In bici tra Valle Belbo e Valle Bormida

The route starts from the town of Acqui Terme. If you arrive by train, start from the square in front of the train station, if you arrive by car, a very good starting point is the car park (camper area) located near the Carlo Alberto bridge over the River Bormida (Zona          Bagni).                                                                                                                                  Cross the town center and take Via Amendola.                                                                          At the level crossing at the bottom of the road, continue in the direction of the hamlet of Moirano. Continue uphill for about 3 km, we advise you to start slowly because there are many more on this route. After passing through the small village of Moirano, continue on the same road in the direction of Castel Rocchero.                                                                     A little break to replenish our energy levels is necessary in order to face a long descent in the direction of Nizza Monferrato. At the 4-road intersection (the direction to Fontanile is indicated on the right), we go left towards Castel Boglione.                                                    At the crossroad with the main road to Nizza Monferrato (be careful), we turn left to reach the town. We enter the small town and cross through it. It is a good idea to stock up on water, as a challenging climb awaits. We continue until we reach the small church square and from here take the road next to the weigh house. From here, we will have a continuous climb of 2 km, some sections have a 15% gradient. Once we reach the top of the hill, we descend a few hundred meters until we cross the main road. At the junction, turn left towards Rocchetta Palafea.                                                                                                                Stop in the village square to replenish our energy levels. Continue towards Sessame. Just outside the town of Rocchetta, after a few hundred meters, turn right in the direction of Cassinasco. We lose altitude again reaching the bottom of the valley and then, at the crossroads with the main road, turn left towards Cassinasco. This will be the last hill of the day. Another 2 km (but we have already done a lot of it!) of not highly demanding route, before we reach the main road from Canelli (be careful), turn left and go downhill in the direction of Bubbio. From here, we can enjoy the splendid view of the Moscato hills, the transition zone between Monferrato and Langhe. Four kilometres of fast descent towards Bubbio and then turn left in the direction of Monastero Bormida. A couple of kilometres of main road (be careful) and we reach the village of Monastero Bormida, turn right towards Roccaverano. We pass the beautiful Romanesque bridge and turn left immediately in the direction of Ponti. We are on a flat quiet road again. After the level crossing, turn left in the direction of Acqui Terme and after a few hundred meters along a busy main road (be careful), we take the quieter road of Rocchino. Once we reach Terzo Stazione, turn right after the level crossing (be careful) and after about 200 meters turn left into the town of Acqui Terme. By Claudio Pasero and Daniela Pestarino

Attractions

Acqui Terme: Historic Center, La Bollega, Paleologus Castle, Roman Arches, The Baths Cassinasco: Medieval Tower Bubbio: The Castle Bormida Monastery: The Castle Rocchetta Palafea: Walls and Medieval Tower   Please note -Always wear a helmet, even when it's not mandatory. Before leaving, always let someone know about your chosen itinerary. If you can, bring a GPS and a cell phone, and a water bottle always full of water. If the distance is challenging, bring a spare snack/energy bar. Dress appropriately. It's best to always wear layers and a windproof rain jacket to keep in your jersey pocket. Always wear shorts with a chamois. Comfort is essential for having fun and enjoying the ride to the fullest. It's always advisable to rely on a capable, local guide who can keep up to date with any changes in trail conditions that may vary from the time of the inspections and updates.

Departure, arrival and municipalities crossed

Note