While the Alps remain a playground for pure climbers and the mountain goats, the Italian-Swiss Lakes region offers a perfect balance of challenge and enjoyment for cyclists of all levels.
A guide to top 10 toughest cycling climbs close to Lake Maggiore and Lugano
Take a look at the charts and the links on Strava below if you want to tie challenging road cycling climbs with undulating routes at the foothills of the Swiss-Italian Pre-Alps. We have designed rides which can involve these climbs. They all are paved and some ones start from the shores of Lake Maggiore and Lake Lugano.
Little known roads, huge vistas and challenging climbs. You’ve probably never heard of them, but there’s some massive and excellent climbs in the area.
1. Alpe Neggia climb
There are two ways up the Alpe Neggia. You can start from Maccagno on Lake Maggiore or from Vira Gambarogno on Lake Maggiore.
First way - Alpe Neggia from Maccagno: 21.8 km – 13.5 mi, avg. 6.4%, max. 11%
Strava - Alpe Neggia climb from Maccagno
Second way - Alpe Neggia from Vira Gambarogno: 12.6 km – 7.8 mi, avg. 9.5%, max. 12%
Strava - Alpe Neggia climb from Vira Gambarogno
2. Monte Campo dei Fiori climb
Monte Campo dei Fiori from Sant'Ambrogio di Varese: 8.6 km – 5.3 mi, avg. 8%, max. 13%
Strava - Monte Campo dei Fiori climb 1st part
Strava - Monte Campo dei Fiori climb 2nd part
3. Passo Forcora climb
Passo Forcora climb from Maccagno via Lake Delio: 13,5 km – 8.4 mi, avg. 7.4%, max. 12%
Strava - Passo Forcora from Maccagno
4. Lake Naret climb
Lake Naret climb from Bignasco: 31.2 km – 19.3 mi, avg. 6%, max. 14%
5. Monte Ologno climb
Monte Ologno from Cannero on Lake Maggiore: 10.4 km – 6.5 mi, avg. 9%, max. 13%
Strava - Monte Ologno climb from Cannero
6. Monte Sighignola climb
Monte Sighignola from Maroggia on Lake Lugano: 16 km – 9.9 mi, avg. 6.5%, max. 14%
Strava - Monte Sighignola from Maroggia
7. Passo Cuvignone climb
You can climb up from Cittiglio or from Nasca
First way - Passo Cuvignone from Cittiglio: 9.5 km – 7.2 mi, avg. 8.5%, max. 12%
Strava - Cuvignone climb from Cittiglio
Second way - Passo Cuvignone from Nasca: 8.6 km – 5.5 mi, avg. 9%, max. 12%
Strava - Cuvignone climb from Nasca
8. Passo San Michele climb
You can go up from Grantola or from Casalzuigno
First way - Passo San Michele from Grantola via Mesenzana: 8.5 km – 5.3 mi, avg. 8%, max. 13%
Strava - San Michele climb from Mesenzana
Second way - Passo San Michele from Casalzuigno: 8.9 km – 5.5 mi, avg. 7%, max. 10%
Strava - San Michele climb from Casalzuigno
9. Monte San Martino in culmine climb
Monte San Martino in culmine from Cuveglio: 10.2 km – 6.3 mi, avg. 8%, max. 11%
Strava - Monte San Martino in culmine climb
10. Monte Sette Termini climb
Monte Sette Termini from Grantola: 10.5 km – 6.5 mi, avg. 6%, max. 10%
Strava - Monte Sette Termini climb from Grantola
Strava cycling segments
Strava is a social fitness network, that is primarily used to track cycling and running exercises, using GPS data. Segments are one of Strava's coolest features. They are portions of road created by members where the riders can compare times. Of course climbing segments were created.
You can see the the Strava segments for the toughest climbs close to Lake Maggiore and Lake Lugano, hoping that one day you will have the opportunity to climb up them and coast down them.
You can know who are the King of the Mountain (KOM) or the Queen of the Mountain (QOM). There are pro and amatuers, Italians and riders coming from all over the world.
