With the same passion with which he has traveled the world on his bike, Mattia De Marchi presents his latest creation. An event never seen before in Italy that has already earned its place in the international Gravel Earth Series calendar. Called The Hills and from March 28 to 30, 2025, it will allow two-wheel enthusiasts to pedal through the magnificent hills of Prosecco in Conegliano and Valdobbiadene. Beyond the inevitable healthy competition, which will bring the best specialists in the sector to Italy, there will be no shortage of festivities and fun before and especially after the race.

«This is the essence of The Hills, which was born with the aim of promoting the territory, making our UNESCO World Heritage land known, combining competition and freedom. A challenge of enjoyment and sharing launched by Federico Casalini, president of Xevent S.S.D. company that organizes various gravel and mtb sporting events. With Niccolò Donatacci, active in the communication sector, we have combined resources and skills and started this adventure that is already giving us great satisfaction» says Mattia De Marchi, referring to the fact that The Hills will be the first Italian event ever to be part of the Gravel Earth Series circuit.

Headquarters, village, and start are set at the Sports Center "Le Bandie" in Lovadina di Spresiano (TV), which has already hosted the start of the 2023 Gravel World Championship won by Matej Mohoric and Katarzyna Niewiadoma, the 2008 Cyclocross World Championships and the World Cup. The area owned by the Mosole family provides green spaces, multipurpose facilities, and all necessary services for athletes: showers, changing rooms, parking, hotel, etc.

The race will be structured on three routes with different difficulty levels and technical feed zones (where external support can be received) and non-technical feed zones (with local product refreshments) between Vidor and the Borgoluce estate. The options to test oneself are: Big Hills Race of 180 km with 2,500 meters of positive elevation designed for the most trained riders, the "middle way" Small Hills of 80 km with 800 m of elevation, and the non-competitive Groove Hills of 40 km for 200 meters of elevation suitable for everyone.

The routes wind through Susegana, Collalto, Valdobbiadene, and Combai. Mattia is fine-tuning the last details by personally testing every sector as shared on Komoot and involving the most prestigious champions: «The routes have been designed to make logistics, volunteer presence, and safety levels sustainable. Few crossings and critical passages, maximum 20% asphalt. We don't want to spoil the fun. The program includes various proposals for adults and children in the setting of the 17th-century barchessa of Cà Ballarin, to which is added the Friday prologue along the traffic-free ring that runs alongside the Le Bandie lake. For all details, visit the site thehillsgravelrace.it» concludes De Marchi, the Italian reference in the gravel world.