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The Nove Colli (nine hills) is widely regarded as the first ever sportive. The original event took place in 1970 organised by the local cycling club who still to this day run the sportive. It is now a massive operation with 13,000 riders coming from all over the world, live TV coverage in Italy and completely closed roads over a 200km route.
This is one of the largest gatherings of cyclists in Europe and there is a large expo in Cesenatico over the weekend with most brands there with their newest toys. The ride itself has a great atmosphere with locals lining the route and riders enjoying the beautiful countryside and completely closed roads.
Nove Colli is a sportive in 3 stages whether you are riding the 130km route or the full 200km. The first and last 30km are quick, very quick. Which just leaves either 70km or 140km depending on your route choice to get over the hills of the Emilia Romagna countryside.
This sportive is organised impeccably with closed roads, well marked climbs and feed stations stocked with energy food and local specialties. The sportive starts promptly at 6am with pens filling up from 5am. You will be given a pen colour instructing where to start - these are well sign posted in town. Straight from the gun the pace is quick as the route follows wide, flat roads. Hold on to a group and see those kilometress fly by (prepare to ride at a good 10km/h faster than your normal pace). From here the climbs start - 9 hills for the long route and 4 hills for the medium. These are mostly 5-7km and mostly steady. The most famous climb on the route is Barbotto which ramps up and up until hitting nearly 20% near the top. This is the final climb for the medium route.
On both routes, the final 30km is largely downhill giving you time to recover before a final quick 12km flat blast. After a final left turn in Cesenatico there is a long sprint finish to the line where crowds of locals will cheer you to the end.
The full nine hills. Starting and ending on the coast with a rapid first and last 25km and a middle 150km full of climbing and descending.
Distance: 200 Km. Elevation: 3840 M.
Taking in four of the nine hills including the toughest on the route - the Barbotto with gradients close to 20% at the top.
Distance: 130 Km. Elevation: 1871 M.
Nove Colli has been going every year since 1971 - by far the oldest of the major European sportives
Marco Pantani was from Cesenatico and there is a museum dedicated to him in town
The nearest airport is Bologna which is just over one hour away. Transfers are available.
Race entries can be collected at the Stadio Comunale in Cesenatico from the Wednesday of the event. You will need your medical certificate, ID & Race Pack form that you need to print out from the Nove Colli website.
The grids open at 6am for a 7am start in Cesenatico. Grids of 2,000 riders are all over town with instruction of where to go given in your race pack. The finish is in central Cesenatico adjacent to the beach,
The home of Nove Colli and a good choice for basing yourself for your visit. The town is probably the most up market of the local beach towns and for Nove Colli there is a large bike expo with plenty of top brands on show. The race starts early in the morning so being close to the start line helps.
Riccione is home to some of the best bike hotels in the world. The town has a nice centre with good restaurants and a long sandy beach. The bike hotels all include excellent local guides so this is a good base if you are coming for longer than just the weekend and all the hotels put on transfers to Cesenatico for race day.
This is the biggest town in the area and has some good restaurants and excellent bike hotels.
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