info@granfondoviadelsale.com / +39 338 3622365
REGISTRATION IS OPEN FIND OUT MORE
granfondoviadelsale en story-of-the-gran-fondo 004
granfondoviadelsale en story-of-the-gran-fondo 005
granfondoviadelsale en story-of-the-gran-fondo 006
  • registrations
  • race
    • Routes
    • Registration
    • Programme & regulations
    • Faq
    • Registration verification
    • Download area
    • Classifications & certificates
    • Special championships & circuits
    • E-bike
  • story
    • The story of the Gran Fondo
    • Hall of Fame
    • The story of the charities
    • Friends of Via del Sale
  • news
    • Latest news
    • Official announcements
    • Press accreditation
  • expos & events
    • Expos
    • Events
  • media gallery
    • Video
    • Photo
    • Podcast on Spotify
    • Podcast on Speaker
  • hotel and beach
    • Hotel
    • Fantini club
    • Webcam
  • territory
  • partner
  • contacts
    • Contacts
    • Press accreditation
    • Webcam
Safety Race
MENÙ
granfondoviadelsale en story-of-the-gran-fondo 007
call
write
Safety Race
  • registrations
  • race
    • Routes
    • Registration
    • Programme & regulations
    • Faq
    • Registration verification
    • Download area
    • Classifications & certificates
    • Special championships & circuits
    • E-bike
  • story
    • The story of the Gran Fondo
    • Hall of Fame
    • The story of the charities
    • Friends of Via del Sale
  • news
    • Latest news
    • Official announcements
    • Press accreditation
  • expos & events
    • Expos
    • Events
  • media gallery
    • Video
    • Photo
    • Podcast on Spotify
    • Podcast on Speaker
  • hotel and beach
    • Hotel
    • Fantini club
    • Webcam
  • territory
  • partner
  • contacts
    • Contacts
    • Press accreditation
    • Webcam
register now!
granfondoviadelsale en story-of-the-gran-fondo 011
granfondoviadelsale en story-of-the-gran-fondo 012
granfondoviadelsale en story-of-the-gran-fondo 013

The story of the Gran Fondo

granfondoviadelsale en story-of-the-gran-fondo 014

THE STORY

We would like to tell you the story of our Cervia cycle race, to let you know how the Granfondo Via del Sale came into being.
An idea is born from a passion. A passion is sometimes born from an idea.
The story begins in the spring of 1996. Sportur, which at the time was called BVC Sport, had just presented the Masters of Sport Awards, an acknowledgement for sportsmen and women who had distinguished themselves each year. Summer, with its beach sports, had yet to begin. Thus was born the idea of linking a sports event with a sports award. Sport understood as aggregation and SHARING..
granfondoviadelsale en story-of-the-gran-fondo 015
Aggregation, passion, sport the choice is almost immediate: cycling. The fire had been lit. Cervia was to be the start and finish of the cycling race. The hills of the Tuscan-Romagna Apennines the route: “just as the salt miners used to do, starting from the salt pans and going to deliver salt to the most distant villages”.
This was suggested by Massimo Carli, a historical memory of cycling and of Cervia's traditions.
The Ancient Salt Road is born. For everyone, it will then be the “Salt Road”.

THE ROUTES

Of course, the salt workers left from Cervia and rode through the hills, but we have to do it by bike... "from Cervia to the hills of Cesena and Forlì there are beautiful routes", says Smeraldo Balzani, a talented amateur cyclist and two-wheel enthusiast. Thus, the first route of the Gran Fondo Via del Sale was set up. Departure from Cervia, in front of the Salt Warehouse at 8 am. 165 kilometres for the long route, 130 for the medium one and 70 kilometres for the shorter one.
750 participants for the first edition of what was already called "the salt race". The date was April 6, 1997.
granfondoviadelsale en story-of-the-gran-fondo 016

FRIENDS OF THE GRAN FONDO

There is a group of cyclists coming towards the race. They couldn't stop them. They must have got the directions wrong. Stop them. They are coming the wrong way. Indeed, a group of a dozen or so cyclists turn onto the boulevard and head towards the stationary group waiting for the start. They are all dressed in an unmistakable yellow uniform. They arrive and position themselves in front of the group, waiting for the start. "They told me there is a race, I came with a group of friends. Can we do it too?" Hello, Marco Pantani.
granfondoviadelsale en story-of-the-gran-fondo 017
granfondoviadelsale en story-of-the-gran-fondo 018
granfondoviadelsale en story-of-the-gran-fondo 019
granfondoviadelsale en story-of-the-gran-fondo 020
granfondoviadelsale en story-of-the-gran-fondo 021
granfondoviadelsale en story-of-the-gran-fondo 022
granfondoviadelsale en story-of-the-gran-fondo 023
granfondoviadelsale en story-of-the-gran-fondo 024
granfondoviadelsale en story-of-the-gran-fondo 025
granfondoviadelsale en story-of-the-gran-fondo 026
granfondoviadelsale en story-of-the-gran-fondo 027
granfondoviadelsale en story-of-the-gran-fondo 028
granfondoviadelsale en story-of-the-gran-fondo 029
granfondoviadelsale en story-of-the-gran-fondo 030
granfondoviadelsale en story-of-the-gran-fondo 031
granfondoviadelsale en story-of-the-gran-fondo 032
granfondoviadelsale en story-of-the-gran-fondo 033
granfondoviadelsale en story-of-the-gran-fondo 034
granfondoviadelsale en story-of-the-gran-fondo 035
granfondoviadelsale en story-of-the-gran-fondo 036
granfondoviadelsale en story-of-the-gran-fondo 037
granfondoviadelsale en story-of-the-gran-fondo 038
granfondoviadelsale en story-of-the-gran-fondo 039
granfondoviadelsale en story-of-the-gran-fondo 040
granfondoviadelsale en story-of-the-gran-fondo 041
granfondoviadelsale en story-of-the-gran-fondo 042
granfondoviadelsale en story-of-the-gran-fondo 043
granfondoviadelsale en story-of-the-gran-fondo 044
granfondoviadelsale en story-of-the-gran-fondo 045
granfondoviadelsale en story-of-the-gran-fondo 046
View the Gallery
granfondoviadelsale en story-of-the-gran-fondo 047
granfondoviadelsale en story-of-the-gran-fondo 048
granfondoviadelsale en story-of-the-gran-fondo 049
granfondoviadelsale en story-of-the-gran-fondo 050
NEWS
read all the news

Join our
newsletter

WHAT OUR GUESTS SAY ABOUT US

No comments entered
Follow us

SPECIAL COMBINATION

Cycle tourism
6th EDITION of BIANCHE DEL SALE
Fantini Club
12 October 2025
Cervia
granfondoviadelsale en story-of-the-gran-fondo 051
granfondoviadelsale en story-of-the-gran-fondo 052
granfondoviadelsale en story-of-the-gran-fondo 053
Partner

Contact us

info@granfondoviadelsale.com
+39 338 3622365
granfondoviadelsale en story-of-the-gran-fondo 054
Mandatory Fields *
Expand
Close
  • RACE
  • Routes
  • Registration
  • Programme & regulations
  • FAQ
  • Registration verification
  • Download area
  • Classifications & certificates
  • Special championships & circuits
  • E-bike
RACE
CLOSE
  • STORY
  • The story of the Gran Fondo
  • Hall of Fame
  • The story of the charities
  • Friends of Via del Sale
STORY
CLOSE
  • NEWS
  • Latest news
  • Official announcements
  • Press accreditation
NEWS
CLOSE
  • EXPOS & EVENTS
  • Expos
  • Events
EXPOS & EVENTS
CLOSE
  • MEDIA GALLERY
  • Videos
  • Photos
  • Podcast on Spotify
  • Podcast on Speaker
MEDIA GALLERY
CLOSE
  • HOTEL AND BEACH
  • Hotel
  • Fantini club
  • Webcam
HOTEL AND BEACH
CLOSE
  • Territory
  • Partner
  • CONTACTS
  • Contacts
  • Press accreditation
  • Webcam
CONTACTS
CLOSE
Via Caduti per la Libertà 52/C Cervia (RA) Cervia(Ra), Italia

info@granfondoviadelsale.com
+39 338 3622365
granfondoviadelsale en story-of-the-gran-fondo 055
granfondoviadelsale en story-of-the-gran-fondo 056
granfondoviadelsale en story-of-the-gran-fondo 057
granfondoviadelsale en story-of-the-gran-fondo 058
granfondoviadelsale en story-of-the-gran-fondo 059
granfondoviadelsale en story-of-the-gran-fondo 060
P.Iva 02279330399 / Privacy & Cookie Policy - Cookie preferences
Credits TITANKA! Spa © 2021
Contact us