Europe

Roll along the borders between France, Switzerland and Italy on the ribbons of smooth asphalt that weave through the Pennine Alps. Above the snow covered peaks reflect sunshine, below are postcard perfect villages and glistening lakes. A road bike is the absolute best way to take in the region after the snow melts.

Road cycling through the quiet alpine valleys of northern Italy once the snow has melted is an incredible way to experience this part of the world. Meander along the most scenic routes tailored to be as demanding as a rider feels like undertaking. With a supreme level of accommodation and luxury, it’s time for you to experience the Italian Alps on a bike.

Riding through the wine country of Tuscany and Emilia-Romagna on deserted country roads is to discover why Italy is a nation of cyclists. Ride along castles, vineyards and medieval hill towns where the best glass of wine of your life is never more than a few clicks down the road. The ultimate Tuscan villa in Monteriggione, near Siena, provides a majestic base for rides through the expansive Chianti region. The area defines Italian hill country idyll with easy access to the best vineyards. During select weeks in the summer, catch Siena’s Palio horse race, an ultimate Tuscan tradition.

Feast on the rich history, culture, scenery and amazing food and wine of the Northeast Friuli Region of Italy, as the locals do from the saddle of a road bike.

Located in Northern Italy’s Trentino, the Garda region is home to some of the world’s finest singletrack. Perfectly pitched, army grade footpaths have been repurposed to create a trail system of over 1,000km ranging from tram-accessed downhills to cross-country epics. Outrageous food and wine accentuates the omnipresent backdrop views of the lake making Garda one of our favorite trips.

Comprised of almost a dozen resorts straddling the Swiss/French border, the Portes du Soleil region has quietly gained notoriety as the mountain bike Mecca of the Alps. With six different freeride zones and bike parks, over 650km of marked trails and hundreds of kilometers of secret stashes, this is the ideal place for your bike to take you on an adventure this summer. Champéry, a postcard-perfect Swiss village, makes for the ultimate base to access the region’s finest trails.

In terms of lift access for mountain biking, the Alps are king. An infrastructure of hundreds of lifts link 50-100 miles of singletrack together for a day’s ride meaning that riders never repeat a trail or have to pedal uphill. Mountain refuges selling gourmet meals and beer wait at the bottom of every run.