Nove Colli Gran Fondo 2014
The Nove Colli Gran Fondo is one of Italy’s most famous cycling events and with over 12,000 riders it’s one of the most popular too. Nove Colli is Italian for Nine Hills and a quick glance at the route profile below confirms why.
The stunning scenery as you climb through Italian hills before descending back down the the Adriatic coast is one of many reasons why cyclists who love to travel should add the Nove Colli to the ‘to do’ list. Add in a splash of Italian wine, great food and a seaside resort steeped in the history of Marco Pantani, Fausto Coppi and four decades of hosting Gran Fondo’s and the Giro d’Italia and you have the recipe for a classic Italian Gran Fondo.
Nove Colli Event Details
- Date: Sunday 18th May 2014
- Distances: 200km (9 hills), 130km (4 hills)
- Climbing: 3,840m of climbing in the Gran Fondo
- Cyclists: 12,000+ cyclists take part annually
- Start: Cesenatico, Italy
- Finish: Cesenatico, Italy
- Nearest Airport: Bologna, Rimini and Forli airports are all convenient
- Accommodation: Cesenatico Tourist Office
Nove Colli Course Preview
Choose From Two Gran Fondo Distances
200km Nove Colli Gran Fondo
The full Nove Colli route covers the nine hills over 200km of beautiful undulating Italian countryside. This timeless Gran Fondo starts and finishes in the small and charming fishing port of Cesenatico on Italy’s stunning adriatic coast.
The course profile for the 200km route of the Nove Colli Gran Fondo in Italy
Whilst in comparison to the Alps or Pyrennes these are hills not cols, the steep gradients and repetition make this a tough test. Underestimate the Nove Colli at your peril, it requires you to follow a sportive training plan and keep your cycling fitness up during winter turbo training.
The Nove Colli is a great test of climbing cadence and bike handling skills as many of the hills feature consecutive hairpins both on ascent and descent. If you are planning taking on a classic sportive such as the Maratona dles Dolomites or Alpenbrevet, then the Nove Colli would fit well in a sportive training schedule.
130km Nove Colli – 4 Hills
The shorter but still demanding 130km route features four of the famous nine hills and the same stunning views. Whilst for some the challenge will be to race around in a quick time, for the majority the pull of the Nove Colli is created by the classic Italian scenery as well as the delicious Italian food and wine.
The course profile for the 130km route at the Nove Colli Gran Fondo in Italy
If you choose to take on the shorter route you will miss none of the unique start and finish atmosphere as the 13om route also starts and finishes in the seaside resort of Cesenatico. Once you reach the summit of the fourth hill, Barbotto at 536m, you’ve broken the back of it. After 1,871m of hill climbing the final 36km is a downhill cruise through the Italian hills to the Adriatic sea. A well earned pizza and Italian red await you at the finish line.
Training for the Nove Colli
A hilly sportive in Italy is a tough and fantastic cycling challenge to take on. The Nove Colli could be the highlight of your cycling season or an event that you ‘train through’ in order to reach a peak for an event later in the year. Either way, following a training plan and training consistently is the best way to build sportive fitness. Cycling over a saw tooth profile demands that you include some specific hill climbing in your training programme.
Sportive Training Tips
- Follow an achievable sportive training plan; consistent training is the key to finishing a sportive
- Check out these 5 training tips for sportives
- A sportive training holiday in the Alps will help you practice climbing cadence
Nove Colli Entry
Nove Colli online registration opens in November and always sells out very fast.
Too late already? Check out the Best Sportives in Europe and find a challenge that motivates you!
Nove Colli Sportive Training Camps
If you are training for Nove Colli then join like minded riders on a cycling training camp in the Swiss Alps or Italian Dolomites to prepare for your best summer of cycling ever.
Nove Colli Sportive Training Plan
Are you in training for Nove Colli? Use our free 12 week Sportive Training Plan to get you in the best possible shape for the Nove Colli. Simply fill the form below and we’ll send you your free training plan:
The descents in the Nove Colli take in some beautiful views
Useful Websites for the Nove Colli Gran Fondo
- Official website: Nove Colli
- Twitter feed: Join the conversation with the hashtag #novecolli
- Facebook Page: Meet other riders on the Nove Colli Facebook page
Still searching for a sportive? Then check out our sportive calendar for the best handpicked cycling events in Europe.