Every spring, groups of cyclists from 170 communities cycle along the Via Claudia Augusta from their community center to the center of the following community, where they hand over to the next community and so on. The route covers a total of 1000 km from the Danube across the Alps to the Adriatic and the river Po. In total, spread over the route, several thousand municipal representatives and citizens cycle at a leisurely pace so that everyone can join in. Each fall, sports clubs cycle the same route in 2 x 12 hours, i.e. in a sporty manner. In both spring and fall, it's all about togetherness along the route that has connected regions, places, people and their cultures for thousands of years.
As they have done four times before, groups of cyclists organized by the municipalities along the Via Claudia Augusta cycle from one municipality to the next to open the season. There, the following municipality takes over the baton and cycles on. In total, the route runs from the Danube across the Alps to the Adriatic and the Po river - 1000 kilometers, 170 communities from the north to the south of Europe, all together thousands of cyclists, ... Anyone can take part. There are cultural treats along the route. In the evening, there will be a small festival where the cycling relay stops, to which all those interested in the Via Claudia Augusta who have not cycled along are also welcome. The cycling relay is an opportunity to get to know the Via Claudia Augusta and to meet others who live and work along the historic road. The cycling relay connects people, including those you don't meet directly, but who you know are doing the same thing on other sections of the Via Claudia Augusta ... We are all the Via Claudia Augusta.
On Saturday, September 21 and Sunday, September 22, 2024, cycling clubs will each cycle a 50 - 100 km section of the Via Claudia Augusta, in total from the Danube to the Adriatic or the Po, the entire Via Claudia Augusta, in just 24 hours, divided into 2 days. This pace is similar to that of courier riders in Roman times and also afterwards, when a message had to be delivered in a hurry. The whole thing worked with regular changes of horses and also some of the riders, at horse changing stations that were set up along the entire route. The resulting speed was and is significantly faster than a letter is transported from Austria or Germany to Italy today. The bike couriers of today also change regularly and are therefore not only similarly fast, they also deliver an important message together, like the historic courier riders, namely that there will be another big bike relay next spring, as has already taken place several times in the past. Groups of cyclists from each municipality will cycle a section of the Via Claudia Augusta to the next municipality, including from the Danube to the Adriatic and the Po. Along the entire route, both cyclists and non-cyclists are offered cultural highlights. The even larger cycle relay along the route and internationally is also intended to draw attention to the fact that the season on the Via Claudia Augusta is starting again.
As was the case three times in previous years, groups of cyclists organized by the municipalities along the Via Claudia Augusta will cycle from one municipality to the next at the opening of the 2024 season. There, the following municipality takes over the baton and continues cycling. In total, the route runs from the Danube across the Alps to the Adriatic and the river Po - 1000 kilometers, 170 municipalities from the north to the south of Europe, all together thousands of fellow cyclists, ... Anyone can take part. In most places where the cycling relay stops in the evening, there is a reception to which all those interested in the Via Claudia Augusta who have not cycled along are also welcome. The cycling relay is an opportunity to get to know the Via Claudia Augusta and to meet others who live and work along the historic road. The cycling relay connects people, including those you don't meet directly, but who you know are doing the same thing on other sections of the Via Claudia Augusta ... We are all the Via Claudia Augusta.
A selection of photos from all 5 sections (weekends). You will find more photos if you click on the links to the photo impressions of the individual 5 sections (weekends) below.
On October 14 and 15, 2023, 14 cycling clubs each cycled a part of the Via Claudia Augusta, altogether from the Danube to the Adriatic Sea or the Po River, respectively, in only 24 hours divided into 2 days, and thus at a speed similar to that of the Roman courier riders in former times and faster than a letter is transported from Austria or Germany to Italy today. The bike couriers were not only fast, they also delivered a message, like the Roman courier riders, namely that next spring there will be again an even bigger bike relay, as it has already taken place 3 times in the past. Thereby groups of cyclists from each municipality cycle a piece of the Via Claudia Augusta to the next municipality, also altogether from the Danube to the Adriatic to the Po. Along the entire route, cultural attractions will be offered to those who are interested in cycling, but also to those who are not. Also, the even larger cycling relay along the route and internationally should draw attention to the fact that the season on the Via Claudia Augusta begins again.
