WITH FAT TYRES INTO NATURE - 1700 KM
New: “The Trentino network of mtb trails”
Trentino is changing the rules for mountain biking and the change aims to better qualify an offer of key importance for active holidays. In summary, the new regulations are based on an approach that sees cycling tourism and the enjoyment of mountains on a mountain bike as strategic assets of the Trentino tourist offer. The main novelty is the “MTB trails network”, which brings together a number of cross country routes with different difficulty levels, presenting the best of each territory. The network aims to direct cyclists towards the most suitable and interesting offroad routes, without ruling out the possibility to cover other routes not included in the list, except for possible and limited bans in case of situations of risk for the environment or other users, in particular hikers. The network routes are identified by dedicated working groups within each tourist area and are now being approved for all areas most interested in the territory mountain bike offer. A special signalisation system is being planned based on the model adopted by Club Alpino Italiano at a national level.
Cross Country and Enduro: four big circuits available
The Dolomiti Lagorai Bike offers over 1,100 kilometres of offroad tracks through woods, meadows, pastures, small alpine lakes and, on top of that, the nature parks of Monte Corno and Paneveggio as a backdrop to the excursions. The circuit touches Val di Fassa, Val di Fiemme and Valsugana, to then reach as far as the spectacular peaks of the Lagorai chain and the Dolomites peaks of Latemar, Catinaccio, Sella and Pale di San Martino, Unesco World Heritage Site. You can download all gps tracks from the circuit website (www.dolomitilagoraibike.it).
The Dolomiti di Brenta Bike develops around the Brenta group; you will be pedalling within the protected area of the Adamello Brenta Nature Park. Here again you have two possibilities. The “Expert” track is reserved for the more experienced cyclists, 171 kilometres of pure fun. “Country Tour”, on the other hand, is for those who want a route suitable also for beginners, along cycling tracks on the valley floors, immersed in the peace of the countryside, through apple orchards, and touching characteristic villages. Roadbook and gps tracks can be downloaded from www.dolomitibrentabike.it.
From the mountains to Lake Garda: this, in short, is the Mountain & Garda Bike, the beautiful route that combines the majesty of Trentino mountains with the enchantment of the largest Italian lake. Between steep ups and downs and softer stretches, this tour allows to discover Monte Bondone, Valle dei Laghi, Monte Baldo, Val di Ledro and the Trentino Garda. All gps tracks can be downloaded from www.mountaingardabike.it.
The 100 Chilometri dei Forti route develops on the dirt roads of the Cimbrian plateaus of Folgaria, Lavarone and Luserna, famous for the homonymous cross country MTB competition which is held there in June since 1996. The route touches all three Cimbrian Alp territories, characterised by the presence of seven Austro-Hungarian forts built to defend the southern border of the Habsburg Empire between the end of the 19th century and the first decade of the 20th century. In addition to the forts, the route touches other testimonial sites of World War I such as the Austro-Hungarian cemetery and the Virti Austrian Command in Lavarone.
Downhill: Seven bike parks where riders can go wild
Acrobatic feats, full speed descents, parabolic curves, jumps, footbridges: in two words, Bike Parks. In Trentino there are seven centres designed and built mainly for downhill and freeride, disciplines that are in constant growth and that can attract especially the younger enthusiasts. They are the Brenta Bike Park on Doss del Sabiòn in Val Rendena, the Bike Park Valbiolo at Passo Tonale, the Paganella Bike Park in Fai della Paganella, the Bike Park Lavarone in the heart of Alpe Cimbra, the San Martino Bike Arena above San Martino di Castrozza, the Fassa Bike Park in Canazei and Pozza di Fassa, and the Bike Park Garda Trentino with the famous – and completely renewed - “Val del Diaol” downhill track.
DISCOVERING THE TERRITORY ON A BICYCLE – 431 KM
Trentino can be explored in an easy and fun way also by bicycle, thanks to widespread quality services playing a considerable role in the active holiday offer. You can pedal on a network of over 400 km of cycling tracks suitable for everyone, including families, or venture with your mountain bike along forest roads and high altitude tracks to ride through nature, or tackle spectacular circuits around the Dolomites peaks, UNESCO World Heritage Site. Many local tourist resorts offer bike-friendly accommodation facilities, together with bike rental and maintenance services, including e-bikes, also in the MTB version; shuttle bus and integrated bus and train + bicycle transport services are being expanded more and more, to bring cyclists back to their departure point after an unforgettable day immersed in nature and the Trentino landscape.
Cycling tracks: 431 kilometres for cycling enthusiasts and families
For the last 26 years much of the environmental wealth in Trentino has been accessible to an ever increasing number of guests and residents, looking for well being and relaxation in contact with nature, thanks to the network of cycling tracks. There are 431 kilometres of completed tracks, the key feature of this network being that it is in large part reserved for bicycles and can therefore be travelled in full safety by cycling tourists, professional cyclists and families with children (since 2009 the network proudly displays the «Family in Trentino» logo). The tracks develop outside urban centres, going through sites of great environmental value, parks, biotopes, areas of archaeological and cultural interest, places where man has left his mark in a virtuous balance with the environment. Where possible, old roads, disused railways lines, country cart-roads and riverbank tracks were recovered. The longest trail, 99 kilometres, runs along the Adige valley from Cadino, on the border with the Bolzano province down to Borghetto, on the border with the Verona province, touching the cities of Trento and Rovereto.
Each cycle track has directional signs with boards offering historical, cultural and environmental information on the places that have been visited. Along the cycle tracks there is no shortage of rest areas with benches, bike racks, fountains and also twelve “bicigrills”. These are spots where to have refreshments, assistance and information, and eat some typical local products, but where you can also have some small emergency repairs done and find information material on the territory you are cycling through. On www.ciclabili.provincia.tn.it it is possible to travel in a virtual way along each cycling track and download their gps maps.
Great Trentino road climbs
One of the novelties this summer is the “Grandi salite del Trentino” (Great Trentino road climbs) project, allowing everyone to pedal virtually, hairpin after hairpin, on the bicycles of great champions along routes that made the history of bicycle racing – with old newsreels in black and white or bright colour pictures, stories of bandannas thrown to the ground and angry thrusts on the pedals, hands down on the handlebar – or on other routes that deserve to be explored. Devised by Accademia della Montagna and Trentino Marketing, the project has identified 23 great road climbs, including the “top five”, epic theatres of battles on the two wheels: Monte Velo, Monte Bondone, Passo Pordoi, Passo di Pampeago and Madonna di Campiglio up to Patascoss. A web app, where cyclists will be able to look up these routes is also being developed.
Bike sharing
Trentino has embraced with conviction a lot of projects that encourage increasingly eco-sustainable mobility solutions, to be also proposed to its guests. Thanks to e-bikes, the pedal-assist electric bikes, the aim is to give everyone the opportunity to discover the beauty of the territory without too much effort.
FiemmE-motion is the sustainable mobility project of Val di Fiemme, to move around freely using low environmental impact means and services. Information on www.visitfiemme.it.
Primiero has developed the Green Way Bike project, with 28 electric mountain bikes available, to be recharged at 5 stations. Information on www.sanmartino.com.
E-vvai is the name of the initiative that aims to promote pedal-assist bikes and bike boxes (charging and assistance columns) placed in strategic spots as part of the “Cycling tourism and e-bike in Giudicarie” project. Information on www.visitacomano.it.
Val di Non has now joined the “Movelo” network, an electric bike rental network spread to many tourist locations in the Alps. Information on www.visitvaldinon.it.
Valsugana is also listed as one of the bike friendly territories in Trentino, with a very structured services offer and a choice of routes. Information on www.valsugana.info.
Bike + bus & shuttle
The “Bicibus Dolomiti-Garda” service, active from June to September, connects the Trentino shores of the largest Italian lake to the main tourist locations at the foot of the Brenta Dolomites, from Terme di Comano to Val Rendena and Altopiano della Paganella and now also from Trento to Sarche in Valle dei Laghi. Seven lines to plan at will your excursions. Bookings at local Tourist Board offices.
The Fassa-Fiemme Bike Express service runs daily, except Saturdays, between Molina and Alba di Canazei to serve the 48-km-long cycling track that crosses Val di Fassa and Val di Fiemme, a level-ground route that can be approached by most cyclists, even by families with children. The service is active from 18 June to 11 September and can be booked the day before at the Val di Fassa Tourist Board office in Mazzin (tel. 0462-609650) by 6.00 pm.
Bicycles can also be carried on suburban buses, subject to room being available in the luggage compartment, where the bicycle must be positioned by the traveller.
…Bike + train
Bicycle transport on regional trains is only allowed on trains showing the proper symbol. Throughout the year, trains operating on the Brenner Line, between Verona and Bolzano, are equipped to carry 6 to 18 bicycles together with their travelling owners.
During the months of July and August, all trains operating on the Valsugana Line, between Trento and Bassano, are fitted to ensure the transport of 32 bicycles and their owners in all daily journeys.
Some trains of the Trento-Malé-Marilleva Line are allowed to carry up to 18 bicycles. For timetables and maximum number of bicycles to be carried on the various trains please visit the Trentino Trasporti Esercizio S.p.A. website: www.ttesercizio.it.
