The route crosses the regional Alpine arc, immersing itself in an area of extraordinary landscape, historical, artistic and food and wine value. We go from the Friulian Dolomites (a UNESCO heritage site) to the Cornino nature reserve; from ancient medieval towns such as Gemona and Lombard ones such as Cividale del Friuli, to the vineyards of the Grave, Colli Orientali del Friuli, Isonzo and Collio DOC areas.
But how demanding is the route? Not too much. Of course, you need a bit of leg strength, but the track is suitable for everyone: an almost perfect surface, average gradients below 2%, and services and assistance scattered pretty much everywhere along the way.
And for those who want to try alternating the bike with the train, the first half of the route runs parallel to the Sacile-Gemona tourist railway, on which trains made up of historic rolling stock run. It doesn’t get better than that…
https://www.turismofvg.it/it/bike/fvg3-ciclovia-pedemontana-c300
A most welcome ‘surprise’ of the 2024 Green Road Award is Calabria’s second place, thanks to the Ciclopedonale of the river Neto. It is an entirely new cycle route, devoted to promoting cycling mobility in an area with enormous potential in this respect. The new Ciclopedonale is also destined to play a strategic role in the broader national cycling outlook: it is in fact the natural outlet towards the Ionian Sea of the Ciclovia dei Parchi di Calabria, for which FIAB (the commendable Italian Federation of Environment and Bicycle) has applied to EuroVelo for accreditation so that it can be included in the international EuroVelo 7 route, the Sun Route.
The Calabrian cycle route runs for 42 km along an ancient mule track, which in turn follows the left bank of the river Neto. The magnificence of the area is hard to describe in words. You cross the green heart of the Marchesato, touching six municipalities: Caccuri (those passing through in August should not miss the literary Festival and Prize held from the 6th to the 10th of the month), Belvedere di Spinello, Santa Severina, Rocca di Neto, Scandale and Strongoli, until you reach the mouth on the Ionian Sea.
https://ciclopedonaledellavaldineto.it
The Ciclovia dei Fiori earned Trentino third place in the ranking. The new route links the Val Rendena with the Val del Chiese: it starts in Tione di Trento, continues to the village of Bolbeno and then connects to the village of Bondo along the Madonna del Lares road. Beware of the gradients, which are significant here and there, and of the sections shared with cars.
As the name suggests, the route crosses an incredibly evocative area during the flowering season, with more than 600 species of flowers, including rare orchids that grow on the shores of the lakes.
https://www.campigliodolomiti.it/it/bike/piste-ciclabili/la-ciclovia-dei-fiori
Among the special awards of the Italian Oscar of cycle tourism 2024, the jury’s special mention went to the Appennino Bike Tour, a jewel of Italian cycling infrastructure.
It is the largest sustainable mobility route in the country. An itinerary of 3,100 km (yes, you read that correctly) along the entire Apennine ridge, winding along low-traffic secondary roads, linking 300 small municipalities and as many as 14 regions, 33 provinces and 56 protected areas, including parks and nature reserves.
Those who want to ride the Ciclovia dell’Appennino can in fact start from Liguria, at the Bocchetta di Altare, and arrive at Alia, in the province of Palermo.
The completed installation of the North-South signage (next year the return South-North signage will be completed) and the development of secondary connecting branches will create a cycle network between 1,400 municipalities, making the Apennines a single tourist destination easily accessible by bicycle.
An unmissable experience, but for strong legs, we would add. And if your winter training has been a little lacking, we suggest you have no qualms about using a good e-bike or a (sensible) pedal-assist. Enjoy the trip
