Italy remains one of the most badly-hit countries by the COVID-19 pandemic that forced cancellation or postponement of most cycling races in the region. To support the local cycling communities, ROUVY will provide free access to the platform during the charitable marathon period, and will send 1 Euro to the Veneto region’s open account for every rider who completes the required riding task. (The official accounts, that have been chosen by the recommendation of our partners in Italy, guarantee maximum transparency of the use of the raised funds. The total amount of ROUVY’s commitment is estimated to be around $7,000-$10,000 US dollars.) ŠKODA We Love Cycling is a media partner for the marathon and will provide all-around support in the global cycling community via the available media channels.
At the same time, we want to give an opportunity to both professional and recreational cyclists to keep up their winter fitness, at least in this Challenge. Most sports events have been canceled, and the world of professional cycling has almost completely stopped. For cyclists in some parts of Europe with strict quarantine restrictions, home training is currently “sort of” the only way to do training and ride together. All riders, during the period of March 18-April 1, who join #RideForItaly, can experience canceled events and diversify their workout agenda with online rivalry or group rides. At the same time, they can assist affected regions in Northern Italy to cope with and recover from the coronavirus epidemic. (The period of the marathon can be prolonged, depending on the situation.)
From the extensive ROUVY catalog (counting nearly 4,000 geo-synced films), chosen routes represent classic scenery locations, such as, for instance, Cortina d'Ampezzo - Passo Valparola, or from Grilli to Tirli in Tuscany. It's up to the Challenge participants to decide which order to ride them, which is essential to complete the Challenge. In this way, everyone can do their part to contribute to the assistance needed in Italy.
To get connected to the ROUVY app, you’ll need an indoor trainer that attaches to your bike. To join #RideForItaly, register here; for more info, 1-month free trial and donation details, click here.
About ŠKODA WE LOVE CYCLING
ŠKODA WE LOVE CYCLING is a multilingual online portal that brings original stories, fresh videos and special reports from the wide world of cycling. The portal is presented by ŠKODA AUTO, the main partner of the Tour de France.