Crossing Italy by bike

Italy’s Aaron Kostner and Samuel Costa have a hard week of training behind them: they crossed Italy by bike. The two pedalled from their home in Gröden all the way to Amalfi, 73 kilometres south of Naples. In total, the two Nordic Combined athletes cycled 1140 kilometres and crossed 8490 metres of altitude difference.

“I promised a friend that I would visit him in Rome by bike one day”, Samuel Costa tells when asked about where the idea to this tough week of cycling originated. “And then I asked myself: why stop there? Why not go further south, to the Amalfi coast? So I asked Aaron if he would join me as I don’t know if I would have been able to motivate myself all alone”, Costa is quoted in fondoitalia.

The tour took seven days and the two were accompanied by Costa’s father, who drove a car with all luggage. At the end of their trip, both were overwhelmed by the beauty of Italy’s landscapes.

“We rode through spectacular landscapes which were so beautiful that you don’t feel how tired you are. This trip showed us how beautiful Italy is and what this country has to offer.”

But such a long trip also brings challenges: “The most exhausting stage was from Rome to Naples. After 70 km, my tire burst. Luckily, we found a bike repair shop 8 km later where I could get help”, Kostner tells. “The most complicated moment was the arrival in Naples because we did not know if we should continue. Luckily, we met a local cyclist, who accompanied us for a while and showed us the way to the Amalfi coast”, Costa continues.

As for the highlight of the trip: hard to say. Costa: “The roads at the Amalfi coast are so beautiful. But also the hilly landscape of Tuscany was unique. But my ultimate highlight was the arrival at Amalfi, when we directly jumped into the sea.” After their Friday arrival, the two were able to enjoy a day off at the famous steep coast. On Sunday, they returned, as more training is on schedule in Predazzo this week. The regular kind, this time.