New Places, Coffee Stops

Seeing new places from the saddle of the bike is a training bonus. 2024 Blue Bib title-winner Tommy Giacomel “has always loved cycling because you go fast and see many different places in the same ride. You can climb different passes or visit different spots; that’s something I enjoy a lot.”

Switzerland’s Aita Gasparin who climbed atop the World Cup podium for a career first time, winning the Pokljuka Single Mixed Relay last March agrees. “On the bicycle I feel very free! You move fast and do a lot of kilometers, using your body’s energy. In new places, you get to see roads and views you‘ve never been and to explore a region which is very satisfying.”

On a recent cycling trip to Mallorca with Lisa Hauser, “It amazed me how many cyclists there were…You come to a small town in the middle of nowhere, meeting dozens of cyclists on the piazza for a coffee stop gives a great sense of community.”

Gandler at the Giro

Austria’s Anna Gandler recently completed her first 100 km tour of the spring, but last week saw cycling from a different perspective, spending a day following the Giro d’Italia in a sponsor’s car. “The Giro was such an incredible experience. Watching the athletes up close made me realize just how impressive their performance is. They’re so fast that sometimes it’s hard to even keep up with them in the car! On top of that, they rode for three hours in pouring rain without slowing down – that kind of mental and physical toughness is something I truly admire and take with me.”

Building Endurance

Besides the tourist aspect, cycling is superb for building endurance and much easier on the body than running, according to Giacomel. “The bike training block is important, because you can do a high-volume training block without it being heavy on your body and joints like it would be running… And a 6-hour bike tour is a completely different story than a 6-hour run!”

Favorite Routes

Ask any cyclist and they will quickly rattle off multiple routes; no one has just one favorite. The young Italian loves the passes in Dolomites near his home, but also the variety of northeastern Italy. “I enjoy the flatlands and its nearby hills of Prosecco, near Valdobbiadene…Loving cycling, I also enjoy mountain biking, especially here in Val di Primiero which is a mountain bike paradise.”

Gasparin also enjoys a special mountain route. “One of my favourite roads is the Albula Pass which basically starts next to Lenzerheide and leads to Engadin. The road and its turns are just epic, and I highly recommend it if you come to Switzerland for cycling."

Gandler admits her favorite places to ride are a bit farther from home. “I really love biking in the South of France or Tuscany. The combination of beautiful landscapes, those charming southern-style houses, and riding along the sea is just amazing.”

Whether for serious training or just the opportunity to explore new places, World Cycling Day is a great excuse to get out on the roads!