By Ross Litherland | 12/04/2024

I’m wondering if Italy is the number one place to ride your bike in Europe, but it’s often over-shadowed (perhaps unfairly) by France and Spain. It has everything; long climbs in the Alps, steep climbs in the Dolomites (don’t let those average gradients fool you, they are STEEP), as well as the beyond picturesque regions of Emilia Romagna and Tuscany (which includes the fabulous white gravel roads) to pick only a few highlights.

Perhaps Italy is overlooked as the big races are often hit with bad weather. In particular, the poor Giro d’Italia in May. Remember Nibali’s soigneur brushing the snow off his back at the Tre Cime di Lavaredo finish line in 2013? That came the day after the queen stage had to be cancelled completely because of bad weather. But May is not like June through to October. If they moved the race to another month, I think they’d get so many more cycling visitors!

I’ve been lucky enough to ride the Tre Cime di Laveredo in July and it’s simply stunning. Many of Italy’s best riding locations are unique; there is nowhere else on the planet like the Dolomites and riding around Siena has no comparison either. That’s before I’ve even mentioned the coffee or the cuisine!

Ride in Italy this summer and there is every chance it will become your favourite destination…