Pedaling in the ancient heart of Piedmont

The route starts from Magenta – the iconic city of the Italian Risorgimento –, runs through the upper Po Valley and heads towards Piedmont. Sure, the roads are flat, but don’t be mistaken. You will not fall short of excitement.

On entering Vercelli’s surroundings, you find yourself in a different world and a different time. You are surrounded by the rice paddies depicted in the film Riso Amaro, the neorealistic masterpiece about the bitter life of the ‘mondine’ (rice-weeders). Grid patterned fields enclosed in barriers that prevent the water from outflowing, particularly from mid-April until mid-May, with a system of canals.

This is when the paddies are flooded with water and turn into mirrors for the sky and the clouds. Riding your bike here and touching on towns like Santhià, Cavaglià, Viverone, and Bollengo is a marvelous experience worth a weekend. A must-see is a visit of Lucedio Abbey, Trino, founded in 1123 by the Cistercian monks, who reclaimed the marshlands and introduced rice growing in mid-1400s. If you happen to have time to stop in Vercelli, the advice is not to miss the Basilica di Sant’Andrea with Gothic bell towers and a Romanesque façade.

The entry in the Canavese, the north-western part of Piedmont, requests a shift in the pace, in terms of riding and timewise. Here, both the pro and the amateur athletes deal with the most undulating section of the route – mild, almost harmless hills that are also suited to those who are back in their saddle following the winter pause. Past San Martino Canavese and Silva, respectively at 398 and 442m of altitude, the route runs towards Castellamonte, the pottery and earthenware town, and then climbs slightly up to Cuorgnè. There the Archeological Museum showcases the remains of prehistoric peoples, of the Celts and eventually the Romans and the Longobards. But the hills in this area are also dotted with medieval castles and nineteenth-century villas that remind us of the actual ancient dimension of this territory. To top it off, the food-and-wine heritage of the Canavese deserves some attention. It is closely tied to the rural tradition and includes typical dishes with mushrooms, truffle, chestnuts, polenta, cheese, and wines the likes of Erbaluce DOCG and Canavese Rosso DOC. A final tip: you can also ride along the Wine Routes, overlooking the laboriously built terraced vineyards.

The final part of Milano-Torino is a praise to nature as well as history. The last kilometres of the cycling race unfold in the La Mandria Park, the first Regional Park founded in Italy (1978) as well as one of the most beautiful protected reserves.

The 30-square-kilometre area was a hunting estate for the Savoy family. The La Mandria Castle, in the park, the Venaria Reale Castle, and the Rivoli Castle – where the race finishes – are all jewels not to be missed. Such a blend of history, architecture and beauty enabled them to become part of the 22 splendid palaces and magnificent mansions in Piedmont (11 of which in Turin) that were enlisted in the Unesco World Heritage in 1997.

From a technical standpoint the race route does not feature any major difficulty. Mind the wind, however, and any close encounter with the wildlife. The course runs through a unique environment, rich with woods and meadows, ponds, and streams, where you can spot golden eagles, black storks, cranes, herons, woodpeckers, and roe deers.

By RCS Sport editorial staff