La Perini Val Nure Gravel
Gravel cycling tour on the Piacenza hills of Val Nure
About Val Nure Gravel
A gravel party in the heart of Val Nure
The Perini Val Nure Gravel is one of the most appreciated gravel events in the Piacenza Apennines. Every year, at the beginning of September, dozens of amateur cyclists gather in Bettola, a small mountain municipality in the province of Piacenza, in Emilia-Romagna, to cycle along the white roads, dirt tracks, and trails that wind through the hills and woods of Val Nure. It is not a race: it is a cycling tour, open to everyone, where the pleasure of discovering the territory matters more than the stopwatch.
The philosophy: adventure and territory, no rankings
The event is organized by Team Perini, the sports association founded by Giancarlo Perini, nicknamed "Pero", a former professional cyclist who also competed in the Tour de France. In recent years, his historic granfondo has transformed into a gravel and cycling tour event, according to a deliberately "de-athleticized" formula: no merit rankings, no cumulative points, but a rediscovery of the bond with the territory. This is the same philosophy as the Maxxis Gravel Circuit, of which the Perini Val Nure Gravel is one of the eight national stages on the calendar, designed to bring as many people as possible closer to the world of gravel.
The route and Passo Guselli
The event offers multiple routes of different lengths and elevations, to accommodate both cycling tourists and those seeking a longer and more challenging ride. The symbol of the day is Passo Guselli, elected "Cima Coppi" of the event: a climb of about fifteen kilometers with a summit around 940 meters above sea level, the second part of which features truly steep gradients, reaching almost 20%. The routes pass through the villages and Apennine landscapes along the Nure river, amidst meadows, woods, and ancient mule tracks.
Bettola, gateway to Val Nure
The start and finish are set in the center of Bettola, a town overlooking the Nure river, about thirty kilometers south of Piacenza, considered the "gateway" to the valley. Its Piazza Cristoforo Colombo and arcades provide the ideal backdrop for the event, which combines the passion for cycling with the discovery of an authentic Apennine region, made of flavors, hospitality, and nature.
Val Nure Gravel — edition 2026
The Perini Val Nure Gravel 2026 will take place on Sunday, September 6, 2026, with start and finish in Bettola, in the heart of the Piacenza Val Nure. The event is one of the stages of the 2026 Maxxis Gravel Circuit, the national gravel cycling tour now in its second edition, which rewards with a Maxxis gift those who complete at least three of the eight races on the calendar.
The event maintains its non-competitive spirit: participants ride for the pleasure of discovering the territory, without rankings. Several routes of different lengths and elevations are planned, from the shorter cycling tour route to the more challenging one that tackles Passo Guselli, a climb of about 15 km with a summit around 940 meters and gradients reaching almost 20%.
The detailed 2026 program (start times, final routes, refreshment points, and registration fees) will be published by the organization and the circuit portal in the weeks preceding the event.
Programme Val Nure Gravel 2026
The detailed 2026 program (start times, final routes, and refreshment points) will be published by Team Perini and the Maxxis Gravel Circuit portal in the weeks before the event.
Usual structure of the day
- Meet and start in the center of Bettola in the morning.
- Choice of multiple gravel routes of different lengths and elevations.
- Challenging route with the climb of Passo Guselli (approx. 15 km, summit at ~940 m, gradients up to 20%) as the "Cima Coppi" of the day.
- Refreshment points along the route and finish line in Bettola.
Highlights Val Nure Gravel 2026
- Stage of the 2026 Maxxis Gravel Circuit (second edition of the circuit).
- The climb of Passo Guselli, the event's "Cima Coppi".
- Inclusive cycling tour formula, without rankings.
- White roads and dirt tracks of the Piacenza Val Nure.
Prices Val Nure Gravel 2026
Practical information — Val Nure Gravel
How to get there
Bettola can be reached by car from Piacenza by taking the Strada Provinciale di Val Nure (about 30 km south). The nearest train station is Piacenza, on the Milan-Bologna line, from which you can continue by car or with connections to the valley.
Participation
The event is a cycling tour and non-competitive: gravel bikes are recommended. Registrations and route details are managed by the organization (Team Perini) and the Maxxis Gravel Circuit portal. It is advisable to check prices and procedures on the official website before the event.
Tips
Bring adequate equipment for dirt roads and uphill sections; some routes tackle Passo Guselli with challenging gradients. Bettola and the villages of Val Nure offer trattorias and farmhouses to conclude the day with Piacenza cuisine.
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Where does it take place — Val Nure Gravel
Centro di Bettola
Piazza Cristoforo Colombo, 29021 Bettola