Stunning ride on the ridge between Chisone Valley and Susa Valley

By Paolo Gai with Gabriele Gai

Just a few kilometers from Turin, in Chisone Valley there is the starting point: the Pourrieres hamlet. From Turin we left then Pinerolo and then main road to Sestrieres. Shortly after Fenestrelle you will reach the Cyclist Parking near the Pourrieres hamlet where you park comfortably and where you start climbing to the Colle delle Finestre.

Colle Delle finestre and Gran Serin

Special thanks to biker friend from Boves (Cuneo) who joined me all the way (more to say I was waiting for...) to experience this round of Colle della Vecchia, Cima Ciantiplagna and Gran Serin. A new tour experience for both of us. For a mountain  bikers not  expert as me, the ride has some difficulties, among which some passages in the snow with  bicycle on the shoulder and the particularly stony ground, which makes the downhill not particularly easy but the panorama that is in turn is definitely worth it penalty.

The Assietta Road (Strada dell'Assietta)

Strada dell'Assietta

This is a really famous road even all over the Europe. On the "Strada della Assietta" (Assietta road) is indeed very frequent to meet German motor-bikers or Dutch off road cars riding on this high altitude road. The road is also well known as the 5 Cols road (Strada dei 5 Colli). The way I prefer to ride it is from east side to west side making an anticlockwise loop for several reasons. In order to close the loop I prefer the asphalt road SS23, because it is much faster additionally the riding on the asphalt is limited because if you choose the anticlockwise the asphalt part is mainly downhill.