Monte Bondone Tour
Race cycling • Garda Trentino and Valle di Ledro
Monte Bondone Tour
<p>An extremely tough route. The focus of this long tour is the ascent to Mount Bondone, a climb only suitable for true grimpeurs.</p>
<p>We depart from Riva del Garda, heading towards Trento, passing Lake Cavedine on the way. At Vigolo Baselga the climb towards <strong>Mount Bondone</strong>, the mountain of Trento, begins.</p> <p>The <strong>Giro d'Italia</strong> has concluded one of its stages here no less than four times. Its bends, especially those on the east side, also host the famous Trento-Bondone car race. And, in fact, this side is the same one we suggest tackling in this itinerary: more than <strong>10 kilometres</strong> with a steady gradient of about 8%. As well as the steep gradient, the distance also makes this tour a tough one, as it racks up a total of nearly 100 kilometres.</p> <p>So, an ideal route for <strong>climbers </strong>who want to relive the feat achieved by Charly Gaul in a stage of the Giro d'Italia back in 1956, when, in the middle of a snowstorm, in second place, he made up a gap of 8 minutes and won just before reaching Mount Bondone.</p>
recommended routeRace cycling
· Trentino OpenMonte Bondone Tour
Garda Trentino Verified partner
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The Castle of DrenaPhoto: Archivio APT Garda Trentino (ph. Vuilleumier), Garda Trentino
An extremely tough route. The focus of this long tour is the ascent to Mount Bondone, a climb only suitable for true grimpeurs.
We depart from Riva del Garda, heading towards Trento, passing Lake Cavedine on the way. At Vigolo Baselga the climb towards Mount Bondone, the mountain of Trento, begins.
The Giro d'Italia has concluded one of its stages here no less than four times. Its bends, especially those on the east side, also host the famous Trento-Bondone car race. And, in fact, this side is the same one we suggest tackling in this itinerary: more than 10 kilometres with a steady gradient of about 8%. As well as the steep gradient, the distance also makes this tour a tough one, as it racks up a total of nearly 100 kilometres.
So, an ideal route for climbers who want to relive the feat achieved by Charly Gaul in a stage of the Giro d'Italia back in 1956, when, in the middle of a snowstorm, in second place, he made up a gap of 8 minutes and won just before reaching Mount Bondone.
Author’s recommendation
The climb is long and hard, but there are lots of bends, about thirty in total: make the most of them to catch your breath between one steep slope and another.
Garda Trentino Verified partner
Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.
Track types
Safety information
- Give your bike a regular checkup, especially if you've had it for years.
- Be seen: you must wear a high vis jacket (or sash) in tunnels and on country roads after sunset.
- Always wear your helmet.
- Make sure your front and rear lights are working.
- Put out your arm to give advance warning of your intention to change position and before you do anything, check there are no vehicles coming up behind you.
- Don't use headphones or your mobile phone handsfree kit: you need all your concentration on the road!
- Obey the road signs: stop at traffic lights and don't ride on the wrong side of the road.
- If you are cycling in a group, always go in single file.
- You've got a bell: use it to let pedestrians know you're there. Don't ride on footpaths. If you have to then get off and push your bike.
- If there are cycle paths use them. It's your safety that's at stake and the rules of the road say you must.
Tips and suggestions
From epic climbs to fast descents, every detail matters. Ride worry-free with help from our road cycling specialists: rentals, mechanics and guides who speak your language – the language of smooth tarmac and two wheels.Public transport
Public-transport-friendly
The towns in Garda Trentino - Riva del Garda, Torbole sul Garda and Arco – are connected by several urban and intercity bus lines which will take you to the starting point or in the immediate surroundings.
For up-to-the-minute information on timetables and routes
You can also get to Riva del Garda and Torbole sul Garda by the public ferry service.
Get Timetable to destination
Directions
Getting to northern lake Garda / Garda Trentino
Parking
Free parking near the former hospital (Via Rosmini).
Paid parking: Terme Romane (Viale Roma), Vecchia stazione (Largo Medaglie d’Oro), Ex-agraria (Via Lutti).
Coordinates
Author’s map recommendations
- Garda Trentino BIKE Map - On sale in information offices in Riva del Garda, Arco and Torbole
Equipment
Riding your bike requires specific clothing and equipment, even for relatively short and easy trips. It is always better to be prepared… e.g. for bad weather or a drop your energy levels. The unexpected things also make up a part of the fun!
Do not compare a road bike with a mountain bike. They are very different, especially in technical terms, and facing a hill with a road bike could be much more difficult than facing the same hill with a MTB. Therefore, remember to throughly evaluate the type of route you plan to do and the locations you plan to cross. Do not forget to consider the current season. Has it been raining? Attention: the paint of the crosswalk could be very slick.
What do I need to bring on my bike tour?
- Bike helmet
- Bike gloves
- Bike glasses
- Waterproof/Windproof jacket
- Headlights and rearlights
- Reflecting suspenders
- Plenty of snacks (for example, dried fruit or energy bars)
- Water Bottle
- Bike repair kit (tire levers, mini bike pump, bike tube)
It is always advised to let someone know where you plan to go and how long you expect to be.
Emergency telephone number 112.
Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.
