Italy Divide is a 780 odd mile bikepacking event from Pompeii, to Lake Garda. The website says it…
‘follows fast rolling gravel roads (Francigena/Eurovelo7) with quite technical mtb trails (Via degli Dei/Lessinia/Monte Baldo) in between to explore the wild and remote parts of Italy with a plenty mix of history along the trail.
You will cross Naples, Reggia di Caserta, Rome, Strade Bianche in Tuscany, Siena, Florence, Bologna, Mantova, Verona.’
Sounded quite nice to me.
Entering Italy Divide, one cold winters night sounded better than slogging myself around muddy fields in the UK after being confined to local riding during covid lockdowns. Sun, strade bianche, pizza, wine, pizza and gelato made me sign up.
Only being a few weeks before the HT550 would be good prep for the leg, if not for the weather.
Bike and wheel building took longer than expeted and inevitabley led to building the wheels for the race only a few days before I set off for Italy. However, a couple of off road rides made sure that the bike would be spot on to ride across Italy.
Packing the bike up in a box and taping it up ready for the flight was fine, however the weight no so much. Heavier than I really wanted it to be.
Anyway, we drove down to Manchester the night before the flight and had an early night before an early fight the next morning.
Friday
Early wake up call and drive to airport and carrying the heavy bike box to the check in desk. Another rider with a bike box, was Richard Munro. We get chatting and after a few issues getting the bikes checked in, we both go to departures.
After an hour waiting for coffee and breakfast the flight is on time and we arrive in Naples early afternoon.
Assembling the bikes in the airport was straightforward and what followed was an ‘intersting’ trip in a van to the start from the organiser. I check into my apartment and meet my parents, who have come out to see me off and for a holiday, for quite possibly the best pizza I have tasted.
Saturday
Bike checks done, race kit on, breakfast eaten and it time to head to sign on. Sign in done. After a few mishaps withs people trackers the start is delayed for a couple of hours, so after this waiting in the ever increasing temperature, by 30 minutes after midday, we are off. 776 miles to go!
Jordan Matthews 