Many initiatives to discover the Valtellina on paths that cross vineyards, pastures and immaculate valleys.
Source: press release
Excursions on terraced slopes, scenic routes through ancient farming villages, nature tours through woods and mountain pastures. All to be covered on the saddle of electric mountain bikes. On 17-18 September, the Melavì Valtellina Ebike Festival will be staged, organized again this year in Morbegno, a beautiful center at the entrance to Valtellina and a few steps from Lake Como.
The event, in its third edition, is the spokesperson for the beauties of a territory where ancient values and traditions are breathed, which historically refer to the era of trade between the Serenissima Republic and northern Europe, where this land had a crucial role. A period that has bequeathed an inestimable heritage of routes, which are now recovered and re-evaluated thanks to cycle tourism and the spread of pedal assisted bicycles.
In addition to the routes, the event reserves great importance to the famous and tasty Valtellinese food and wine. Yes, because here we are in the homeland of Bitto cheese, pizzoccheri, apples and Nebbiolo grapes. Without forgetting the cured meats, polenta al pot and sciatt (buckwheat pancakes stuffed with cheese), which participants will be lucky enough to savor during the scheduled activities.
And then a focus on environmental sustainability, a value dear to the administrators and inhabitants of the place who want to set their idea of future development precisely on slow tourism and on the enhancement of the products of the earth. It is no coincidence that Morbegno was elected Alpine City 2019 precisely for its commitment to the revaluation of the territory and its products in a modern and eco-sustainable key. to miss:
FESTIVAL RIDE (Saturday 17th September)
The main initiative of the festival is a great all-mountain tour on a new and revisited track compared to previous editions. The tour has been designed to be suitable for all skill levels. Participants will be able to cover it in easy mode (25 km on paved road) or in challenge mode (40 km on smooth and never difficult paths). The initiative aims to be a great party dedicated to pedal assisted bicycles, where everyone proceeds at his own pace, having fun and taking the right time to admire and photograph the beautiful points crossed: ancient peasant villages, monumental churches, castles, monasteries and views point with beautiful views over the valley.
TASTE OF VALTELLINA (Sunday 18 September)
The name promises good things to eat! The Gusto di Valtellina tour is an easy path down the valley where, about every 6 kilometers and in suggestive places, tasting areas will be set up where you can taste the good Valtellina products: starting from the appetizer outside an abbey of the year 50 yes switch to cheeses tasted directly at the Latteria Valtellina. We then continue towards the historic Palazzo Parravicini for a hot dish with tasting of the “Terrazze dei Cech” wines tasted directly in the cellar. Finally, the dessert served in the historic center of Morbegno. A tour not only of taste, but also made up of beautiful routes, with the particularity of including some sections of the three most famous cycling routes in the area: the Sentiero del Viandante (70 km between Lecco and Morbegno), the Via dei Terrazzamenti (125 km between Morbegno and Tirano) and the Sentiero Valtellina (XNUMX km between Colico and Bormio). Surely the initiative suitable for those who want a beautiful, simple and without difficulty tour.
NATURAL TOURS
In the program, the Melavì Valtellina Ebike Festival also offers naturalistic tours to discover the beautiful valleys surrounding Morbegno. Thanks to the use of shuttles you can reach Val Masino, one of the most beautiful and famous naturalistic places in Italy. Here you enter a mossy forest that recalls the landscapes of fairy tales and then make the entrance (short hike) into the Val di Mello Nature Reserve to admire the emerald green lakes.
A further tour will take the participants to the mountain pastures of the Parco delle Orobie Valtellinesi, to discover the village of Albaredo per San Marco, the conifer woods and the Dosso Chierico pasture where, in a district of restored pastoral houses, a tasting will be set up. of local products. The tour includes a stop at the Ethnographic Museum of the Orobie Park to appreciate the peasant traditions and learn the secrets of the production of Bitto, a famous local cheese with centuries-old processing techniques.
TRAIL EXPERIENCE
Finally, there will be a more adrenaline-pumping initiative: the always popular Trail Experience by Bonaldi. An enduro tour led by the guides of 360 Valtellina Bike on the most beautiful enduro trails of Val Gerola dedicated to high level enthusiasts. The day includes a special lunch break: polenta and grilled in nature accompanied by the sympathy and songs of the local Alpini group, who will not disdain to offer the participants good wine and homemade liqueurs of the local tradition.
eBIKE VILLAGE
Located close to the beautiful medieval historic center of Morbegno, the eBike Village is the epicenter of the event. Here it will be possible to visit the exhibition stands of e-bikes and products dedicated to cycle tourism, carry out test drives with the new models of hybrid and electric cars Audi and Volkswagen by Bonaldi Motori, make children learn to ride a bicycle in the family area and party in the square with music and Bmx by Stay Transfer shows. The Fair Light is also hosted within the perimeter of the event: a selection of local producers, artisans and shops that promote the best practices of an environmentalist and zero waste culture.
Visitors will be welcomed at the entrance to the village by the stands of the main sponsors of the event: Melavì, excellence of the Valtellina area which brings together more than 230 farms in a cooperative and which will not fail to make visitors taste its good, healthy and sustainable; and of course Met Helmets, a local company world leader in the design and production of helmets and protective devices dedicated to cycle tourism, which has its headquarters in Morbegno.
As in previous editions, Ti-Rex Sport will be guests, an association that aims to stimulate people with motor disabilities to practice sports unthinkable for them: including mountain biking. At their stand it will be possible to try the special three-wheeled handbikes Jeetrike and Explorer III, capable of taking people with disabilities on otherwise impossible terrain.
By participating in the activities of the Valtellina Ebike Festival, the writings will receive a free regional bundle with which they can browse and download the GPX tracks of the Lombardy region on the komoot application, partner of the event.
The event, which sees the support of the main regional and provincial institutions, is organized by a committee inspired by the local guides of 360 Valtellina Ebike, by the large Mondo Ebike electric bicycle store and by Days Off, a marketing agency specialized in the creation and promotion of outdoor activities.
Detailed information on the routes, the program of the event and the registration options are available on the website www.valtellinaebikefestival.com
