“Franco, can you explain to us what this event, the North Cape 4000, is all about?
This year, the organization had us start from Rovereto and provided us with a route to follow. Along the way, there are four gates, or checkpoints, where you need to get a stamp. This year, the checkpoints were in Munich, Berlin, Copenhagen, and Rovaniemi, with the final one at North Cape.
The maximum number of participants this year was 350. We all started together from Rovereto, but of course, everyone has their own pace and way of traveling. In the first few days, you have the chance to meet and talk to many people, but as the journey progresses and everyone finds their own rhythm, you end up a bit more on your own.
“But did you start on your own? So, you didn’t plan to do the trip with a friend?”
“Initially, I had the intention of doing part of the journey with some friends I knew. However, it’s normal for everyone to experience the trip in their own way, and soon I decided to follow my own pace and undertake the journey alone. Along the way, though, I met a guy, Walter, with whom we silently decided to continue the trip together. I didn’t know him before; he’s a guy from Milan that I met on the first day in Innsbruck, right when I fell. From there, we decided to spend the night together at the same hotel, and it turned out to be a good match for both of us, so much so that we finished the trip together.
About halfway through, when we were roughly halfway through the journey, another guy, Michele, joined us. We had already crossed paths with him along the way. So, we ended up finishing the trip to North Cape by bike as a group of three.”
“How was it to share this experience with other people?”
“The companionship was excellent, which is hard to predict before a trip. Getting along well with people isn’t easy, even because of differences in pace and goals, but our time together was very productive. We helped each other, kept each other company, but without feeling obligated to talk all the time. Everyone had their own space, and it’s important to be smart in respecting each other’s needs. Knowing that if you need help, there’s someone who can give you a hand, is very reassuring.
So yes, we can say that we chose each other, based on a shared feeling and way of interpreting this experience. It’s unthinkable to force yourself to stick with someone if there’s no connection. We also ended up doing stretches of the journey with other people, and that’s the beauty of the trip: being free to interpret the journey in your own way, at your own pace, with your own mindset. We met so many people whom we kept crossing paths with, but each person had their own schedule and way of experiencing the journey.”
“We had to pedal more with our minds than with our legs because the roads, especially in Sweden, turned out to be very different from what we expected. They were long and straight, with constant ups and downs, which really tested our physical and mental endurance. The monotony of these stretches was overwhelming.”
“From a physical point of view, what challenges did you face?”
“The physical challenges were not what I expected. It’s clear that preparing to ride over 4000 km to the North Cape by bike is very tough; you can train as much as you want, but the distances are so great that your body has to adapt during the event itself. After 4-5 days, you really notice a change in your body, which starts to respond perfectly: your pace becomes steady, your heart rate lowers, and surprisingly, at least for me, I didn’t have any leg pain. Probably because lactic acid doesn’t build up significantly, so physically everything went very well.”
“So you didn’t have any problems, like with the saddle or joint pain?”
“The saddle issue was a constant problem for all 15 days, and after talking to the other participants, I found out it was a common problem. I also faced another issue that shouldn’t be overlooked for future trips: the shoes. My feet swelled up, and I had trouble riding for long stretches without feeling pain. It’s not a minor issue and shouldn’t be underestimated.”
“How did you manage your meals during those 16 days, and where did you sleep? As for logistics, my companions and I—first Walter, my first travel partner, and then Michele who joined later—decided day by day how many kilometers to cover. By midday, we’d assess whether we could reach the distance we had planned the night before, and then we’d set our final destination. We’d book accommodation for that evening.”
“So you planned on a daily basis?”
“Yes, every day we planned the route. I didn’t bring a sleeping bag or tent; I had already decided to sleep in accommodations. This was because I had planned, as it turned out, to ride about 12 solid hours a day. Considering breaks, I knew I’d arrive late and wanted to ensure I slept as comfortably as possible. We typically slept about 6 hours a night, on good days, but not more.”
“And regarding food? What did you eat?”
“Food was a particular challenge, sometimes even a bit of a struggle, especially finding it. Not all countries had supermarkets or bars like we’re used to. In the far north, for example, there are no traditional bars, but there are service stations with cafes and rest areas, or regular supermarkets. When we entered these supermarkets, we grabbed anything that looked appetizing and stuffed it into our jackets and pockets, because when you ride for such long hours, you eat constantly.
We ate fruit, especially bananas (which, surprisingly, you can even find in Sweden and Lapland), cookies, dried fruit, gummy bears, small sandwiches we made ourselves. We constantly alternated between sweet and savory because we felt a constant hunger, at least I did. Compared to the initial idea of following a more controlled diet, you realize you burn so many calories that you end up eating anything you can get your hands on. It’s unrealistic to think you can survive just on energy bars or supplements. To give you an idea, I ate my last gel at North Cape, because after a while, you need to mix up the flavors to keep your appetite going.”
“What was the hardest stage of the journey? Was there just one or were there multiple?”
“Actually, there were a couple of tough moments, to be honest. The first challenge came on the very first day when I unfortunately fell in Innsbruck. I got my wheel caught in a tram track, and after just 7 hours from the start, I found myself on the ground with a bad scrape on my hip and knee. That was the first moment I was afraid I wouldn’t make it, that I’d have to stop right on the first day.
Another difficult moment was the stretch from Berlin to Rostock, where we faced 200 km of headwinds. It was really tough, also because the scenery didn’t change much, so you didn’t feel like you were making any progress. There were only hills, wheat fields, and headwinds, and it seemed like we would never get there.
A third challenging moment came during a stage towards Falun in Sweden. We rode for long stretches of constant rolling hills and endless straight roads. It was very hard, not only physically but also mentally, because we didn’t see a single soul, not even cars or houses. Riding for so long without any landmarks, not knowing where to stop for food or rest, was really exhausting.
It was also physically demanding: the continuous ups and downs required pedaling both uphill and downhill because the bike was loaded, and there was no chance to rest. We’d do 600 meters of elevation gain, but it felt like only 100 because it was so difficult both going up and down. Even on the downhills, you couldn’t relax, which made everything extremely tiring, both physically and mentally, especially with those endless straight roads that seemed to go on forever.”
“Franco can you tell us some of the numbers behind this journey to the North Cape by bike?”
“The numbers of the North Cape are as follows: by the end of the trip, I had covered about 4,230 km with a total elevation gain of around 30,000 meters. I completed the journey in 16 days, with a daily elevation gain of about 2,000 meters. Of course, there were days when the elevation was around 1,700 meters and others when we exceeded 3,000 meters.
The actual cycling time was around 12 hours a day, net. That’s just cycling time, not counting breaks. We’d get up at 6:00 a.m. and try to set off by 6:30. We wouldn’t reach our destination before 7:30 or 8:00 p.m.
The average total speed during the North Cape was around 23 km/h.”
“In terms of gear, what turned out to be truly essential, the things that made you think, ‘I’m so glad I had this with me’? And on the other hand, what wasn’t necessary?”
“As for clothing, having two pairs of cycling shorts was essential. Yes, I only brought two pairs, but I kept rotating them, washing and drying the other. This is crucial to avoid saddle issues: always having clean and dry shorts is really key.
Another indispensable item was the rain jacket. Even though we generally had good weather, there were a few rainy days, and it was interesting to see how temperatures would drop sharply when it rained. Having a jacket that not only keeps you dry but also warm was essential.
As for pants, I only had shorts, but I also brought leg warmers, which I used not so much for the rain but for the cold, especially in the mornings when we set off, and it was a bit chilly. Overall, though, we had good weather.
“From a technical perspective, related to the bike, were there any solutions that worked well or didn’t?”
“I was fortunate not to have any major technical issues—actually, none at all. One thing I recommend is tubeless tires. I had a great experience with them, especially compared to other riders I met who had a lot more problems with punctures using traditional tires with inner tubes, whereas those of us with tubeless tires had far fewer issues.
One item I always carry with me and would never go without is the classic zip tie. I had several opportunities to use them during the trip, and they solved a number of problems. They’re a lifesaver, like when a strap on your bag breaks or your light comes loose—the zip tie fixes everything.
Another super useful item is electrical tape, the classic black tape. It can also save you in many situations.”
“You see, I would have never thought of those things. I would’ve imagined more cycling-related gear, but now I see…”
“The usual things, of course, should always be packed, like a chain tool and similar items, which are part of a traveler’s kit and should never be missing. But in the end, the things that really turn out to be important and can solve various problems, in my opinion, are these: zip ties and electrical tape. They’re never missing from my kit.”
“Well, thanks for the tip! I’ve never been to the North Cape. What’s there when you arrive? There’s the monument, we saw your photo… In terms of support and logistics, what is there?”
“Well, there’s no support or logistics. As I mentioned before, this was a self-supported event, so when we arrived, there was just one person from the organization who gave us the final stamp and took the customary photos at the monument.
In my opinion, though, that’s the beauty of this event: it’s not a race where you have to prove something. You’ve simply—at least in my case—fulfilled a dream. So, you should already be grateful to yourself for having completed this amazing adventure. You don’t need trophies, you don’t need a beer… When I got there, I didn’t need anything, except to cry because I was deeply moved and overwhelmed by a whirlwind of emotions that hit me during the last few kilometers. It took me almost two hours to cover the last 30 km because I wanted to savor every single moment, knowing that the dream was finally within reach. I truly enjoyed those last kilometers.
There’s a beautiful visitor center there, with a restaurant, a small museum, and behind it, the monument where we took the photo, with the cliffs and the sea in the background. And that’s it, you’re really at the end of the world—it’s beautiful.”
“And so after that, did you head back and ride the 30 km again to return to the village?”
“The return was a bit of an adventure, if you want, I can tell you about it.”
“Yes, please, we’d love to hear it!”
“Since there wasn’t a bus to take us back to Honningsvåg, and mentally I had already checked out after reaching the North Cape (the last 30 km are extremely tough, with three significant climbs between 3 and 6 km, with gradients of 8-9%), we were running low on energy. We still had to do another 30 km to get to Honningsvåg, where a bus was leaving at around 4 pm, but we arrived at 1 pm. Between recovering, taking photos, and getting to the bus, we weren’t sure if we’d make it. Plus, we had already booked our flight for Tuesday to return home, so we were a bit pressed for time.
My friends and I decided to go to the camper area and ask all the campers for a ride to Honningsvåg. In the end, while still at the North Cape, we found a very kind man, a Belgian who was on vacation alone. Not only did he load up the three of us and our bikes, but we even managed to convince him to drive us directly to Alta, instead of just to Honningsvåg, as we had initially planned.”
“How many kilometers did he drive?”
“He drove more than 200 km!”
“There were several moments when I was deeply moved. It often happened when I admired the landscape, discovered new places, heard new stories, or watched the color of the sky, which I imagined would be different from what we see in Italy. But the true emotion, the most intense one, came when I realized that I was really going to reach the North Cape by bike. This happened about 1000 km before the finish. At that moment, despite all the difficulties I had faced along the way, I knew I was going to make it. It was just a matter of hours or days. That’s when I became aware, and felt the emotion, that the adventure was almost over.”
“Franco, what has this North Cape experience left you with?”
“You know, it’s hard to answer that question.”
“I believe it!”
“Yes, because every day that passes, I think about it and… look, I get chills just talking about it. Every day something new is added, and it’s not easy to process a trip like mine, which lasted 15 days, in just a month. One thing is certain: I think about it constantly, and it’s something that gets inside you and changes you, for sure. I feel changed because you start to see things differently. You realize that nothing is as fundamental or necessary as it seemed. When you travel, you realize that you only need to eat, sleep occasionally, and the rest is really superfluous. What really matters is what you see, what you feel, and the relationships you build, both with people and with the surrounding environment.
It’s a very difficult question to answer. Maybe, if you ask me again in a few months, I could give you a more precise answer. But for sure, I think I’ve grown, improved, and gained a bit more experience, both technically and in terms of cycling. As for what has changed inside me, I can’t say exactly, but I hope I’ve improved in many aspects. That, yes.
“So would you recommend this experience?”
“Yes, I would absolutely recommend it because for me it was the realization of a dream. However, it’s important to note that there are dreams that are much easier and less demanding. The realization of a dream is something great in itself. What I recommend is that, to undertake an adventure like the North Cape, it’s essential not to improvise. Adequate preparation is needed, both physically and mentally. But beyond that, I strongly recommend traveling, really experiencing bike travel, slow travel, self-sufficiency. This type of experience makes you understand many things about yourself and life. Even if they seem like banal phrases, it’s really true.”
“Exactly. We live in a society full of objects, thoughts, and relationships, many of which can be toxic. This experience confronts you with the simple reality that you can do a lot with little and still be well. When you’re there, during the trip, you plan your day based on your needs and don’t have space to think about superfluous things. You simply have to face the day in the best way possible, trying to minimize problems and live the experience to the fullest.”
“How did you feel when you returned home?”
“Upon returning home, I found it quite difficult to readjust. I missed the fullness of a busy schedule, even with fears and thoughts. I needed that sense of completeness I had during the trip. Physical recovery was necessary, and my body needed time to recuperate, but mentally, I missed the structure and intensity of each day. This void particularly struck me during the recovery period.”
“Do you already have any other projects or events in mind for the future?”
“Thinking about future projects after the North Cape is not easy because I set the bar very high. However, I definitely have something in mind. What I don’t lack is the desire to travel and challenge myself with new goals. Let me think about it a bit, and I’ll let you know.”
Franco rode a Daccordi Alterego. To follow Franco on Instagram, his account is @dvc99.
