From Milan to the lakes, climbs, and cycling history of Lombardy.
Milan is the starting point, but the route truly begins when we head north. From Monza and Brianza to Lake Como and Bergamo, the Lombardy region has a cycling culture shaped by clubs, weekend group rides, old roads, and climbs that have been part of Italian cycling for generations.
It is a region where the bike has always belonged as much to daily life as to competition. The roads cross parks, villas, industrial towns, lakeside villages, and mountain valleys. A short train ride or an early start from Milan takes cyclists into terrain that changes quickly, from flat approaches to winding mountains and demanding climbs.
Il Lombardia is part of that history, but it is not the only reason to ride here. The race gives international visibility to many of these roads every October, although their significance goes much further back. Ghisallo has a sanctuary and a cycling museum, Brianza keeps a steady rhythm thanks to local talent, with numerous clubs in the area, and Bergamo features climbs that are part of the regular training ground of many cyclists. The route we propose follows that progression. First, the roads north of Milan. Then, the valleys of Bergamo. Finally, Lake Como, Ghisallo, and Sormano, where the history of Italian cycling is written into the landscape.
Route 1: Loop through Brianza
Distance: 85.1 km
Elevation gain: 670 m
This is the route that connects Milan with the first hills. Starting in the surroundings of Monza, it crosses Brianza, an area defined by rolling roads, small towns, river crossings, and constant changes of pace. It is not a high-mountain route, but it introduces the kind of terrain that makes Lombardy so versatile for training. The route also shows the cultural side of the region: Monza Park, the Royal Villa, the Adda River, and the villages of Brianza bring something more to the ride than just distance and elevation gain. It is close to Milan, but its landscape is definitely different.
Route 2: Nembro, Selvino and Passo di Ganda
Distance: 63.5 km
Elevation gain: 916 m
This route will take you to another area of Lombardy. From Nembro, the road climbs towards Selvino, a very well-known ascent in the area, before continuing on to Passo di Ganda. The distance is shorter than on the other routes, but the elevation gain gives it enough substance for a good ride.
The appeal here lies in the rhythm of the valleys. Cycling in Bergamo is built around these climbs: accessible from the city, demanding enough to require effort, and varied enough to return to them often and have the feeling be different each time. Selvino and Ganda are also roads that connect local cycling with the professional calendar, including some editions of Il Lombardia when the race finishes in Bergamo.
Route 3: Lake Como, Ghisallo and Sormano
Distance: 104.9 km
Elevation gain: 2,071 m
This is the longest route of the three. Starting from Lecco, it follows the Lake Como area before heading towards Madonna del Ghisallo and Sormano. The distance makes it the main route, while the climbs connect directly with the history of cycling in Lombardy.
Ghisallo is more than a climb. At the summit are the sanctuary and the cycling museum, a place dedicated to cyclists, races, brands and people who have shaped this sport. Sormano represents the toughest side of the route, with steep gradients and a road that has become one of the most renowned challenges near Lake Como. Together, they make this route a unique representation of the region.
Coffee Stop: Orsonero Coffee
Back in Milan, Orsonero Coffee adds a special city stop to the route. Located in the Porta Venezia area, it can be visited before leaving Milan or on the way back after a day on the road. It is a small, welcoming place where coffee is the only protagonist. Orsonero fits perfectly into this plan: coffee first, an intense ride, and then back to pedaling.
The roads of Lombardy
These routes show why northern Italy remains one of cycling’s most important places. The roads are not separate from the culture that surrounds them. They pass through towns where cycling clubs still gather on weekends, climb toward sanctuaries and iconic landmarks, and return to cities where the sport is fully connected to daily life. Lombardy has the lakes, the climbs, and the racing history, but it also has something harder to define: that feeling of Italian cycling in its purest form.
