Road bike or MTB? Here, you don’t have to choose

Hairpin bends to conquer or trails where you can let your MTB run free?

In Italy, there are destinations where you don’t have to choose: you simply decide which bike to take out in the morning.

From legendary Alpine climbs that have shaped cycling history to bike parks, from high-altitude singletrack to trails overlooking the sea, some destinations offer the best of both worlds — perfect for road cyclists, mountain bikers or anyone who simply loves both.

1. Livigno: at high altitude, in both directions
2. Dolomites and Trentino-Alto Adige: from legendary mountain passes to forest trails
3. Liguria: from the roads of La Classicissima to the trails of Finale
4. Piedmont: epic mountain passes, military roads and high-altitude riding

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1. Livigno: at high altitude, in both directions

In Livigno, elevation gain is part of the experience, whatever bike you choose.

ROAD ↑

For road cyclists, the names are those of classic Alpine days in the saddle: Passo d’Eira and Passo del Foscagno, or Forcola di Livigno and Bernina, riding between Italy and Switzerland surrounded by the mountains of Alta Valtellina. Long climbs, high altitude and wide-open views make Livigno an ideal base for anyone looking to test their legs and lungs.

MTB ↓

Switch bikes and the pace changes too. Mottolino Bike Park and Carosello 3000 are two of Livigno’s mountain biking hotspots, with trails, flow lines and routes that make the most of the valley’s significant elevation. The perfect terrain for alternating days of pedalling with far more adrenaline-fuelled descents.

TWO ROUTES TO TRY:

ROAD ↑ Passo del Foscagno and Forcola
A high-altitude road cycling route from Livigno that takes on some of the area’s most iconic mountain passes, with long climbs and sweeping Alpine views along the way.

MTB ↓ EAS23, Mottolino Bike Park
A 4.2 km flow trail descending from Mottolino towards Livigno, with berms, fast sections and features designed to keep the ride flowing from start to finish. Fun for more experienced riders, yet still accessible to those taking their first steps into bike park riding. Find out more here.

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2. Dolomites and Trentino-Alto Adige: from legendary mountain passes to forest trails

There are mountains that cyclists recognise before they even read the name of the pass. The Dolomites and Trentino-Alto Adige are among Europe’s great cycling destinations, but the tarmac tells only half the story.

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Sella, Gardena, Pordoi and Giau have become part of Giro d’Italia history and the collective imagination of generations of cyclists. The classic four-pass loop links Sella, Pordoi, Campolongo and Gardena in just over 60 km, with around 2,000 metres of elevation gain. Further west, in the Merano area, Passo Giovo and Passo del Rombo add two more outstanding South Tyrolean climbs to the list.

MTB ↓

When the tarmac ends, the riding certainly doesn’t. Fassa Bike Park and Paganella Bike Park offer gravity trails and routes for different ability levels, while the Sellaronda can also be tackled by mountain bike, using the lift network and singletrack trails. Around Merano, Naturno and the Bike Highline Merano open up a network of trails and off-road routes on Monte Tramontana.

TWO ROUTES TO TRY:

ROAD ↑ Passo Giau from Arabba
A classic Dolomites road ride, with Passo Giau at the heart of a demanding route through some of the most iconic scenery in the Dolomites.

MTB ↓ Hustle&Flow, Paganella Bike Park
Berms, corners and plenty of flow in the heart of Paganella: a 2.8 km descent from Doss Pelà to Dosson, designed for riders who enjoy letting the trail set the rhythm. Find out more here.

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3. Liguria: from the roads of La Classicissima to the trails of Finale

Here, the contrast is even more striking. On one side, the Mediterranean Sea; on the other, hills and mountains rising almost directly behind the coast. In Liguria, you can quickly go from seafront roads to climbs, and from tarmac hairpins to technical trails.

ROAD ↑

For road cyclists, Poggio and Cipressa mean one thing above all: Milano-Sanremo. Riding the final climbs of La Classicissima is almost a rite of passage, but head inland and you’ll find a network of hilly roads, climbs and constant ups and downs, often with the sea still visible on the horizon.

MTB ↓

In Finale Ligure, the scenery changes completely. Natural trails, technical terrain and demanding descents have made this part of the Riviera one of the best-known mountain biking destinations on the international scene. Routes such as Roller Coaster, together with the extensive trail network in the hills behind Finale, range from flowing lines to more technical, natural singletrack, revealing a completely different side of Liguria on two wheels.

TWO ROUTES TO TRY:

ROAD ↑ Cipressa and Poggio
Riding the roads of La Classicissima means taking on Cipressa and Poggio, the two iconic climbs that shape the finale of Milano-Sanremo. The gradients may not be extreme, but the combination of twisting roads, technical descents and the sea always close by makes this stretch unmistakable.

MTB ↓ Roller Coaster Trail
One of the best-known MTB trails in Finale Ligure, Roller Coaster is fast and fun, with a mix of corners, compressions and constant ups and downs that make its name easy to understand.

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4. Piedmont: epic mountain passes, military roads and high-altitude riding

In Piedmont, cyclists can choose between two very different sides of the Alps. To the north-west lie the great climbs of the Alta Val di Susa; further south, between Val Maira and Val Varaita, cycling enters a wilder landscape of mountain passes and historic high-altitude roads.

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Sestriere, Monginevro and Colle della Scala provide the ingredients for big days on a road bike in the Alta Val di Susa. Further south, in the Alpi Cuneesi, Fauniera and Sampeyre offer quieter but distinctly Alpine climbs, with long ascents, wide-open views and roads reaching well above 2,000 metres.

MTB ↓

In Bardonecchia e Sauze d’Oulx, bike parks and singletrack showcase the more gravity-focused side of the destination. But off-road riding in Piedmont also means epic high-altitude traverses: the Strada dell’Assietta runs for long stretches above 2,000 metres, while between Val Maira and Val Varaita, the Strada dei Cannoni follows a historic military road across ridgelines and mountain passes through the landscapes of the Alpi Cuneesi.

TWO ROUTES TO TRY:

ROAD ↑ Colle di Sampeyre
A true Alpine climb: 16 relentless kilometres from Val Varaita to the 2,284-metre summit of Colle di Sampeyre, with very few opportunities to recover. A demanding road that climbs through the forest before opening out onto spectacular high-altitude views.

MTB ↓ Strada dei Cannoni
This is not just about descending: the Strada dei Cannoni combines climbs and descents along a spectacular high-altitude MTB route. You climb, ride along the ridge between Val Maira and Val Varaita, and tackle long stretches of unpaved terrain.

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So, which team are you on?

TEAM ROAD ↑
Hairpins, rhythm, performance — and that feeling of satisfaction when the summit sign finally comes into view.

TEAM MTB ↓
Trails, berms, jumps, technical riding — and the urge to do it all over again as soon as the descent is over.

If you can’t decide, or simply love cycling in all its forms, you can always bring both bikes — or ask your Italy Bike Hotel to arrange bike hire for you once you arrive.

Useful information before setting off: before following any of the suggested routes, always ask the hotel staff, Bike Manager or local guides for the latest information. Road, trail and route conditions may change over time due to weather, maintenance work, closures or changes to local traffic regulations. You should also check that the route is suitable for your fitness level, the type of bike you are using and the conditions on the day.

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