La Velletrana - Vintage Cycling Event

A vintage cycling event in the heart of the Castelli Romani

La Velletrana is the vintage cycling event of Velletri, a town in the province of Rome nestled on the southern slopes of the Alban Hills, in the Lazio region. Originally conceived as a gathering for classic bicycle enthusiasts, the event has grown with each edition to become a staple in the Italian vintage cycling calendar. It is not a race; it is a leisurely ride open to amateurs, former professionals, and curious newcomers alike, where the focus is not on speed, but on participation and camaraderie.

Classic bikes and vintage attire

As with all vintage cycling events, participants ride historic bicycles featuring steel frames, downtube shifters, and external brake cables, while wearing wool jerseys and authentic or vintage-style cycling gear. The sight at the start line—with toe-clip pedals and aluminum water bottles—is a true journey back to the heroic cycling era of the 20th century. The day also features exhibitions of classic bikes, local product stalls, and arts and crafts that bring the starting area to life.

The routes: Merlot, Bellone, and Malvasia

The routes, named after local grape varieties, alternate between paved roads and 'strade bianche'—unpaved tracks, farm roads, and mule paths—traversing the historic center and the vine-covered hills:

• Merlot, the long route of approximately 50 kilometers, for well-trained cyclists;
• Bellone, the medium route of approximately 30 kilometers;
• Malvasia, the short route of approximately 10 kilometers, suitable for everyone and families.

Along the way, food and wine refreshment stops set up at local wineries and farmhouses punctuate the ride with bruschetta, porchetta, cheeses, and wine from the Castelli Romani.

The Giro delle Regioni – Le Ciclostoriche

La Velletrana is part of the Giro delle Regioni – Le Ciclostoriche, a national circuit that brings together the main vintage cycling events in Central and Southern Italy, spanning Umbria, Lazio, Abruzzo, Campania, and Puglia. The event is also an official round of the FCI Lazio Regional Cycling Championship for Clubs, confirming its deep roots in the regional cycling community.

Velletri, city of wine and artichokes

The Municipality of Velletri, which sponsors the event, is one of the wine capitals of the Castelli Romani: it is no coincidence that the meeting point is the historic Cantina Sperimentale, now home to the CREA Viticulture and Enology center. The spring edition of the event coincides with the festival of the carciofo alla matticella (artichoke roasted over vine shoots), the signature dish of Velletri's rural tradition: a perfect marriage of sport, landscape, and gastronomy that tells the story of this unique corner of Lazio.

An event for everyone

Whether you choose the long route or the short ride, La Velletrana is designed to be enjoyed without a stopwatch: we start together, stop at refreshment points, chat in groups, and arrive when we arrive. It is a spring Sunday that celebrates the cycling of yesteryear and the Velletri territory, through history, flavors, and gravel roads.