After the HPV World Championship took place in Austria in 2023 and the UK in 2024, the 2025 edition is heading to beautiful Northern Italy. We took this chance to ask a few questions to the event’s organizer, Marco Ruga. You might know Marko from his YouTube channel, but he’s best known for his home-built recumbents and streamliners—speed-focused machines that really stand out. He’s also an experienced racer himself, so enjoy the interview, and hopefully, we’ll see you in Italy—if we can make it there.

Note: Interview prepared in early May 2025

Can you introduce the location where the World Human Powered Vehicle Championship will be held this July?

  • Meina: This town will be our operational base, with its sports field hosting technical checks, logistics, and recreational activities. It’s known for its beautiful lakeside villas. We’ve had invaluable support in making Meina the main hub for the event, particularly from Councilor Marco Giorgi, who has been a key figure in helping us bring this championship to life here.
  • Arona: A lively town on Lake Maggiore, famous for the colossal statue of San Carlo Borromeo and its scenic lakefront, which will host one of our sprint events. We thank Mayor Alberto Gusmeroli and Councilor Alessandra Marchesi for their collaboration in facilitating the event in Arona.
  • Gattico-Veruno: Nestled in the Novara hills, this area offers rolling landscapes and will be the venue for our endurance circuit race. Our gratitude also goes to Mayor Federico Casaccio of Gattico-Veruno for his support in hosting this part of the championship.

The entire area combines the stunning beauty of the lake with the rolling terrain of the nearby hills, providing a diverse and challenging backdrop for the championships, made possible by the cooperative spirit of these local administrations.

See: https://www.velocitapedali.it/campionato-2025_en.html#schedule for location descriptions

What race disciplines will be part of the championship?

We have a packed schedule with four distinct individual competitions designed to test different aspects of speed, endurance, and power:

  • 100m Flying Start Sprint: A pure speed test on the Arona lakefront.
  • 2-Hour Circuit Race: An endurance event on a 2.1 km town circuit in Gattico-Veruno (mass start, likely divided into two groups).
  • 800m Standing Start Sprint/Kilometer: Held on the athletics track in Meina (exact format of one or two laps to be finalized).
  • 3 km Hill Climb: A challenging ascent from Meina to Ghevio with an average gradient of 4% (category start).

See: https://www.velocitapedali.it/prove_en.html for more info

There were some discussions about the category for juniors and their age. What is the current status of this topic?

The minimum age for participation is 14 years old on the first day of the event (July 11, 2025). We have a “Junior” age class within each vehicle category, and the registration page specifies the Junior fee for participants aged 14 to 18 years. Parental consent is required for those under 18, and participants under 16 must be accompanied by a responsible adult.

Beyond the Junior class, we are also considering further subdivisions into age classes to enhance the competitive experience and recognize a broader range of participants. For example, we are looking into establishing a “Senior” or “Master” class, for those over 50 years old.

Our aim is to value the participation of every competitor as much as possible. We would ideally like to have dedicated award ceremonies for these additional classes during the main awards ceremony on Sunday evening. However, this will depend on the final number of participants in each potential class and the overall time constraints of the ceremony, as we want to avoid it becoming overly long.

If a dedicated live awards presentation for every sub-class isn’t feasible due to time, rest assured that separate classifications for these additional age groups (like Seniors/Masters) will still be compiled, officially recognized, and published on our website and media channels following the event. The regulations state that for each combination of category and class, there will be a classification, provided at least three participants are classified in that combination.

See https://www.velocitapedali.it/regolamento_en.html for more info

   

 

You also plan to organize a pedal-car category. Can you describe it a bit? Will they race in all the disciplines?

Yes, we have a category for 4-wheeled vehicles. This category is open for registration, and participants in this class would compete in the events alongside other categories, with results specific to their class.

We understand that there are various local regulations for pedal cars; for instance, Italy has specific rules for our national championship (https://f1apedali.blogspot.com/p/regolamento-2015.html), and the UK also has its own detailed regulations. The HPV World Championship aims to be inclusive. Therefore, for this event, we will accept any 4-wheeled hpvs that are generally compliant with road traffic regulations in their country of origin or are built to recognized pedal car standards. Our primary concern is safety and fair play, so as long as the vehicle is human-powered, safe, and generally fits the spirit of a pedal car, it should be eligible.

While it’s a recognized HPV category, it’s often less common at world events, so we are keen to see entries and help grow this fascinating part of the HPV world. Currently, our elencoiscritti.html (participant list) has placeholder rows for this category, and we encourage any pedal car teams or individuals to register.

Will there be a side program or other activities taking place alongside the races?

Absolutely! The HPV World Championships 2025 is envisioned as much more than just a series of races; it’s a comprehensive festival celebrating human-powered innovation and sustainable living, open to everyone, including non-competitors.

We are planning numerous side events to enrich the experience. These will include:

  • Scenic group rides to explore the beautiful Lake Maggiore area.
  • Opportunities to meet guests and experts in sustainable mobility and HPV innovation.
  • The chance for the public and enthusiasts to try out different types of human-powered vehicles.

A core part of our side program will be a series of evening conferences and discussions held at the Meina sports field (our central hub). Each evening, we will host talks and round-tables focusing on HPV technology, ecology, sustainable vehicles, and the future of mobility. We have invited various guests from the sector – designers, builders, academics – to share their insights and experiences.

Crucially, we believe the World Championship should be about sharing ideas and fostering a community, not just about competition. To extend the reach of these discussions, all evening conferences will be live-streamed on various social media platforms. This will allow a global audience to participate, learn, and engage with the topics.

Our aim is to create a vibrant festival atmosphere where knowledge exchange and passion for HPVs are central. A detailed list of guest speakers, specific conference topics, and the live-streaming schedule will be published on our website soon.

pedal cars at the HPV WCH in Italy 2025

What are the general requirements for someone to participate in the event?

To participate, athletes need to:

  1. Register: Send an email to [email protected] with their name, surname, age, gender, nationality, and vehicle category.
  2. Medical Certificate:
    • Italian residents: Need a competitive cycling medical certificate (ex DM 18/02/1982).
    • Foreign participants: Need a certificate of fitness for competitive cycling from their country of residence. We recommend the FCI’s “Health Certificate for cardiovascular intensive sport activity” form (downloadable from our site), or a similar document from a GP stating fitness for high-intensity cardiovascular sports. A sports card allowing participation in competitive cycling events in their home country (like a Ufolep card) is also acceptable.
  3. Vehicle Compliance: Vehicles must be human-powered only and meet safety and technical requirements outlined in our regulations (e.g., brakes, no sharp parts, chain guard if applicable). Helmets are mandatory.
  4. Registration Fee: Pay the registration fee (€80 for adults, €40 for juniors 14-18).
    Participants also confirm they are aware of and accept the event regulations.

How many participants are you expecting this year?

Registrations are open until July 6, 2025. We are hopeful that with increased international promotion, including articles like yours, this number will grow significantly. We’d love to see a strong international field. We do hope to reach at least 100 participants, at the moment we are nearly half way.

See: https://www.velocitapedali.it/elencoiscritti.html

Could you briefly introduce yourself?

I’m an active enthusiast, rider, and a keen advocate for these amazing machines. You might know me from my YouTube channel, ‘Marco Ruga’ (youtube.com/@MarcoRuga), where I dedicate a lot of my time to sharing the excitement of HPV racing, showcasing different types of vehicles like recumbents and velomobiles, delving into their technical aspects, reviewing events, and generally trying to spread the word about this fantastic community and sustainable form of mobility.

I believe in a hands-on approach – whether it’s riding in events myself, discussing designs and innovations, or working to create platforms like this World Championship to bring enthusiasts together. My goal is to see the HPV community flourish, especially here in Italy, and to introduce more people to the efficiency, fun, and environmental benefits of human-powered vehicles. Organizing this World Championship is a significant undertaking for our association, driven by this desire to showcase the incredible potential of human power and to create a memorable event for participants and spectators from around the globe.

How did you get involved in organizing this event, and how many people are on your organizing team?

Our sports association, ASD Velocità a Pedali, is relatively new, but our passion for HPVs runs deep. The idea to host the 2025 World Championships in Italy actually took shape quite spontaneously in August 2024. We were at the World Championships in England, and it became apparent that there were no concrete bids for 2025 from the traditional host countries like France, the Netherlands, or Germany. Seeing an opportunity, and initially having a potential automotive track in mind in the province of Pavia which seemed like a straightforward option, we put forward our candidacy.

However, that initial track plan didn’t materialize, forcing us to pivot to organizing the races on public roads. This dramatically increased the complexity of the entire endeavor, especially considering the tight timeline we had.

At the heart of this immense organizational and bureaucratic challenge is my wife, Elisa. Her dedication has been nothing short of extraordinary. In Italy, navigating the administrative hurdles for an event of this scale is incredibly demanding and, frankly, often overwhelming. Elisa has been tirelessly managing this side of things, working to secure permits, coordinate with authorities, and keep everything on track. Without her monumental effort, especially given the short timeframe since August, this event simply wouldn’t be happening.

Despite these challenges, and thanks to Elisa’s perseverance and the fantastic collaboration we’ve received from the municipalities – particularly Meina, but also Gattico-Veruno and Arona – we’ve managed to pull together what we believe will be a fantastic championship. It’s been a steep learning curve for us, as this is our first major international event as a newly formed association.

Alongside Elisa and myself, a key member of the Velocità a Pedali team is Giacomo Righi. He serves as our secretary and, being another enthusiast of unique human-powered vehicles, has been instrumental in helping manage the many complex tasks involved.

Beyond our core Velocità a Pedali team, we are building a much broader support structure. We will have many collaborators and trained technicians taking on crucial roles, including race direction, safety supervision, and all other necessary operational tasks to ensure the event runs smoothly and professionally.

To further bolster our capabilities, we are fortunate to have the support of several local organizations, such as FIAB (Federazione Italiana Ambiente e Bicicletta), AIB (Protezione Civile – Anti Incendi Boschivi), and dedicated volunteers from the municipalities of Meina, Arona, and Gattico-Veruno. Furthermore, we’ve been thrilled by the outpouring of support from passionate volunteers across Europe who have been contacting us in recent weeks, eager to lend a hand.

So, while our core team is small, the network of support is growing significantly. We are venturing into new territory as a newly formed association, and while we anticipate we might make some mistakes along the way, we are leveraging all this collective expertise and enthusiasm to make this the best event possible. We see this as potentially the beginning of something bigger for HPV promotion in Italy, despite the inherent complexities of organizing such events here.

We are venturing into new territory, and while we anticipate we might make some mistakes along the way, we are pouring all our energy into making this the best event possible. We see this as potentially the beginning of something bigger for HPV promotion in Italy, despite the inherent complexities of organizing such events here.

world human powered vehicles championship in Italy 2025

Do you already have any interesting bikes or notable riders registered?

Yes, we’re thrilled with some of the early registrations! We have:

  • Tiberio Trevisan (Italy): A renowned artisanal builder of recumbent bikes (Trevi Bike), who participated in the 2011 Monza Worlds.
  • Enrico Mauletti (Italy): Founder of the Italian recumbent forum “Bici Reclinate Italia (BRI).”
  • Olivier Cresson (France): President of the French Recumbent Bike Association (AFV) and an experienced organizer of HPV events.
  • Christoph Rindlisbacher (Switzerland): The overall World Champion from the 2023 HPV Worlds in Austria (on an Alpha7 velomobile).
  • Michael Ammann (Switzerland): World Champion in the partially faired category at the 2024 UK Worlds.
  • Andrea Hämmerle (Austria): The current Women’s World Champion in the Velomobile category (won in the UK, 2024).
  • Riwan Leborgne (France): Junior World Champion in Austria 2023 and French Chrono UFOLEP Champion 2021.
  • Thaïs Leborgne (France): Junior Women’s World Champion in Austria 2023 and Women’s Trike World Champion UK 2024.
    We’re seeing a good mix of unfaired recumbents, partially faired machines, and velomobiles from various countries, including many custom-built vehicles.

As race director, what do you find to be the most challenging part of organizing the event?

While I am heavily involved in the organization, my personal goal is also to compete in the races. And this will be possible with the help of our many collaborators. Anyway, the most challenging aspect is:

  • Logistics and Road Closures: Coordinating with multiple municipalities (Meina, Arona, Gattico-Veruno) for road closures, safety, and permits requires meticulous planning and communication.
  • Ensuring Safety: With such a diverse range of vehicles and speeds, ensuring the safety of all participants on different types of courses is paramount and demands careful course design and marshalling.
  • International Promotion & Participation: Reaching a global audience and encouraging international participation with a limited budget can be tough, especially when competing with many other events.
  • Volunteer Coordination: An event like this relies heavily on volunteers, and managing and coordinating them effectively is crucial.
  • Balancing Competition with Inclusivity: We want a high-level sporting event but also an event that is welcoming to newcomers and enthusiasts who aren’t elite racers. Striking that balance in course design and event atmosphere is key.
   

 

Are there any scenic bike trails or cycling routes nearby for people who want to turn their trip into a longer vacation?

Definitely! The Lake Maggiore region and the surrounding Novara hills are fantastic for cycling.

  • Lake Maggiore: Parts of the lake have dedicated cycle paths offering stunning views.
  • Hill Routes: The pre-alpine hills around the lake offer countless quiet roads with beautiful scenery and challenging climbs for road cyclists. My favourite is the “Mottarone Climb” with its wonderful view and challenging, steep climb.
  • Lake Orta: Nearby Lake Orta is another gem with beautiful lakeside roads and villages to explore.
  • Mountain Biking: There are also trails for mountain bikers in the hills and nearby mountains.
    We are planning some scenic group rides as part of the side events, which will showcase some of these local routes. Participants and visitors will find plenty of options to extend their stay and enjoy cycling in the area.

Can people test-ride recumbents or other human-powered vehicles at the event?

Yes, that’s a key part of our side program! We want to give enthusiasts and the curious public the chance to try out many different and extraordinary human-powered vehicles. We’ll have an area at the Meina sports field, our main hub, where various HPVs can be demonstrated and test-ridden, promoting the joy and benefits of these amazing machines.  We are delighted that several exhibitors have already confirmed their participation and will be bringing their unique HPVs for attendees to experience firsthand. We are also in contact with other producers and are eagerly awaiting their responses. However, we want to extend an open and enthusiastic invitation: any manufacturer, builder, or HPV business that wishes to take advantage of this fantastic opportunity to demonstrate their vehicles and offer test rides to a passionate international audience is absolutely welcome.

What about accommodation? Are there any hotels or campsites nearby?

We have several options available for accommodation:

  • Free Camping: We are offering a free camping area for tents behind the grandstand at the Meina sports center (our event hub). It has access to drinking water, an emergency power outlet, and toilets/showers in the sports field’s changing rooms.
  • B&Bs in Meina: The https://www.velocitapedali.it/strutturericettive_en.html page lists numerous Bed & Breakfasts in Meina with contact details. There’s also a link to dormireameina.wordpress.com which lists local apartments and B&Bs.
  • Campsites: The same page lists several commercial campsites in Meina, Arona, Dormelletto, and the surrounding Lake Orta area, with links to their websites.
  • Hotels: For hotels, participants can use general booking platforms like Booking.com; our accommodation page provides a direct search link for Meina.

What would you say to recumbent enthusiasts who don’t plan to race—why should they still come as spectators?

Even if you’re not planning to race, the HPV World Championships 2025 offers a unique and exciting experience for any recumbent or HPV enthusiast!

  • See Incredible Machines: It’s a rare opportunity to see a wide variety of human-powered vehicles, from sleek streamliners and velomobiles to innovative recumbents and trikes, all in action.
  • Meet the Community: Connect with builders, designers, and fellow enthusiasts from around the world. It’s a fantastic social event.
  • Try an HPV: As mentioned, we’ll have opportunities for test rides.
  • Learn and Be Inspired: Attend conferences and debates on sustainable mobility and HPV technology.
  • Enjoy the Spectacle: Witnessing these vehicles compete at speed, especially in disciplines like the sprints or the endurance race, is truly thrilling.
  • Explore a Beautiful Region: Lake Maggiore is a stunning tourist destination, perfect for a summer visit.
    It’s more than just races; it’s a celebration of human ingenuity, sustainable transport, and the joy of human-powered movement.

Thank you for the interview!