Tuscan athlete Alberto Bettiol represented Italy at the 2024 Paris Olympics in the men's road cycling event and finished in 23rd place overall.
After the races, Alberto often returns to his hometown to relax and recharge on his favorite trails. Alberto emphasizes that cycling in Italy is not just about training or competing, but also a way to enjoy the local culture, history and cuisine.
Below are some cycling destinations in Italy suggested by Alberto:
1. Val d'Orcia Valley: A destination for wine lovers
With its rolling hillsides and Renaissance architecture, Tuscany's Val d'Orcia is high on the Italians' must-see list, and a popular choice for cyclists looking to cycle through the white gravel roads that wind through the hills.
The region's terrain is suitable for mountain and road cycling. Alberto usually starts in the medieval city of Siena - famous for the Palio horse race - and heads south through the russet-roofed villages of the Val d'Orcia valley.
"Val d'Orcia is a UNESCO world heritage site," he said.
A trip around Val d'Orcia can take a few hours or even a week. When he gets to the valley, he stays overnight in Airbnb cabins that combine agritourism with food. The region's specialty, Brunello red wine, and soft Pecorino di Pienza cheese are Alberto's favorites.
2. Rome: Cycling and admiring the old town
Although Alberto mainly cycles on the road, he is also a fan of the Italian urban cycling experience and according to the rider, nowhere does it feel more authentic than Rome.
Italy is notorious for its traffic jams, so Alberto advises cyclists to avoid roads with heavy traffic. He often opts for shortcuts or side roads to make it easier to navigate. In major cities like Milan, Turin or Florence, there are plenty of these on the map.
In Rome, Alberto enjoys wandering the ancient streets and soaking up the history behind Roman ruins, Baroque piazzas and Renaissance palaces. After a bike ride, he refuels with traditional pasta. Alberto also enjoys dining next to the Colosseum.
3. Via Francigena: The Pilgrimage Route
Cycling in Italy dates back to the 1900s, but the Via Francigena was built in the 6th century. Starting in Canterbury, England, the 1,700km route led medieval pilgrims through France and Switzerland to the holy sites of Rome, eventually ending in the southern Apulia region of Italy.
The route covers a variety of terrain suitable for climbing and mountain biking. Alberto often walks through it and watches pilgrims and cyclists. He is amazed by its history and admires how the ancients built this route to get from Canterbury to Rome.
There are now many hostels, guesthouses, Airbnbs, restaurants and service stations along the road. Cyclists can ride here without worrying about getting lost because there are GPS stations along the trail.
4. Langhe: Suitable for romantic weekends
Located in the Piedmont region, between the Po River and the Apennines (Ligurian) Mountains, the Langhe is the ideal countryside for a romantic weekend. Alberto suggests spending the mornings cycling and the evenings drinking wine.
Alberto’s two-person bike ride starts in the town of Alba, famous for its white truffles. Here, Alberto is fascinated by the beauty of the landscape of steep hills, vineyards, small towns with castles on the hilltops. In addition, a few places to meander around the city include the Ferrero factory, where the Nutella jam is produced, the fragrant aroma of which wafts through the streets. Nearby, the Fiat Citadel in Turin is also a historical site worth visiting.
Alberto’s favourite stop in the Langhe region is the luxury Relais San Maurizio in the town of Santo Stefano Belbo, a converted monastery. Alberto loves the views of the vineyards and breakfasts in a nearby old church. There are also spas in the area that use water from the Black Sea and Michelin-starred restaurants.
5. Lakes in the North: Worth a Week
Alberto suggests starting at Lake Maggiore, surrounded by the three Borromean islands, once owned by the Borromeo ducal family. He will then cycle to Lake Lugano and from there another 39 km to Lake Como. Beyond the villas of George Clooney and other famous artists, Alberto will head north to a small town called Bellagio. He will then travel 9 km from Bellagio to the sanctuary of La Madonna del Ghisallo, the patron saint of cyclists. Here, visitors will find old jerseys and learn about the history of the sport.
Head 180km southeast to Garda, Italy’s largest lake, where you’ll find the pretty town of Sirmione. Then head north into the Trentino region and eat polenta (salty cornmeal), a favourite in the cold winter months.
To conquer the above terrains, Alberto chooses a regular mountain bike, an electric bike or an electric mountain bike.
Dolomites Mountains: Attracting climbers
When summer comes, Italians often head north to the Dolomites.
The range stretches across the north-east of the country and is a popular local retreat. The area offers a diverse cuisine, plenty of outdoor activities and cool temperatures that don’t exceed 25 degrees Celsius.
Alberto recommends spending a week enjoying the area's spectacular mountain and mountain passes. He starts in Sella Ronda and travels over three other passes to San Pellegrino, where the famous Giro d'Italia cycling race is held each year.
Alberto also loves Livigno - located in the heart of the Valtellina valley - which is considered the "Tibet of Italy". It is not difficult to find professional cyclists here because the rugged terrain is very suitable for training. In addition, if you do not cycle, the athlete recommends taking the Bernina Express to see the breathtaking alpine scenery and the most majestic glaciers in Switzerland.
TB (according to VnExpress)Source: https://baohaiduong.vn/van-dong-vien-olympic-goi-y-6-diem-dap-xe-o-italy-389734.html
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