Twice a year a stunning 30-mile loop on some of Europe’s most scenic roads is closed to traffic for the Sellaronda Bike Day – and there’s no charge to take part. Trevor Ward joins cyclists of all ages for the event’s 10th anniversary ride
Yesterday (21 June) was the 10th anniversary Sellaronda Bike Day in the Italian Dolomites. The event is held twice a year and involves closing off a 33-mile loop of roads, including four mountain passes, to motorised traffic. Bus services are suspended and workers have to arrive early to beat the 8.30am road closure which affects the communities of Alta Badia, Val Gardena, Arabba and Canazei. And it’s all so that thousands of people can get on their bikes and have some of the most scenic roads in Europe exclusively to themselves.
I was one of an estimated 20,000 cyclists who took part in yesterday’s ride. It felt like being in a closed-road sportive with one big difference – it was entirely free.
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