Lombardy is Italy's most contradictory cycling region. The southern half — below the Po — is flat. Dead flat: rice paddies, fog-line irrigation channels, ruler-straight Roman roads running between Pavia and Milan, the kind of terrain that makes your average power the only variable that matters. The northern half climbs immediately and brutally: the Prealps rising from the lake shores, the valley walls above Lecco and Bergamo, the passes that have been categorised by every major Italian race since racing began here.
Stage 15 of the 2026 Giro d'Italia uses the flat half — Voghera north through the Lombard plain, into Milan, around a 16.3-kilometre circuit near the Vigorelli velodrome. When you come to ride it yourself, you'll want both halves. The flat teaches you about pacing and position; the climbs teach you everything else.
The Flat: Oltrepò Pavese to Milan
The Oltrepò Pavese is the southern part of the province of Pavia — the area south of the Po river that Stage 15 starts in at Voghera. The road north from Voghera toward Pavia crosses the Po valley floor through flat farmland, wine territory (the Oltrepò Pavese DOC includes Pinot Nero, Barbera, and Bonarda), and a landscape that changes at the speed of a headwind.
This is where classics riders train their sprint lead-outs. Flat, wind-exposed, the kind of road where a team practicing its organisation has nowhere to hide if something goes wrong. The 80 kilometres between Voghera and Milan's outskirts is a useful benchmark ride: no excuses from the gradient, clear evidence of where your fitness sits.
Recommended route from Milan (day trip south): Cycle from the city centre via the Naviglio Grande canal path to Pavia (35km, flat), explore Pavia's medieval university district and its covered bridge, continue south through the Certosa di Pavia (the Carthusian monastery, one of Lombardy's most remarkable buildings), and return to Milan via the same canal corridor or by regional train. Total: approximately 80km and minimal climbing. A straightforward ride with historical stops.
The Vigorelli: A Pilgrimage Stop
The Velodromo Vigorelli opened in 1935 in western Milan and hosted the Hour Record attempts of the two most significant cyclists of the 20th century. Fausto Coppi set the Hour Record here in 1942; Eddy Merckx set it here in 1972. The velodrome remains operational, though no longer hosting international-level track events consistently.
For road cyclists passing through Milan on a Giro-following trip, the Vigorelli is a legitimate pilgrimage stop — the same category as the Cipollini mural in Lucca or the Coppi monument in Castellania. It's not a destination; it's a marker on the way to one.
The surrounding neighbourhood in western Milan is navigable by bike via the city's well-developed cycling network. The Navigli district (canal quarter), roughly 2 kilometres southeast of the velodrome, is the practical base for an urban riding day.
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Forty-five kilometres north of Milan's city centre, the lake district begins. Lake Como is not quiet, not hidden, and not unvisited — but it remains one of the world's great road cycling environments despite the tourist traffic, because the roads that matter are above the tourist traffic.
Madonna del Ghisallo is the most important cycling site in Italy. The hilltop chapel above Magreglio, at 754 metres above sea level, has been the Sanctuary of Cyclists since Pope Pius XII declared it so in 1949. Inside the chapel: jerseys from Coppi, Bartali, Gimondi, Merckx, Hinault, Induráin — the sport's entire history in wool and lycra, hanging in a place that smells like candles and mountain air. The Museo del Ciclismo beside the chapel holds the material record of Italian road racing.
The Ghisallo climb is the crux of Il Lombardia — the race of the falling leaves, the autumn classic that uses the lake and the surrounding hills as its stage. The standard ascent from Bellagio measures approximately 8 kilometres at 6.2 percent, with steeper ramps in the upper section. Most riders descend to Magreglio and continue onto the longer descent to Lecco or loop back toward Bellagio.
The standard Lake Como loop from Como city: Como → Bellagio (lakeside via Torno, 30km) → Madonna del Ghisallo (8km climb) → descent to Asso or Magreglio → return to Como via the Val Segrino or the lakeside. Total: approximately 70km, 900m of climbing. One of the most-ridden road cycling circuits in Europe. Do it on a weekday morning before the tourist traffic peaks.
The Civiglio and San Fermo della Battaglia are two shorter climbs directly above the city of Como — steep, narrow, and useful for riders based on the lake who want altitude without distance.
Bergamo and the Giro di Lombardia Finishes
The Giro di Lombardia (Il Lombardia) has alternated its finish between Como and Bergamo in recent editions. Bergamo's finish, at the Porta Nuova in the lower city or at the top of the Città Alta (upper old city), involves the steep cobbled ramps of the bergamasque hills.
The roads between Lecco and Bergamo — crossing the Colle di Berbenno, the Colle di Balisio, and passing above Abbadia Lariana on Lake Como's eastern shore — form the backbone of the race's final segment. These are demanding roads on a good day; they are race-deciding roads in the third week of October.
For a cycling trip combining the flat south with the lake-district climbs: base in Como or Lecco (rail access from Milan Centrale in 40–60 minutes), ride the Ghisallo circuit, extend toward Bergamo for a longer day, and use Milan's central location to access the Lombardy plain when you want easier mileage.
Getting There
Milan Malpensa is the primary international airport — transfers to Milan city (Stazione Centrale or Cadorna) take 50 minutes by train. Milan Linate is closer to the city but served by fewer international routes. Bergamo Orio al Serio (BGY) is used by budget carriers and sits 45 minutes east of Milan by road.
By train from Milan: Como (40 minutes, multiple daily services), Lecco (50 minutes), Bergamo (50 minutes). Regional trains accept bikes with a surcharge.
Bike hire in Milan: Multiple operators near Stazione Centrale and in the Navigli district. Quality road bike hire requires advance booking; budget for €30–50 per day for a reasonable machine.
When to Ride
April through June and September through October are the primary windows. The Giro visits in May; Il Lombardia runs in October. Both periods offer reliable cycling weather without the peak tourist pressure of July and August.
July and August: Hot in the plain (30–35°C in Milan), manageable at altitude. The lake roads are heavily trafficked; ride before 09:00 or after 17:00.
What Else to Do
Milan: the cycling infrastructure, the design district (Brera), the Duomo and Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, the Last Supper fresco (book months in advance). A city that rewards a full rest-day stop.
Bergamo Città Alta: one of the most beautiful walled hilltop cities in northern Italy. Walk the Venetian walls, eat in the upper city, visit the Accademia Carrara's painting collection.
Lago di Como boat services: the public ferry network on Como connects Bellagio, Varenna, Tremezzo, and Menaggio efficiently. Bikes travel as freight on the car ferries. Useful for point-to-point riding days that don't require returning to the start.
Frequently Asked
Is cycling in Milan safe? The city has invested substantially in separated cycle lanes in the last decade, particularly the Navigli corridors and the Porta Nuova zone. The main risk is tram tracks — cross them at a right angle. Outside the cycle lanes, traffic is dense; most visiting cyclists use Milan as a transfer point rather than a riding destination.
How does Lombardy compare to Tuscany for road cycling? Different in character. Tuscany's strade bianche and rolling hills reward a slower, exploratory style. Lombardy's lake district is steeper, more demanding technically, and more concentrated in its best climbing. The Lombard plain is flatter and less interesting than Tuscany's valley floors. For serious climbers, Lombardy is the stronger choice.
What's the best single-day ride in the region? The Ghisallo circuit from Bellagio or Como, with extensions toward the Balisio and Valcava passes if you want more altitude. Set aside a full day.
Where do I find training partners in the region? Connect with athletes training around Milan and Lake Como via Find Athletes in Lombardy on ZealZag.
For Stage 15's race coverage from Milan, see our Stage 15 sprint field report. For the Stage 14 coverage from Pila, read our Stage 14 field report.
