Assietta Legend & Gravel Race
Italy's longest-running MTB marathon on the legendary Strada dell'Assietta
About Assietta Legend
A legend of Italian off-road cycling
The Assietta Legend is one of the most beloved and historic mountain bike marathons in the Alps. Recognized as Italy's longest-running MTB race, it takes place in Sestriere, in the Province of Turin and the heart of Piedmont—the highest town in Italy at 2,035 meters above sea level. Every year, the event attracts hundreds of cyclists from across Italy and abroad, drawn by the stark beauty of the high mountains and the allure of a course that has become a staple in off-road cycling history.
The legendary Strada dell'Assietta
The heart of the competition is the Strada dell'Assietta, a military mule track built in the 19th century that runs entirely above 2,000 meters. Riding along this ridge means crossing a series of legendary alpine passes—Colle dell'Assietta (2,474 m), Monte Genevris (2,533 m), Colle Blegier (2,381 m), Col Basset, and Colle Costa Piana—immersed in panoramas that sweep across the peaks of the Cottian Alps. Along the route, riders encounter the ruins of historic fortifications and traverse the territory of the Orsiera Rocciavrè Natural Park, amidst high-altitude pastures, mule tracks, and rocky sections.
Two races in one adventure
Starting in 2026, the Assietta Legend expands its offering by pairing the classic mountain bike event with a Gravel Race, designed for those who tackle the mountains on gravel bikes. Both competitions share the same spirit of challenge and the same exceptional scenery, with start and finish in Sestriere. This formula opens the event to an ever-wider audience of off-road enthusiasts while maintaining the epic character that has made this race famous.
An event for the local area
Organized by the Consorzio Turismo Sestriere, the Assietta Legend is much more than just a race: it is a celebration of sport and the mountains that brings Sestriere and the upper Val Chisone to life at the start of summer. The Olympic village, famous for its ski slopes and the 2006 Turin Winter Games, transforms for a day into the capital of mountain biking, welcoming athletes, supporters, and spectators in an atmosphere of enthusiasm and sporting passion.
Assietta Legend — edition 2026
The 38th edition of the Assietta Legend returns to its roots with the start and finish in the heart of Sestriere, in Piazza Fraiteve. The new Marathon course, 68 km long with 1,862 meters of elevation gain, is described as fast and never too technical, suitable for all off-road users. The route includes a significant change in the first few kilometers, with the climb to Monte Rotta along the scenic Sentiero Gelindo Bordin, the descent into the Val Chisone towards Pourrières, and the gradual climb back to the ridge of the Strada dell'Assietta. For 2026, the event adds the new Gravel Race to the classic MTB event, also starting and finishing in Sestriere.
Programme Assietta Legend 2026
Saturday, July 4, 2026 — Sestriere
Start and finish in Piazza Fraiteve, in the center of Sestriere (2,035 m), the highest town in Italy.
- Assietta Legend MTB — Marathon course of 68 km with 1,862 m of elevation gain.
- Gravel Race — new 2026 event in the same setting, with start and finish in Sestriere.
The route crosses the alpine passes of the Strada dell'Assietta above 2,000 meters: Colle dell'Assietta (2,474 m), Monte Genevris (2,533 m), Colle Blegier (2,381 m), Col Basset (2,424 m), Colle Costa Piana (2,313 m), and Colle Bourget (2,299 m), within the Orsiera Rocciavrè Natural Park, amidst high-altitude pastures and ancient military fortifications.
Online registration via the Endu platform on the official website.
Highlights Assietta Legend 2026
Prices Assietta Legend 2026
Practical information — Assietta Legend
How to get there
Sestriere can be reached by car from Turin in about 1h30 via the SS23 road of the Colle del Sestriere, passing through Pinerolo and the Val Chisone. The nearest train station is Oulx-Cesana-Claviere-Sestriere, on the Turin-Bardonecchia line, which is connected to Sestriere by local bus services.
Registration
Registration is handled online via the Endu platform on the official website www.assiettalegend.it. There are two distinct races: the Assietta Legend MTB and the Gravel Race.
Practical tips
The route takes place at high altitude: bring technical clothing suitable for changing mountain weather conditions. Sestriere offers numerous accommodation options, ideal for staying over the race weekend.
Contact
Consorzio Turismo Sestriere, Via Pinerolo 7/B, 10058 Sestriere (TO). Tel. +39 0122 755444 — [email protected]
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Where does it take place — Assietta Legend
Piazza Fraiteve
Piazza Fraiteve, 10058 Sestriere