Monferrando

Monferrando: slow cycling in the heart of Monferrato

Monferrando is a non-competitive cycling event dedicated to gravel and bikepacking, held in Borgoratto Alessandrino, a small town in the Province of Alessandria, nestled in the heart of the Monferrato region in Piedmont. Launched in 2024, the event has rapidly become a benchmark for cycling enthusiasts, featuring routes that wind through the UNESCO-listed Monferrato hills along a dense network of gravel roads, dirt tracks, and scenic trails.

The philosophy: travel by bike without haste

Monferrando is not a race: it is a regional project that focuses on the joy of riding, far from the pressure of the clock. The event specifically celebrates bikepacking, a philosophy of self-sufficient travel where participants carry their essentials in frame-mounted bags without support vehicles, allowing them to truly immerse themselves in the landscape and the communities they encounter along the way.

Five routes for every rider

The heart of Monferrando lies in its five itineraries, all starting and finishing at the Monferrando Village in Borgoratto Alessandrino, designed to accommodate both those looking for a single-day ride and those seeking a multi-day challenge:

• Classic — approx. 50 km, ideal for those new to gravel
• Explorer — approx. 80 km on gravel roads and trails
• Roam — approx. 120 km on asphalt, for road bikes
• Ultra Trail — 270 km in a single bikepacking stage
• Escape — 420 km over multiple days, one of the longest gravel routes in Italy

The tracks wind through several provinces of lower Piedmont and involve various local municipalities, from Borgoratto to Ricaldone, in a network of collaborations that makes Monferrando a true regional promotion project.

The Monferrando Village

The event's hub is the Monferrando Village, set up in Borgoratto Alessandrino: this is where participants pick up their race packs, set up tents and campers, find showers, mechanical and technical support, and enjoy the event's social moments. With its Taste Village, Food Experiences, and the iconic evening Moon Ride, the village is where sport meets the food and wine of Monferrato and the camaraderie of cyclists from all over Europe.

An event growing year by year

Promoted by the ASD SQD association with the support of local municipalities, Monferrando has seen its numbers grow season after season: from 230 participants in the 2024 debut to approximately 390 in 2025, with cyclists arriving from Italy, France, Switzerland, and Austria. This success has confirmed Monferrato as an international destination for slow and sustainable cycle tourism.