On Sunday, October 4th, the Maxxis Gravel Circuit stops in Urbino for the fifth edition of La Raffaello Gravel. This event combines sport, exploration of the local area, and a sense of adventure, along the dirt roads and through the extraordinary landscapes of the Montefeltro area.
A Renaissance city par excellence, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the birthplace of Raphael Sanzio, Urbino boasts a unique artistic and cultural heritage, nestled in a landscape seemingly designed to be explored by bicycle. Here, the architecture of the Ducal Palace and the narrow streets of the historic center contrast with rolling hills, ancient villages, panoramic ridges, and a dense network of secondary roads and dirt tracks.
It's precisely this combination that makes Urbino an ideal setting for gravel biking, a discipline that transcends the sport and embraces cycling as a tool for exploring, understanding, and enhancing the region. Cycling in the Montefeltro region means traversing authentic landscapes, discovering unexpected perspectives, and enjoying an experience where the effort of the climbs is rewarded by the beauty of the landscape.
It fits into this context The Raffaello Gravel, the penultimate event of the Maxxis Gravel Circuit, which for the second consecutive year includes the Urbino event among its eight stages.
Two proposed routes: the Short, 53 km and 1.450 metres of elevation gain, and the Long, 81 km and 2.200 meters D+Both promise an immersion in the Marche landscape, alternating physical effort and discovery. The start is set for 8:30 a.m. from the Teatro Sanzio, at the foot of the famous Torricini of the Palazzo Ducale, which will also provide the backdrop for the finish.
The experience begins on Saturday, October 3rd with the Gravel Social Ride, a free afternoon ride led by members of the organizing association, followed by a convivial aperitif.
The Urbino stage also represents an important opportunity to continue the conquest of the Maxxis PatentThe list of candidates for the licence, updated after the sixth test, can be consulted on www.ciclocircuiti.it.
The circuit will conclude on Sunday, October 11th in Cervia, during the Gravel del Sale event. The official awards ceremony will take place there: those who qualify will receive a medal and a pair of Maxxis gravel tires at the Maxxis stand.
Urbino awaits enthusiasts for a weekend where gravel becomes a different way to travel, explore, and get to know the area, one ride at a time.
