VALTELLINA, A PARADISE FOR CYCLISTS
In northern Lombardy and stretching out along the Swiss border, you’ll find Valtellina—and more specifically, the province of Sondrio, a region with infinite possibilities for outdoorsy folk, sports lovers, and, above all, cyclists.
For anyone looking for their next bike destination, Valtellina has the full package with hundreds of kilometres to suit all types of riders. These include the flat, family-friendly, 114 km traffic-free Sentiero Valtellina bike path that connects Lake Como to Bormio, as well as the Ciclabile Valchiavenna, a 42 km traffic-free bike path that brought home third place in the Italian Green Road Awards 2022.
Elsewhere, there are mythical road climbs like the Stelvio, Gavia and Mortirolo (plus many more besides) that have shaped the history of cycling, and designated routes for MTBs and eMTBs that wind through unspoilt, rugged nature in both the Rhaetian Alps and the Orobic Alps.

Ranging from mellow, easy jaunts to more testing, technical rides, and spanning the entire valley from Madesimo to Livigno, Valmalenco to Bormio via Aprica, getting out on two wheels is key to experiencing Valtellina at its most glorious and authentic. Think panoramic mountain views and luscious scenery.
Come autumn, as the colours pop fiercely into vibrant oranges and reds, there’s no better time to do a Wine Bike Tour and take a spin through Valtellina’s winemaking scene.
When it comes to sustainable routes, the Raetica Classica is a beautiful circular loop through jaw-dropping Alpine scenery that connects Valtellina with Switzerland. With perfectly positioned public transport options along the way (should one wish to hop off their bike and cut off some distance), this route promotes green tourism with great views along the way.
Building up a thirst or hunger? Nothing beats stopping at a mountain hut, agriturismo farm, or a local restaurant to taste some regional cuisine. Take your pick from the athlete’s favourite protein-rich, low-fat Bresaola della Valtellina IGP, one of the local DOP-certified cheese such as Valtellina Casera and Bitto, or a fully heaped plate of pizzoccheri della Valtellina, the region’s main dish that’s best served with a glass of Valtellina Superiore or Sfursat—both of which are DOCG certified and representative of the traditional local wine culture.

BIKE SKILLS CENTER & BIKE PARK
If you want to top up your trail riding technique whilst in Valtellina, spending the day at a Bike Skills Center to dial in your handling is a great option for all ages, or go straight to one of the Bike Parks that are dotted across the valley to shred some of the finest trails—airtime, optional. There are no fewer than five bike parks to choose from: Bormio, Valmalenco, Madesimo, plus Mottolino and Carosello 3000 in Livigno. Each park caters for various abilities, with graded trails, downhill runs, jumps, and gravity zones.

ENJOY STELVIO VALTELLINA – TRAFFIC-FREE ALPINE PASSES
Throughout the summer, cyclists of all levels and abilities have multiple opportunities to max out their enjoyment on Valtellina’s celebrated Alpine passes – namely, the Stelvio, Gavia, Mortirolo, Cancano, Campo Moro, Passo Spluga, Passo Forcola and Passo San Marco – as part of an initiative that closes these iconic roads to motorized traffic and opens them exclusively to those on bike or on foot.
Organised by the Parco Nazionale dello Stelvio and first set up six years ago, it’s completely free to partake in the non-competitive Enjoy Stelvio Valtellina on select dates throughout June, July, and September. Consult the calendar here: https://www.valtellina.it/enjoy-stelvio-valtellina

SAVE THE DATE! A PACKED CALENDAR OF EVENTS!
More proof of Valtellina’s bike-friendliness is visible on its busy events calendar and through its smart cycling infrastructure, which includes everything from specialist shops and rental services to dedicated guides and companies that organize and facilitate riding across the whole valley.