Sport & Green living
Paradise on two wheels
If your idea of sport is cycling and mountain-biking, this news will be music for your ears. Last June, the Province of Trentino inaugurated Bikeland, a true paradise for all cycling lovers. Bikeland is the biggest bike area not only in Italy, but in Europe. The numbers tell the story: 80 km of cycling paths, 4,000 km of descents, 40 cross-country MTB tours totalling 1,000 km, 3 cycle tracks totalling more than 100 km, 3 adrenaline-filled bike parks, 13 all-mountain endure trails, 13 downhill trails. To cap it all, 3 Giro d’Italia mountain climbs.
The spectacular nature of Bikeland is highlighted by the surrounding landscape: from the Brenta Dolomites, a UNESCO World Heritage site, to the glaciers of Mount Adamello and Presanella and as far as Lake Garda. Bikeland spans five areas of the Trentino Province: from Passo Tonale and Pejo to Val di Sole, from Madonna di Campiglio to Tione and from Comano Terme down to Riva del Garda. This means you can pedal between glaciers, mountain peaks, alpine lakes and vast freshwater lakes.
And what’s more, anyone can enjoy a ride, because the trails are divided into Easy, Mountain-bike, Gravity and Road. The first of these is accessible to all, from families with children to those who simply want to enjoy a gentle ride. This trail passes from Val di Sole to Val Rendena and then to the cycle-path from Ponte di Legno to Passo Tonale. The Mountain-bike trail, which requires a degree of training, comprises many fabulous features, from the “Dolomiti di Brenta Bike”, with a total of 171 km of trails and 7,700 m total uphill for the Expert Tour, and 136 km and 4,600 m total uphill for the Country tour. With the Gravity tour, enthusiasts can experience the thrill of 13 enduro all-mountain trails, 13 downhill trails, and 1 four-cross track, while if you prefer Road, you can pedal up the major mountain climbs – Passo Tonale, Madonna di Campiglio and Pejo, which have many times been the highlight of the Giro d’Italia.
For those who enjoy the descent more than the climb, Bikeland also provides a Bike Shuttle service which transports up to 60 bikes and links the major bike-oriented areas: from Garda to Passo Tonale, linking Comano Terme, Val Rendena, Val di Sole, Chiese and the Paganella. In addition, 14 bike lifts are provided free of charge, and can be accessed using a single bike pass. And if you really don’t want to exert yourself too much, there are 200 e-bikes and assisted pedal cycles available for hire throughout Bikeland, as well as 14 e-bike stations.
And you don’t have to worry if you have a flat tyre: around the circuit you’ll find more than 50 bike hotels which offer a wide range of specialist services (bike wash, bike storage, maintenance kits and workshop, pick-up and assistance service), as well as more than 10 centres with guide service, cycling schools, bike hire and specialist shops.
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