What is the highest cycling route in Piedmont?

The Colle del Sommeiller, climbing to 3000 metres at the Italian-French border, is among the highest off-road cycling routes in Piedmont and is best tackled by mountain bike. The altitude makes the air thin and the climbs demanding, but the reward is panoramic views above the clouds and a true high-Alpine landscape that the lower-elevation roads in the region cannot match.

Which Piedmont cycling route is best for road bikes?

The Colle dell'Agnello, one of the highest paved passes in the Alps, is Paolo's favourite road bike climb in Piedmont. The gradient is steep and sustained, the views are extraordinary, and you ride past cliff-edge villages and through forest that shifts from green to alpine as you climb. It rewards serious cyclists with a proper Alpine summit on tarmac.

Can you cycle from the Langhe wine region to the sea?

Yes. One of Paolo's favourite multi-day routes starts in the UNESCO-protected Langhe hills, famous for Barolo wines and white truffles, and rolls south-west through vineyards until it meets the Ligurian coast where the mountains run into the sea. It is a route that links several faces of Piedmont: wine country, food culture, mountain landscape, and Mediterranean coastline in a single trip.

Do you need to be a serious cyclist to ride in Piedmont?

Not at all. Paolo is a certified cycling escort who tailors routes to fitness and goals. The high passes such as Colle del Sommeiller and Colle dell'Agnello suit serious riders, but the Langhe vineyards, the Lake Maggiore loop, and the Road of 100 Valleys reward less experienced cyclists who simply want to discover landscape, eat well, and move at their own pace through the region.

Best Cycling Routes in Piedmont: 5 Epic Rides That Will Make You Fall in Love with Italy

TheVoyageCo asked Paolo for his local insights for Piedmont. This is what he said.

Piedmont has five routes that certified cycling escort Paolo returns to again and again: Colle del Sommeiller by mountain bike to 3000 metres at the Italian-French border; Colle dell'Agnello by road bike, one of the highest Alpine passes; the UNESCO Langhe hills to the Ligurian coast through wine country; Lake Maggiore to the Swiss border via the Road of 100 Valleys; and the Milky Way alpine pastures by mountain bike.

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Paolo Crosetto

Location:Alba

Thinking about exploring Piedmont by bike? Whether you’re looking to stay fit, slow down and take in the scenery, or ride your way through some of Italy’s best food and wine regions, I’m here to help you make it happen.From the dramatic Olympic mountains to the rolling Langhe hills, from lakes and n

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I have led many cyclists through Piedmont, and every time I discover why people fall in love with this region. The cycling here is not just exercise. It is moving through landscape, tasting air, experiencing beauty with your body. Let me share my five favourite routes.

Whether you're getting into cycling to stay fit or simply to discover new landscapes, relax, and savour the food of Piedmont, you can rely on Paolo's experience as a certified cycling escort.

1. Mountain Bike: Colle del Sommeiller

Piedmont Alps

This route takes you to 3000 metres altitude where Italy and France meet. The altitude is challenging, but the reward is views that make your lungs burn in a good way. You are above clouds, above civilisation, in pure mountain landscape.

2. Racing Bike: Colle dell'Agnello

Piedmont Alps

This is one of the highest passes in the Alps, perfect for serious cyclists. The gradient is steep, the views are incredible. You ride past villages that seem to perch on cliffs, through forest that changes from green to alpine as you climb.

3. Route Through the Langhe: UNESCO Hills to Ligurian Coast

UNESCO Langhe Region

Start in the UNESCO-protected Langhe region, famous for wine and white truffles. Cycle through rolling hills where vineyards paint the landscape. End at the Ligurian coast where mountains meet sea. This route combines many types of Piedmont beauty.

4. Lake Maggiore to Swiss Border: The 100 Valleys Road

Northern Piedmont

Starting from the Italian shores of Lake Maggiore, you reach the Swiss tip, returning via the "Road of 100 Valleys." The route is varied, moving through different ecosystems and cultures. Every day is different.

5. Mountain Bike to Alpine Pastures: The Milky Way

Piedmont-France Alps

This mountain bike route takes you to high-altitude pastures and lakes between the Italian and French Alps. It is called the Milky Way because of the way the path seems to flow. You are far from roads, in pure nature, breathing thin air, moving through a landscape that feels timeless.

Piedmont rewards a saddle. Pick one of these for your weekend, eat slowly at the bottom of every climb, and the region opens up in a way no car or train can match. The hills, the wine, the food, the silence. They're all easier to taste from a bicycle.

Explore more Piedmont-specific insights to plan your next trip with locals.

Frequently asked

Piedmont cycling FAQ