Giro-E Enel 2026 – Stage 15 Valdobbiadene – Pieve di Soligo

The Giro-E Enel is in Veneto today. Stage 15 began in Valdobbiadene and ended in Pieve di Soligo. These 50 wonderful kilometres of pure hills will be a great source of memories.

Before getting started, our e-cyclists had the chance to visit the town cathedral or one of the many churches or villas in the area, be awe-struck by one of the six monumental trees within the municipality, or visit the town’s wineries and wine shops, albeit abstaining from drinking before the race.

This is Valdobbiadene’s third time hosting the Giro-E Enel, with the first being in 2019 (first edition of the event) and the second in 2024. Back in 2000 and 2001 it hosted a stage of the Women’s Giro d’Italia, with Diana Ziliute, the 1998 world champion, winning both of them. Since then, it has been a Giro d’Italia stage on three occasions. Valdobbiadene is also Chiara Reghini’s hometown. Reghini is the climber from the Top Girls Fassa Bortolo team who will compete in the upcoming Giro Women: the race begins tomorrow in Cesenatico.

After crossing the finish line, our e-cyclists can enjoy strolling along the streets of Pieve di Soligo, starting from Cal Santa, one of the most ancient streets in the city centre, or explore Borgo Stolfi, where the typical houses of the area are spread out along the old irrigation canal, complete with a watermill powered by the Soligo River. Don’t miss the Chisini-Daniott villa, which dates back to the 1600s, the baroque church of the Madonna del Carmine and the Baldi Valier palace, dating back to the 1800s. Another must-see is the Contenzioso Bridge, whose name evokes ancient, fiery disputes.

The Valdobbiadene-Pieve di Soligo stage

Like yesterday’s stage, today’s was nothing sensational, but it was just so pleasant to ride through the most beautiful country in the world.

The entire route coincided with the Giro d’Italia, as it constitutes the final section of the route before the finish line. It was an enjoyable, rolling terrain with a downhill final section. One eye on the road and one on the vineyard rows, which were just as wonderful.

The only real challenge of the day was the Ca’ del Poggio wall, a nine-kilometre section before the finish line: very short (1,200 metres) but with gradient levels ranging from 16% to 19%. In the Giro d’Italia it can spell victory or defeat in the stage, while in the Giro-E our e-cyclists just had to turn on their motors and ride off to the final toast in Pieve di Soligo.

Personality of the day – Paolo Belli

His latest song is titled Bellissima (“Beautiful”). He dedicated it to his grandmother, but he could’ve written it on his bicycle as well, given how much he loves it. “It’s the perfect song: Bicycle, you’re beautiful! It also has a pop rhythm to it that works well when you’re cycling, since it fits well with one’s cycling pace.”

Paolo Belli is a singer, songwriter and television host, as well as the founder of the band called Ladri di Biciclette (Bicycle Thieves); he has participated in Sanremo as well as Ballando con le stelle. This year he’s taking part in the Giro-E Enel 2026 with the Valsir team. “It’s not my first time; I’ve done some past editions as well. The Giro-E is truly amazing because it enables anyone to cycle on the roads of the Giro d’Italia, regardless of whether you’re tall, thin, blond and blue-eyed, just like me, in other words real athletes who are born to be cyclists. Jokes aside, these bikes are amazing; they’re the most suitable choice for people my age [64]. The fun part about it is that you can go uphill and cycle for so many kilometres at a time, something that would otherwise be impossible on a normal bike. I’ve climbed up to Stelvio five times with a normal bike but I can’t do it anymore. I can with a pedal-assisted bike, though. I can ride along with an entire group, with Bugno, Chiappucci, Colbrelli…”

Cycling is one of his great passions. “It’s a passion like no other. I don’t do anything at home; I don’t even move the chairs because I get tired just by thinking of doing anything at all. But I always look forward to cycling to push my body. Only cyclists can understand. I don’t just enjoy cycling, it’s a part of me. I’m only good at one thing and that’s going very fast in sprints. When I see a road sign, I start sprinting, no matter what. But a climb to me is what a waltz would’ve been for Bob Marley. Even overpasses are a big challenge for me.”

Last year, when the Giro-E still included sprints at the end of each stage, he was told that he should do it. “We were around the area where I’m from. My team told me, ‘Go on and do the sprint and win the stage for us.’ I took off, but three kilometres from the finish line I was completely out of energy. It was really exhausting and at the finish line I was unrecognisable. This year I’m riding as a domestique, I said that right from the start.” Cycling is an effective way to feel good about oneself. “Non-cyclists can’t understand: you see the world with a degree of freedom that is unparalleled. Maybe the only time I feel as free is when I’m writing a song.”