On Sunday, April 16, 2023, the 16th edition of the Gran Fondo della Ceramica, a major amateur cycling event held in the territory of Santo Stefano di Camastra, in the province of Messina, a town on the Tyrrhenian coast known as one of the capitals of ceramics, will be run in Sicily.

Also for this edition, the event organizer, Bici Club Stefanese, has planned two routes: a long one (106 km) and a short one (64 km). Both tracks guarantee strong emotions for the many expected participants.

For keen cyclists, Vacanzattiva offers the long route here.

Technical description:
The asphalt route starts from the center of Santo Stefano di Camastra. Pedaling eastward on State Road 113, a stone’s throw from the sea, we pass the towns of Canneto, Marina di Caronia, Torre del Lauro, and Acquedolci. At km 25, turn right onto the uphill SS289 leading inland.
At km 32.6 take the SP164 on the right, which leads downhill back to the village of Acquedolci. Here we cycle back on the SS113 westward to return to Santo Stefano di Camastra, where the short route ends.

The long track, on the other hand, continues beyond the village, still along SS113. Arriving at the mouth of the Tusa River, turn left onto SP176 to begin the steady climb inland, first to the villages of Pettineo and Motta d’Affermo and finally to Mt. San Cuono.
Having reached the highest point of the route (862 meters), continue on the road that downhill passes through Reitano (take SS117 at the km 92.3 junction) and leads back toward the sea. Once rejoined with the SS113, the last few rides lead to the center of Santo Stefano di Camastra. In Via G.Leopardi the long route of the Gran Fondo ends.

Route type: loop
Length: 106 km
Height difference in ascent: 1850 m
Downhill elevation gain: 1840 m
Highest point: 862 m
Lowest point: 20 m
Type of surface: asphalt

Technical advice:
Excellent training is required.

Municipality of departure: Santo Stefano di Camastra
Place of departure: Santo Stefano di Camastra
Municipality of arrival: Santo Stefano di Camastra
Place of arrival: Santo Stefano di Camastra

Recommended period:
All year round

Useful links:
http://biciclubstefanese.it/gf-ceramica/