Plan your summer cycling vacation in Italy

Colle dell Agnello (Sampeyre)

The Colle dell'Agnello, an iconic climb of long and challenging difficulty over 33 km and 1,823m of ascent, lies on the border between the Italian region of Piemont and the French region of Hautes-Alpes. Its other name, Col Agnel, is what the French side is called, and both are situated in remote and deserted but equally beautiful parts of each country nestled in the Cottian Alps. It is a Hors catégorie (HC) climb and the third highest paved road pass of the Alps, after Passo Stelvio and Col de l'Iseran. The route offers spectacular views of the mountains - pure eye candy while climbing.

Above: Climb the Colle dell Agnello on ROUVY

From the Italian side, the start is in Sampeyre, and then the first long stretch weaves through a quiet valley on a typical narrow Italian road with many false flats and occasional steep sections. With their awe-inspiring beauty, the surrounding mountains create a magnificent panorama, making this long climb a visual treat! The stunning Italian landscape will inspire you, motivate you to keep going and enjoy an adventurous experience that will leave you with unforgettable memories. My experience of this climb brings back the melodic sounds of cowbells, the intense heat at the end of August in the open landscape with little shade and a climb that went on forever. But the incredible views made up for all that.

Above: Ride the Colle dell Agnello climb on ROUVY

René Hannemann, a skilled and professional ROUVY video creator who filmed this video, gives us his perspective:

"This climb is very long (from Sampeyre). It also passes a beautiful lake, Lago di Castello. It is quite an open landscape, a little forest, at least in the lower part. While the first 20 km are rather moderately steep, the last 9 km are demanding. Almost 10% on average, with a maximum of 15%. The road is also relatively narrow and winds up to the top of the pass. The excellent weather and blue skies made this one of my most pleasant experiences in the Alps. A strong wind was blowing at the top of the pass, making the last bit quite tough."

Above: Ride the bucket list Colle dell Agnello on ROUVY

Above: A drone shot by René of the magnificent view of the summit of Colle dell Agnello

• Climb the iconic Colle dell Agnello on ROUVY.

Colle della Fauniera (Pradleves)

Colle della Fauniera, from Pradleves, also known historically as Col di Morts (Pass of the Dead), is a rugged and spectacular HC (Highest Category) climb in the Piedmont region. It is 22 km from Predleves and has an ascent of 1,682 m. With its steep and challenging terrain, this climb that seems to wind up the mountain forever is not for the faint-hearted. There are two other approaches that you can take to the top, from Demonte and on gravel from Ponte Marmora. Still, the most popular way is from Pradleves, and I recommend this, too, having done this climb from the other side as the road is in better condition for descending with fewer potholes on the way to Demonte.

Above: Climb the Colle della Fauniera from Pradleves through the gorge

The first few kilometres meander through a magnificent gorge, ascending gently. At the same time, you ride in the shadow of the cliffs that appear stitched to the side of the road, towering on one side and following a river running further down below.

As you climb above the tree line, a unique landscape opens up—remote and rugged. In this wild region, you will feel like you are in the middle of nowhere. The road gets exceptionally narrow, as most mountain passes do, and even steeper, and seems to snake eternally upwards to the top. At the summit of Colle Fauniera is a statue of the Italian cyclist Marco Pantani.

Above: Conquer the Colle della Fauniera from Pradleves on ROUVY

René remarked on this one: "That was a great trip by bike. The route is quite long and winds through the valley, with an increasing number of ramps up to 15%. Up to the Santuario San Magno, the road is still quite broad and in reasonably good condition. After that, it becomes narrow, a single-lane and quite bumpy in places. The mountain landscape is stunning, one of the most beautiful in the Alps. A few clouds were rolling in from time to time on this trip, but fortunately, there was a clear view at the top.

Above: Climb the Colle della Fauniera from Pradleves on ROUVY

Before the start, after getting my bike out of the car, I was initially worried as the camera attachment was causing problems. I had to mount it relatively low on the head tube. This personal experience is just one of the many challenges I might face on these iconic climbs while filming, but overcoming them is part of the adventure."

Above: Climb the Colle della Fauniera from Pradleves on ROUVY

• Conquer the Colle della Fauniera from Pradleves on ROUVY.

Tips for tackling the climbs on your trainer

Being prepared and pacing yourself will ensure a successful climb.

• Ensure you have a fan or two for cooling and some towels for mopping up. Have adequate bottles of fluids and high-carb nutrition available. Drinking every 15 minutes and snacking on carbohydrate-rich nutrition after the first hour will keep you fueled.
• Pacing yourself from the start and saving your legs during the first two-thirds is crucial.
• The best way to do this is to use a higher cadence than usual, around 90-100 RPM. This pedalling action reduces torque through the pedals on the knees and muscles, allowing you to stave off accumulated fatigue, lactic acid, and potential injury, especially in the knees.
• Watch your heart rate to ensure it doesn’t increase too fast or too soon on the climb. It should gradually increase as the climb progresses. Drop your speed and increase your cadence if it goes too high. As you get fitter, your heart rate will decrease while your watts will be higher as you can push more power.
• Then, towards the end, as you approach the final few kilometres to the summit, you'll need to either ration the energy you have available or give it your best and final push, depending on how you feel.

Lago di Braies (Pragser Wildsee)

Lago di Braies, or Pragser Wildsee, is a magnificent bucket list location ending at a crystal-clear natural alpine lake in South Tyrol in northern Italy, near the border of Austria. It is surrounded on three sides by Dolomite peaks, including the Seekofel. Its picturesque turquoise waters and majestic mountain backdrop reflecting on its surface offer a captivating and serene escape, earning its name "Pearl of the Alps". On this journey from Dobbiamo/Toblach, you'll begin on a slightly downhill stretch for 6 km through the valley, followed by some rolling terrain to the summit of a short climb, where the lake is situated, often shrouded in a mysterious mist.

Above: Lago di Braies, or Pragser Wildsee, a magnificent crystal-clear natural alpine lake in South Tyrol

Above: Cycle through the valley to the "Pearl of the Alps" at the Lago di Braies

Above: Arriving at the Lago di Braies

From René's take on the route, he says: "On the route from Toblach (Dobbiaco) on my bike, I took a cycle path and a farm road to cycle more through the countryside, hoping for less traffic while filming. In the beginning, I cycled through one or two villages. Then, the route turns off into the countryside. After a few kilometres, it leads onto the main road towards Prager Wildsee, which has mild traffic. When you get near the lake, a lot is going on, as many buses arrive and unload tourists. I managed to avoid colliding with walkers quite successfully! Unfortunately, the lake was shrouded in fog at the time, so you can't see all the beauty of the mountains around the lake."

• Ride the Lago di Braies route

If the above iconic destinations are not enough, here are more brand-new routes to add to your summer vacation in Italy.

Valico del Lupo

Ride through the rugged countryside of the Parco Nazionale del Gargano on a winding route that ascends gently to Calico del Lupo. Distance 21,6 km, Ascent: 609 m.

• Ride the route: VALICO DEL LUPO | ITALY

Stresa to Mottarone

Starting from Stresa, on Lago Maggiore, cycle up a forested pass via numerous switchbacks to the summit of Mottarone in the Western Alps of Piedmont, north-western Italy, between the provinces of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola and Novara. Distance: 19,64 km, Ascent: 1,272 m.

• Ride the route: STRESA TO MOTTARONE | ITALY

Predazzo to Passo Rolle

The magnificent Passo Rolle starts in Predazzo and leads through spectacular scenery on a gentle climb with an average of 5%. Distance: 20,10 km, Ascent: 959 m.

• Ride the route: PREDAZZO TO PASSO ROLLE | ITALY

There are many unique and memorable places to travel to on ROUVY. These incredible locations can motivate you to keep the momentum on your summer vacation adventure. Explore our vast video library with over a thousand ROUVY routes to suit your travel tastes and training program. Next stop: Czechia and Slovakia.