Granfondo Michele Scarponi – Gravel Roads

A Granfondo in the Name of Michele Scarponi

The Granfondo Michele Scarponi – Gravel Roads is the great celebration of amateur cycling that enlivens Filottrano every spring, a hilly town in the province of Ancona, in the heart of the Marche region. The event was created to honor the memory of Michele Scarponi, the "Eagle of Filottrano", winner of the 2011 Giro d'Italia and a beloved figure in Italian cycling, tragically lost on April 22, 2017, during a training ride on his home roads. The granfondo is not just a race, but a way to keep his memory alive and to showcase the Marche territory that he loved to explore by bike.

Four Routes Between Ancona and Macerata

The course winds through the hills of the provinces of Ancona and Macerata, alternating asphalt with characteristic gravel sections that give the event its name. The start and finish are in Filottrano, and participants can choose from four options suitable for all levels:

• Long Route (120 km, 2,230 m elevation gain): the most challenging competitive route, almost entirely on asphalt;
• Medium Route (84 km, 1,545 m elevation gain): competitive but more accessible;
• Short Route (52 km, 890 m elevation gain): cyclotourism, with a "French start" (individual starts);
• Gravel Route (approx. 60 km): with a GPS track open to gravel bike enthusiasts.

Along the longer routes, refreshment points are set up, including those in Cupramontana, Corsciano di San Severino Marche, and Grottaccia, allowing cyclists to refuel while admiring the panoramic Marche hills.

The Granfondo Day

The start for the long, medium, and gravel routes is scheduled for early morning, around 8:25 AM, from the center of Filottrano. The event attracts hundreds of cyclists from all over Italy each year, including racers, cyclotourists, and enthusiasts, who find in the event an occasion for sport, friendship, and discovery of the territory. The atmosphere is typical of the great spring granfondos: race numbers, colorful bicycles, families along the roads, and a strong sense of community that binds the town to the memory of its champion.

Organization and Territory

The event is organized by the Fans Club Michele Scarponi and G.C. Michele Scarponi Filottrano, with the collaboration of various local cycling clubs and the support of the Municipality of Filottrano. The granfondo is part of a busy calendar of spring cycling initiatives in the area, so much so that packages are available that combine it with other Marche events, such as the 9 Fossi of Cingoli and the Stradembrecciade. For those visiting the Marche in spring, it is a perfect opportunity to combine a passion for cycling with the discovery of the villages and hilly landscapes of the province of Ancona.