Blog Archive

Every year, we cross our fingers hoping the Giro d’Italia will pass through Lake Como—and this year, it did. It was pure excitement to see the pros take on some of our favorite local roads: the sweeping lakeside northeast stretch, the climb through Valsassina’s famed Cheese Valley, the dramatic descent into Lecco, and then a punchy ride over Monte Brianza—right near Luca’s hometown.

Stage 18 kicked off in Morbegno, sending the peloton on a fast roll down to Colico, where they picked up the scenic lake road heading south. From Colico to Bellano, the riders hugged the shoreline before turning inland for their first major climb: the ascent to Parlasco.

Several of our Bike It Bellagio groups had made the trip up to watch from this climb. As anyone who’s waited for the Giro knows, spectating isn’t passive—you’ve got to arrive early, soak up the atmosphere, and settle in for the build-up. One of our groups, visiting from Seattle, was guided by retired pro Alberto Elli. As they waited, Alberto entertained them over espresso with old racing stories, recalling breakaways and heartbreaks from his own days in the peloton.

Cyclist on road in lake como

Meanwhile, longtime friends of the shop, Caroline and Ollie (London), and Tom (Pennsylvania), made their annual pilgrimage for a weekend of riding. The Giro definitely influenced their timing. They reached Valsassina clad in Giro pink, in time to see the breakaway first—“they looked like shadows,” Caroline later said. Then came the lead group. And finally, the peloton. “It was like a freight train of color and sound. You feel it before you even see it,” she added.

We love seeing our riders out there on celeste Bianchis, part of the spectacle, soaking in cycling’s greatest show. If you missed the Giro this year, don’t worry--Il Lombardia is coming in 11 October 2025. Be sure to make your reservation early. The bikes are already booking. Or ask us to guide you up to the Cheese Valley and ride parts of this year’s Giro route yourself. You’ll understand why the pros come back year after year.

When we met Tes in the shop last year, we could tell he was serious about cycling. He took the Oltre Pro out for several days of big mountain rides and quickly recognized the potential for something much larger in our region. So when he reached out months later to plan an epic trip for his Sydney-based club, The Helldogs, we were thrilled.

The Helldogs Take on the Alps

Their goal? Nothing less than the iconic Stelvio, Gavia, and Mortirolo climbs in the High Alps, followed by a series of bold rides around Lake Como. With a shared appetite for adventure, Tes and Luca worked together to design a journey that would begin in Bormio, conquer the “Big Three,” and wind its way down to Bellagio for a few unforgettable days—before finishing with a ride straight into the heart of Milan.

The Helldogs Take on the Alps

The Helldogs arrived in full force—powerful, enthusiastic, and united by a camaraderie that was evident from day one. They were awed, humbled, and ultimately triumphant on the legendary Alpine ascents. The transition from Bormio to Lake Como, mostly on cycle paths, brought pure joy and a change of pace. In Bellagio, the history and challenge of the Ghisallo-Sormano loop left its mark, while the border crossing into Lugano offered some of the most scenic and varied terrain of the entire trip with a return to Lake Como entirely on bike paths and secondary roads. The final chapter? A bold ride through Valsassina, tracing the first half of Stage 18 from this year’s Giro d’Italia, before a triumphant arrival in front of the Duomo in Milan. Nearly 700 kilometers and over 10,000 meters of climbing—an unforgettable adventure shared with our guides Luca and Alberto.