Poker of Riccione, they will take care of everything for you. Rooms are available from €55 per night, which includes your entry fee to the race (usually €75).

The Hotel Poker offers all athletes and companions a special package for this event, including a bike deposit, mechanical workshop and bike washing spot. They are offering transfers to/from the race start line in Cesenatico, and also have an outdoor swimming pool and jacuzzi, so that you can relax your muscles after a long day in the saddle! If you stay for a week, you can also take advantage of a free laundry service for your biking gear, guided bike tours of the local area, and a barbecue party.

For more information on booking a hotel and registration for the Gran Fondo Nove Colli – Selle Italia, head to http://www.hotelpoker.it/en/ or to read more about cycling in Italy, take a look at cycling adventures in Tuscany here.

Image Credits – Nove Colli Selle Italia via [http://www.novecolli.it/en-GB/media_galleries]