18–19 September 2027

Foreste Casentinesi

Name: Unpaved Roads Foreste Casentinesi 2027
Start: 2027-09-18
End: 2027-09-19
Location: Santa Sofia, Parco della Resistenza

Two days among the ridges and beech forests of a National Park, where tortelli are still cooked on the stone slab. No rankings, no timing.

Keep me posted

Bundle from 1 November

When

18–19 Sep 2027

Tuscany Trail bundle from 1 November

Base

Santa Sofia, Parco della Resistenza

Format

Weekend · start and finish at the base

Routes

72 km · 43 km

Long or short, choose at the first food stop

Route

Foreste Casentinesi 2027 StartSanta Sofia, Parco della Resistenza

Two loops among the ridges of the Tuscan-Romagna Apennines, starting and finishing in Santa Sofia. You climb from Ridracoli to the Passo del Vinco and Casanova dell'Alpe. The long route carries on along the ridge and descends through the beech forest to the clearing of La Lama and San Paolo in Alpe. The route is not signposted, you follow the GPS track.

Forest roads in the National Park
Descents through the beech forest with technical sections
Tarmac stretches at the start and on the way back

Long

72 km · 1,850 m

ViaSanta Sofia · Ridracoli · Passo del Vinco · Casanova dell'Alpe · La Lama · San Paolo in Alpe · Santa Sofia

Loop starting and finishing in Santa Sofia. Two food stops, at Casanova dell'Alpe and San Paolo in Alpe, plus the final food stop back at the base. Long descents through the beech forest with technical sections and hairpins that are sometimes exposed.

Short

43 km · 1,140 m

ViaSanta Sofia · Ridracoli · Passo del Vinco · Casanova dell'Alpe · Strabatenza · Santa Sofia

Loop starting and finishing in Santa Sofia. One food stop at Casanova dell'Alpe plus the final food stop back at the base. The gravel climb from Ridracoli, then the long descent in hairpins towards Strabatenza.

Along the way

Where the weekend takes you

We picked them one by one, on the bike, while scouting the route.

Ridracoli

This is where the first gravel road begins, seven and a half kilometres of hairpins on well-packed ground, near the Ridracoli dam and lake. You get there after a dozen kilometres of tarmac, across the bridge over the Bidente river.

Passo del Vinco

You crest the pass and catch your breath. From here you head towards the pastures of Casanova dell'Alpe, and on the way back the short route descends in hairpins towards Strabatenza.

Casanova dell'Alpe

The first food stop, in the middle of the pastures, for both routes. This is where you decide, long or short. In 2026 it was prepared by the Municipality of Santa Sofia and Bidente Bike Project.

The descent through the beech forest

After the ridge, a barrier and a sign. Then a long descent inside the beech forest down to the clearing of La Lama. Keep an eye on stones and branches, and if a section does not convince you, walk it.

San Paolo in Alpe

A bivouac on a plateau and the second food stop, with local produce. It is only on the long route, and you go back the same way.

Santa Sofia

Start and finish, with the final food stop and its local dishes. Tortelli alla lastra are at home here.

● The village in Santa Sofia

Saturday

Social ride, Santa Sofia and aperitivo

In the morning the social ride, to loosen your legs and meet your first riding companions. The afternoon is free to visit Santa Sofia or ride a bonus track. From 17:00 at the Parco della Resistenza you pick up your event pack, walk around the sponsors' stands and meet the others at the welcome aperitivo. At 19:00 the prize draw.

● In the Park's beech forest

Sunday

Into the Park, then back to Santa Sofia

Pack pick-up from 7:00, briefing at 8:30, start at 9:00. You climb together towards the Vinco, and at the first food stop you choose whether to head back or carry on into the forest. At the base there is the final food stop with local dishes, in 2026 the Pro Loco's tortelli alla lastra. Showers and bike wash are at the base.

● The video

Foreste Casentinesi 2024 on video

The roads and the people of the weekend, told by those who were there.

Early access · Tuscany Trail bundle

Tuscany Trail and Unpaved Roads, one purchase

Since 1 November, anyone registering for Tuscany Trail 2027 can add the Foreste Casentinesi in the same purchase, before individual registration opens. The two events together cost 208 € with the Tuscany Trail Classic and 308 € with the No Stress ticket. Places are limited.

--Days

--Hours

--Min

--Sec

Keep me posted

2027 registration

How to register

The weekend costs 109 € in presale, then 129 €, or 189 € with the RH+ jersey. Individual registration opens later, and whoever leaves their email hears about it first.

Registration goes through Bike Adventure Series. You create your account, choose the weekend and the ticket, then upload your medical certificate in your personal area.

See how registration works

In your entry

What your entry includes

GPX track of the long and the short route, drawn after our scouting rides
Ride with GPS to unlock the regional maps and navigate from your phone
Map with both routes and their elevation profiles
Two food stops along the route, one on the short route, and the final food stop
Welcome aperitivo on Saturday afternoon
Parco della Resistenza in Santa Sofia with toilets, showers and parking, on Saturday and Sunday, also for the people travelling with you
Bike wash
Photographers and videomakers along the route, for the photos and videos of your weekend
Unpaved Roads cycling cap, only for registered riders
Box of local products from the area
Bottle of Unpaved Roads wine and a small bottle of amaro
Handlebar banner
Digital guide with parking, transport, hotels and everything else (in Italian)
Tourist guide to the area
Three bonus tracks to explore the area on your own
Dedicated accommodation offer in Santa Sofia (the stay itself is not included)
Access to the Bike Adventure Series community
Bike Adventure Series points and badges
Perks from the series partners

Who was there

What they remember

I like the familiar atmosphere and the non-commercial way. Please keep it that small and brilliant.

Unpaved Roads rider Foreste Casentinesi 2023 · short route

Thank you so much for this first gravel event of mine, truly fantastic! The location and the organisation were TOP! The showers were a great extra as we were getting into the car for the long drive home.

At their first gravel event Foreste Casentinesi 2023 · translated from Italian

This was my second event, great weather and wonderful organisation, everyone always kind and helpful, the routes are beautiful, tough but worth it.

At their second weekend Foreste Casentinesi 2023 · translated from Italian

A beautiful, well-organised event! The route lived up to expectations, I always felt at ease.

Unpaved Roads rider Foreste Casentinesi 2023 · translated from Italian

A very beautiful place for the event, a wonderful route. Perfect organisation.

Unpaved Roads rider Foreste Casentinesi 2023 · translated from Italian

A wonderful format, you make people want to ride!

Unpaved Roads rider Foreste Casentinesi 2022 · translated from Italian

FAQ

The questions everyone asks

How hard is it? Can I do it?

These are real Apennines. The long route has 1,850 m of climbing, the short one 1,140 m, and the first gravel climb is about 7.5 km long. The descents in the forest have technical sections, and if a passage does not convince you, get off and walk it. At the first food stop you decide whether to ride the long or the short route, based on that morning's legs.

What bike should I bring?

A gravel bike with tyres of at least 40 mm, ideally with a bit of tread, and easy gears. MTBs and e-bikes are fine too. A road bike is not suitable, on these surfaces you need wide tyres.

Is it a race? Are there time limits?

No, there are no rankings and no timing. The food stops do have times, though. In 2026 anyone reaching Casanova dell'Alpe after 11:30 was asked to take the short route, and the San Paolo in Alpe food stop closed at 14:00. The staff stayed at the base until 17:00.

I am coming alone. Will I meet people?

Saturday is made for that, with the morning social ride, the aperitivo and the prize draw. On Sunday everyone sets off together, and on the climbs the conversation comes by itself. And many come back, more than two hundred people have done a second season with us.

Where do I stay?

In Santa Sofia there are places with a dedicated offer for riders, from the hostel to the hotel and B&Bs. In 2026 there was also a tent spot in the municipal gym, on booking. The list comes with the riders' guide.

How do I get to Santa Sofia? Is there parking and are there showers?

By car from the A14 motorway (Cesena Nord exit), then the E45 to San Piero in Bagno and the SP26 to Santa Sofia. By train to Forlì, then the Start Romagna bus 132. There are three car parks in the village, and at the base you find showers and the bike wash.

Is the route signposted?

No. You follow the GPS track, on your bike computer or with the Ride with GPS app. You find the final track in your personal area and in the riders' guide a week before the event.

Is there mechanical support along the route?

No. Bring at least an inner tube, tyre levers, a pump and a first aid kit. Helmet, lights, reflective vest, whistle or bell and mobile phone are the mandatory kit in the rules.

How do I register?

Registration goes through Bike Adventure Series. Create your account on bikeadventureseries.com, then on opening day choose the Foreste Casentinesi and your ticket. Every rider needs their own account.

Are places limited? Can I register later?

Yes, places are limited. You can also register later on, but in the last editions most individual entries came in the first weeks, during the 109 € presale. After that the price goes up to 129 €.

Do I need a medical certificate if it is not a race?

Yes, it is mandatory, for the safety of everyone riding. You need a certificate of fitness for sport with high cardiovascular effort, or a medical certificate for competitive cycling, valid up to the day of the event. You upload it to your Bike Adventure Series personal area up to 30 days before the event.

At Casanova dell'Alpe some head back towards Strabatenza and some climb onto the ridge. Those who carry on pass a barrier and ride into a beech forest that closes over the road.