La bicicletta che unisce: torna la 100×100 Donne (Bicycle that unites us: 100x100 Women returns)

Article in Italian by Liborio La Mattina published June 2026 on La Voce online magazine.

Since January 2026 Food.Stories.Travel. has been based in Ivrea, in the Piedmont region, and this year on October 4 will proudly be one of the sponsors of the 100x100 Donne (100x100 Women).

"This all-female cycling event was conceived by Paola Gianotti—an ultra-cyclist, four-time Guinness World Record holder, and environmental activist who has long championed road safety for cyclists." She is also native to Ivrea.

"However, the 100×100 Donne event was created for more than just promoting cycling or showcasing the Canavese region in Piedmont from a new perspective; a portion of the registration fee goes toward projects dedicated to women."

Read more about this event here on an article written in Italian or see our English translation below. (Photo courtesy from Instagram account of 100x100 Donne)

There are days when a bicycle ceases to be merely a means of transport. It becomes a choice, a small personal triumph, and the simplest way to feel free—and perhaps even a little less alone.

It is in this spirit that the "100×100 Donne" (one hundred percent women) event returns on Sunday, October 4, 2026. This all-female cycling event was conceived by Paola Gianotti—an ultra-cyclist, four-time Guinness World Record holder, and environmental activist who has long championed road safety for cyclists.

The start and finish lines will once again be located at the Ivrea Canoe Stadium. There will be no rankings, stopwatches, or winners to crown. Instead, there will be women with diverse backgrounds, levels of fitness, and cycling experiences, all coming together to share a day on the roads of the Canavese region—a blend of sport, scenery, and solidarity.

The inaugural edition, held on October 12, 2025, drew 460 participants to the local roads, exceeding the organizers' expectations. For this second edition, the goal is to reach 600 participants—the maximum capacity set by the organizers. Registration is already open and will close on Thursday, October 1, at 12:00 PM.

The route will retain its signature figure-eight shape, designed to allow each participant to decide how far they wish to ride.

The "Half 100×100 Donne" covers approximately 58 kilometers and offers the most accessible option, suitable for amateur cyclists, those with less training, and anyone wishing to try this type of experience for the first time.

The "Full 100×100 Donne," meanwhile, spans 110 kilometers with a total elevation gain of around 1,200 meters, featuring a more challenging second leg heading toward the Valchiusella valley.

Both routes will wind through some of the most beautiful and recognizable spots in the Canavese region: Viverone Lake, the Castle of Agliè, the rolling hills, small villages, and the scenic landscapes of Valchiusella. This territory will not merely serve as a backdrop for the event but will be one of its key features.

The day is designed to welcome everyone: highly trained enthusiasts, casual weekend cyclists, women who ride regularly, and those simply wanting to give it a try.

Road bikes, gravel bikes, mountain bikes, standard bicycles, and e-bikes are all permitted. While roads will remain open to traffic, volunteers will be stationed along the entire route to guide and assist participants.

Two refreshment stations featuring local products will be set up along the course. After the ride, the Canoe Stadium will host the final "pasta party"—a moment when the miles covered, the physical exertion, and the climbs give way to the joy of coming together. The first riders are expected to arrive from 12:00 PM onwards.

However, the "100×100 Donne" event was created for more than just promoting cycling or showcasing the Canavese region from a new perspective; a portion of the registration fee goes toward projects dedicated to women.

Proceeds from the first edition supported *Casa delle Donne*—an association active since 1991 in the fight against discrimination—and *La Memoria Viva Associazione*, which used the donation to gather medical supplies for Ukrainian populations near the front lines. Items purchased included sanitary products for women and girls, as well as diapers for the elderly and children.

Support was also provided to the Violetta Association, which works to combat violence against women; *This Unique*, which has installed free compostable sanitary pad dispensers in schools; and *Energia per i Diritti Umani* (Energy for Human Rights), which supports a local workshop in Senegal producing washable sanitary pads.

These are tangible initiatives—far removed from empty rhetoric and closely attuned to everyday needs. This is also why the bicycle takes on a different meaning in the *100×100 Donne* event. It serves not merely to cover distance, but to forge bonds and transform a day of sport into real assistance for other women.

"The Canavese region is the perfect setting to convey the message behind *100×100 Donne*: the bicycle is not just a means of reaching a destination, but a way to discover and create connections. Riding through these landscapes alongside other women means taking the time to look around, tackle a climb, and pause to admire the view. Once again, this second edition aims to be an invitation to experience the local area with curiosity and a sense of freedom," says Paola Gianotti.

The success achieved in 2025 has already allowed the event to expand beyond the borders of the Canavese region. On March 28, at the Cycle Tourism Fair in Padua, Paola Gianotti received the "Ho voluto la bicicletta" ("I Chose the Bicycle") award for *100×100 Donne* in the "Adesso Pedala" ("Time to Ride") category.

The award honors the memory of Mariateresa Montaruli—a journalist, travel reporter, writer, and blogger specializing in cycle tourism and sustainable mobility—who passed away prematurely in 2023.

The jury recognized the initiative's ability to transform a sporting challenge into a collective experience, bringing hundreds of women together to ride and using the bicycle as a symbol of autonomy, solidarity, and shared connection. Behind this initiative lies the personal and athletic journey of Paola Gianotti—born in 1981, a Business and Economics graduate, coach, motivational speaker, and holder of four Guinness World Records. Among these is the record for the fastest woman to circumnavigate the globe by bicycle.

In 2014, during her round-the-world trip, she was struck by a car and suffered a fracture of the fifth cervical vertebra. That accident sparked an even stronger commitment to cyclist safety.

Together with former champion Maurizio Fondriest and Marco Cavorso—the father of Tommy, a fourteen-year-old cyclist who died in a road accident—he founded the association *Io Rispetto il Ciclista* (I Respect the Cyclist).

Through numerous journeys across Italian roads, Paola engaged municipalities and local authorities in installing signs urging motorists to maintain a distance of at least 1.5 meters when overtaking. To date, over ten thousand such signs have been installed throughout Italy.

Her athletic pursuits have often gone together with social activism. In 2016, she cycled from Milan to Oslo as part of the *Bike The Nobel* project, an initiative launched to nominate the bicycle for the Nobel Peace Prize. In Uganda, she helped facilitate the donation of 104 bicycles to women and the training of 35 mechanics.

In 2020, during the pandemic, she cycled for twelve hours on an indoor trainer to raise funds for the purchase of 10,600 face masks, which were donated to the Regina Margherita Hospital in Turin and to the hospital in Ivrea.

In 2022, through the *Bike4Tree* project, she supported the planting of 2,022 trees and cycled 2,200 kilometers from Stockholm to Milan. In 2023, she traversed Brazil’s Mato Grosso region to document deforestation. The following year, as part of *Cycling No Borders*, Paola cycled from Helsinki to Paris in 18 stages, reporting on sustainable mobility for Rai Radio 2 and monitoring air quality.

Paola has received several honors, including the Don Puglisi Award, the Pulcheria Award, the Amelia Earhart Award, and a special mention at the Brera Awards. She has also authored three books: *Sognando l’Infinito*, *In Fuga Controvento*, and *La Svolta*. The 100×100 Donne 2026 is organized with the support of GAL Valli del Canavese, Food.Stories.Travel, Paola Gianotti Academy, and Canavese Village, alongside media partner Bikeitalia.

The entry fee covers on-course support, two refreshment stops featuring local products, and the concluding pasta party, as well as a contribution toward charitable projects.

Starting this year, the event has a dedicated website—100x100donne.it—hosting all information regarding the event, routes, and partner facilities. Registration is available via the Endu platform.

On October 4th, on the roads of the Canavese region, every woman will set her own pace, face her own physical challenge, and have her own reason for being there. Some will ride 58 kilometers, while others will tackle 110. Some will arrive well-trained; others, with a mix of apprehension and great curiosity.

Finishing first won't matter. What matters is setting off.