About this Event
"EARLYBIRD" ENDS 11.59PM 11 SEP 2026
La Grande Gita is McLaren Vale’s festival on two wheels: a spring Sunday of vineyards, shared trails, gravel backroads, good company and Italian Festival atmosphere.
Choose a short sealed loop with the family, find your rhythm on a 27km or 40km ride, or take on the gravel and climbing of the 60km Grande or 80km Mega Grande.
La Grande Gita is a signature event of the 2026 Adelaide Italian Festival, delivered with BikeSA. The riding begins and finishes at Serafino Wines in McLaren Vale, where the day moves from bikes to food, drink, music and time together.
AT A GLANCE
- Date: Sunday 1 November 2026
- Start and finish: Serafino Wines, 39 Kangarilla Road, McLaren Vale
- Ride choices: short self-guided Espresso loops, plus 27km, 40km, 60km and 80km routes
- Terrain: sealed shared trails through to mixed-surface and gravel routes with substantial climbing
- Event style: social and untimed, with no race pressure
- E-bikes: welcome
WHY RIDE LA GRANDE GITA?
- See McLaren Vale differently: ride through vineyard country on trails, backroads and gravel routes selected to make the landscape part of the day.
- Finish somewhere worth staying: return to an Italian Festival atmosphere with food, drinks and good company.
- Ride with BikeSA support: scheduled routes include guidance, marshals, refreshment points and on-road assistance.
CHOOSE YOUR RIDE
ESPRESSO | SHORT SELF-GUIDED LOOPS 5-10km
Best for: families, casual riders and anyone who wants a short ride with plenty of time at the finish.
Terrain: sealed shared trails, self-guided.
Short on kilometres, not on atmosphere. Choose a gentle loop around McLaren Vale, then return when you are ready to enjoy the rest of the day.
PICCOLO | 27KM
Best for: newer riders, families and recreational riders who prefer to stay on sealed surfaces.
Terrain: 100% sealed, approximately 261m elevation.
A scenic loop using shared trails and local roads around McLaren Vale, Aldinga and Willunga. It delivers a satisfying morning on the bike without the gravel and sustained climbs of the longer routes.
MEZZO | 40KM
Best for: recreational riders ready for a varied mixed-surface ride without the bigger climbing of the Grande routes.
Terrain: approximately 70% sealed and 30% unsealed or gravel, with around 375m elevation.
The social all-rounder: vineyard roads, sections of the Shiraz Trail and McLaren Flat Trail, and enough gravel to keep the ride interesting while leaving time to enjoy McLaren Vale.
GRANDE | 60KM
Best for: regular recreational and gravel riders comfortable with sustained climbing and long unsealed sections.
Terrain: approximately 37% sealed and 63% gravel, with around 850m elevation.
A rewarding gravel day through vineyard country, The Range, Mount Magnificent and Kuitpo. Expect forested climbs, changing surfaces and a well-earned descent back towards McLaren Vale.
MEGA GRANDE | 80KM
Best for: experienced riders looking for La Grande Gita’s biggest distance and climbing challenge.
Terrain: approximately 44% sealed and 56% unsealed or gravel, with around 1,120m elevation.
The full gravel test. The route extends through Meadows, Prospect Hill and Kuitpo before returning to McLaren Vale, giving riders a range of elevation and variety.
WHO IS LA GRANDE GITA FOR?
La Grande Gita works because different riders can share the same day without having to share the same route. First-time and family riders can stay on sealed trails, recreational riders can choose a sociable mixed-surface loop, and experienced gravel riders can find real distance and elevation on the Grande routes.
Ride at your own pace. Times are not recorded, e-bikes are welcome and riders under 16 must remain with a nominated adult throughout the event.
BikeSA brings more than 40 years of South Australian cycling experience to the day, with a focus on organised, welcoming and rider-centred events.
WHAT YOUR REGISTRATION INCLUDES
- Entry to your selected La Grande Gita ride
- Event check-in, Rider ID and safety briefing for scheduled rides
- Route map and rider information
- BikeSA route signage on the 27km to 80km routes
- Ride marshals and support vehicles on the supported routes
- Water and fruit juice at designated BikeSA refreshment stops, depending on route
- Mechanical assistance at the start and en route
- Assistance to transport a rider and bike if they cannot finish, where route support applies
For more Route & Event information visit
Event venue & nearby stays
Serafino, 39 Kangarilla Road, McLaren Vale, Australia
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups — all the happenings, one place.