Lake Garda Sport Events

Lake Garda has always been a popular holiday destination for sports enthusiasts and lovers of outdoor activities, offering numerous sports events throughout the year.
The mountain bike season is opened in April, with the "MTB Garda Marathon - Granfondo città di Garda". In August/September, Riva hosts the "Rock Master", an international festival that attracts the best professional climbers.
As for sailing enthusiasts, they can enjoy the "La Centomiglia", the worldwide most prestigious and spectacular lake regatta. The sports agenda continues with the "Punta Veleno", one of the most arduous hill climbing bike races in Italy, and the beautiful "Lake Garda Mountain Race" that takes place on the Monte Baldo.
Moreover, there is the "International Triathlon of Bardolino", Italy's first triathlon that has been held every June since 1984. In addition, Lake Garda offers plenty of opportunities to watch or practise racewalking, windsurfing, car races and many more activities.

If you feel sporty, have a look at our sports experiences, a different way to enjoy Lake Garda and outdoor activities!

Here is the list of the major sports events on Lake Garda.

FEBRUARY

Gensan Giulietta & Romeo Half Marathon - Verona

The half-marathon is intrinsically tied to the city of the main characters of the Shakespearean drama. It takes participants on a 21 km route along Verona’s streets to the Verona Arena in Piazza Bra. The run belongs to the official programme calendar of important associations such as Iaaf (International Association of Athletics Federations), Aims (Association of International Marathons and Distance Races) and Fidal (Italian Athletics Federation).
Fidal has awarded the race the "Gold Label", a certification that officially counts it among the top three races in Italy, both in terms of organization and number of participants.
 

MARCH

South Garda Bike - Medole

The "South Garda Bike" race was held for the first time in 2007 and has steadily increased its number of participants since then. It covers two routes that run through the southern moraine hills of Lake Garda in the province of Mantua. The start and finish lines of the demanding race are in Medole.

APRIL

Mtb Garda Marathon - Granfondo città di Garda

Two important cycling events are held on the same day, the MTB Garda Marathon and the Cycle Marathon of the Town of Garda (it. Granfondo Città di Garda).
The MTB Garda Marathon boasts a longer route with a greater difference in height and attracts more participants than the cycle marathon. The MTB Garda Marathon is part of the regional Venetian Championship and awards National Top Class points. The running route leads from Garda along the slopes of Monte Baldo to the finishing line on the lakeshore. The Garda Town Cycle Marathon is suitable for those who are afraid of the longer and more difficult MTB route. Both routes boast exciting and demanding single trails for cyclists.
 

Lake Garda Cycling Marathon - Torbole

The Gran Fondo "Lake Garda Cycling Marathon" starts in Torbole sul Garda heading towards Arco, then climbing the panoramic road that leads to the summit of Monte Baldo and gives the participants unforgettable views during the race. One last effort upwards and then the descent to the Gardesana lakeside road begins, from where it goes back to Torbole sul Garda.
 

Lake Garda 42 - Limone sul Garda

Two routes in one in the breathtaking scenery of Lake Garda. You can choose to run 42 kilometres from Limone to Malcesine or 21 kilometres from Arco to Malcesine. And for the little ones there is the LAKE GARDA KIDS RUN in Riva.

MAY

Mille Miglia Open Road Race - Lake Garda

The Mille Miglia Race was founded as an endurance race for all sports cars in 1927. However, since 1977, only vintage cars built before 1957 have been allowed to race.
The Brescia - Rome - Brescia route has existed since the first edition. It varies constantly but Viale Venezia is always the start and finish. The race consists of four stages, two leading to the capital and the other two back to the starting line. The Mille Miglia is a car race of great importance that attracts fans and famous people from Italy and abroad. To the great delight of tourists and residents, the route takes the vintage cars through various villages and towns across the country.
 

GC32 Racing Tour - Riva del Garda

The "GC32 Racing Tour" marks the beginning of the season, with teams coming from three different continents to run the first stage of the international circuit with their very fast catamarans on our lake. Professionals and amateurs dash across Lake Garda at over thirty knots on boats that are very similar to those used in the America's Cup, but less expensive.

JUNE

International Triathlon - Bardolino

The most famous and biggest triathlon in Italy, the International Triathlon of Bardolino, attracts participants from all over the world and is part of the prestigious Triathlon Race of Four Nations circuit, which also takes place in Germany, Slovenia and Austria.
Swimming, cycling and running in an idyllic environment that gives athletes and spectators an exciting day of pure emotions.
 

One Hour Classic - Torbole sul Garda

The "One Hour Classic" windsurf regatta, organised by the Torbole surf club, is held regularly in June. The approximately one hundred windsurfers compete in the one-hour contest that takes the participating athletes from one shore of Lake Garda to the other.
The wind on the northern edge of the lake plays the starring role in the One Hour Classic contest, Throughout the morning, participants can choose the sail with which they wish to compete. The start is about 12 pm, with a boat indicating the direction to the windsurfers.

JUNE / AUGUST

Bisse League of Lake Garda

The Bisse League of Lake Garda brings together all bisse on Lake Garda - more specifically, the associations that continue and promote the use of the boats traditionally used on Lake Garda. What exactly are bisse? They are flatboats steered by four standing rowers.
These boats date back to the Republic of Venice and, according to tradition, are preserved in their original form despite all technical innovations in naval architecture. The Bisse League hosts a series of events during the "Bandiera del Lago" championship in the summer.
Every Saturday, early or late in the evening, rowers compete in different teams on Lake Garda. The "Bandiera del Lago" championship of the Bisse League is an event that combines tradition and sport in a fascinating way.

AUGUST

Palio delle Mura - Peschiera del Garda

The "Palio delle Mura" (Eng. rowing contest within the town walls) is a sports event that features also cadets and women’s teams. Before the official competition, the traditional contest in the Venetian rowing style (It. voga veneta, with the rower standing on the flat-bottomed boat), the dragon boat competition and a parade of the rowers in the town centre are held. The evening then comes to a close with the "incendio dei voltoni", the traditional final firework display. Furthermore, there will be wine and food stalls offering traditional specialities of the regional cuisine.

AUGUST / SEPTEMBER

Rock Master Festival - Arco

The "Rock Master Festival", the most popular climbing competition in the world, has been held yearly since 1987. The Rock Master Festival, an event of international standing, invites visitors to Arco, where some of the best athletes compete at the end of August or beginning of September. The Rock Master Festival is held in Arco’s climbing stadium, which is also the venue of the "IFSC World Youth Championship".
During the exciting festival, the world’s best climbers compete - an event that fans of this sport should not miss! This is a chance for the interested public to watch successful athletes at work.

SEPTEMBER

Caprino-Spiazzi - Caprino Veronese

The Caprino-Spiazzi car parade brings back to life the legendary hill climb of past times. Offering two different non-competitive races, the event involves both the uphill racing world and the historic car collectors sector.
Allowed are all means of transport, racing cars and prototypes, whose year of construction was before 1990. Between the first and the second ascent, the cars remain on display on the piazza in Caprino Veronese to delight the fans of 4 wheels. An expert jury selects the most beautiful cars of each category to give them an award of elegance.
 

Centomiglia - Gargnano

The Centomiglia regatta claims many records. First, it is the oldest sailing regatta in Italy - held yearly since 1951. Furthermore, it is the longest regatta on inland water in Europe.
About two hundred, sometimes up to three hundred boats, compete in the event. The route varies according to boat type, starting in Bogliaco di Gargnano, then leading down to Desenzano via Torbole and back to Gargnano. The Centomiglia sailing regatta is open to mono- and multihulls, with some boat owners making their own vessels for the regatta.
The Centomiglia is an event not to be missed out on for sailing enthusiasts and the interested public!
 

Extreme Race Punta Veleno - Brenzone sul Garda

A competition for cyclists who wish to take part in one of the "Giro del Trentino" routes.
The tour leads participants along an 8 km road from Castelletto at a height of 140 metres to Punta Veleno (Prada Alta) at a height of 1156 metres. The Punta Veleno Extreme Race gives cyclists the opportunity to ride up an ascending slope of height that many professional cyclists have not yet tackled. The slope is 12.7% on average, with some routes having an inclination of 20%. The total difference in height of the completely tarmacked road is 1015 metres. A must for cycling enthusiasts!

OCTOBER

Bardolino 10K Run

The Bardolino 10K Run is an important footrace about 10 km on a completely paved path that leads through the old town and the hilly area of the DOC vineyards.
The route is the same for hobby joggers and professional runners, the latter will start after the competitive race.
 

Lake Garda Mountain Race - Malcesine

The Lake Garda Mountain Race takes participants from Malcesine to Monte Baldo.
The finishing line of the race is in Cima Pozzette, the difference in height is 2000 metres along a route of a little more than 12 km. There is a non-competitive run with a lower difference in height (1700 metres) ending in the locality of Tratto Spino, 3 km before Cima Pozzete. This route is for athletes who practice running, trekking and Nordic Walking.

NOVEMBER

Garda Trentino Half Marathon - Riva del Garda

The Garda Trentino Half Marathon takes place with three modalities in Riva in November - the half marathon, the 10 km footrace and the 21 km fit walking. The latter is a non-competitive run that is held on the same route as the Garda Trentino Half Marathon.
The event has taken place annually since the year 2002, showing growing success and an increase in participants. During the same period, the exhibition centre in Riva del Garda hosts an exhibition with food stalls where visitors can taste products from the Trentino region.

Note: The mentioned periods may be subject to change.