Cycling holidays in Northern Italy's Lake District
The province of Varese – A territory with a great cycling tradition
which can be experienced on kilometres of cycle routes, on climbs suitable for avid rider and pleasant back roads through agricultural areas. You ride immersed in a calm green landscape that harmoniously unites competitive fighting spirit and cycling tourism.
Lakes of Northern Italy Bike Tours
Varese has twice been, 1951 and 2008, the host city of the World Road Cycling Championship. There is a great variety of itinerary available around the area as well as the numerous amateur and professional races that are held annually on the our roads.
The Giro d’Italia almost always visits the region. The one day Autumn classic, Tour of Lombardy, or “the race of the falling leaves”, marks the end of the UCI World Tour calendar. Other cycling events include Tre Valli Varesine and the Coppa Bernocchi in September, one-day road races included in the UCI Europe Tour calendar. In March, the province of Varese hosts the Trofeo Binda, a one-day road race included in UCI Women’s Road Cycling World Cup calendar.
Our area is characterized by a continuous up and down. It has a typically hilly and mountainous landscape in the northern part (approx 3,280 feet - 1.000 metres a.s.l.) and relatively flat (approx. 980 feet - 300 metres a.s.l.) in the southern part.
The average elevation gain is approx. 300 feet - 100 metres every 6.20 miles - 10 km.
There are longer flat sections along the shores of lakes or in the valleys only.
Eleven lakes of different sizes surround Varese. From West to East: Lake Orta, Lake Maggiore, Lake Monate, Lake Comabbio, Lake Biandronno, Lake Varese, Lake Delio, Lake Ghirla, Lake Ganna, Lake Lugano, Lake Como.
For the funs of cycling tourism one of the most fascinating itineraries is the one goes around Regional Park of Monte Campo dei Fiori and in Valcuvia. The setting of fields and woods and the chance to have relaxing breaks in villages of Brinzio, Orino, Cavona and Cuveglio.
The Passo Cuvignone, Arcumeggia, Monte Campo dei Fiori, Alpe Tedesco, Monte Sette Termini and Alpe Neggia are many cyclists' favourite training ground.
The province of Varese features undulating and peaceful roads with little traffic among gently rolling hillsides, valleys and mountains, climbs, descents and above all, views across the Prealps, Alps, the Monte Rosa Massif and Northern Italy’s lakes.
You will mainly follow small and scenic roads, with few road signs.
You might think that, alas, this is not the place for gentle and slow cycling. And you would be right. However, we can show you itineraries where you can avoid cycling any big hills and medium sized hills too.
There are more then 100 kilometres of cycle paths too.
With its jagged territory full of wooded areas and challenging peaks the province of Varese is also a sought-after destination for mountain bike fans.
In summary the terrain of Varese area offers an incredibly vast array of cycling routes for those who love the bike, in all its shapes and forms, dusting down a great tradition and offering the change to get into the history of national and international cycling. For amateurs and professionals, nature lovers or mini-champions, there is a huge variety to choose from.
Lakes of Northern Italy Bike Tours
Bellow on the left: a tribute to cycling in a wall-painting at Brinzio (4 great champions: Fausto Coppi, Gino Bartali, Alfredo Binda, Learco Guerra) – on the right: Gardens at Varese
