Juri vs. Italy: gravel lessons from a test ride of VIA
Interviews

A VIA race test. Riding Italy like Juri: real tips from the saddle

This summer, when planning and organising his participation to VIA Chapter II, Juri decided to test some gravel version of the first part of VIA. in southern and central Italy, armed with a gravel bike, fat wheels, and a dose of curiosity. Over the course of several long days, he shared spontaneous voice notes that captured not just the terrain but also the quirks, frustrations, and unexpected joys of navigating the Italian landscape on two wheels.
Here’s what we learned, straight from Juri’s ride.

Italian cities: a chaotic warm-up

Starting from the streets and Piazza Vittorio Emanuele in Giovinazzo, Juri was quickly reminded that riding in Italian cities can feel like a game of dodging markets, parked cars, and unpredictable traffic. If your route cuts through a town center on market day, good luck. As Juri put it, “If you’re in the city centre with a handbike, you’re done.”
City navigation in Italy is noisy, messy, and never really optimized for bikes. Plan your routing carefully and expect to slow down.

Build tracks like a local

To create his route, Juri used Komoot paired with Google Satellite view, adjusting constantly for terrain and practicality. His goal: make something closer to cicloturismo, light road riding, but even that became a challenge in some areas.
His advice? Don’t assume a track will work just because an app says so. “Some parts the route I planned were basically impassable on a road bike,” he noted, referring to sections like the Acquedotto Pugliese, riddled with gravel and deep ruts.

Respect the Apennines

The central Italian mountains are no joke. Climbs with 10–15% grades appear regularly, and some stretches border on the unrideable without MTB gearing. Juri was running a 42-tooth cassette and still had to stand and grind his way up. In his words: “The Apennines don’t forgive.”
If you're riding a racing bike, expect to suffer. And if you're planning on using a gravel setup, opt for mountain-ready gearing.

Dogs: a real threat, not a joke

In rural Puglia and beyond, stray and farm dogs roam freely. Juri encountered over a dozen within a day and a half. While most are scared of people, a few aren’t shy about defending their territory.
His hard-earned advice? “Never try to outrun them.” Stop, dismount, and use your bike as a shield if needed. Ride in pairs when possible, since two bikes make a bigger impression.

Forget bike touring fantasies

One of Juri’s biggest takeaways was the gap between imagined and actual rideability. “Cyclotourism? This is free-climbing on a bike.” That’s not exaggeration, it’s a warning.
Southern Italy is rugged, humid, and at times unforgiving. Some segments are simply not built for thin tires or gentle spins. If you're mapping a “light” track, you may end up with something more like a mixed-terrain sufferfest.

Weather: cool in the mountains, not just in the Alps

Even in July, Juri found himself shivering in the heights of the Apennines. With night rides or early starts, the humidity cuts deep. He camped out in mountain passes like Campo Imperatore, where 25% gradients mix with fog, wind, and the occasional snowfall—yes, even in summer.
If you’re expecting Tuscan sunshine, don’t. Pack layers, and plan your bivvy points carefully.

What works, what doesn’t

Despite all the curveballs, Juri found joy in the challenge. The solitude. The remote cafés that felt like small-town festivals when open. The crunchy, beautiful roads you don’t find on tourist maps.
His final advice? Plan for secondary roads. Avoid experimenting with “creative” Komoot settings. Stick to tried-and-true tarmac when possible, because one shortcut through a ravine might cost you your tire, or your mood.

Juri re-discovered his and this wild, beautiful, unpredictable country which is Italy.

So when plotting your own ride through the Italian south or central Apennines, take his advice seriously. And if you see a shepherd dog staring you down at the next bend, don’t sprint. Walk it off, just like Juri would.

See you in Giovinazzo for the start Juri, all together with the whole community of VIA!