Cycling in Italy
62 spots written up in Italy, across every type of ride.
Blockhaus: the legendary Apennine climb that launched Eddy Merckx
Climbing the Blockhaus from Roccamorice: 13.6 km at 8.4% average, Eddy Merckx's first Giro d'Italia stage win, in the heart of the Maiella massif.
Campo Imperatore: the giant Gran Sasso climb
Climbing Campo Imperatore from L'Aquila: 40.2 km, 1,660 m of elevation gain, 4.1% average — the Giro d'Italia's high plateau finish in the Abruzzo Apennines.
ItalyColle del Nivolet: the high pass (almost) closed to cars
Climbing the Colle del Nivolet from Ceresole Reale: mountain lakes, the car-traffic quota and tips for this pass in Gran Paradiso National Park.
Colle del Sommeiller: Europe's highest carriage road
Climbing Colle del Sommeiller from Bardonecchia: 26 km, nearly 1,700 m of elevation gain up to 2,993 m, split between asphalt and extreme gravel.
ItalyColle dell'Agnello: Europe's highest paved border crossing
Climbing the Colle dell'Agnello from Casteldelfino: 2,744 m summit, Giro and Tour history, difficulty and practical tips.
Colle delle Finestre: the legendary Giro climb, gravel included
Climbing the Colle delle Finestre from Susa: profile, 8 km of unpaved track, difficulty and tips for this iconic Giro d'Italia pass.
Colle di Sampeyre: the Hors Catégorie giant of the Cottian Alps
Climbing Colle di Sampeyre from Sampeyre: 15.8 km, 1,325 m of elevation gain, up to 2,284 m, rated Hors Catégorie in its Giro appearances.
Colle di Superga: Turin's cobbled-steep wall
Climbing Colle di Superga from Sassi: 4.8 km, 449 m of elevation gain, 9.3% average — a Turin ramp up to the basilica and its view of the Alps.
ItalyColle Fauniera: the overlooked giant dedicated to Marco Pantani
Climbing the Colle Fauniera from Pradleves: profile, the Pantani statue at the summit, difficulty and tips for this Piedmont pass.
Cycling Monte Grappa from Romano d'Ezzelino: a Veneto giant
Climb Monte Grappa from Romano d'Ezzelino: 26.4 km at 5.9% average, an hors-catégorie ascent with a WWI memorial at the summit.
Cycling the Madonna del Ghisallo from Bellagio: cycling's own shrine
Climb to the Madonna del Ghisallo from Bellagio on Lake Como: 10.6 km at 5.2% average, with a chapel and cycling museum at the top.
ItalyCycling the Passo di Costalunga (Karerpass) from Vigo di Fassa: the Dolomites' gentle pass
Climb the Passo di Costalunga from Vigo di Fassa: 9.3 km at 4.7% average, between the Val di Fassa and Lake Carezza.
Gravel in Franciacorta, from Erbusco
Gravel route through the Franciacorta wine region from Erbusco: vineyard hills, Lake Iseo, distance and practical tips.
Gravel in the Chianti, from Greve in Chianti
Gravel route through the Chianti wine region from Greve in Chianti: sterrate, wooded hills, distance and practical tips.
Gravel in the Valle d'Itria, among trulli and olive groves
Gravel route in the Valle d'Itria from Alberobello: trulli, centuries-old olive groves, distance and practical tips.
ItalyGravel on the Strade Bianche, from Siena
Gravel route on Tuscany's Strade Bianche from Siena: white gravel roads, the Crete Senesi, distance and practical tips.
ItalyGravel riding in the Colline del Prosecco, between Valdobbiadene and Conegliano
Gravel riding in the UNESCO-listed Colline del Prosecco: terraced vineyard tracks, distance and practical tips in the Veneto.
Lake Garda for families, from Riva del Garda
Family cycling loop on Lake Garda's cycle path between Riva del Garda and Limone sul Garda: suspended walkways, distance and practical tips.
Monte Bondone: Charly Gaul's legendary ride through the 1956 snowstorm
Climbing Monte Bondone from Trento: 17.3 km at 8.2% average, site of the legendary 1956 Giro stage won by Charly Gaul in a snowstorm.
Monte Faito: the brutal climb above Castellammare di Stabia
Climbing Monte Faito from Castellammare di Stabia: 19.1 km, 1,244 m of elevation gain, 6.5% average — a steep Giro d'Italia climb above the Bay of Naples.
Montevergine di Mercogliano: Campania's cycling sanctuary climb
Climbing to the Montevergine sanctuary from Mercogliano: 17.1 km, 855 m of elevation gain, 5% average — a Giro d'Italia regular finish above Avellino since 1962.
ItalyMount Etna by bike: climbing Europe's largest active volcano
Climbing Mount Etna from Nicolosi to the Rifugio Sapienza: profile, volcanic landscape, difficulty and tips for this Sicilian ascent.
Mountain biking at Plan de Corones (Kronplatz), Dolomites
MTB guide to the Plan de Corones bike park in the Dolomites: lift-served trails, levels, and tips for a ride in South Tyrol.
Mountain biking in Finale Ligure, Italy's enduro mecca
MTB guide to Finale Ligure in Liguria: historic trails, technical terrain, required level and tips for a ride on the Italian Riviera.
Mountain biking in Livigno, between alpine pasture and the Swiss border
MTB guide to Livigno in Lombardy: high-altitude bike park, lift-served trails, levels and tips for a ride in the Alps.
Passo del Mortirolo: one of the hardest climbs in the world
Climbing the Passo del Mortirolo from Mazzo di Valtellina: profile, the Pantani memorial, difficulty and tips for this extreme Lombardy climb.
Passo del Turchino: the historic pass of Milan-Sanremo
Climbing Passo del Turchino from Mele: 9.5 km, roughly 480 m of elevation gain, 5.1% average — the gateway between Piedmont and the Ligurian coast.
Passo del Vivione: the forgotten military road of the Orobie Alps
Climbing Passo del Vivione from Schilpario: 19.8 km, 1,369 m of elevation gain, a narrow road built in 1917, used by the Giro only twice.
Passo delle Erbe: the Dolomites' quiet giant above Val di Funes
Climbing the Passo delle Erbe (Würzjoch) from Bressanone: 27 km, 1,528 m of elevation gain, 5.7% average — Hors Catégorie views of the Odle peaks.
Passo dello Stelvio: the giant of the Italian Alps
Climbing the Passo dello Stelvio from Prato allo Stelvio: profile, 48 numbered hairpins, difficulty and tips for this legendary South Tyrol pass.
Passo dello Zoncolan: "il Kaiser", one of the hardest climbs in the world
Climbing the Passo dello Zoncolan from Ovaro: profile, extreme gradients, difficulty and tips for this legendary Friuli climb.
Passo di Foscagno: the high-altitude road between Bormio and Livigno
Climbing Passo di Foscagno from Bormio: 23.8 km, 1,095 m of elevation gain, 4.6% average — the road that leads to Livigno through the Valtellina.
Passo di Gavia: the pass of the 1988 snowstorm
Climbing the Passo di Gavia from Ponte di Legno: profile, the narrow road, difficulty and tips for this legendary pass in the Lombard Alps.
Passo di Monte Giovo: the Jaufenpass and its Giro legends
Climbing the Passo di Monte Giovo (Jaufenpass) from San Leonardo in Passiria: 19.5 km, 1,410 m of elevation gain, 7.2% average — a Giro d'Italia classic.
Passo di Pennes: the direct, demanding link between Sarntal and Wipptal
Climbing the Passo di Pennes from Vipiteno: 15.5 km, 1,272 m of elevation gain, 8.2% average — up to the Penser Joch at 2,211 m in South Tyrol.
Passo di San Boldo: the staircase to the Dolomites
Climbing the Passo di San Boldo from Tovena: five spiral galleries carved into the rock, 18 hairpins, profile and tips for this unique Veneto pass.
Passo Duran: the quiet pass between Civetta and Schiara
Climbing Passo Duran from Agordo: 12.1 km, 994 m of elevation gain, 8.2% average — a genuine Dolomites Giro climb with a quiet reputation.
Passo Falzarego: the historic Giro pass from Cortina d'Ampezzo
Climbing Passo Falzarego from Cortina d'Ampezzo: 15.9 km, 908 m of elevation gain, 5.7% average — a pass used 5 times by the Giro d'Italia.
Passo Fedaia: the north face of the Marmolada
Climbing the Passo Fedaia from Malga Ciapela: profile, a final wall near 18%, difficulty and tips for this pass beneath the Marmolada glacier.
Passo Giau: the most beautiful climb in the Dolomites
Climbing the Passo Giau from Selva di Cadore: profile, 29 hairpins, difficulty and tips for this iconic pass in the Venetian Dolomites.
Passo Manghen: the wild Lagorai giant between Fiemme and Valsugana
Climbing Passo Manghen from Borgo Valsugana: 22.9 km at a 7.2% average, a Giro d'Italia climb through the wild Lagorai, far from the Sella Ronda crowds.
Passo Monte Croce di Comelico: the quiet Dolomites border
Climbing the Passo Monte Croce di Comelico from Padola: 6.5 km, 230 m of elevation gain, a quiet pass between Veneto and South Tyrol.
Passo Pordoi: the legendary Dolomites pass
Climbing the Passo Pordoi from Canazei: profile, difficulty, best season and tips for this Giro d'Italia classic in the heart of the Dolomites.
Passo Rolle from Predazzo: the Giro's first Dolomite pass
Climbing the Passo Rolle from Predazzo: profile, difficulty, best season and tips for this historic Dolomites pass.
Passo San Marco: the old Venetian road through the Orobie Alps
Climbing Passo San Marco from Olmo al Brembo: 19.2 km, 1,436 m of elevation gain, 7.5% average — a historic pass rated hors catégorie at the Giro.
Passo San Pellegrino: the Dolomites' gentler giant between Moena and Falcade
Climbing Passo San Pellegrino from Moena: 11.4 km, 778 m of elevation gain, 6.8% average to 1,918 m — a Giro d'Italia classic linking the Fassa and Biois valleys.
Passo Sella: the queen face of the Sella Ronda from Canazei
Climbing Passo Sella from Canazei: 11.2 km, 794 m of elevation gain, 7.1% average — the hardest face of the Sella Ronda loop in the Dolomites.
Passo Tonale: the open-air museum pass between Trentino and Lombardy
Climbing Passo Tonale from Ponte di Legno: 13 km, 630 m of elevation gain, a steady ascent lined with First World War relics.
Passo Valparola: the Dolomites fortress pass between Corvara and Cortina
Climbing Passo Valparola from Corvara: 13.6 km, 760 m of elevation gain, an ascent to a pass steeped in military history at the heart of the Dolomites.
ItalyPoggio di Sanremo: the decisive climb of Milan-Sanremo on the Italian Riviera
Climbing the Poggio from San Lorenzo al Mare: 3.7 km, 149 m of elevation gain — the small bump that decides Milan-Sanremo every year.
Sestriere: the first mountaintop finish in Tour de France history
Climbing to Sestriere from Cesana Torinese: 8.6 km, 420 m of elevation gain — the Piedmont resort where the Tour de France staged its first summit finish.
Strada dell'Assietta: the ridgeline military road above Sestriere
Riding the Strada dell'Assietta from Sestriere: 24 km, 700 m of elevation gain, a high-altitude military ridge road in the Cottian Alps.
ItalyThe Amalfi Coast by bike, between cliffs and clifftop villages
Riding the Amalfi Coast road from Sorrento to Amalfi: profile, tourist traffic, difficulty and practical tips.
The Assisi-Spoleto greenway by bike with the family
Family ride on the former railway greenway between Assisi and Spoleto, in Umbria: flat route, distance and practical tips.
The Cipressa: the trap before the Poggio on Milan-Sanremo
Climbing the Cipressa from San Lorenzo al Mare, in Liguria: profile, decisive role in Milan-Sanremo, difficulty and practical tips.
The Golfo di Orosei coastal road, in Sardinia
Riding the Golfo di Orosei coastal road from Dorgali to Baunei, in Sardinia: profile, cliffs above the sea, difficulty and practical tips.
The Muro di Sormano: the Lario's most brutal wall
Climbing the Muro di Sormano from Nesso, above Lake Como: profile, a 25% wall, difficulty and tips for this legendary cycling climb.
The Po Delta with the family, from Comacchio
Family bike loop in the Po Delta from Comacchio: lagoons, pink flamingos, distance and practical tips.
The Riviera dei Fiori for families, from San Lorenzo al Mare
Family cycling loop on the former railway of the Riviera dei Fiori, Liguria: flat coastal path, distance and practical tips.
The Sellaronda: the loop of 4 Dolomite passes
The Sellaronda four-pass loop from Corvara: Pordoi, Sella, Gardena and Campolongo, profile, difficulty and practical tips.
The Via Appia Antica by bike with kids, on Rome's doorstep
A family bike ride on the Via Appia Antica, the ancient Roman road closed to cars on Sundays: distance and practical tips.
Tre Cime di Lavaredo: climbing to the foot of the Dolomites' iconic towers
Climbing to the Tre Cime di Lavaredo from Misurina: profile, toll, difficulty and tips for this iconic Dolomites ascent.