This celebrated Gran Fondo takes riders through three distinct valleys—Valganna, Valcuvia, and Valtravaglia—in Italy’s stunning Lombardy region. Part of the UCI Gran Fondo World Series, the event is organized by the prestigious Società Ciclistica Alfredo Binda, the same group behind several professional cycling races.

The 126-kilometer course starts and finishes in historic Varese, near the Swiss border, delivering nearly 2,000 meters of elevation gain through the Italian lakes region. Riders tackle demanding climbs including Passo del Cuvignone and Passo del Colma, rewarded with sweeping views of Lake Maggiore, Lake Como, and the surrounding pre-alpine villages. The entire route runs traffic-free on well-maintained roads.

What sets this event apart is the opportunity to ride the same course used for the 2018 World Championship Gran Fondo, giving amateur cyclists a genuine taste of world-class racing terrain. The challenging profile attracts serious riders looking to test themselves against both the course and international competition, as the event serves as a qualifying race for UCI World Championships.

The weekend format includes a time trial on Saturday followed by both Gran Fondo and Medio Fondo options on Sunday. The legendary Pasta Party, courtesy of Tigros Supermarkets, takes place in central Varese, while the Race Village in the beautiful Giardini Estensi serves as the event hub. Participants consistently praise both the technical challenge of the course and the authentic Italian cycling atmosphere that permeates the entire experience.