The Two Volcano Sprint
Four days, seven hours and six minutes.
This is the exact time it took me to complete the 1100 km and 22 000 m elevation of the last bikepacking race of the season. When you think about it, it’s not long when compared to the free time that unfortunately opened up this year. All the ongoing doubts, all the cancelled and postponed challenges, all the opening and closing of the borders somehow made it feel a short four days.
And yet it was long, and it was certainly intense. A fantastic race, alongside a cast of international and experienced riders, which largely kept its promise of huge volcanoes, exceptional coffees and a range of masterly pizzas.
Napoli. As lively as any melting pot metropolis and the jumping-off point for a chaotic ride to escape; via its suburbs, between rubbish dumps, and on misshapen and rain-soaked cobblestones to arrive at the small town of Ercolano, the ‘real’ starting point at the foot of Monte Vesuvio.