Nicolas Roche will be taking part in GeoGravel Tuscany. The former Irish Pro - winner of two stages in the Vuelta a España - is a true gravel enthusiast and did not want to miss the first edition of the event started by his former colleague Paolo Bettini.

Champions in Pomarance. The participants of GeoGravel Tuscany (scheduled for 22-24 September) will be welcomed to the geothermal capital not only by former world champion Paolo Bettini, the inventor of the event, but also by another great protagonist on two wheels, Nicolas Roche. Roche was a professional from 2005 to 2021, winning two stages in the Vuelta a España and the Irish national title in both time trials and road races.

After retiring, he plunged into the world of gravel, which is why Paolo Bettini - not only a former colleague but also a friend - wanted to invite him to join him at new event dedicated to gravel.

An invitation he immediately accepted, as Roche himself recounts:
"When Paolo called me and invited me to come to GeoGravel Tuscany, I opened my diary, marked the date and immediately said yes, without a second thought. I discovered gravel last summer and immediately fell in love with it. At first it was just for fun, with friends, then this year I decided to take part in a few races and ended up competing in quite a few, especially in the United States. But I also love gravel as a means of discovery, as slow cycling in nature. Especially in Tuscany, a country I adore for the landscapes, the food and, of course, the wine. What can I say, I can't wait to be there to discover the wonders of the Strade Grigie with Paolo and all the members of GeoGravel Tuscany".

GeoGravel Tuscany is more than a three-day sporting event, it is a real gravel festival to discover the metal hills.

The event will start in the afternoon of Friday 22nd September with the opening of the GeoVillage in the "Piazzone", a beautiful area near the centre of Pomarance that will host the GeoFestival, the beating heart of the whole event, where the evening concerts will take place and where local food and wine stalls and special shops will be set up.

It will also be the starting point for the various rides scheduled for Saturday 23rd (Ultra route) and Sunday 24th (Long, Medium and Short routes), 

For details of the four routes planned, the detailed programme and how to register, visit www.geograveltuscany.it