The Classic route
The full experience. Cross borders, climb alpine passes, and discover why everyone falls in love with Slovenia.
Distance: 550km
Elevation: 7,000m
Terrain: 100% paved roads
Surface: 60% cycle paths, 40% quiet secondary road
The Grand Escape Italy/Slovenia
Bikepacking 550km through the green heart of Europe. No race. Your pace.
Start: June 20, 2026 - Loop from and to Udine (IT)
Registration opens Jan 12 2026
With limited spots - registration details below.
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This is not a race. It's your adventure.
WHAT IS THE GRAND ESCAPE
The Grand Escape is Europe's premier road bikepacking event series. No rankings. No time gates. No checkpoints.
You start together with hundreds of cyclists from across Europe, then ride at your own pace through some of the most stunning landscapes you'll ever see.
Stop when you want. For as long as you want. Take that photo at the turquoise river. Have a second coffee at the mountain hut. Chat with the rider you just met on the climb.
This is bikepacking the way it should be: human, adventureous, unforgettable.
The Italy/Slovenia edition takes you on a 550km loop from Udine through the green heart of Europe. Emerald rivers, alpine passes, enchanted forests, and roads so quiet you'll forget traffic exists.
Your bike is perfect for this. Smooth tarmac all the way. Mostly on dedicated cycle paths. Zero traffic anxiety.
You start together with hundreds of cyclists from across Europe, then ride at your own pace through some of the most stunning landscapes you'll ever see.
Stop when you want. For as long as you want. Take that photo at the turquoise river. Have a second coffee at the mountain hut. Chat with the rider you just met on the climb.
This is bikepacking the way it should be: human, adventureous, unforgettable.
The Italy/Slovenia edition takes you on a 550km loop from Udine through the green heart of Europe. Emerald rivers, alpine passes, enchanted forests, and roads so quiet you'll forget traffic exists.
Your bike is perfect for this. Smooth tarmac all the way. Mostly on dedicated cycle paths. Zero traffic anxiety.
Express route
Same spirit, shorter distance. Perfect if you have limited time but still want the full adventure feeling.
The Express route captures the best in a compact distance: the emerald SoÄŤa River, the border crossing, and the hidden gems of the Slovenian valleys and wine country.
Distance: 300km
Elevation: 3000m
Terrain: 100% paved roads
Surface: 65% cycle paths, 35% quiet secondary roads
You'll start alongside everyone on June 20th. Same community, same adventure, your own timeline.
What's waiting for you
Udine — Where It Begins and Ends
Your adventure starts in the heart of Friuli.
Wander through Via Mercato Vecchio, climb to the castle for views over the city, then fuel up with Frico and local wine.
A taste of what's to come.
Tagliamento River
Europe's last wild river. Its bed and winding meanders have remained untouched for millennia.
As you cross its bridges, you'll feel the ancient energy of water that refuses to be tamed.
Crossing the Border
Past Lago del Predil, you'll reach the historic fortifications marking the Italy-Slovenia border.
Built during Austro-Hungarian times, these walls witnessed centuries of European history.
Now you ride through them, borders erased, pedaling into a new country.
Vršič Pass
Slovenia's highest paved Alpine pass. Fifty hairpin bends. Each one offers a new view of the Julian Alps.
Originally built for military purposes during World War I, this road winds through forests and rocky terrain until the summit offers a panoramic view that makes the climb worth every turn.
Triglav National Park
Slovenia's only national park, named after Mount Triglav (2,864m) — the country's highest peak and national symbol.
Crystal-clear springs, pristine forests, and the kind of silence that reminds you why you started cycling in the first place.
SoÄŤa Valley
The river is so turquoise it looks photshopped. It's not. You'll ride alongside it for kilometers, watching it meander through deep gorges and green pastures.
The quiet roads here feel like an invitation to lose yourself — and find something else entirely.
Lake Bled
You've seen the photos. Now ride there. The island church, the clifftop castle reflected in crystal-clear water.
Stop for kremšnita, the famous cream cake. Watch the light change. This is the Slovenia of postcards — and it's even better on a bike.
Ljubljana
Europe's greenest capital. The Ljubljanica River flows under picturesque bridges, including the famous Dragon Bridge.
Baroque architecture meets modern design. Ljubljana Castle offers panoramic views of the city below. Coffee here tastes better after 400km.
Southern Slovenia
Thick forests, mysterious karst lakes, and the untouched nature of Notranjski Regijski Park. In between? Hills and fields on the open horizon.
Then Nova Gorica: a city symbolically united with its Italian twin, Gorizia, through a shared square.
Cividale del Friuli
Nestled in the Friulian hills, this medieval town deserves its UNESCO World Heritage Site status. Cross the Ponte del Diavolo, watch the Natisone River flow beneath you, then walk the ancient streets of a town that has been here for centuries. The perfect final chapter before returning to Udine. (Try the Gubana!)
How to join The Grand Escape Italy/Slovenia 2026
Registration opens January 12, 2026 at 11:00
Registration opens January 12, 2026 at 11:00 AM (Berlin time) on Bike Adventure Series, the first no-race bikepacking event series in Europe.
This will be your hub for all the info and to connect with other riders.
You'll need an account on bikeadeventureseries.com to register.
Limited spots available.
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Ride the Italy/Slovenia adventure or all three The Grand Escapes in 2026.
For this time only, you can register with one click to all three events and get the exclusive RH+ The Grand Escape Cycling Jersey
Single Adventure
Get your early spot for The Grand Escape Italy/Slovenia 2026
Early Bird (January 12-31): €157 €137
Complete Adventure Bundle
Register for all three Grand Escape events (Italy/Slovenia, Germany/Austria, Tuscany) at a special price and receive an exclusive limited-edition RH+ cycling jersey, designed only for Complete Adventure riders.
All three events + exclusive RH+ jersey (January 12 -31) €571 €349
What's included
- Route of the event , created after months of scouting
- Paper map of the route and the information
- A digital guide for the event to get the best out of your experience
- Starter and Finisher Package
- The Grand Escape participation banner
- The exclusive The Grand Escape high-quality cycling cap, reserved only for registered participants
- Discounts with partners who support The Grand Escape, including shipping your bike
- Personal Live Tracking
- An online map where friends and family can follow you on your adventure
- Access to the WhatsApp Group to receive quick updates prior to and during the event
- Professional photography
- Event video coverage
- Downloadable Photo Gallery with all the photos taken of the participants
- Insurance coverage for the entire duration of the event
- Customer support, led by expert cyclists
- Digital guide with tips and tricks for bikepacking
- Event dashboard with all the information
- Bike Adventure Series Board Points
- Access to the Bike Adventure Series community
- High-quality cotton The Grand Escape T-Shirt (special edition for each event)
- Finisher badge in the Bike Adventure Series Board
- Live YouTube brief to ask all your questions to the organizers
- The Grand Escape Bag (special for each event)
Plus, for the Complete Adventure Bundle...
is included the limited edition The Grand Escape Jersey, designed and made by RH+.
What riders say
"It was great not to have the pressure of a race. Everyone was in the same mood."
— Marco, Italy
"On every climb I wondered why we were going this way. And later it became clear why this path was chosen. The views were incredible. I love Slovenia."
— Michał, Poland
"Sometimes I rode with someone, then lost them, then found them again. That is the wonderful thing about the Grand Escape — you are not riding alone. The turquoise water of the Soča is incredibly beautiful. Every climb is rewarded with a wonderful view."
— Tanja, Austria
"Many protected cycle paths… very safe for us, not stressed by traffic."
— Céline, France
"Super well organized and convenient places to stay. We created so many memories and laughed a lot."
— Marloes, Netherlands
"My eyes and heart are full of amazement. Already counting down to the next edition!"
— Giulia, Italy
"After this adventure I'm considering NorthCape4000 — it suddenly feels possible."
— Maciej, Poland
Your adventure, our obsession
The Grand Escape routes don't happen by accident.
We scout, test, and refine every kilometer obsessively throughout the year.
We are cyclists like you. We don't enjoy straight, busy roads.
So we design routes that take you through backroads, cycle paths, hidden secrets, and always great scenery.
No impossible climbs. No useless hardness. Just the best roads possible.
The Italy/Slovenia route has been tested for three editions. Every turn, every climb, every descent has been ridden and optimized.
The 60% cycle path ratio isn't marketing—it's the result of months of work to find roads where you can focus on the landscape, not on traffic.
So you can just focus on the good part: living a true adventure on your bike.
A story worth telling. Yours
We follow the event with our media teams, capturing your best moments in photos and videos.
Professional photographers and videographers ride alongside you throughout the route. They'll be at the stunning viewpoints, the challenging climbs, and the magical moments you didn't even know were happening.
After the event, you'll receive the full downloadable photo gallery
Professional video coverage of the event
Your personal moments to share with friends, family, and followers
Your adventure deserves to be remembered. We make sure it is.
Part of something bigger
The Grand Escape is part of the Bike Adventure Series—the first European no-race bikepacking event series.
The series includes:
Tuscany Trail — The original gravel bikepacking event, 6,000+ riders
NorthCape4000 — 4,000km from Italy to the Arctic Circle
Unpaved Roads — Weekend gravel adventures across Italy
The Grand Escape — Road bikepacking through Europe's most stunning landscapes
More than 20,000 cyclists from around the world are part of this community.
When you join The Grand Escape, you earn points on the Bike Adventure Series Board, receive the Finisher Badge, and become part of a global community of adventure cyclists.
Create friendships that will last your whole life.
F.A.Q.
How to reach Udine
Udine is easy to reach from across Europe.
By plane
Three airports serve the area:
Trieste Airport (TRS) - Closest option, 40km from Udine. Direct train to Udine in 32-40 minutes (€4.60). The railway station is 300m from the terminal, connected by a covered pedestrian bridge. Bikes welcome on regional trains.
Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE) - Best international connections. Take the ATVO bus to Mestre railway station (20 min), then train to Udine (about 90 min). Total journey around 2 hours.
Treviso Airport (TSF) - Budget airline hub. Bus to Treviso station, then train to Udine (90 min, around €11).
By train
Udine is on major European rail routes (Vienna-Rome line). Trenitalia regional trains accept bikes with a small supplement (€3.50). Book your bike spot in advance on Intercity and high-speed trains.
From major cities:
Venice Mestre: 90 min
Trieste: 60 min
Vienna: 6 hours
Munich: 5 hours (via Villach)
By car
Udine is at the intersection of the A23 (Austria) and A4 (Venice-Trieste) motorways. There are lots of parking spaces.