Mountain Bike Race (Unitrag Trophy - Pietro Tagliaferri Memorial)

A day of outdoor sport in Forano

The Mountain Bike Race in Forano, historically linked to the Unitrag Trophy - Pietro Tagliaferri Memorial, is a recurring highlight on the event calendar of the Municipality of Forano, located in the province of Rieti, in the heart of the Lazio region's Lower Sabina. The event takes place in early September, when the summer heat begins to fade and the hills surrounding the town become perfect for comfortable riding throughout the day.

The Velodromo Aldo Denaro, the heart of the event

The focal point is the Velodromo Aldo Denaro, a facility rarely found in a town of this size and a true symbol of Forano's cycling heritage. Registration, race starts, refreshments, and award ceremonies are all centered around this structure. The event is organized by the historic Nuova Ciclisti Forano - I Reccapezzati, a highly active local cycling club that also promotes track events and the well-known velodrome granfondo throughout the year.

Two worlds: youth and amateurs

The event has always been structured into two complementary levels:

• The youth race, reserved for children and teenagers aged approximately 5 to 15, is promotional in nature: short courses, maximum safety, prizes for all participants, and an atmosphere intentionally far from high-pressure competition.
• The guided mountain bike excursion for adults, traditionally covering about 35 kilometers of medium difficulty, winds through the Sabine hills and the Tiber Valley, featuring dirt tracks, old carriage roads, and stunning views of nearby villages.

The memory of Pietro Tagliaferri

The title of Memorial is more than just a formal detail: the day always includes a moment dedicated to the memory of Pietro Tagliaferri, in the presence of his family. This is one of the features that make the event so recognizable, as sport here serves as a way to unite the community and honor its collective memory.

An event for families

More than a race in the strict sense, the Forano event is a local sporting festival: at the end of the races, it is customary to hold a communal pasta party, with parents and local associations participating. Registration fees have always been kept low, in line with the promotional spirit of the event, and the environment is designed so that even those who aren't cycling can enjoy a Sunday out.

Forano and the Lower Sabina

Forano has just over three thousand inhabitants and sits on the first hills overlooking the Tiber Valley, a short distance from Poggio Mirteto and the border with the province of Rome. It is a land of olive groves—the Sabina region is famous for its extra virgin olive oil—and charming, clustered villages, making it ideal for cycle tourism: quiet secondary roads, manageable elevation changes, and panoramas stretching from the Sabine Mountains to Mount Soratte. Visitors arriving for the event will find it the perfect excuse to stay a few hours longer to explore the historic center and the surrounding countryside.

The rest of the Forano calendar

The September event ideally closes the season of summer festivals in Forano, which includes the Pasta Festival in mid-August—now in its sixtieth year—and the August Feasts from August 15th to 24th. A packed calendar that perfectly illustrates the vibrant community spirit of this corner of the Sabina region.