A challenge for cycling fans. Racing cyclists have long since accepted it. Almost everywhere between La Spezia and the French border, they are part of the street scene, even on weekdays. Why shouldn't this region, with its exciting landscape and culture, also be a destination for trekking bikers? It is. However, it is primarily for experienced touring cyclists who are also fit enough to tackle a few metres in altitude.
All tours at a glance:
Province of La Spezia
The culture and landscape of the Cinque Terre are a dream. However, to ensure that your experience of the national park by bike doesn't turn into a nightmare, you need to be in very good physical condition, have a good gear ratio and good brakes on your bike (be sure to check the brake pads!). Although the tarmac roads are often very steep, they are in good condition and often offer magnificent panoramic views. Tours in some regions in the hinterland, such as the elongated Vara Valley between Borghetto di Vara and Varese Ligure, are somewhat gentler.
Province of Genoa
Sophisticated jet-set resorts such as Portofino and popular seaside resorts such as Rapallo and Santa Margherita Ligure adorn the narrow, lively coastline. Behind them, the hills and mountains quickly rise to over 1000 metres. Only between Chiavari and the pretty seaside resort of Sestri Levante do the coastal mountains recede somewhat and give way to the plain of the Entella River. The same applies here: the roads on the coast are often very busy, but the traffic quickly dies down once you leave the town and head inland. Tip: Avoid Sundays! That's the day the locals go out.
Province of Savona
The coastal section of the Riviera di Ponente between Varazze and Laiguegia is known as the Riviera of Palms. White, wide sandy beaches alternate with wild rocky coastlines, making for exciting scenery changes when travelling along the coast. There are a number of gently rising valleys with small mountain passes for rides into the hinterland. Leisure cyclists can take short tours into the valleys,
z. For example, from Albenga to Zuccarello. There are hardly any special cycle paths, but the traffic eases off relatively quickly after the edge of the town.
Province of Imperia
The Riviera of Flowers between the French border near Ventimiglia and Cervo, east of Imperia, is one of the gentler cycling regions in Liguria. However, this doesn't mean that there aren't many challenging mountain routes with plenty of metres in altitude waiting for touring cyclists. While you can still expect lively car traffic on the coast, it gets quieter and quieter towards the hinterland and the Ligurian Alps. To better enjoy the region, we also recommend tours lasting several days with overnight stays.
The full-length 23-page bike guide from issue 5/2010 is available as a free PDF download.
