Ales Cup

A new challenge of ingenuity and gravity in Alice Castello

A unique new event is coming to the heart of the Vercelli region: the Ales Cup, the first homemade soapbox race in the Municipality of Alice Castello, in the province of Vercelli (Piedmont). The debut is set for Sunday, June 21, 2026, when the town's historic center will transform into an open-air circuit for engine-free vehicles powered solely by gravity. It is one of those local festivals that blends craftsmanship, imagination, and pure fun, in the best tradition of Italian soapbox racing.

How it works: the ultimate lighthearted race

The Ales Cup is designed as a lighthearted, non-competitive community event: the goal is not athletic performance, but play, creativity, and celebration. Teams design and build homemade, four-wheeled vehicles equipped with functional steering and a braking system, but no engine: the only propulsion comes from the road's incline. Drivers must be adults. The spirit of the event is to showcase the participants' ingenuity and create bonds between local areas during an afternoon of healthy fun shared by young and old along the town's streets.

The historic center course

The descent runs through the heart of Alice Castello: starting from the top of Piazza Castello, near the Enoteca entrance, it winds down Via Parrocchiale to the entrance of Piazza Savio. A short but scenic track that brings the race right in front of the public lining the barriers, amidst applause and cheers for the most ingenious crews and the most extravagant bolides.

Part of the Festa di San Luigi

The Ales Cup is not an isolated event: it is part of the Festa di San Luigi celebrations, the patronal feast organized by the Pro Loco of Alice Castello in Piazza Ballario. At the end of the race, the day continues with dinner and festivities: food stalls, live music, and DJs will accompany the evening in the convivial atmosphere typical of Piedmontese summer festivals. The initiative is promoted by the Municipality of Alice Castello together with the Giovani del DEN and the local Pro Loco.

Registration and participation

To participate with your own vehicle, teams must register: registration is open until May 24, 2026, by emailing [email protected]. For the public, access along the route is free: just show up in the center of Alice Castello in the late afternoon of June 21 to witness the first historic edition of the Ales Cup.