Mediterranean Adventure
novembre 26 2024 – Giordana Cycling
Call of the Islands
CORSICA | by Federico Vandone Dell'Acqua
GIORDANA LIFESTYLE | PLACES WE LOVE
Author : Federico Vandone Dell'Acqua / Images @federicovandone / photos of Federico by Stefano Teodoro / Published : Nov26-2024
5 MINUTE READ
Join photographer, cycling enthusiast, and adventure-seeker Federico Vandone Dell'Acqua as he explores Corsica’s iconic coastal roads and rugged inland terrain.
The islands are calling.
I’ve always been drawn to riding on islands. There’s something captivating about the idea of cycling around a contained, finite piece of land — something tangible, with boundaries that urge you onward. It’s a journey with an inherent goal, a sense of purpose and closure.
This year, the dream was Corsica. Stefano and I had been sketching out the plan since winter: a week-long bikepacking adventure on Corsica’s winding roads, taking in every mile of tarmac and every striking view. We wanted a challenge, a journey that would test our stamina and draw us closer to this land.
Stefano and I have always made a good duo on the bike: we share a pace, pushing each other up the climbs, speeding down the descents, elbows tucked in the flats. With Stefano’s familiarity with Corsica, he mapped out our route, weaving together Corsica’s iconic coastal roads and rugged inland terrain.
Once the accommodations and ferry tickets were sorted, everything clicked into place.
Our journey continued along the northern coast, a route of rolling terrain and coastal villages, each offering a new vista of azure waters and a chance to cool off with a quick dip during the hottest part of the day.
The route itself, while straightforward, promised to be as demanding as it was beautiful: 1.100 kilometers and 17.800 meters of climbing. It would test our resilience, especially under the sweltering August sun.
I joined Stefano in Bastia, stepping off the ferry from Genova into the searing Mediterranean heat. But as we pedaled northward into Cap Corse, the island’s “finger” peninsula, the warmth and amber glow of the late afternoon instantly put me at ease. My apprehension about the week ahead faded as the landscape unfolded before us.
Our journey continued along the northern coast, a route of rolling terrain and coastal villages, each offering a new vista of azure waters and a chance to cool off with a quick dip during the hottest part of the day.
But soon enough, we turned inland, where Corsica revealed a wild, mountainous heart that took us by surprise. Long climbs awaited, winding through rugged rock formations and thick, cool forests that felt worlds away from the sun-drenched coast. The Mediterranean landscapes gave way to soaring pines and deep gorges, offering a striking contrast to the coastline we had left behind.
By the time we reached Ajaccio, we were in need of a quick bike tune-up, but with fresh bikes and high spirits, we pressed onward, pushing south toward Corsica’s southern tip. Here, the crowds grew, a reminder of summer’s peak, yet the vibrancy of the villages and beaches balanced the solitude of our earlier days.
The road eventually curved back northward, taking us through vast plains and remote stretches of nearly untouched land, adding an unexpected quietude to our journey’s end.
On our final day, as the week drew to a close, we boarded a ferry back to Genova. Just as the we landed back in Italy, a sudden thunderstorm rolled in, casting a moody bittersweet feeling to our arrival.
This trip wasn’t just about the miles or the mountains we conquered—it was an important journey, one where we forged deeper bonds with each other and with the timeless, untamed landscapes of Corsica.
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