Legendary climbs for “hardcore” cyclists, routes that cross paths and hills or skirt lakes and rivers, multi-stage itineraries that touch towns and important places of culture, gentle trails that encourage knowledge of protected natural areas.
In Piedmont there is truly everything a cycle tourist could desire: the adrenaline of the high roads and the Giro d’Italia climbs, the sweetness of the hilly ups and downs between villages and vineyards, the pleasure of easy rides with the family.
EVER HIGHER: EFFORT AND WONDER AMONG THE PEAKS
High-altitude fortresses and refuges are valuable conquests after testing lungs and muscles on the historic mountain routes. From the Alta Via del Sale (Salt High Road) in the province of Cuneo to the Assietta road in the Turin area, up to the Cadorna Line in Verbano, you travel with your imagination alongside travelers and pilgrims, merchants and smugglers. But the legendary passes of the Giro d’Italia are no less impressive, where the heroic feats of champions Coppi and Pantani echo: the Biella-Oropa Climb, the “Pirate’s Mountain” where he made a legendary comeback in 1999 over the 12 km to reach the 1150 meters of the Sanctuary of Oropa; the Colle delle Finestre road, one of the toughest climbs in Europe, covered 4 times by the Corsa Rosa starting in the 2000s, and the extremely tough climbs of the Cuneo-Pinerolo stage on which the Piedmontese Fausto Coppi flew for 192 km in a solitary escape in 1949, including the passes of Maddalena, Monginevro, and Sestriere.
GRANFONDO RACES, PIEDMONT IN THE HEART
And to understand how much cycling is in the soul of Piedmont, just take a look at the calendar of Granfondo races that, from April to October, celebrate a sporting identity rich in history and culture: among the most important are “L’Etape Piemonte”, the official Granfondo of the Tour de France in the Cuneo area (May 31, 2026), the Granfondo “Assietta Legend” in the Turin area (July 4), and the Granfondo “Diablo” in Verbano (September 13), which this year will also host promotional events with entertainment and talks. And then the “Fausto Coppi” in June with the epic climb to Colle Fauniera, and in July the Sestriere-Colle delle Finestre and the Biella-Oropa.
CYCLING AMONG RICE FIELDS, LAKES, AND VINEYARDS
Cycling through Piedmont’s rice fields is a unique experience: 400 thousand hectares extending across the provinces of Vercelli, Biella, and Novara, a green and watery mosaic among farms, authentic rural glimpses, and architectural gems like the Lucedio abbey: the 27 km Rice Field Cycle Routes route is unmissable, especially in spring and autumn. The Lake Orta Tour in the Novara area is pleasant and suitable for everyone: 35.50 km starting from Gozzano, touching the cliff of the Madonna del Sasso, the lakeside of Omegna, Villa Crespi in Orta San Giulio. In Verbano Cusio Ossola there are as many as 40 bike routes for all cycling abilities.
Also highly evocative are the wine routes, which from north to south Piedmont testify to an ancient tradition, deeply rooted in the culture of the territories and characterized by excellent production.
WITH CHILDREN TO DISCOVER THE PROTECTED AREAS
In complete tranquility, immersing yourselves in natural environments and observing flowers, trees, and animals: the routes for two wheels in the Natural Parks of Piedmont offer peace and moments of serenity for the family, providing easy trails, often equipped with small but important services such as picnic areas, refreshment points, playgrounds, or educational routes, both in the mountains and on the plain.
For example, the Lake Ceresole ring, in the Gran Paradiso National Park in the Orco Valley: a suggestive route among the reflections of the water and the shade of the larches, or the “Born with Nature” proposals in the La Mandria and Stupinigi Parks. In the Gesso and Stura River Park, one starts from the Casa del Fiume (River House) and arrives at the City of Cuneo, and on the Sentiero delle Ochette (Path of the Goslings) along the Po river one can learn that over 100 species of birds nest there.
CYCLE ROUTES, WHAT A PASSION!
From long and fascinating backbones to be covered in stages, to easy metropolitan rings or themed routes, the “Cycle in Piedmont” network includes over 2,000 km of options just considering the main routes. Routes that cross the region from north to south, such as the “Via del Mare” (Sea Route) and the “Via Pedemontana” (Piedmontese Route), and from east to west like the two Via Francigene routes, the one in Canavese and the one in Val di Susa.
Unmissable are the “Corona di Delizie” (Crown of Delights), a 120 km ring connecting 10 Savoy Royal Residences and crossing 16 municipalities around Turin; the “Bar2Bar” in the UNESCO territories of the Langhe, the “Tracce dei Ghiacciai” (Traces of Glaciers) route, between Biella and Alagna Valsesia, the “Via del Ticino e del Lago Maggiore” (Ticino and Lake Maggiore Route) and, on the green Tortona hills, the “Terre di Coppi” (Coppi Lands) routes dedicated to the Campionissimo.
And then Eurovelo-VenTO, which extends for over 250 km in the Piedmontese section, with the portion of the itinerary from Turin to Venezia represented by the VenTO cycle route.
