Marco Belletti
Former UCI WorldTour Professional · Girona-based · Member since 2024
24
Listings verified
8
Articles written
6
Events led
12
Seasons as pro
Twelve seasons as a professional cyclist teaches you what most cycling guides don't know how to tell you.
I raced for teams across France, Spain, and the UK — primarily as a domestique and occasional climber at Paris-Nice and the Vuelta. Not a GC rider. The kind of rider who knows every climb because he's been sent up them ahead of the race to check conditions, or because he was trying to make the breakaway stick on a mountain stage.
That experience shapes how I assess cycling properties. I don't care about the view from the terrace. I care about the road surface two kilometres out, whether the bike storage locks properly, whether there's a mechanic within reach, and whether the property understands that a cyclist's morning routine starts earlier than most people's.
I'm based in Girona, which is where I went when I retired from racing and which remains the best cycling base in Europe by a considerable margin. I know this city and its roads better than I know most things.
Credentials
- UCI WorldTour professional, 2010–2022
- Paris-Nice top-10, Stage 4, 2017
- Vuelta a España, 3 participations
- Licensed RFEC cycling coach
- Currently guides training camps in Girona, Mallorca, and the Pyrenees
My role at Santé
I have final sign-off on all road cycling listings. I also write cycling editorial, design our cycling events, and vet the Guide Partners who work in road and gravel cycling.
Recent articles
Cycling · Destinations
Why Girona Is Still the Best Base for Serious Cyclists
Every few years someone announces that Girona has peaked — too crowded, too expensive, too overrun with pros. They're always wrong. Here's why, and which corners of the city still feel like the best-kept secret in European cycling.
Cycling · Routes
The Mallorca Sportive Circuit: What the Guides Won't Tell You
I've ridden Sa Calobra more times than I'd like to count. The famous version — up from the sea. But there's a better way to do it, and the preparation matters more than the descent. A proper breakdown for people who take this seriously.
Cycling · Training
Off-Season Altitude Camps: What to Actually Look For
The difference between a good altitude training camp and a mediocre one isn't the altitude. It's the kitchen, the recovery infrastructure, and whether the roads out of the door suit the work you're there to do. After twenty years of camps, here's what I check first.
Listings I've verified
Every listing below has been personally assessed and approved by me. These are the road cycling properties I would book myself.
Finca Ciclista
Girona, Catalonia
Cycling-focused villa
“Verified in person. Exceptional route access — 15 climbs within 20 minutes. Bike storage is genuinely secure.”
Col du Galibier Lodge
Hautes-Alpes, France
Alpine cycling lodge
“Visited twice. The only property in this region I'd recommend for riders who plan to climb seriously. The mechanical support is the real differentiator.”
Pinarello House Mallorca
Alcúdia, Mallorca
Performance cycling retreat
“Vetted and approved. Best-in-class bike fit studio and access to the north coast loop. Road quality on the Cap circuit is the best I've ridden outside the Dolomites.”
Upcoming events
Girona Spring Training Camp
Girona, Spain
Six days of structured training in the Pyrenean foothills. I plan every route personally. Maximum 12 riders so the group stays cohesive.
View event →Dolomites Gran Fondo Week
Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy
A week in the Dolomites timed around the Maratona. I've been coming here for fifteen years. Four spots left.
View event →Want to train with Marco?
Join one of his upcoming events or browse the cycling properties he's verified.