Meet the Bike It! Bellagio Staff & Guides

Luca Negri
Co-owner and Cycling Guide

ABOUT ME
I cycle because I enjoy being able to see and experience new places and amazing landscapes, which I can then share with others. I previously worked as an educator in a community called “Casa Don Guanella,” when they began their “AgriBike” project. It will be an eye-opening opportunity for the young people, and I am very proud to have been a part of it, especially since the Don Guanella cycling community took my passion for cycling to a new level. I'm a nationally certified MTB and road guide. I look forward to meeting you and showing you the amazing Lake Como that I’m lucky to call home!
FAVORITE CLIMB
Super-Ghisallo!
FAVORITE ROUTE
FUEL FOOD
Tagliatelle with porcini mushrooms and a nice glass of vino rosso

Casey Thompson
​Co-owner and Cycling Guide

ABOUT ME
​I began road cycling in earnest at 17 to train for my first triathlon. I then began racing with my university cycling team and working at the best bike shop--two experiences that have helped shaped me as an athlete and as a person. After competing in triathlons for a few years, and completing the Ironman Zurich 2013, I realized that it was cycling that had captured my heart. As an American who lives near Lake Como, I see why it is a huge cycling hub. The variety of beautiful scenery, the perfect climate, and the welcoming cycling community are a dream come true for avid cyclists. I look forward to showing you around my new home in Northern Italy. I promise you, it’s a destination that you’ll want to return to. I’m also a Certified Personal Trainer and offer fitness training to guide you beyond the roads.
FAVORITE CLIMB
Passo Agueglio (the descent even more than the climb!)
FAVORITE ROUTE
FUEL food
Pistacchio & Dark Chocolate Gelato (Summer)
Pan dei Morti (Autumn)
​And, of course, pizza!

Alex Stein
​Shop Assistant & Cycling Guide

About ME
​I started cycling in New Hampshire and Vermont in 2013 after retiring from my professional rowing career. I was a competitive motivator, serving as the coxswain of the Team USA Paralympic rowing boat at London 2012. Cycling filled the competitive gap that I was missing after I stopped racing, and gave me an ability to see the world at the perfect pace. Since moving to Italy in 2018, I’m hooked on climbing the mountains and hills as a means for seeing this beautiful country.​
favorite climb
Culmine di San Pietro
favorite route
Ghisallo & Colma di Sormano...backwards :) 
Fuel food
Carbonara!

Alberto Elli
Former Pro and Cycling Guide

About ME
​The bike has always been my life companion…it’s freedom, hard work, suffering, but so rewarding; what cycling brings to me is unique and once you know this feeling you can’t live without it. With my bike I rode in the biggest world tour events. I had fun, I suffered, I fell and I got back up, while always moving forward. It’s for this love of cycling that after retiring from my professional career I decided to become a cycling guide, to make myself available to other lovers of this sport and share my experience and passion.
favorite climb
​I like all climbs, as long as the road goes up towards the sky. My absolute favorite is Valcava and Alpe Giumello comes second!
favorite route
​All of the routes on Lake Como are amazing, with breathtaking views and scenery. The route that fascinates me most is the Valvarrone.
Fuel food
​After a bike ride there’s nothing better than a plate of bresaola, arugula, and parmesan with a cold glass of beer. My favorite dish is actually pizzocheri pasta but I don’t recommend eating it after a ride!
my pro career
1987                  Remac Fanini
1988                  Seven Up Fanini
1990/1993          Ariostea
1994                  MG GB Bianchi
1995/1996          MG Technogym
1997/1998          Team Casinò (FRA)
1999/2001          Deutsche Telekom (GER)
2002                  Index Alexia 

During my 16 year career as a professional cyclist I had 30 victories, and other important results such as the Hobfrau Cup, 2 Tour of Luxembourg, Vuelta a Murcia, Tour de Wallonie, Boland Bank, Trofeo delllo Scalatore, Midi Libri, and several stages in the world tours such as Vuelta al Pais Vasco, Bizikleta Baska, 2 Tour de France Stages, and 1 Giro d’Italia stage, Trofeo Matteotti, GP di Camaiore, and several important placements such as 2nd at Milano-Sanremo, 3rd in Fleche Wallone, 3rd Wincanton Classic, 2nd Italian Championships in Lissone (1987), and more! I also had the honor of wearing the Italian national team jersey for various World Championship races: 1992 Benidorm, 1993 Oslo, 1994 Duitama, and 1996 Lugano.
I rode and finished 7 Giro d’Italia, 1 Vuelta d’Espagna, and 11 Tour de France (in which I wore the yellow jersey for 4 days in 2000).
Some of my teammates were very important names in cycling: Gianni  Bugno, Moreno Argentin, Rolf Sorensen, Pascal Richard, Eric Zabel, Jan Ulrich, Paolo Savoldelli
After finishing my professional career, I became a team manager, director, and coach. My roles included: logistics and organization of trips and races, psyco-physical preparation for the athletes, managing staff/athletes. I received my cycling coach degree and manager qualification from the Italian Cycling Federation in 2004 and worked for the following teams:
​2006          Endeka
2007          Kio Ene – Tonazzo
2008          Preti Mangimi
2009          Isd-Neri
2010/2013 Nippo De Rosa
2014          Christina Watches
2015          Team Idea 

Imad Sekkak
Shop Assistant and Cycling Guide

About me
I moved to Italy from Morocco when I was 12 years old. I was by myself and I was welcomed at the Don Guanella Community in Lecco (where Luca used to work!). The priest of the community introduced me to cycling and it changed my life. I began racing for elite junior teams and continental under 23 teams. My biggest accomplishments thus far are winning the Moroccan cycling championships and the Lombardia time trial championship. I also participated in the UCI under23 world championships in Innsbruck, what an experience! I am now 21 years old and look forward to working with Bike It! and sharing my training grounds on Lake Como with people from all around the world!
favorite climb
Morterone, a climb to the smallest town in Italy above Lecco!
favorite route
Lecco-Passo Spluga-Lecco, an epic 200km ride! 
Fuel food
​A big plate of pasta

Garbriele Corti
Cycling and Hiking Guide

About ME
​Keen hiker & cyclist, Gabriele combines his love for his jobs as an English language teacher and tour guide. Graduated in Wildlife Biology & Animal Behaviour, he’s a Nature and Interpretative Guide for A.I.G.A.E. A true globe trotter, he spent 10 years living abroad, travelling widely, in particular to the American Continent, before returning to his beloved Lake Como.
favorite climb
'Colma di Sormano' from Asso. I love the silent stillness of nature, just the subtle spinning of the wheels, as I catch a breath round the switchbacks framed by spruce trees, idyllic spots where Italy aims at being Switzerland. 
favorite route
Dorsale del Triangolo Lariano. What better view over the lake than from a thousand metres above, where the trees and the distance muffle the street noise, to take you back to a place which feels timeless, where you are fully devoted to relish your senses through a mixture of adrenaline, the pleasure in gentle suffering all cyclists are familiar with, mesmerised by the stunning views. 
Fuel food
I never say no to a freshly baked homemade slice of cake at the peak of the mountain, a treat which I feel I fully deserve! 

Carlo Sancassano
Cycling Guide

ABOUT ME
​​In 2008 I had the opportunity to open a bike hotel, an experience that gave way to my passion for cycling. Being immersed in a cycling environment opened my eyes to a fascinating world; during the first year I spent a lot of time personally testing the routes for my clients, discovering their features and learning more about the territory around them. This experience helped grow my curiosity and my desire to explore, especially on two wheels.
Becoming a non-official guide for my guests was a natural next step, I love to share my knowledge and experience with others, rendering every excursion an opportunity to appreciate the beauty of our area and take on new challenges. 
After some time I decided to go all-in for my newfound passion and call myself a "cyclist"! The bike has not just become a means of transport or method of exercise, but a lifestyle. Each ride is a moment of freedom and discovery, a moment to connect with myself and the world around me. 
My story is a journey of personal and professional growth, nurtured by the passion for cycling and the desire to share this passion with others. 
FAVORITE CLIMB
Passo Agueglio, even though it's tough!
FAVORITE ROUTE
Superghisallo in the afternoon.... when everything is quieter ... I really love from Guello to San Primo ... the views are unique!
FUEL food
A nice beer and plate of "bresaola"...but if it's a long ride then a nice dish of pasta!

Emanuela Vola
Cycling Guide

About me
I practiced sports from an early age, initially alpine skiing and competed in all disciplines. After a tourism school I graduated in languages at the Catholic University of Milan. After I decided to became ski instructor in St.Moriz because of my love for snow and mountains. I started cycling to share this passion with my husband. I do master time trial competition races and I won the title of Italian champion woman1 and W2 for 2 consecutive yeas. I'm also passionate about photography and art. My favourite book is Promessi sposi since I'm romantic.
I think that cycling is the way of positive thinking no matter speed and distance. Pedaling makes me free end gives me energy.
favorite climb
Alpe Giumello, Passo San Marco, and Passo Spluga
favorite route
Valsassina!
Fuel food
​Spaghetti alla carbonara
Polenta taragna
Jam tart

Filippo Soprani
Cycling Guide

About me
I started to ride a MTB about 15 years ago after recovery from knee injury. Ever since then, I never stopped. I started to ride my Road bike about 6 years ago and now do both. When I was a kid I used to hate riding bikes and I only started to ride as my surgeon told me I needed to develop and keep good leg muscles in order not to brake my knee again while snowskiing. Since I really love to spend time in the woods and in the open, I started to really enjoy riding as a way ​of life. I realized that the world is a different place seen from a bike. The slow speed gives you more time to observe and sink in images and details otherwise never noticed. I rode twice the Santiago path on my road bike and absolutely loved it. I really like to ride with friends, so I have created a couple of riding groups (MTB and Road) so that I never have to ride alone!
favorite climb
Guello - Terrabiotta on the MTB
favorite route
Bellagio - Ghisallino
Fuel food
walnuts and fusilli all'arrabbiata

Matteo Tagliabue
Cycling Guide

About ME
Born in Milan and raised among the natural wonders of Bellagio, Matteo is not just an expert mountain bike guide but also an engineer passionate about renewable energies and ecosystem conservation. His life is a continuous journey of discovering new trails on the mountains upon Bellagio.
Since childhood, Matteo has been cycling through the paths of Lake Como, learning every secret this land has to offer. His local knowledge is a treasure that ensures not only safety but also unforgettable adventures.
favorite climb
Trails up to San Primo
favorite route
Mtb: Dorsale del Triangolo Lariano
Fuel food
Gabriele's Picnic on the wild tour!

The "Easy Riders"
Cycling Guide Assistants

About us
We are the locals, the original cyclists of the Brianza and Lake Como areas. Cycling is a lifetime sport for us, a shared hobby and pastime. We may be retired folks, but just ask the young guides above...we are still really strong! We can set the pace on the road and in the forest with our mountain-bikes. We look forward to giving you the authentic cycling experience on our roads...we can guarantee you a good time! A presto!
​-Elio, Mario, Gianni, & Enrico
favorite climb
Onno
favorite route
We have a few favorites:
​We ride to Varenna from our town for a coffee and back quite often...and we like going out to ride "un bel laghetto al fresco" or a fast Lagone with more friends.
Fuel food
We eat anything put on the table, sometimes even the table.