La Grande Gita
Gravel, Gears, and Grapes!
Bike SA is proud to partner with the Adelaide Italian Festival to present this wonderfully sumptuous celebration of riding, Italian-style!
La Grande Gita is a chance to explore the gravel backroads of the Barossa Valley in a family-friendly environment – from quiet backroad and flat rail trail riding to some of the most challenging gravel and bitumen riding in the Barossa. All this combined with authentic local produce and wine tastings in the tradition of our European friends.
Get into the spirit of celebrating the old country by showing off your vintage bike and clothes – or, come as you are!
From our event village at Calabria Family Wines, you will have the opportunity to ride the quiet gravel backroads of the Barossa (as well as some bitumen, too).
Between riding, select Italian wineries will open their cellar doors for you to linger, chat with like-minded folks, flash your bike bling, and taste the bounty of the Barossa – great wines, beers and coffees, and of course fine local produce.
Sunday 10 November 2024
Start and Finish from Calabria Family Wines near Tanunda in the Barossa Valley.
Registration Starts from $55, and includes:
- Participation rider bib
- Fully signed route
- Support vehicles and ride marshals
- Refreshments at rest stations along the route.
- Access to the event village and festivities.
Under 16s ride free!
More Event Information and FAQs
Registration is now closed. Thank you for attending La Grande Gita 2024.
Savour the Italian flavour.
Such is the Barossa's November beauty, you would be forgiven for believing you're rolling through the quiet Italian countryside. Enjoy authentic food, wine, and culture in the La Grande Gita event village – right here in South Australia.
Gravel and grapes.
Get off the main roads and onto the peaceful gravel backroads. Almost every ride option features gravel riding, meaning you'll be immersed in secluded parts of the Barossa few are savvy enough to find, taking in all the vineyards along the way.
Explore the Barossa.
Explore the Barossa.
The Barossa Valley is world-renowned and – with its scenic vistas and delicious drops –rightly so. We've partnered with some fabulous cellar doors to offer refreshment stops along the route. Pop in to catch your breath, refuel, and discover new wineries as you take it all in.
Choose your ride
Piccolo: 25km
Fully sealed. Mostly flat.
A shorter and sedate circuit exploring the shared-use path to Nuriootpa and Angaston with the opportunity to stop and visit various cellar doors along the way. Then returning via the quiet sealed back roads through endless vineyards to the event village finish. But with prizes for best dressed, it’s time to work out what to wear! View route
Mezzo: 45km
Mostly sealed, some gravel. Some small hills.
Don’t like hills? The Mezzo offers all that is included in the Grande ride without the steep climb up to Steingarten Lookout. After a rest and indulgence at Scalzi Wines, the route follows the renowned Barossa Bikeway from Lyndoch to Rowland Flat and then back to the finish via Jacobs Creek and Bethany.
Grande: 60km
Gravel and sealed. Hills and climbs.
Don't let the distance fool you, the Grande his a challenge! Starting with a scenic circuit around Tanunda town and then following hard-pack gravel roads along the western side of the valley and continuing through to Lyndoch. Rest and refresh at Scalzi Wines before the real challenge begins, with more gravel leading to some serious climbing to take you up to scenic Steingarten Lookout for 360-degree views across the Barossa Valley. Then, a rewarding downhill run to Rowland Flat where you can pop into Lou Miranda Wines for more Italian heritage wine tastings. The run home takes in the fabulous Barossa Bikeway via Jacobs Creek and Bethany before returning to Calabria Wines to celebrate your ride with a well-earned coffee, beer or wine.
Mega Grande: 85km
Mostly gravel, some sealed. Hills and climbs.
With all the challenge of the Grande ride option but with extra distance and more elevation to stretch the legs and experience even more of the sensational gravel that the Barossa has on offer. The first 38km section of the Mega Grande is the same route as the Grande option. Then, after tackling the challenge of Trial Hill Rd, the Mega Grande continues further through the picturesque countryside of Pewsey Vale and Flaxman Valley, finishing with a fabulous descent of the infamous Menglers Hill before celebrating a "Mega Grande" achievement back at Calabria Wines.
