54 Ride Your First Enduro
Mixing competition and camaraderie, enduro events are a great way to enjoy going up and down the trails
Everything you need to know about ripping the stages and enjoying the transfers
CELEBRATING ITS 10TH YEAR in business this year, Garda Bike Hotel sits five minutes off the A4 autostrada, which connects all of northern Italy, from Milan to Venice and beyond. But, you won’t be spending much time in a car as cycling is the speciality here. Riding options are plentiful – flat plains in Lombardy, rolling hills in Valpolicella and long climbs, such as Monte Baldo, which is 2,400 m – and the hotel’s base is just one of several tiny villages that dot Garda’s lakeshore.
The property has 43 guest rooms, with sleek, modern design, as well as a bar and restaurant featuring fresh Italian classics and fish dishes. There’s also a gym and outdoor pool on the premises. As one would expect, the hotel excels at its bike facilities: for guests bringing their own rides, there’s a secure, monitored bike room as well as an on-site mechanic for tech issues and a bike washing area. Rentals are available in the form of Pinarello, Eddy Merckx and De Rosa bikes. Daily laundry service is available for cycling gear, and no rider sets off on a route before getting water bottles filled and a boxed lunch (containing the essentials: sandwich, bananas, energy bars). For all rides, a local guide accompanies groups to help with routing, translation and sourcing the best spot for an espresso. WHERE TO RIDE All rides are guided here, and also come with van support, but that doesn’t mean you won’t have variety or be challenged. No stay is complete without a ride around Lake Garda; though an easy ride over terrain that alternates between flat and hilly, the scenery will leave you wanting more – lakeside slopes dotted with tiny fishing villages, and groves of lemon and olive trees. You can break up the ride with a ferry trip across the lake. For more difficult rides, but not extreme, there are plenty of options. The region of Valpolicella, the foot of which is Verona, offers hilly terrain, with some difficult climbs and more luscious scenery – think cherry trees and vineyards. For the longest climb in the area, head to Monte Baldo, a 25-km challenge with an elevation gain of roughly 1,400 m and sections that get as steep as 15 per cent. If this isn’t enough, go north to conquer the Stelvio Pass, the second-highest paved mountain pass in the Alps. DON’T MISS Indulging in the local food and wine. Valpolicella produces worldfamous wines, including Valpolicello Classico, Recioto and Amarone. With the lake on your doorstep, fresh fish is a must – specialities include trout, carp and whitefish. For meaty dishes, try polenta pastissada, polenta made with meat stew, or bollitomisto, beef with pearà, a sauce composed of pepper, bread, marrow and Parmesan cheese. And indulge on local chestnuts and truffles when in season. Given your proximity to Verona, no meal would be complete without chocolate and roasted almond cookies, better known as baci digiulietta or Juliet’s kisses.