Charlie don’t surf Como Lake

When you mention Lake Como to a cyclist, their mind immediately jumps to the Giro di Lombardia, the iconic end-of-season classic. It’s a race designed for climbers, and inevitably everyone thinks of the legendary ascents that have shaped the imagination of cycling fans: the climb to the Madonna del Ghisallo and the infamous Muro di Sormano.

The Passo del Ghisallo is a beautiful ascent with two major advantages: it starts in Bellagio, the most famous town on Lake Como, and it leads to the pass where the wonderful Cycling Museum is located.

The Muro di Sormano, on the other hand, is known for its brutal gradients. Frequently listed among the most famous climbs in the world, it consistently ranks near the top: 1.8 km at an average gradient of 15.5%, with long stretches well above 20%. There’s no exaggeration needed to describe how hard it is.

Both are climbs every cyclist should ride at least once.
But if someone asked us for advice on where to ride on Lake Como, our favourite roads are actually on the northeastern shore. We recommend basing yourself in Colico: it’s the largest town in the area and offers the widest range of accommodation—B&Bs, farm stays, 3-star hotels, and several new high-quality options. Above all, Colico is the perfect logistical HQ, giving you 360° access to stunning roads and several practically unknown climbs that we absolutely love—not only for the scenery, but also for the pure cycling experience and the complete absence of car and motorbike traffic.

From Colico, you can climb to the Passo della Spluga, a 32-km ascent reached by riding up the Chiavenna cycling path. Another option is the climb to Passo San Marco: starting right from the lakeside beaches, you can reach 2,000 metres on a stunning Alpine road that has nothing to envy to the more famous Stelvio or Gavia.

But if someone asked: I only have one day to ride—what’s the one loop I shouldn’t miss?
From the bottom of our hearts, we would recommend the loop that includes Val Varrone and Passo Agueglio.

These roads are so little known that even many local cyclists rarely ride them, choosing instead the famous Ghisallo and Sormano. And they are so remote that it’s hard to believe you’re still so close to one of the most visited tourist areas in Italy. Quiet roads, mountain villages slowly being abandoned, zero traffic, breathtaking scenery, forgotten landscapes—yet absolutely magnificent from the perspective of a cyclist.