When we talk about Enduro, our minds immediately race to impossible mule tracks, technical special tests, and riders caked in mud. But there is one race that stands as the ultimate Olympics of this discipline: the FIM International Six Days of Enduro (ISDE).
The secrets behind the Six Days Enduro tracks.
Behind an event of this magnitude, long before the engines roar to life, lies an immense, silent, and crucial task: route planning. Mapping a World Enduro race isn’t just about connecting two points on a map; it’s about balancing technical sporting demands with a complex jungle of environmental and bureaucratic constraints.
Today, we’re taking you behind the scenes of this process through the firsthand account of one of our users: Marco, a surveyor, topographer, and a pillar of the Moto Club Costa Volpino. Since 2010, Marco has designed the routes for the most iconic races in the Bergamo area, leading up to the planning of the highly anticipated 2025 Six Days.
And guess which tool he uses for his topographic design? WHIP’s GDM.
From the Bergamo Valleys to the Six Days: A Life Dedicated to Off-Road
"Off-roading is in my DNA," Marco tells us. Born and raised in the Bergamo area, he grew up watching riders scramble up the mountains behind his home during the '80s and '90s. From his first laps on a Malaguti Fifty to African rallies and a stunning 1984 BMW G/S 80, off-roading has always been the common thread of his life.
The "organizational" turning point came between 2009 and 2014. During his term as a council member for the Municipality of Lovere, Marco collaborated with Motoclub Bergamo to bring the 41st Valli Bergamasche (2010 Enduro World Championship) to the region.
This is where his passion for motorbikes and his profession as a surveyor merge. Securing permits for a World Championship race requires meticulous mapping: one must identify parks, protected areas, and land-use constraints. Thanks to his topographic expertise, he is able to untangle an endless bureaucratic web, contributing to the success of an event that has gone down in history. From that day on, it was a short step: Marco has overseen almost all the planning for the most important races in the region, bringing his experience—alongside Moto Club Costa Volpino—all the way to the technical planning tables for the 2025 Six Days.
The Challenge: When Sport Meets Bureaucracy
Many motorcyclists use navigation systems to discover new trails. But for an expert route setter playing on home turf, the mental map already exists: he knows every stone in his area by heart. The real challenge lies elsewhere: proving to local authorities that the route is safe, permit-ready, and environmentally respectful.
To do this, one needs a tool that is more than just a navigator—it must be true design software. And that’s where WHIP LIVE’s GDM Route Planner comes into play.
How to Use WHIP GDM to Map a World Championship Race
In his account, Marco revealed his technical "workflow." Here is how WHIP’s GDM is utilized to design events like the Six Days:
The First Draft on GDM
The work begins on the computer. Using the GDM, Marco designs the route from point A to point B. The map's precision and the ability to easily manage Waypoints allow for the calibration of every single section, ensuring that the track perfectly matches the routes the riders will face.
GIS/CAD Export and Processing
Once the track is defined, the system allows for the export of the route’s GPX file. This file is the heart of the project: Marco converts and imports it into institutional mapping portals (such as the Lombardy Region Geoportal) and into his CAD software. The result? A real-time technical analysis that overlays the sporting track with environmental constraint maps, generating the technical documents required to apply for permits..
3D Models for Institutions
To provide mayors and commissions with a precise understanding of the event's impact and transit, the data is used to create 3D images and renders (via Google Earth). Presenting the route with clear and realistic elevation profiles makes all the difference during technical planning meetings, providing reassurance to the relevant authorities.
The Field Test: Getting into the Saddle
The final step is what Marco defines as "the fun part." Once the definitive GPX file has been generated and the paperwork is sorted, the track is loaded, the bike is fired up, and it’s time to ride the entire route to verify on the ground that everything is perfect.