Veneto Gravel was my first real step into the world of ultra gravel riding. A long, raw and beautiful loop through northern Italy, shared with Rajko Blažič and shaped by distance, fatigue, small problems, good moments and the simple rhythm of moving forward.
What started as an idea for the shorter 400 km route eventually became the full classic 720 km course. In the end, I am glad it did. The ride gave me exactly what I was looking for: long roads, changing landscapes, night sections, mechanical surprises, a short nap, a lot of sugar, and that quiet feeling that comes when the body is tired but the mind is still moving.
Ride overview:
// Location
Region of Veneto, Italy
Region of Veneto, Italy
// Distance
713 km
713 km
// Elevation gain
3660 m
3660 m
// Total time
39 h 08 min
39 h 08 min
The original plan was smaller. I was first thinking about the 400 kilometre route, but Rajko convinced me to take on the full classic course. It was the right decision.
PART1
We started in the morning, and the first 100 kilometres passed quickly. The route moved through the hills above Belluno, through small towns and quiet roads, with the kind of early energy where everything still feels under control. At CP1 in Belluno, we stopped for our first plate of pasta, then continued with a group of riders whose pace suited us well. For a good part of the ride, we kept meeting them again. Sometimes riding together, sometimes just crossing paths at the right moments.
The descent towards Conegliano was one of the highlights of the first part. After CP2, the terrain slowly opened into flatter roads towards the sea. Somewhere there we met another Slovenian rider, who first dropped behind us, then suddenly sprinted past on the first small rise. We had a good laugh about it, and later met him again while he was changing a tyre.
At CP3 in Caorle, we stopped for a quick coffee, then moved on towards Treviso (CP4 & CP5) and into the first night section. The night brought some of the best gravel riding of the whole route. Less noise, fewer distractions, just the beam of the light, the sound of tyres and the steady work of keeping the pedals turning.
Around kilometre 365, we reached the "Safe House" in the middle of the night. We cooked spaghetti, washed up, slept for a short hour or two, had coffee in the morning, ate something more, and went back on the bikes. It was not much rest, but enough to reset the mind.
PART2
The next part took us through Padova and into one of the longer, flatter and more mentally difficult sections of the route. After CP6, the heat started to build. Just when we finally reached another gravel section, Rajko’s rear tyre went flat in an instant. At first it looked like a normal puncture, but then we found the cause: an old, rusty drill bit buried deep inside the tyre. A plug was not enough, so we had to put in a tube and continue, with around 230 kilometres still to go.
Around Lake Garda, the roads were busy, but a double espresso helped more than it probably should. From there, we continued through Verona, towards CP7 and the final proper climb of the route, which we reached just before dark.
Somewhere on that climb, after a long stretch without seeing many riders, we passed another cyclist. I greeted him with a simple “ciao”.
At the top, while we were putting on warmer clothes, he caught us and asked where we are from.
“Slovenia,” we said.
“And you?”
“Slovenia.”
“And you?”
“Slovenia.”
Out of more than a thousand riders and only a few Slovenians, we had met another one right there, in the middle of the final climb. Even more strangely, we had apparently ridden together the year before at Balaton. Long rides have a funny way of making the world feel smaller.
We continued together into the night for a while, then Rajko and I were alone again. From that point on, there was only one real goal left: Bassano.
The final kilometres felt long. The city streets were full of people, music and late-night life. Italians know how to celebrate, and we rolled through it all tired, dirty and probably looking completely out of place. But the atmosphere was good, even if we were far beyond the point of looking normal.
In the end, we reached the finish in Bassano after 39 hours and 8 minutes. Our main goal was to complete the Classic Veneto Gravel route in under 40 hours, and we did it.
This ride was a first proper taste of ultra gravel for me. Little sleep, a lot of riding, constant eating, mechanical problems, changing landscapes and long hours where the only thing that matters is the next section of road. It was hard, but in a way that felt honest.
And I have to admit, I liked it.
// Big thanks to Rajko for the company, the kilometres in the wind and the shared effort. And to my wife and kids for the support from home.
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