Spring in Ticino: bright pink magnolias, yellow forsythia, white jasmine, camellias, mimosa and oleander bloom along the roadsides. And the colourful jerseys of the local "ciclisti" sprout on the grey asphalt strips of the roads. Especially in the plains of Mendrisiotto and Magadino, around Lake Lugano and in the hills of Malcantone, they sprout numerous flowers on sunny weekdays; and on warm weekends there is no stopping them: large groups parade along the streets in rows of two, their club colours glowing in the soft spring light.
I have never met so many racing cyclists during the week as in Ticino; and when I pull the map out of my jersey in Minusio to see how best to get through Locarno and Ascona, one of them stops and asks if he can help. On weekdays, it's no problem on the lakeside promenade, says the cyclist in response to my question about the quickest way through the city. "There are hardly any strollers on the road." At weekends, however, it's a different story: "Then it's better to take the road. Only 10 kilometres per hour are actually allowed on the promenade, and we have quite rowdy walkers."
The helpful "Ticinese" asks where I want to go and introduces himself as Stefano. Including the Valle Cannobina. "It's a nice ride," he says, "and the return journey through the Centovalli is one of my favourite routes." Stefano is a member of the Lugano Cycling Club, the oldest in Ticino. Like four of the nine other cycling clubs in Ticino, it was founded in the 19th century. Another, the Velo Club Rivera, is also the home club of Mauro Gianetti, a professional on the German Team Coast until the end of 2002. "You have to meet him," says Stefano. "After all, he is the namesake of the biggest amateur race in Ticino." His club could certainly make the contact.
The next morning, after two phone calls, I have an appointment with Mauro Gianetti. We meet in the village square of his home town of Agarone, just a few kilometres from his birthplace of Rivera on Monte Tamaro. And he knows the area like no other.
You can find these four tours in the download:
Tour 1: Border experience
(100 kilometres, 1,100 metres in altitude, max. 10%)
Bellinzona (228 m) - Locarno - Brissago - Cannobio (I) - Valle Cannobina (up to 1,048 m) - Malesco - Re - Centovalli - Intragna - Ponte Brolla- Locarno - Gordola - Agarone - Bellinzona
Tour 2: Bella Vista
(125 kilometres, 2,100 metres in altitude, max. 13%)
Bellinzona - Cadenazzo (205 m) - Taverne (856 m) - Gravesano (337 m) - Arosio (860 m) - Novaggio - Astano - Monteggio - Luino - Maccagno (218 m) - Valle Veddasca - Indemini (939 m) - Alpe di Neggia (1,395 m) - Vira - Magadino - Bellinzona
Tour 3: Test of strength
(205 kilometres, 3,300 metres in altitude, max. 11%)
Bellinzona - Biasca - Faido - Airolo (1,175 m) - St. Gotthard Pass (2,108 m) - Andermatt (1,447 m) - Oberalp Pass (2,044 m) - Disentis (1,142 m) - Lukmanier Pass (1,914 m) - Olivone - Biasca - Bellinzona
Tour 4: To ice and snow
(150 kilometres, approx. 2,200 metres in altitude, maximum 21% (for a short time)
Bellinzona - Locarno (198 m) - Solduno - Ponte Brolla - Avegno - Maggia - Bignasco (443 m) - Prato - Fusio (1,289 m) - Val Sambuco - Lago di Naret (2,420 m) - and back
(Text: Wolfgang Press)
Downloads:
PDF: Switzerland: Ticino
