The Dylan Van Baarle Classic

The Dylan Van Baarle Classic
When Dylan Van Baarle won Paris–Roubaix, every amateur cyclist with a functioning imagination had the same thought:
“If only I could magically transform into that handsome, smooth, elegant Dutch powerhouse.”
He floated over the cobbles with such effortless class that even the stones were probably applauding.

Right after the race, I called my fav buddy Komar and declared:
“We need to go smashing 100 km. Full gas. Now.”
So we designed a route worthy of a post-Roubaix adrenaline rush: perfectly paved roads, fast sections, zero traffic, and absolutely no long climbs that would expose our… let’s say, human level of fitness.

The result? This glorious loop: two lakes, 5–6 punchy climbs, each short enough to attack with pure arrogance.
Val Rossa, Solto Collina, Colle Piano, San Giovanni delle Formiche, and finally the mighty Colle dei Pasta.

Aside from Val Rossa (5 km at 4%), the climbs are all in the 2–3 km range — short, sharp, and perfect for pretending you’re in a late-race breakaway. Look at the elevation profile: it literally looks like the jawline of a great white shark. And yes, you should ride it exactly like a hungry shark would — with enthusiasm, questionable judgment, and absolutely no fear.

And the scenery? Oh, it delivers. Forests, meadows, the descent from Solto Collina with the dramatic spires of Monte Guglielmo in full view, and then that high-speed blast along Lake Iseo — as moody and magnificent as a Norwegian fjord, if Norway had espresso and better weather.

Then the fun gets serious: Colle Piano with its double-digit gradients, followed by the fierce, leg-biting San Giovanni delle Formiche.

And just when you think you’ve survived it all… the final boss appears: Colle dei Pasta.
One last punchy climb to empty whatever remains in your legs before you glide triumphantly back into Bergamo’s city center like a war hero returning home — sweaty, proud, and absolutely convinced that Dylan Van Baarle would approve.