On Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 March the first Fiera del cicloturismo will be held in Milan. National and international exhibitors, talks and workshops are on the programme.
Anyone who loves travelling by bike – or who would like to but hasn't yet had the chance – cannot miss the first Fiera del cicloturismo hosted in Milan at the Fabbrica del Vapore. A weekend with free admission dedicated both to seasoned cyclists in search of new destinations and inspiration, and to those who wish to approach this way of spending their holidays for the first time – with family, with friends, or solo.
More and more people are choosing to travel by slowing down the pace and allowing themselves what is missing from everyday life: time outdoors, movement, nature and that sense of freedom whose value we have all rediscovered.
The fair's director is Pinar Pinzuti of Bikenomist, the company that handled the organisation together with Rm Ideas Factory and Estro Comunicazione. Pinzuti explains that "Tourism by bicycle is a sector worth 7.6 billion euros that is showing constant growth, probably also as a reaction to the confinement we were all forced to endure over the last 24 months."
In her long experience as a cycle traveller, Pinar Pinzuti has come to appreciate the importance of creating a meeting point between tourist destinations, territories and tour operators. Outlining the planned programme, she underlines that "it will not be a bicycle fair, because the protagonists of a cycling holiday are the people and the landscapes you pass through."
She adds: "Since cycle tourism is democratic and accessible to everyone, we decided to keep admission free."
There will be more than fifty exhibitors presenting itineraries, services for tourists, travel ideas and holiday packages. Among the Italian stands are those of Valtellina, Turismo Biella, the Municipality of Cuneo and, for the south, Sicily and Basilicata – territories that are betting on cycle tourism as a new way to experience holidays. There are also many international proposals, including those from Gran Canaria (Spain), the Valencia Region (Spain), Turkey, Catalonia (Spain) and Ireland.
In addition to the information available in the exhibition area, there will be plenty of inspiration from encounters with the many guests who will take turns on the Bikeitalia Talks stage.
Athletes, cycle adventurers, writers and experts will be in conversation with Paolo Pinzuti, editorial director of Bikeitalia. Among the champions on the bill are Gianni Bugno – road cycling world champion and winner of a Giro d'Italia – and Marco Aurelio Fontana – MTB world champion – who will share their training experiences in the territories of Gran Canaria and the Biella area respectively.
Another prominent name is that of Paola Gianotti, holder of four Guinness World Records, who will arrive in Milan upon completing her 2022×2022 challenge – a ride for the environment from Stockholm to Milan to plant 2,022 trees along the route.
If you are looking for adventurous inspiration, make a note of the appointments with Dino Lanzaretti, a cycle explorer from Vicenza who recently returned from a journey across Siberia, and with Leo and Veronica from Life in Travel, back from a bicycle crossing of Anatolia.
For those who prefer not to push the limits, or who are interested in travelling with children, Sunday brings a meeting with Silvia Malaguti of Fiab Federazione Italiana Ambiente e Bicicletta, and in the afternoon a talk with Monica Nanetti who, with her charming "sciura on the road" flair, will take us on a discovery of European cycle routes.
Cycle tourism also means sharing and socialising. If you would like to find out about events that will have you pedalling in company, the appointment is on Saturday at 2.30pm. Guests will include the Cicliste per caso, who in 2021 organised the Mia Woman Ride, a women-only cycling event that will be held again this year. There will also be the presentation of the eighth edition of the Bam Festival, the gathering of cycle travellers taking place in Mantua from 10 to 12 June.
There will also be dedicated spaces for books and workshops on the topics of cycle mechanics, nutrition, training and safety.
Fostering the culture of cycle tourism and sustainable mobility requires not only ideas, inspiration and projects, but also concrete solutions that make good practices possible. That is why it is important, enjoyable and "normal" to be able to cycle to the Fiera del cicloturismo, knowing your bike will be safely stored. A supervised car park will be set up with space for 300 bikes. This is the first "Temporary Mobility Hub" created thanks to Shimano Italia – a solution that has all too often been absent from two-wheeled events, and one we welcome as a positive signal from the organisers.
To enter the fair, you must register on the event's website, where you will find the programme and all useful information.