by Roberto Chiodi
June 20, 2025. Lucia, the Fiat 500 competing in the Peking to Paris, has done another one of her things. On the road between lakes and majestic mountains that surround Salzburg, we found the path blocked by a bad accident. Police, ambulance, firefighters and an endless line of cars in both directions. I went on foot to see what had happened and noticed that a small group of cyclists - passed previously - were emerging from a small road that emerged a few meters after theaccident and so those cycling enthusiasts could get back on track. I went to take a look. The descent was wide just over a metre and 20-30 centimetres. “For me the 500 will pass!”, I told Fabio who went to check too: “Let’s try!”.
A short conversion, here is the entry point, marked by the start of a guardrail. The space allows – for a bike and even a few motorbikes – careful transit because branches and foliage sprout along the path. Lucia starts off cautiously, we have the impression that she is almost holding her breath to make herself narrower. A hundred metres downhill steeply and here we are, just five metres after the road block! The passengers of the cars stopped in the opposite direction welcome us with applause, all with their cell phones filming this incredible 500 that passed through the eye of the needle!
Today another 650 km stage and first test on a kart circuit. We use half the maximum time and resume the ride. Now the Switzerland.
