The Nove Colli translates as the Nine Hills and is a sportive that takes place in Italy in late May every year. It is held in Emilia Romagna and the route runs from Cesenatico in a loop through the hilly inland areas finishing back in Cesenatico. There are two routes on offer; the 135km, 4 hill route and the full 205km, 9 hill option. The picturesque seaside resort of Cesenatico is famed for being Marco Pantani’s home town and there are reminders of its cycling heritage on every corner. In the run up to the Nove Colli the town is taken over by biking enthusiasts from all over Europe and there is some serious biking bling on display. There is also a huge Cycling Expo the weekend of the event, with most of the main manufacturers present and a good opportunity to see some of the groundbreaking innovations the pro riders will be enjoying this summer.
The sportive has 5 different starts according to race number and we were fortunate that we had secured one of the earlier starts. On arrival at the start line you realise the scale of the sportive – there are 12,000 riders all in total with bikes as far as the eye can see forwards and backwards. The event is also filmed for Italian TV so there are helicopters circulating overhead giving the event a true Grand Tour feel. The race is largely closed roads so starts at 06:00 am in order not to inconvenience the local residents too much. It is dusky still on the start line but the sun soon appears, warming the day up substantially.
Once underway the ride goes along dual carriageways and decent A roads for 20km on the flat before hitting the first hill. On this section it is easy to get carried away as peleton after peleton of riders form and sweep past. It’s easy to jump on and hide in the group, saving some vital energy for those hills later.
The hills all have their own character but generally range from 3 to 8 km in length with gradients of an average of 5.3% and a maximum of 18%. They’re not particularly long or steep overall but the sharp little rises and short sections of hairpins really start to take their toll as the race goes on. Hill number 4 is the Barbotto, which made an appearance on the 2010 Giro route and is feared for being 18% at the top and also the last hill on the short course. We had cycled it a few days previously and knew what to expect but it was a totally different ride when hemmed in by cyclists on all sides. After the route splits into two with the short course returning to Cesenatico and the long course continuing, the roads get much less busy and the rise becomes much more enjoyable.
In typical Italian style, the food stops were amazing, with espressos, coke, fruit juice and water available and fruit, cake and sandwiches depending on the stop. There were portaloos in strategic places and some of the hotels locally also set up stalls for their riders. After the route split the food stalls were increasingly necessary to stave off dehydration – it was 34°C and when climbing the going was slow enough that overheating was a real problem. The ride has a sting in the tail; hill 9 has a 17% maximum incline right at the top. It’s tough but refreshments are available at the top ready for the last, fast 20km back to the finish.
The area is really beautiful and the sportive takes in some of the loveliest hill top villages and sea views around. As it is closed-road at the start, the riders can really stretch out. Towards the end the roads are no longer closed although all of the drivers are well aware of the cyclists and generally drive sympathetically. Approaching Cesenatico at the finish are a number of large roundabouts and during the race the police stop traffic for approaching cyclists – nothing beats flying around a roundabout with a huge tail of riders whilst the cars wait. The finish is along the seafront in Cesenatico and is Grand Tour style, with a huge finishing airbridge and barriered off areas for spectators, all cheering. This even raised our weary limbs into a final sprint for glory on the line.
As a spring sportive it is hard to beat and the sheer number of riders make it hugely enjoyable. The Italians have good road surfaces and even re-surface some roads before the event so it’s nice and smooth under wheel. There’s a good international contingent so you can usually find someone to chat to and it helps considerably if you ride an Italian bike as you will have no shortage of people to talk to; if you speak Italian or not. Highly recommended.
Polly Tandy
http://www.novecolli.it
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