A new cycling initiative in Western Liguria, Pedala a Ponente, connects over 30 routes through the hinterland of Savona, Imperia, and Cuneo. Fewer horns, more villages. And you can easily cycle the Poggio as part of it.
Cycling in Liguria thinks, thinks of the coast and automatically thinks of Milan-Sanremo. Of the Via Aurelia with its impatient Italian drivers, to the beautiful but busy Cycle path along the Riviera dei Fiori, and of course on the pilgrimage to the Poggio di Sanremo. But the interior? That remained a blind spot for most. At the end of February there Pedal to the West launched: the first integrated cycle tourism network that systematically draws you into the countryside.
What exactly is it?
Pedal to the West connects 23 to 24 municipalities in the provinces Savona, Imperia and Cuneo Yes, that’s already Piedmont) via more than 30 laps. The network comprises around 1,600 to 1,750 km of routes, accounting for approximately 37,000 to 40,000 metres of elevation gain. These are not flat coastal rides.
The project is managed from Altar (EN) has been set up by Onirica Ltd, a social enterprise from Lombardy. The philosophy: to draw cycle tourists away from the crowded coast and introduce them to the villages, passes and gastronomy of the hinterland. Lucia Moscato, mayor of Testicle, said at the presentation: “We have decided to strengthen our administrative actions to raise awareness of our area and its unique features.”
Navigating without an app
Pedala a Ponente has deliberately not developed an app. Their argument: an app produces 100 to 1,000 times more CO₂ per year than a PDF. Instead, they work with QR codes that lead you to an interactive PDF, with direct links to Google Maps as a navigator.
We're raising an eyebrow at this one. Google Maps in a Ligurian mountain valley with no signal isn't always your best friend. And GPX export for your Garmin or Wahoo? Not a word about that. Our advice: download your routes in advance, bring a power bank, and don't blindly rely on a single navigation source (which, by the way, applies everywhere).
Interesting routes
Liguria has invested heavily in cycling infrastructure in recent years. The Cycle Path of the Flower Riviera is now around 28 to 32 km long, running from Imperia to Ospedaletti is built on an old railway line. The Capo Nero tunnel between Sanremo and Ospedaletti is decorated with quotes from the history of Milan–San Remo.
But until now, there has been a lack of a structured offering for the hinterland. Pedala a Ponente fills that gap. The routes go through places like Molini di Triora, Ormea and Calizzano, villages you'd normally only find if you knew a local or got lost. Or both.
Combineer het met de Poggio
Anyone going to this part of Liguria also wants to Poggio on. Those 3.7 km at an average of 3.51 km/h and a peak of 81 km/h. The peloton of the Milan–San Remo passes here every year. The technical descent towards Via Roma it is the dessert.
And then there is the Cypress Still: 5.6 km at an average of 4.11 km/h, with sections up to 91 km/h. Both climbs are perfectly manageable from Diano Marina, where nowadays you'll find multiple bike hotels with bike storage, workshops, and early breakfasts.
The combination is obvious. One day the coast and the Poggio. One day an inland loop via Pedala a Ponente. And another day the Pista Ciclabile as a cool-down.
Practical
| Best season | Spring (April–June) or autumn (September–October), less heat and less traffic |
| Tyres | Coast: 28–32 mm is sufficient. Inland: depending on the loop, but expect 35–45 mm for gravel |
| Navigation | QR codes via Pedala a Ponente + own GPX backup. Download offline maps |
| Basecamp | Diano Marina off the coast, Altar or Ormea for the interior |
In conclusion
Whether Pedala a Ponente works in practice as well as it does on paper, remains to be seen. We are curious. The network is new, the routes are in place, and the infrastructure is growing. The network aims to guide cyclists from the busy coast to the hinterland.
Who has already ridden in this part of Liguria? Do you know any routes around Molini di Triora or Calizzano that we need to know? And is anyone here seriously navigating with Google Maps in the mountains? We'd love to hear.
More information can be found at this site
