Gravel Ride by Sartoria Ciclistica around Lake Como… Through Komoot, we stumbled upon the “Laghee Heroes” gravel ride, mapped out by Sartoria Ciclistica, a local cycling club. But there’s more behind the club: Sartoria Ciclistica operates a bike shop with a coffee bar in Como where you can also buy branded cycling jerseys. And for enthusiasts, they look pretty nice! The Laghee Heroes gravel ride forms the course for the gravel event that Sartoria Ciclistica organizes every year. And today, we’re going to cycle those 125 km!
We start in the cool morning light in Mezzegra from Hotel Lario and ride to Menaggio. After a coffee and a cornetto, we tackle the first climb that takes us through Porlezza to Lake Lugano. Yesterday it was still gray clouds and pouring rain, but now the spring sun is breaking through. Love it!
Via Osteno, we climb into the Valle d’Intelvi. We cycle through Ponna Inferiore, and then you know that after a tough climb, there is still Ponna Superiore to come.
From the small lake of Bolla del Tellero, the route continues on gravel through the forest. When you emerge from the forest, you have a beautiful view over Lake Como, and the first climb is almost over.
The next segment is a descent through Pigra to Argegno. The brakes heat up and start squeaking. We take the main road to Laglio, where we stop for a much-needed lunch break at Osteria Vecchia Molo in Vecchia Regina. We let the brakes cool down and refresh our throats. The sun shines directly on the terrace of the small osteria, where fish specialties are served. A primi platter with prosciutto and bresaola, followed by spaghetti con missoltino, the chef’s specialty. A cold Coke, sunglasses on, and the warmth of the sun. We’ve covered half the elevation and distance so far; we’re not in a hurry. Not yet…
We continue to Como, where the route takes us through the narrow streets. We weave through the day-trippers looking for a sunny terrace. For us, the climb to Brunate and the Faro Voltiano begins. The elevation gains add up quickly. From the lighthouse, the route continues on asphalt for a while but then changes to gravel and short, uneven concrete paths that climb steeply. We stand on the pedals, greeting and puffing at the many hikers who have chosen this path on a sunny Saturday to enjoy the beautiful views.
The route winds further along a narrow and challenging forest path. Thick roots and occasional rocky sections force us to put our feet down. It’s just manageable on a mountain bike, but it becomes tricky on a gravel bike. Once out of the forest, we notice how high we’ve climbed. The path continues to wind on and on. The steep concrete paths alternate with gravel sections. The explosiveness drains from our legs, and yes, occasionally we walk. With the bike in hand, we enjoy the beautiful surroundings and the views over the mountains and Lake Como. The track runs along the ridge from Brunate to Bellagio. You can see endlessly in both directions.
At Rifugio Riella, we have a beer. A moment to catch our breath and give ourselves a pat on the back. The clocks soon show 5:20 PM. We realize that we need to hurry if we want to be down before dark. But the route has other plans: just when we think we’ve reached the highest point, a new climb appears. We pedal as much as we can but often have to put our feet down. The sun mercilessly disappears behind the mountain ridges. The batteries of our GPS devices are also running low. Fortunately, we’ve now truly reached the highest point. From here, it should be a quick descent, right?
Below us lies Lake Como, and we finally see Bellagio. And what lies between us? The San Primo ski area! We squeeze the brakes and begin the descent. Soon, we find ourselves among rugged rock formations and have to continue on foot again. With bikes over our shoulders, we cautiously shuffle down in our cycling shoes. This section is completely unrideable. Unfortunate! An hour later, we are finally back on asphalt. It’s now dark and chilly. We turn on our bike lights, put on an extra layer of clothing, and dive down the asphalt road to Bellagio.
We are in luck. The ferry is just about to leave. We quickly buy a ticket and board. Shivering from the cold and the effort, we take our last selfie. From Cadenabbia, we cycle the last 3 kilometers to our hotel… An Aperol, some pasta at Bar Roma, and finally a bed – that’s all we’re asking for tonight!
Are we still fans of the Laghee Heroes the next day? Absolutely. It is a challenging bike ride that takes you to the most fantastic places with your bike. It’s a ride over asphalt, gravel, and mountain paths through forests, villages, and Como. The first part and climb are tailored for a gravel bike. For the second part of the second climb, a mountain bike is much more suitable. Know that the second part is much harder than the first. Make sure to have enough drinks and energy, appropriate clothing, and a fully charged battery when you tackle the mountain ridges.
Facts and figures
- 131 km
- 3297 alt
- Download GPX
