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Gran fondo · Race Guide

Granfondo Internazionale Nove Colli

A historic Italian gran fondo from Cesenatico with nine categorised climbs, front-loaded difficulty and a long coastal return after the final steep ramp.

Register the moment sales open, use low gearing for the 17-18% ramps, and control the early climbing because the hardest work is packed before the long ride home.

Best for

  • ✓Riders who enjoy repeated-climb days
  • ✓Experienced gran fondo riders comfortable in huge fields
  • ✓Gravel riders using the dedicated route
  • ✓Riders wanting a coastal base with inland climbing
  • ✓Strong club riders targeting a hard one-day result

Watch out for

  • !Historically fast sell-out
  • !Front-loaded climbing with little recovery
  • !Road closure status requires verification
  • !Mixed-surface demands on the Gravel route
  • !Weather differences between coast and hills
  • !High early bunch density

D-Score™

D+

Epic

Entry

First-come, first-served via ENDU

or No confirmed guaranteed-entry alternative

Route

200 km

3,814 m climbing

Terrain

Mountain

Smooth tarmac on Lungo and Medio; mixed gravel surface on Gravel route

Month

Late May

Annual late-May event

Temperature

Mild coast to cooler inland hills

Valley to summit

Roads / Format

Full versus partial closure needs verification

Large mass start from Cesenatico seafront

Participants

Historic cap around 12,000; current figure needs verification

Per edition

GPX

Direct GPX download not found

Route files

View Italian Lakes tours
Nove Colli Visit Cesenatico

Derailleur verdict

A classic mass-participation test where repetition and fatigue matter more than altitude. The Lungo is extreme, while Medio and Gravel offer distinct but still demanding alternatives.

Best for

  • •Riders who enjoy repeated-climb days
  • •Experienced gran fondo riders comfortable in huge fields
  • •Gravel riders using the dedicated route
  • •Riders wanting a coastal base with inland climbing
  • •Strong club riders targeting a hard one-day result

Not ideal for

  • •Riders uncomfortable in dense fields
  • •Riders seeking high-alpine passes
  • •Riders who cannot register immediately when entries open

Entry

Entry options

Main MethodFirst-come, first-served via ENDU
Lottery oddsNone
Entry difficultyHigh due to sell-out history
AlternativesNo confirmed guaranteed-entry alternative
Guaranteed entryNot confirmed
RegistrationOnline ENDU registration

Set an alarm and register immediately; do not wait to choose the exact route.

Tours and packages

No Granfondo Internazionale Nove Colli-specific tours listed yet

Explore Italian Lakes cycling tours and providers, or get notified when race packages are added.

View Italian Lakes tours

View providers (Coming soon)

Get notified (Coming soon)

Route difficulty and ride feel

Route options

RouteDistanceClimbingD-Score
Medio (Medium)137 km1,872 mD3
Gravel107 km1,798 mD3
Lungo (Long)200 km3,814 mD+

Key demands

SurfaceSmooth tarmac on Lungo and Medio; mixed gravel surface on Gravel route
Road tatusFull versus partial closure needs verification
Main challengeNine repeated climbs, front-loaded fatigue and steep late ramps
Descending riskMedium — foothill descents and dense rider traffic
Traffic exposureNeeds verification pending final closure status
Bunch densityHigh in the first 30-40 km

The Lungo compresses nine climbs between roughly kilometres 37 and 162, then sends riders back to the coast. The rhythm is repeated foothill climbing rather than high mountains, with little recovery during the core of the route.

Route, climbs and pro-race roads

Several climbs on this route appear in Giro d'Italia history. The full route includes seven major passes.

ClimbLengthAvg gradientWhy it matters
Polenta8 km3 %Opening climb at roughly km 37; about 227 m of gain.
Pieve di Rivoschio8 km4.7 %Steady second climb.
Ciola6 km5.5 %Builds toward the harder middle section; about 313 m of gain.
Barbotto5.5 km6.9 %Defining climb with a maximum gradient of 18%.
Montetiffi3 km5.8 %Short sharp climb with a maximum gradient of 16%.
Perticara4.1 km4.1 %Short climb in the central sequence.
Monte Pugliano9 km5.6 %Longest route climb, gaining about 511 m.
Passo delle Siepi4 km5.8 %Late-race climb with a manageable average gradient.
Gorolo4 km6 %Final climb, with a maximum gradient of 17%.

Gearing & fuelling tools

Every rider has unique gearing and nutrition needs. Below are tools we find useful for working these out before race day.

Planning and logistics

Best base

Cesenatico

Nearest airports

Rimini · Bologna · Forlì service needs verification

Car hire

Useful for Bologna transfers and exploring inland climbs

Book ahead

Book as soon as the bib is secured because Cesenatico is a popular coastal resort

Staying in Cesenatico removes race-morning transfers. Inland alternatives are less convenient and require verification.

Weather and mountain conditions

Conditions can shift from warm coast to cooler, wetter and windier inland hills.

Valley temperatureNeeds verification — mild-to-warm coastal conditions
Summit temperatureNeeds verification — cooler inland hill conditions
Rain / stormsInland rain or storms are possible
Weather changesCan change quickly between coast and foothills
Surface conditionsTarmac can be wet; Gravel route may be loose or muddy
Main riskRain on descents and heat on the coastal return

What to consider packing

  • Lightweight rain layer
  • Arm warmers
  • Sun protection
  • Gravel-specific tyres for the Gravel route
  • Tube or plug kit
  • Multi-tool

Event feel

Event size

One of Italy’s largest gran fondos; historic cap around 12,000

Field level

Broad mass-participation field

Atmosphere

Long-running prestigious Italian gran fondo with strong Cesenatico heritage

International mix

Needs verification

Bunch intensity

Very high in the first 30-40 km

First-timer

Choose the Medio or Gravel route rather than the 200 km Lungo

Training profile

You should be comfortable with

  • 6-9 hour rides for the Lungo
  • Repeated 15-45 minute climbs
  • Climbing on tired legs
  • Large-field riding
  • Consistent fuelling
  • Mixed-surface handling for Gravel

Preparation priorities

1

Repeated-climb endurance

Prepare specifically for repeated climbs such as Barbotto and Monte Pugliano.

2

Pacing discipline

Manage the front-loaded climbing on both Lungo and Medio.

3

Endurance base

Build toward seven or more hours in the saddle for the Lungo.

4

Gearing choices

Test compact wide-range gearing for ramps reaching 17–18%.

5

Nutrition discipline

Plan fuelling in advance because feed stations are spaced across the route.