Came back this year for the second time to partecipate to one of the best gravel event in Italy, the NOVA Eroica.

This time I planned on doing the long course, 135km with 2000+ m of elevation gained.

Like in 2020, the weather is not the ideal one, not the one everyone was hoping for a day of mid July. After a day of rain, the sky is still covered by clouds and the very argillaceous soil very wet, almost with mud in some parts.

The format of the event resemble others granfondos with 4 or 5 segment where you can prove your self and a time will be taken. The start was very crowded with about 1500 participants. I positioned my self quite well in grid and when they gave us start I sprint immediately to bunch up with the fast guys up front.

The intent was to do it in a relaxed way but when you pin a number on your back you immediately start feeling the adrenaline of racing days back on. I managed to stay with a group of about 20 fast riders in the lead up until I dropped my chain, probably 10 km in.

At that point I realized maybe was wiser on my own to pace down a bit and enjoy the event.

I ended up riding along Piergiorgio Giacovazzo the RAI TV presenter of a TG2 Motori, a show on tv where they test bikes, indeed, he was there testing one.

Good fun, good laugh and great company. This was my second Nova Eroica, dirtier than ever.