Val di Sole Bikeland is the first Italian destination to be awarded with the prestigious UCI Bike City Label, entering the exclusive list of 18 locations in the world standing out for their vision and strategies to promote cycling at 360°
Land of top-notch cycling and big events, Val di Sole keeps chasing new goals. In 2021, the year of the 2021 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships, the Italian Bikeland achieves another important milestone. Upon receiving the UCI Bike City Label, Val di Sole is the first Italian destination to hold the "UCI Bike Region" title. The Label was officially awarded by the International Cycling Union.
From 2015, the UCI Bike City Label has grouped 18 remarkable destinations, including Flanders (Belgium), Limburg (Netherlands), Yorkshire (UK) and Tirol (Austria), bringing together vision, strategies and investments connected to the promotion of cycling, such as new infrastructures and policies, in addition to the organization of international events.
VAL DI SOLE AND BIG EVENTS
Val di Sole's events roadmap is one of the most prestigious on an international scale: starting from 2008, the Trentino valley hosted two editions of the Mountain Bike World Championships (2008 and 2016) and is warming up for two more, with the 2021 MTB World Champs coming up on August 25-29, to be followed by the 2026 edition.
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The Mercedes-Benz UCI Mountain Bike World Cup, which will be back in 2022, set Val di Sole as a seasonal destination for the greatest champion of these disciplines.
Furthermore, since 2015, Val di Sole has hosted the Four-Cross World Championships on a yearly basis and has welcomed two UCI Trials World Cup editions. From December 10th to 12th, 2021, for the first time, the Bikeland will be home to the UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup in Vermiglio.
A LONG-TERM VISION
Behind the path of success of Val di Sole's big events, intuition and strategy made the valley an international excellence, renowned by athletes, amateurs and bike enthusiasts. Val di Sole's mission is to increase the spread of bike usage on its territory from 15% to 20%. The Bikeland can be discovered by bike, normal or e-bike, facing trails and tours summing up 300 kilometres, together with the Noce River cycling path, landmark of the valley.
Moreover, in the two BikeParks – Val di Sole in Commezzadura and Pontedilegno-Tonale – speed and gravity lovers find a real paradise. Along the Noce River cycling path, Skill Parks and Pump Tracks are available for children.
FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS
A substantial part of Val di Sole's budget is dedicated to off-road cycling, infrastructures and cycle initiatives: an approach that has led to the UCI Bike City Label reward and will characterize the future development of the valley.
Val di Sole's cycling network keeps growing in quantity and quality: the works for the extension of the Val di Sole Bike Park in Folgarida with 4 new flow tracks for a total of 16 Km are about to begin, whilst a dedicated e-bike cycle path network will soon come to life in Pejo.
The destination also commits to sustainable initiatives, including the conception of the first plastic-free ski area - Pejo 3000 - and the "Uno su un Milione" experience on water and environmental protection. By no coincidence, Val di Sole devoted to water the 2021 edition of the MTB World Champs. An essential vision for the future of the area, where cycling mobility is a cornerstone of a greater scheme.
"I wish to thank the UCI and its President Lappartient for believing in our vision: the UCI Bike Region title is a remarkable achievement and an extra drive to keep growing" – explains Val di Sole Tourism Board's President Luciano Rizzi. – "To be an international cycling destination is a goal that we set around 20 years ago. Now, we know what comes next: the two wheels will play a core role in the present and future of Val di Sole".
