Veneto Gravel - Plus

Leaving Treviso, it’s not long before the pavement ends as the route winds through farmlands until reaching the Montello, a key strategic battlefield of World War I that has become a haven for road, gravel and mountain bike riders from the area. The route skirts the edge of the Montello before crossing the Piave River and climbing up to Collalto, which rewards with fantastic views of the region. It then follows gravel and quiet paved roads through picturesque Pieve di Soligo, host of the 2023 Gravel World Championships and the ideal place to have an afternoon pick-me-up before the last short stretch to your accommodations in the town of Soligo. 

Leaving Soligo, you are soon immersed in the spectacular vistas of the Eastern Prosecco Hills. The route incorporates several sections used for the 2023 Gravel World Championships, including the beautiful Via Molinetto and past the spectacular Castelbrando castle. After passing by the picturesque lake of Revine, you descend into Vittorio Veneto, a vibrant town where Italy won the decisive victory that brought WWI to a close. The route continues through Conegliano and its hilltop castle before heading back into the vineyards for your return to Soligo. 

There is also a shorter option that skips Vittorio Veneto and Conegliano but still offers you a fantastic immersion into the Prosecco area.

At the other end of the spectrum, for those interested in challenges and unique road engineering, there is the option of an additional detour up to the Passo San Boldo.

The day starts with a flat gravel road through Sernaglia della Battaglia, after which the route gets more hilly as the capital of Prosecco, Valdobbiadene, nears. Leaving Valdobbiadene, it’s time to cross back over the Piave River and follow it downstream before entering the verdant Colli Asolani. A last uphill has you in the picturesque town of Asolo, also known as the The City of a Hundred Horizons.

Today is an epic gravel odyssey that takes in several lovely towns as it explores the riding along the Brenta River. First stop is Cittadella, a town that is famous both for its perfectly preserved fortification walls, and for it being the finish line of the inaugural UCI Gravel World Championships in 2022.

The route then enters gravel heaven along the Brenta before reaching Marostica, whose large main square is the location for the human chess competition which runs every two years in September.

Last stop on the ride is Bassano del Grappa, known for both its strong spirit and the fantastic riding to be found in its vicinity, including the epic Monte Grappa. One last climb has you back in Asolo where Aperitivo on the main square awaits. If the full loop sounds a bit ambitious, a shorter option that follows gravel and paved roads directly to Bassano then returns along the base of the Monte Grappa is also available.

After a last morning wander around idyllic Asolo, a short transfer by van brings you up to the Rifugio Granezza on the Asiago plateau, where you will saddle up and continue by bike on a loop that follows parts of the 2024 World Championships route before descending into charming Asiago, your base for the next two nights. The rest of the day is yours to explore town and sample the world renowned Asiago cheese. For those more interested in gravel than cheese, there is a longer, hillier option that includes the Monte Corno and passes through Roana before arriving in Asiago.

For this final day of gravel exploration, the Asiago plateau awaits with its bountiful gravel road network. Heading Southwest from Asiago, a route along the old military railroad line offers the perfect warm-up before heading further South, passing several British war cemetaries, a reminder of the region's strategic importance in WWI. An option with more climbing heads North from Asiago and loops through Rifugio Campolongo before descending back down through Roana and returning to Asiago.

After a last breakfast, it’s time to head back to Treviso or Venice for your trip home or further explorations in the area.