“Freedom, camaraderie, and pure joy on two wheels.” That’s how the organisers of Expedition Dolomites describe their event. Participants in this new event will take on 500km of riding through some of Italy’s finest scenery and will have to overcome an impressive 9000m of climbing. But the event is not aimed at riders looking to smash Strava KOMs. According to the organisers, “[There’s] no start grid, no clock, no competition. Just a group leaving together on day one, but each rider living their own adventure.” 

Riders who sign up for the Expedition Dolomites will set off en masse from Innsbruck on September 5^th. The event is organised in typical self-supported manner – riders are provided with a fixed route, which includes a number of mandatory checkpoints, but are responsible for organising their own accommodation, bikes, equipment and food. The ethos of the event is very much in the non-competitive category and the press release mentions in a number of places that the focus is on adventure and enjoyment, not just racing as fast as possible from A-to-B. Organisers expect riders to complete the route in between four and six days.

Along the way, participants will get to ride on “on cycle paths, paved roads, beautiful rolling gravel roads, challenging, difficult gravel roads, and [there will be] some walking. But you'll be rewarded with fantastic views!” The organisers describe the region that the event passes through as “a paradise for adventurous riders” and they say the route will appeal to riders who “love spectacular scenery and challenge.”

The event is being restricted to a maximum of 100 participants. The organisers say this will help create “a small, carefully selected group to keep the experience personal, pure and truly special.” Riders are loaned a GPX tracker for the duration of the event and are expected to pass through four mandatory checkpoints where they receive a stamp, but there is no other support provided by the organisers – in the event of a mechanical or medical issue, the organisers say “we will always try to help. But we cannot pick you up.”

Entries into the Expedition Dolomites cost from €115. You can find out more details about the event, including how to sign up, on their website.