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52 mbr m ay 2 019
W
hat would your dream mountain
bike holiday look like? Would it
include high-altitude mountain
trails through breathtaking
alpine scenery? Singletrack
snaking through lush, sweeping valleys?
State of the art bike parks with a multitude
of graded trails? What about a riviera sojourn
to take in the sparkling azure sea?
Cuneo, the largest province of italy’s
piedmont region, offers all this and more.
this mountain biking paradise is the perfect
holiday destination for those looking for a wild
ride, be it natural or man-made.
piedmont’s english translation — ‘foot of
the mountain’ — gives a clue to its maritime
alpine location, and with france to the west
and the ligurian coast to the south, is the key
to its unique blend of attractions.
riders in search of high-octane thrills in a
stunning alpine setting will find that Cuneo
suits them down to the ground, with its many
well-equipped bike parks designed to satisfy
the whims of even the most demanding of
adrenaline junkies (see box inset for details).
take the chair lift to the head of a range
of graded routes offering everything from
gentle beginner’s trails to white-knuckle
downhill courses and make use of ameneties
and services such as bike rental, bike wash,
workshops and restaurants and snack bars.
Why not purchase a bike pass that will entitle
you to visit them all on one ticket?
for the more fearless still, on June 8-9, 2019,
the beautiful hilltop town of mondovì will
host the second edition of urban Downhill
mondovì, a spectacular downhill race that
takes place on its atmospheric old streets,
using alleys and steps to connect an urban
course that passes historic buildings and
churches. organised by ready2ride team,
for registration with the option of endurance
and downhill bike hire see http://www.facebook.
com/mondoviready4Bike
for those favouring a more relaxing and
scenic all-mountain experience, riding the
Via del Sale (Salt Way) is must. this network
of medieval trading routes once brought salt
from the coast to the hinterland and across
the border with france; today its remote mule
tracks and dirt roads are popular with hikers
and bikers in search of adventure.
Starting from the ski resort of limonepiemonte, this 76-kilometre loop travels
through the limone and monesi Valleys,
taking you through the largest karst
landscape in europe and one of the
most beautiful forests in the region, the
Bosco delle navette. along the way you’ll
take in some of the area’s most imposing
peaks before reaching the spectacular
hairpin bend of the Colle della Boaria
where you can feast your eyes on verdant
mountains extending as far as the eye can
see below the clear blue sky. later, at the
rifugio Don Barbera, you’ll have the chance
fuel up for the remaining ride with ligurian-
influenced piedmontese dishes.
the Via del Sale offers many opportunities
to branch off the main route and ride down
to the ligurian coast where you can soak
up the ambience of the italian riviera in the
historic cities of Ventimiglia and San remo.
alternatively head west over the border with
france to the Côte d’azur and relax in the
playgrounds of the rich and famous.
Despite reaching an altitude of 2,239m, the
Via del Sale is relatively easy to ride, with no
steep uphills or technical downhills, making
it the perfect route for relaxing and savouring
the spectacular scenery.
if you enjoy this excursion, you’ll be pleased
to know that Cuneo contains thousands of
miles of other tracks offering equally great
riding for all levels of skill and fitness.
Gardetta Bike emotions, for example, is a
dedicated bike route that runs along a former
military road spanning the Gardetta plateau.
Scattered with abandoned 19th century
fortifications and at an altitude of 2,300
metres, this is the perfect vantage point for
taking in beautiful scenery that stretches over
the border with france. at the pianoro della
Gardetta geological reserve you can even
inspect dinosaur footprints, accompanied by
nature guide enrico Collo.
While riding is the reason you’ll want
come to Cuneo, its culture, history and
architecture could be the reason you’ll want
to stay. the province’s strategically important
border location and history of warring city
states has left its mark in the form of many
military strongholds, elegant castles and
grand buildings, while charming hilltop
villages are home to old churches and abbeys
with frescoes that bring art history to life.Head to the langhe roero wine-growing
region — a uneSCo World Heritage
site — for a lesiurely ride and break up
a relaxing day’s tour by sampling alba’s
famous white truffles or refuelling with
a traditional torte verde (vegetable pie) or
herb omelette, washed down with one of
piedmont’s revered wines, such as Barolo
or Barbaresco.
the Bar to Bar itinerary, a seven-stage
circuit from Barbaresco to Barolo (and back
again), crosses a significant chunk of the
langhe roero territory along low-traffic
roads and trails. the Grande traversata delle
langhe (Gtl) is a tour that encompasses
an entire territory, the langhe. Wine and
vineyards take a back seat for this tour,
however, which is all about discovering and
enjoying pristine nature, castles, and medieval
villages where time seems to have stood
still. another option is the roero Bike tour
(rBt), set in the section of hills known as the
roero region that lie along the left bank of the
tanaro river.
and with direct flights from london
Gatwick to Cuneo, you could be experiencing
all this in just a matter of hours. Cuneo town,
the provincial capital, makes for an ideal base
to explore the nearby mountains and towns.
What are you waiting for?
http://www.wowoutdoor.itCuneo Alps, Langhe
& Roero: an outdoor
sports paradise
North-west Italy’s Piedmont region combines superb
riding with stunning scenery