Day 1
Friday - Arrival
Check in around 14.00h at your hotel in Varese. For those who want to have an airport pick up please contact us. This beautiful town will be your starting point for your upcoming tour. The tour leader will explain the coming activities and itinerary for this Italian Lake district cycling trip. Accomodation Varese
Day 2
Saturday 102 km Laveno - Luino
Let's get started on our exploration of the foothills to the North of Varese. You'll cross three valleys: Valcuvia, Valganna, Valmarchirolo. Ride along five lakes: Lake Maggiore, Lake Lugano, Lake Brinzio, Lake Ganna and Lake Ghirla. Today’s route is undulating. Tackle the Ardena climb and if you want, the extra Marzio climb in the challenging route.
Route: distance 97 km – 60 miles- elevation 1,040 m – 3,412 ft
Challenging option: distance 102 km – 63 miles elevation 1,340 m – 4,396 ft
Major climbs: Ardena climb (3.2 km – 2 mi, avg. 6%, max. 8%), extra climb in the challenging option: Marzio climb (3.4 km – 2.1 mi, avg. 8%, max. 10%). Accomodation: Varese
Day 3
Sunday 82 km Lugano-Bellagio-Madonna del Ghissallo
Today's ride has one focus: go up to the Shrine of Madonna del Ghisallo. The small Chapel is located at Magreglio (CO) on the top of the Madonna del Ghisallo climb and has become the focus of many riders' pilgrimages. You cross the Swiss pre-alpine mountains and ride along Lake Lugano and Lake Como’s shores, passing through the lake side villages of Menaggio and Bellagio where the Madonna del Ghisallo climb starts. You'll come back to hotel all together by support vehicle. Route: distance 81 km – 50 miles elevation 1,250 m – 4,100 ft
Major climbs: Madonna del Ghisallo climb (10.5 km – 6.5 mi, avg. 9%, max. 11%)
Accommodation: Varese
Day 4
Monday 84 km Varese to Colmegna
Today you transfer to your new accommodation on the shores of Lake Maggiore. You ride around the Regional Park of Monte Campo dei Fiori, then you pass close to Lake Brinzio, Lake Ganna and Lake Ghirla. After climbing down towards the Lake Lugano, You cross twice the border between Italy and Switzerland in Malcantone region where you tackle several wooded climbs . At last you climb down towards the Lake Maggiore to reach the hotel in Colmegna. Main route: distance 84 km – 52 mi; ascent 1,701 m – 5,581 ft. Major climbs: Brinzio climb (2.7 km – 1.7 mi, avg. 5.2%, max. 8%), Vernate climb (8.2 km – 5.2 mi, avg. 6%, max. 8%). Accomodation Colmegna
Day 5
Tuesday 61 km Val Veddasca - Alpe Neggia-Passo Forcora
Yet climbing in Val Veddasca close to Lake Maggiore, as the route heads to Alpe Neggia. It's a 22 km climb (elevation gain 1,200 mt - 3,940 ft). The last 2 km are harder. From Alpe Neggia a view opens over the the town of Locarno, the Lake Maggiore and the Alps in the distance. The descent requires your concentration. You can tackle, the extra Passo Forcora climb in the challenging route if you want. Some flat lake-side riding, good climbing, thrilling descent and the view across Lake Maggiore. Main route: distance 56 km – 35 mi; ascent 1,775 m – 5,823 ft
Challenge route: distance 61 km – 38 mi; ascent 2,020 m – 6,627 ft
Major climbs: Alpe Neggia climb (22 km – 13.6 mi, avg. 5.4%, max. 10%), extra climb in challenging option: Passo Forcora climb (9 km – 5.6 mi, avg. 7%, max. 13%). Accomodation Colmegna
Day 6
Wednesday 90 km Sant Antonio-San Michele-Sette Tremini-Cuvignone
Today climbs, descents and views over the Lake Maggiore and over the Alps. Your morning is spent on the foothills and tidy back roads close to Lake Maggiore. The climbs aren't long but they are one after the other in succession along small medioeval villages. You tackle the Sant’Antonio climb, the San Michele climb, the Montegrino climb and Sette Termini climb. Optional extra climbs for those looking for a challenge: Passo del Cuvignone and Arcumeggia climb.Main route: distance 68 km – 42 mi; ascent 1,831 m – 6,007 ft Challenge route: distance 90 km – 56 mi; ascent 2,570 m – 8,432 ft Major climbs: Sant'Antonio climb (4.4 km – 2.7 mi, avg. 6%, max. 8%), San Michele climb (2.4 km – 1.5 mi, avg. 10%), Montegrino climb (5 km – 3.1 mi, avg. 5.7%, max. 7%), Monte Sette Termini climb (5.5 km – 3.4 mi, avg. 7%, max. 8%), extra climbs in challenging option: Cuvignone climb from Sant'Antonio (4.5 km – 2.8 mi, avg. 8.7%, max. 10%), Arcumeggia climb (3.6 km – 2.2 mi, avg. 7%, max. 7%). Accomodation Colmegna
day 7
Thursday 92km Loop around North Lake Maggiore
The main route is a flat ride around the Northern part of Lake Maggiore. You ride through the pedestrian area of the cities of Locarno and Ascona, you cross twice the border between Italy and Switzerland. You came back to hotel by a 20minute ferry ride. We suggest to make a stop at the lakeside villages of Cannero and Cannobio. We planed to climb up to the Alpe Trarego in the challenging route. The Alpe Trarego climb is a back road riding through dense woods and arriving on a natural balcony that offers beautiful views of Lake Maggiore. Main route: distance 92 km – 57 mi; ascent 1,230 m – 4,035 ft Challenge route: distance 120 km – 75 mi; ascent 2,517 m – 8,258 ft Major climbs: extra climb in challenging option: Alpe Trarego climb (10.4 km – 6.4 mi, avg. 9%, max.13% .Accommodation: Colmegna
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