Having already ridden Bright midnight, Lagarba gravel and Munich Milan gravel, Bianca Datola headed over to Ljubljana to race Seven Serpents earlier this year.
With an incredible ride coming fifth overall and second Woman, we sat down to learn more about what made this her favourite race of this year.
Photo credit Marco Ricci @gravelmerk
What made this race particularly special for you?
I love riding towards places that mean something to me, so ending the race in Trieste—where I did my bachelor’s—felt really special. It was a great excuse to go back, ride through familiar streets, and see some old friends. Last year, for example, I rode the Munich–Milan Gravel, which finishes in the city I grew up in. Both races were emotional and eye-opening, helping me reflect on how much I’ve changed since I lived in those places.
Last year I also travelled to Slovenia and Istria on a van-and-bike trip with my dad, and completely fell in love with the landscape. That’s one of the reasons I was drawn to this race—I wanted to go back and see more of that beautiful region. And honestly, riding across Krk was one of the most beautiful moments I’ve ever had on a bike.)
There’s just something about connecting past and present by bike that hits differently and these made something already incredible, even more so.
How did you prepare for the distance in this event?
With the race coming in at 1000km, I decided to get creative about how I fitted in the training miles for this race.
I’m currently based in Denmark, and let’s be honest—good weather isn’t always a given. So I do a lot of my winter training indoors, and then try to plan a longer bikepacking trip somewhere warmer during the colder months. This also helps me to mix things up and adds a fun adventure mid training. This year, I went to Thailand over Christmas and New Year, which was the perfect way to log some big days in the saddle and added much needed variety to the grey Denmark training days back home.
Once spring rolls around, I usually spend long weekends on the bike and fit in shorter rides during the week. For me, consistency is key and helps me to know I’ve done as much prep as I could, once the start of the race rolls round.
Photo credit Marco Ricci @gravelmerk
Fuelling is another big part of preparation for me. It’s not just about riding, it’s also about training your stomach. Being able to take in a lot of carbs and calories during a race is crucial. During my training rides I also make sure to practice fuelling, in a way that works for me too. Learning and tweaking as I go, is a big part of my race planning.
Photo credit Marco Ricci @gravelmerk
What gear or clothing really made a difference during the ride?
For Seven Serpents, my plan was to go as light as possible since the temperatures weren’t expected to drop too low. I packed a super light jacket, a down vest, arm and leg warmers, and two bibs. When it comes to clothing, the most important thing for me is that it keeps you warm even when wet—and dries quickly.
I always carry at least two emergency blankets, and I ended up needing one when I totally misjudged the temperature crossing into Croatia. I was soaked and freezing, so I wrapped my feet, hands, and torso in the blanket—and even made a little hat out of it. Not my most stylish moment, but it worked!
The hat!
Photo credit: Bianca Datola
Looking back, I was really happy with my kit choices, the bib shorts I wore during the race dried super fast and stayed comfortable. If I could go back, I probably would’ve brought a heavier rain jacket and proper winter gloves, but with each race your packing gets more refined too!
Overall it felt like everything came together for this event, stunning route and scenery, my preparation and kit choices all combined and I was super happy to cross the finishing line as second place woman and fifth overall.
With the 2025 race video launching soon, you can find out more about Seven Serpents here.