The event offered a novel view of the lake, shining the spotlight on a development model which focuses on sustainability, widening out the seasons and promoting its landscape attractions
arda changed pace for a weekend, pausing a moment with no car traffic and roads once again for people only. Credit for this goes to the last edition of Lake Garda 42 Showdown – Peak Lake Garda, which took place from 10 to 12 April in the Limone sul Garda to Malcesine area. It’s an event which succeeds every year in turning one of the lake’s most iconic sections into a sport theatre overlooking the water with a spectacular backdrop.
“It is an event which stops the whole system in its tracks,” says Silvio Rigatti, president of Garda Trentino SpA and the event’s organiser. “The traffic stops and the nature Garda treats us to can finally be enjoyed. We should do it more often.”
The itinerary offered athletes and the general public a novel view of the area. “Starting from Limone and finishing in Malcesine means showcasing the incredible natural resources the lake offers us,” continues Rigatti. “Without traffic the views feel completely different.” But there’s one thing which defines the event more than any other: sustainability. “We believe in the importance of stopping the traffic for a few hours for a run.” It may seem simple but it moves in a very clear direction: tourism capable of respecting and promoting the local area.
There’s a great deal of complex team work behind the event’s success, with the support of local communities and councils. “The result is made possible by the contribution of tried and tested partners such as Comunico, which gets involved where necessary to ensure safety and promote the area’s strengths,” explains Rigatti. The goal is to make Peak Lake Garda a fixed date, strategically positioned near Easter, with the twofold intention of “distributing tourist numbers more evenly throughout the year and consolidating Garda Trentino as a benchmark outdoor destination, for everything from running and cycling to climbing.”
