From the mountains to the sea — road cycling in Northern Italy
Road Cycling Collection by komoot
7
days
2-5 h
/ day
339 mi
27,075 ft
27,825 ft
Welcome to Northern Italy, a place where you can glide through beautiful landscapes, roll on perfect asphalt, push yourself up epic climbs and enjoy the long way back down. Welcome to the home of cappuccino and gelato, of stunning panoramic views of the Alps — of turquoise waters and perfect weather. And the perfect conditions for road cyclists.
Northern Italy has long since been considered the El Dorado of road cycling. Having been the venue of the spectacular Giro d'Italia several times, it's no wonder this place comes with quite the reputation. And with its green, undulating hills, charming apple orchards and mile after mile of gentle climbs — it delivers on its promise over and over again.
Every story has two sides, however, and Northern Italy is no different. It can also be a little rough here, with 16 percent inclines and asphalt that gets baked to temperatures exceeding 60 degrees. Some of the downhill runs might even set your brakes on fire — so ensure you pack some spare kit.
To help you see the best of this region, we have put together a seven-day ride for you that takes you from Bolzano to La Spezia near Cinque Terre. Covering a little more than 310 miles (500 kilometers), you'll roll along the idyllic Lago d'Iseo, indulge in a whole lot of espresso, and conquer some serious elevation gain. In the route, we have included three beautiful passes for you to enjoy, sections that will make all of the hard pedaling more than worthwhile as you gaze out over the mountain on the one side and the Mediterranean Sea on the other.
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Last updated: July 14, 2023
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Tours
- 03:2743.0 mi12.5 mph1,800 ft325 ftIntermediateIntermediate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
After arrival by train or car we start! Over the next seven days, you'll find just over 500 kilometers, three passes, a lake, the Mediterranean, seafood restaurants and, of course, the obligatory espressos that are part of the standard repertoire on every road bike tour. Here in Italy they are especially…
by komoot
- 04:3038.7 mi8.6 mph7,000 ft5,375 ftExpertExpert road ride. Very good fitness required. Some portions of the Tour may be unpaved and difficult to ride.
Today will be a fantastic day. The racing bike Eldorado of South Tyrol has so much to offer. From beautiful bike paths through the lush apple orchards on mountain roads on which there is a lot of racing machines à la Pinarello, S-Works and Bianchi, to fast descents that scratch the 16% mark.
The first…
by komoot
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- 03:0233.5 mi11.1 mph4,225 ft5,850 ftExpertExpert road ride. Very good fitness required. Some portions of the Tour may be unpaved and difficult to ride.
Double Pass! After the Highest of Italy follows on the day three the hardest. A maximum incline of 16% and in tow luggages for a week, your legs say it's not working anymore, yet your head switches to working mode and looking up you roll off the crank laps.
Once you arrive at the top, a real holiday paradise…
by komoot
- 02:5842.4 mi14.3 mph1,750 ft3,325 ftIntermediateIntermediate road ride. Good fitness required. Some portions of the Tour may be unpaved and difficult to ride.
After the two Passtagen it is now cozy again. Another dream route to Lake Iseo. Since today only about 60 kilometers are announced with a large proportion of downhill ride, you should arrive at noon on Lake Iseo. Highlight of the day: Gelato am See with a subsequent dip into the refreshing water.
by komoot
- 05:1581.2 mi15.5 mph1,575 ft1,975 ftFerryExpertExpert road ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride. The Tour includes a crossing by ferry.
Day five has begun. I hope you are well rested, because it is the longest leg of the tour. Through the Po Valley you cycle over 100 kilometers. Thankfully with less altitude and mostly complete calm. Therefore, the length should not be a problem. In the town of Cremona, known to the Stradivari family…
by komoot
- 04:2452.0 mi11.8 mph4,950 ft4,425 ftExpertExpert road ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
Day six has dawned. After the last days in flat plains the favorite discipline of many cyclists is announced today - pass road. The Passo Della Cisa over the Apennines. An advantage of this about 18 kilometers long pass are the missing cars. The cause is the parallel highway and the fact that hardly…
by komoot
- 04:2748.5 mi10.9 mph5,775 ft6,575 ftExpertExpert road ride. Very good fitness required. Some portions of the Tour may be unpaved and difficult to ride.
Faster than expected, he is already broken. Day seven and thus the last tour. You start with a very winding section in the sparsely populated area near Zeri. From curve to curve, you will notice how not only the flow increases, but also the salty sea smell is getting stronger. In the early afternoon…
by komoot
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Collection Stats
- Tours7
- Distance339 mi
- Duration28:02 h
- Elevation27,075 ft27,825 ft
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