Accademia della Ventricina Trophy

A race that tastes of hills and Ventricina

The Accademia della Ventricina Trophy is the most anticipated event for mountain bike enthusiasts in Scerni, a village in the Frentano hinterland in the province of Chieti, in the heart of the Abruzzo hills that slope down toward the Trabocchi Coast. Created by the Municipality of Scerni and having grown over time to become one of the most popular events on the amateur Abruzzo calendar, the trophy ties sport closely to the gastronomic identity of the territory: the Ventricina del Vastese, a traditional cured meat from these lands, is not only the name of the event but also the prize that awaits the protagonists at the finish line.

The course

The race takes place along a mixed dirt loop of about 10 kilometers, with approximately 167 meters of elevation gain per lap, to be repeated three times for a total of just over 500 meters of total ascent. The track, technical yet fast, winds through the fields and paths of Contrada San Giacomo, immersed in the rural landscape of Scerni: gravel roads, ups and downs through crops, and glimpses of the Vastese hills. The start and finish are located in the same district, with the meeting point at Bar La Baita.

Sport and territory

Organized by Polisportiva Casalbike together with UISP Ciclismo Abruzzo e Molise, with the patronage of the Municipality of Scerni and the collaboration of the Accademia della Ventricina, the trophy gathers dozens of teams from Abruzzo, Molise, and Puglia every year. Beyond the competitive challenge, the event is designed as an opportunity to promote the hills of Scerni and the Colline dei Trabocchi area, with a convivial finale: the traditional pasta party and the distribution of gastronomic packages based on Ventricina to the top finishers and the largest teams. A simple and winning formula that has made Scerni a small capital of Abruzzo mountain biking for years.