We often think of ultra-cycling events as races against the clock. The aim is to speed as quickly as possible through the kilometres and up the gradients, push yourself beyond your limits and cross areas that you wouldn't have spontaneously chosen.

With the MAGS Abruzzo Trail 2023, it's not so much about the competition; this adventure is above all an immersion in nature and local culture.

Participants can choose between two variants – gravel and mountain bike. Both routes discover the beauty of Abruzzo; from the Adriatic Sea to the Gran Sasso. In my case, I chose the 330-kilometre (205 mi) route with 5,700 metres (18,700 ft) of ascent. I bikepacked the route over three days. It was quite tough, but I discovered splendid views, technical sections, and singletracks proposed by the organisers.

The first day takes you away from the heat of the Adriatic towards the cooler Lake Campotosto. The second day takes you over a series of passes to the Rifugio Racollo, a refuge in the heart of the Campo Imperatore plain. Finally, the third stage passes through three emblematic Abruzzo towns (Rocca Calascio, Santo Stefano di Sessanio, and Castel del Monte) before taking you back to the coast. You’ll be greeted by the smell of evergreens, local produce, arrosticini (meat kebabs), and lots of smiles.

Along the way, I easily found campsites and never had any problems finding food or water. The many streams in Abruzzo's natural parks make it easy to stay hydrated. Remember to bring purifying tablets or a filtering water bottle. My bikepacking equipment, including saddlebags, handlebar bags, frame bags, and fork bags, weighed around 25 kilos. I set off with a bike with gravel geometry, mountain bike gears, and 29-inch tyres with a 2.25 cross-section. I chose a generous tread to withstand the toughest dirt roads.

The Abruzzo Trail is an unsupervised event, but one organised from the heart: the organisers are on hand to help out and offer surprise refreshments at key points. And, of course, you're welcome to join us.

Fancy an adventure? Then saddle up and set off to discover this beautiful region of Italy!

For more information visit: gransassotrail.com/mags