July 27, 2025

Via Race, Chapter II: Capuccino Starts, Castles & Climbs

31 minutes

Welcome back to Zone2Speak! I’m Juliana, reporting from the road as the incredible adventure of the VIA Race kicks off.

It’s Day 1, and after a lively registration day in Giovinazzo, 120+ riders rolled out just after 8 a.m. — a bit later than planned, thanks to some very Italian policing and cappuccino logistics (can’t blame them, really).

Today’s route launched the riders into the first big climbs, with two major goals on the radar: Castel del Monte, a 13th-century hilltop citadel and official Gate I, and the leg-burning ascent to Montevergine, where the true climbing begins — over 3,500 meters of elevation packed into the day.

I break down who’s leading, who’s taking alternate routes, and how the early race strategies are shaping up. We’ve got returning champs, dark horses, and velomobiles making bold moves.

And best of all? You’ll hear voices straight from the race. I caught up with riders in motion — sometimes running beside them, other times yelling questions from a car window — so while the audio is raw, the stories are real.

I didn’t catch every name, but I hope you feel the energy, grit, and spirit of this incredible ride.

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Follow Via Race:

Dotwatch: https://dotwatcher.cc/race/via-race-2025/asc

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By Juliana

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