The MTB event returns on time like every year Riva del Garda, in the province of Trento, on the thirty-year-old shores of Lake Garda. Of May 2 to 5 2024, FSA Riva del Garda Bike Festival The cycling season reopens this year off road.
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A birthday and lots of news
Four days of races and guided tours in eMT. Gravel rides, workshops and opportunities for all enthusiasts and curious people to test the latest models of the best bikes.
You cycle on the routes designed in the mountains of Garda Trentino, which count 50 cycle paths And 1,500 kilometers paths bike. And there is something for all levels and all difficulties.
In the background, an exhibition space which will accommodate more 200 exhibitors And 350 international brands.
Born in 1994, FSA Riva del Garda Bike Festival blows out 30 candles this year. A birthday that marks a turning point.
In addition to the new graphics, the organizing team has changed. The direction of the event, in fact, comes down to Garda Dolomiti – Tourist Company SpA which announces a festival renewed in image and content, but still faithful to its original concept.
The new visual theme is represented by a camouflage grid which symbolizes closeness to nature. The lively design of the new logo recalls the rocky paths of the region, highlighting the color combination inspired by the landscape of Lake Garda.
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Three decades of glory
In the mid-90s, to the German journalist Uli Stanciu, then director of Bike Magazine, had the idea of creating an event dedicated to mountain biking and setting it up in Riva del Garda. A generous location from a naturalistic point of view, the ideal destination for setting up an outdoor exhibition space. And then, an ideal holiday destination for many Germans, always attracted by its varied landscapes, capable of combining the strength of the mountains and the immensity of the lake.
“In the beginning, the festival was attended almost exclusively by Bike magazine readers from Germany, Austria and Switzerland,” said Stanciu, “but over three decades the event has become an international event, a must-see for thousands of people. biker of all ages: athletes, beginners and amateurs, who participate every year eager to discover the new products of the season and at the same time to try and test them on the field.”
Exhibition, competitions, evenings: the program for the 30th edition
The festival offers a rich program with guided tours, workshops And groceries of different formats: from the Specialized Bike Marathon to the Maxxis Gravel Garda Trentino, from the Bosch eMTB Challenge to the Scott Junior Trophy for cyclists aged 4 to 14 years old.
The highlight of the festival is the marathon race on the UCI calendar: around 1,500 bikers will compete on one of three courses of 30, 59 and 82 kilometers.
For visitors, routes are available to test and test the bikes on display as well as various “experiences” of the protagonists such as the Enduro Experience (with organized groups accompanied by qualified guides) and the eMTB Adventure Experience where participants will be able to experience uninterrupted fun thanks to battery changing stations installed along the routes of longer routes.
And more: acrobatic shows, rides and the open evening, which will be followed by a party at the Spiaggia degli Olivi. In short, a busy schedule during the day and evening.
4 competitions in 4 days
The Bosch eMTB Challenge features a mix of climbs, descents and orientation challenges. Participants will compete on an evocative course, with panoramic views and dynamic courses. Requirements? Good driving technique and good sense of direction. Two events: Thursday May 2 the “Amateur” event with 5 stages and the next day the one reserved for the “Advanced” category with 6 stages.
For lovers of dirt roads, the Maxxis Gravel Garda Trentino, scheduled for Friday May 3, offers participants the opportunity to choose between two different routes through the landscapes of Garda Trentino: the short route of 65 km (480 d+) and the 100 km long route (1,750 days+). Registrations open from February 1st.
The Specialized Marathon is aimed at the most ambitious bikers who want to try their hand at the first high-level mountain bike race of the year, competing against the stars of the international scene. The event scheduled for Saturday May 4 offers three courses, open to both elite athletes and amateurs: Ronda Extreme (82.77 km and 3,434 d+), registered by the UCI as “Hors race category”; Ronda Grande (59.56 km and 2,406 d+); Ronda Piccola (30.67 km and 1,065 d+). The Early Bird rate for the Specialized Marathon is valid until February 19.
Sunday May 5, it's the turn of the Scott Junior Trophy, intended for budding cyclists aged 3 to 14 years old. All children feel like winners when they compete on the Parco Miralago course, a great opportunity for tomorrow's champions to have their first racing experiences with their peers and to be part of a living community. To register for the races, visit the official website.
The best bikes of the 2024 season
To underline its faithful vocation as a major exhibition showcase, the organizers of the FSA Bike Festival Riva del Garda have decided to present, with a view to the 2024 edition, the Bike Festival Awards. An award that recognizes the most important bikes in the MTB Front, MTB Full, eMTB, Gravel/eGravel categories and, for each group, companies will be able to propose their own proposals which will be evaluated by an independent jury of experts.
The jury will be chaired by the historical director of Bike Magazine, Uli Stanciuwho will lead a working group composed of the industrial designer Giampaolo Alloccogravel Alessandro Grisottofrom the sports designer Johnny Molettafrom the mobility expert Hannes Neupertby the journalist Sissi Parschby the technical director of the Kiska agency Michael Rieder and by the YouTuber and content creator Andrea Ziliani.
The four winning bikes will be announced on Thursday May 2, the opening day of the FSA Bike Festival Riva del Garda.
Sustainability and inclusion
Garda Dolomiti SpA decided to add more value to the event by paying particular attention to sustainability: a new selective waste collection system, the use of recycled yarns for all merchandising and the special “Bike Festival glasses ” made with recycled materials are just three of the different ecological measures adopted.
Additionally, the FSA Bike Festival Riva del Garda has reduced architectural barriers around the exhibition area as much as possible to allow people with disabilities to participate in the event.
Visiting the FSA Bike Festival Riva del Garda exhibition space is free (registration here). To get a glimpse of what awaits all Riva del Garda fans, the teaser for the 2024 edition is online.
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