Day1: Castelnovo né Monti – Succiso
Individual arrival in“piazza Peretti”, welcome, tour information, delivery of E-bikes by our representative. After leaving Castelnovo you cycle in the countryside visiting some small stone villages and enjoying beautiful views over the sandstone plateau of Pietra di Bismantova and the Secchia Valley below. Once in Ramiseto you keep pedaling to reach the placid Lake Calamone, located in one of the most beautiful corners of the national park, to end the stage in the agriturismo Valle dei Cavalieri in Succiso.
q: 42km – < total ascent: 1000m (3280 feet)
Day2: Succiso – Ligonchio
You ride in a pleasant countryside between woodlands and fields of forage reaching the Scalucchia Pass, an excellent vantage point of all the highest mountains of the national park. Going downhill is easy to meet the shepherds with their flocks and exceeded the village of Collagna you continue to descend to the valley floor of the River Secchia. The last climb is along quiet, winding streets immersed in the woods until you reach Ligonchio, a mountain village located at the entrance of Ozola Valley, a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts.
q: 30km – < total ascent: 800m (2620 feet)
Day3: Ligonchio – Castelnovo né Monti
Today’s stage takes cyclists to discover the natural wonders of Triassic chalks – an internationally renowned geological site – and the Pietra di Bismantova, true icons of the national park. Cycling along the River Secchia you visit the nearby sources of Poiano, famous since ancient times for the beneficial properties of their water. The lake near the sources is an ideal place for a stopover before reaching the plateau at the base of the impressive Pietra di Bismantova, production area of the best Parmigiano Reggiano cheese. After the exciting hiking that leads up to the famous sandstone plateau you’ll end the day cycling back to Castelnovo nè Monti.
q: 37km – < total ascent: 550m (1800 feet)