Road cycling in Italy - where?

[SR7492]

Our Spain cycling trip has been cancelled, so looking for alternatives. Italy seems like a good option at the moment. can anyone recommend a place, Tuscany/Lake Como have been mentioned.

Trip is for mid October; where is the best chance to have decent tempsweather for the year.

We are looking for a some decent climbs, so looking forward to a few hard days graft climbing.

Thanks in advance all.

[Bathroom_Security]

I'm doing tuscany in a couple of weeks plus other places in Italy. I guess get on Google maps and work out where looks good near where you're staying?

[Teebs]

I did a week in Corvara a few years back but I suspect October is too late for that area...

[Daveyraveygravey]

The Giro is in Abruzzo (level with Rome, between the mountains and the Adriatic) on the 10th and 12th I think.
It's a beautiful region, relatively quiet, unspoiled and cheap. I am lucky enough to have a holiday home there, was out there two weeks ago. Hoping to get back for the giro depending what our clueless stupid government do about quarantine - Italy's figures are better than ours at the moment.
Abruzzo has it all, including a 50km ride that takes you from the sea to summit of the Blockhaus climb at 2100m.
I looked at flights last week, it was about £40 there and back!! They won't stay that cheap and if you want to take a bike that adds quite a lot.

Edited by Daveyraveygravey on Tuesday 8th September 14:47

[Gummi]

As you said either Como or Tuscany. I did a road trip last year around northern Italy stopping in both areas. Didn’t get an opportunity to ride in Chianti but it’s amazing for it. A club mate of mine just went - https://www.roadbookofcycling.com/

When I’m Como (Cernobbio in fact) I did a ride with Pietro of Lake Como Cycling - https://lakecomocycling.com/. Had a fantastic day and really good not to have to worry about navigation. From Cernobbio there are loads of great routes around the lake, up to the Madonna del Ghisallo, Sormano or over to Lugano in Switzerland. Check out Pietro Zendali on Strava for some route ideas. He also does guiding in Tuscany too.

Both Como and Tuscany have lots to do with family too if they’re travelling with you.

[SR7492]

Thanks guys, appreciate the comments so far!

[Johnny]

Tuscany.

I stayed in San Gimignano a few years back and it would be a great place to base yourself for cycling

[AlexIT]

I live here in Como and I can confirm it is a very good location, but in October I would rather travel further south and Tuscany as advised has some very good scenery.

Weather here can be very British at fall time

[Daveyraveygravey]

If you haven't been cycling in Italy before, then just go to Bormio. All the other regions are lovely but the Stelvio is off the scale. From Bormio, you can go up to the summit, then retrace your steps about 3km to drop down into Switzerland via the Umbrail Pass, follow the gorgeous valley roads round to Prato, then reclimb the Stelvio with all 48 hairpins and bomb back down to Bormio.
If anyone can name a better ride than that I'll be very surprised. You also have the Mortirolo and Gavia nearby and another shorter climb beginning with c I can't remember.
The weather in October could be a problem though and if the Giro is in the area so could accommodation.

[JEA1K]

We've been looking at the same but are now considering Portugal. As much as I love Italy, especially the North + Lakes, late Sept early October is a bit more of a gamble weather wise and we want sun. We were in Como about 3 years ago at the end of Sept and it was pleasant .... 17 - 20 dego's ish but we didn't see the sun much, although the roads were pretty quiet so riding was decent.

I think I'd stay away from anywhere North if you want warmer weather, so Tuscany seems like a good option ... Pisa seems like a popular airport so we've been looking at staying somewhere like La Spezia or Vereggio and then riding to the Apuan Alps.

Just a gamble between Portugal and Italy as to who goes on the UK's quarantine in the next 2 weeks!

[Daveyraveygravey]

JEA1K said:

We've been looking at the same but are now considering Portugal. As much as I love Italy, especially the North + Lakes, late Sept early October is a bit more of a gamble weather wise and we want sun. We were in Como about 3 years ago at the end of Sept and it was pleasant .... 17 - 20 dego's ish but we didn't see the sun much, although the roads were pretty quiet so riding was decent.

I think I'd stay away from anywhere North if you want warmer weather, so Tuscany seems like a good option ... Pisa seems like a popular airport so we've been looking at staying somewhere like La Spezia or Vereggio and then riding to the Apuan Alps.

Just a gamble between Portugal and Italy as to who goes on the UK's quarantine in the next 2 weeks!

You're right about quarantine etc etc. But if the weather holds I still think there's nothing anywhere in Europe to beat the Stelvio. Speaking as someone who went to the Stelvio in late August and couldn't do it because the road was closed due to zero degrees temperature but went two years later and it was arguably the best ride of my life, and one of the top 3 or 5 things I have ever done

Edited by Daveyraveygravey on Wednesday 9th September 21:41

[millen]

I had a great time in central Portugal at https://www.delucci.co.uk/
October is plenty hot enough. Smooth tarmac, deserted roads, long climbs and bracing descents, great cooking. The house is in a remote hamlet, at 1800 ft, and there's not a great deal to do other than cycle, run, hike or swim if you're seeking a conventional holiday. Gary is a very strong and enthusiastic cyclist and will cater for all abilities from national team riders down to mumpties like me.

[stevebu916]

Perhaps some inspiration in here of Italian cycling options..

https://inspireditaly.com/ebike-tours/

[JEA1K]

Well I think Portugal is looking likely to be added to the quarantine list today having looked at the news after a spike so have changed my flights to Pisa. No way we are going to Spain and I had to change them by Saturday before I was charged £128.

[Bathroom_Security]

When you flying to Pisa? I'm off week after next. But we are travelling elsewhere

[SR7492]

Another option that has popped up is Sardinia, any one cycled here and has any feedback?

Looks pretty good (reminds me a little of Mallorca).

[AlexIT]

Daveyraveygravey said:

If you haven't been cycling in Italy before, then just go to Bormio. All the other regions are lovely but the Stelvio is off the scale. From Bormio, you can go up to the summit, then retrace your steps about 3km to drop down into Switzerland via the Umbrail Pass, follow the gorgeous valley roads round to Prato, then reclimb the Stelvio with all 48 hairpins and bomb back down to Bormio.
If anyone can name a better ride than that I'll be very surprised. You also have the Mortirolo and Gavia nearby and another shorter climb beginning with c I can't remember.
The weather in October could be a problem though and if the Giro is in the area so could accommodation.

I would honestly not take the chance to do the Stelvio mid-october. The chances of bad weather, freezing temperatures and temporarily closures of the road are more than a possibility. I'd suggest your itinerary from April to late June or early September.

SR7492 said:

Another option that has popped up is Sardinia, any one cycled here and has any feedback?

Looks pretty good (reminds me a little of Mallorca)

A very big Mallora actually
Go for it, with a little luck you might also be able to enjoy some after-ride swimming in the sea. Roads are great, scenery is fantastic and most probably no traffic at all.

[Maracus]

I rode Stelvio in early June 3 years ago.

Some hail and freezing rain was not pleasant

[JEA1K]

Bathroom_Security said:

When you flying to Pisa? I'm off week after next. But we are travelling elsewhere

26th Sept so a couple of weeks time, so following week. Where you off to?

Unsure what to do about the hotel .... some are offering free cancellation up until 24th Sept, a couple of days before we travel so I suppose if anything changes we can bail.

Regards Stelvio, same as the rest of the Alps, you take your chances during summer but more so during spring and Autumn. It can be 30 odd degrees or -5 ... I went up Stelvio in October, early 20's when I left my hotel, -5 at the top.

[AlexIT]

JEA1K said:

I went up Stelvio in October, early 20's when I left my hotel, -5 at the top.

Many years I have been blocked on the Stelvio end of August as we stopped there for the night and in the morning the road was closed both ways because of snow.
We had to wait until the afternoon once they cleaned it up

ETA: this was Aug 4th this year:

Edited by AlexIT on Friday 11th September 10:59