Tenero → Cannobio → Passo dello Scopello (Marco Pantani) → Madonna del Sangue → Melezza Valley Loop

Starting from Tenero, this route takes you on a beautiful cross-border adventure through Switzerland and Italy, combining a quiet mountain pass, historic landmarks, and a fast valley return.

The ride begins gently along Locarno and Ascona, before following the lakeside towards Cannobio (Italy). From here, the character of the ride changes as you head inland and begin the climb towards Finero and the Passo dello Scopello, also known as the Marco Pantani Pass.

This climb is a real hidden gem:
A steady and manageable gradient, never too steep, making it perfect to settle into a smooth rhythm. The road is surrounded by dense forest, offering plenty of shade, and traffic is minimal — giving you that peaceful, almost untouched alpine feeling.

Along the climb and throughout the route, you’ll find several opportunities to refill your bottles with fresh water, which makes longer efforts much more comfortable.

As you pass through small Italian mountain villages, you’ll notice the atmosphere — quiet, authentic, and welcoming, with locals often greeting you as you ride by.

After the summit, you descend towards Malesco, still on the Italian side. Shortly after, you reach one of the absolute highlights of the tour: the Madonna del Sangue Sanctuary.

This impressive sanctuary is not only visually stunning but also a perfect place for a short break. There’s a small café nearby, ideal to grab a drink or something to eat before continuing.

From here, the route leads you back into Switzerland, following the Melezza Valley. This section is fast, flowing, and mostly flat — perfect to pick up speed and enjoy the rhythm of the ride along the river all the way through Tegna, back to Locarno, and finally returning to Tenero.

Expect:

🌄 Quiet alpine climbing on the Scopello Pass
🌳 Shaded roads with very low traffic
🇮🇹 Charming Italian villages
⛪ Iconic stop at Madonna del Sangue
⚡ Fast valley riding along the Melezza river
🚇 A few short tunnels — lights are always recommended

The road quality is excellent throughout. I rode the entire route on a road bike with 30mm tires, and everything felt smooth and comfortable.

⭐ Key Highlights
🚴‍♂️ Start from Tenero → Locarno → Ascona
🌊 Lakeside ride to Cannobio (Italy)
⛰️ Passo dello Scopello (Marco Pantani Pass) – steady & enjoyable climb
🌳 Shaded roads & almost no traffic
💧 Plenty of water refill points
🇮🇹 Beautiful, authentic mountain villages
⛪ Madonna del Sangue Sanctuary (must-stop highlight)
⚡ Fast Melezza Valley return via Tegna
🚨 Short tunnels → always ride with lights
🛣️ Excellent road quality (perfect for road bikes)