The three routes
Three routes to ride on a gravel bike run down Italy from north to south. They all end on the same mountain, at Montecassino Abbey.
The three routes compared
| — | Ponente Route | Centro Route | Levante Route |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stages (indicative days) | 19 (~24) | 16 (~21) | 20 (~21) |
| Distance | ~1,701 km | ~1,306 km | ~1,451 km |
| Elevation gain | ~18,820 m | ~20,370 m | ~14,520 m |
| Unpaved (estimate) | ~14% | ~11% | ~6% |
| Longest stage | 183 km · Vercelli → Staffarda | 165 km · Bismantova → Firenzuola | 110 km · Praglia → Ferrara |
| Start | Mater Ecclesiae | Chiaravalle | Novacella |
| Nearest station to the start | Orta-Miasino | Milano Rogoredo | Bressanone/Brixen |
| Best time | April–June and September–October | April–June and September–October | April–June and September–October |
| Minimum bike and tyres | gravel or touring, 40–45 mm tyres | gravel or touring, 40–45 mm tyres | touring or gravel; 40–45 mm tyres for unpaved sections |
| Effort | Challenging | Moderate-Challenging | Moderate |
If you have three weeks, the Centro Route (16 stages, ~1,306 km) is the shortest but the toughest in climbing; if you prefer cycle paths and little gravel, the Levante Route; if you want more distance, the Ponente Route.
Ponente Route
19 stages · ~1,701 km · ~18,820 m D+
From Piedmont it drops to the Ligurian sea, then cuts across Tuscany to Montecassino. Vineyards on the hills, and the cool shade of the Casentino forests.
Centro Route
16 stages · ~1,306 km · ~20,370 m D+
It starts in Milan, or in Brescia with the Variante Bresciana. It climbs the Emilian Apennines and crosses the Casentino Forests, then Umbria, all the way to Montecassino.
Levante Route
20 stages · ~1,451 km · ~14,520 m D+
It starts at Novacella, in South Tyrol, or at Rosazzo in Friuli with the Ingresso Adriatico. It crosses the Veneto and follows the sea down to Marche and Abruzzo, then heads for Montecassino. The most paved of the three: flat cycle paths in the north, real climbs in the Apennines.
An amateur, non-profit project. The tracks are indicative: everyone rides independently, at their own risk.