The first edition of the Cinque Terre Granfondo took place on April 26th, starting in La Spezia and following a route that encompassed the entire Cinque Terre. It signaled a Ligurian growing interest in cycling and biking, both on and off-road . The number of cyclists and related events is growing, and among the faces of this Cinque Terre Granfondo is Alessandro Colò , whom we've come to know on these pages thanks to his study of biomechanics , and whom we've relied on for advice and inspiration.
"This granfondo," Colò himself explains, "actually existed before, and ran until 2019. It was called GF Città di La Spezia, and was organized by another group. In 2025, other young people from Tigullio wanted to revive it in a different way, but following some sections of the old route ."
Between nature and bike
The Cinque Terre Granfondo is organized by the guys from Officina E20 , a group of enthusiasts who this year wanted to bring cycling and bicycles, and in general a sporting event capable of uniting people, back to La Spezia.
"This is actually the second edition," Patrick Nastasi, president of Officina E20, tells us, "because in 2025 I independently organized a granfondo with start and finish in Sestri Levante. This year, however, we moved to La Spezia , where the company is based and where we found the support of the municipality that geographically controls the Cinque Terre. With our granfondo, many people have returned to pedaling and cycling in this area, because that's exactly what sport should be . The goal is to make these landscapes known and experienced by everyone, including the locals who sometimes seem to almost forget about them."
" The Cinque Terre Granfondo, " he continues, " is one of the few events that crosses several UNESCO World Heritage sites . And for us, this is a source of pride."
Different rhythms
Cycling and the surrounding landscape are a pairing as old as this sport itself, the only one capable of fully enhancing the places it passes through, making them appreciated by those who pedal through them.
"The granfondo route," Patrick Nastasi tells us, "encompassed the entire Cinque Terre region. Starting from La Spezia and passing through the villages overlooking the sea, we obviously also passed inland, with the Bracco climb and the Termine Pass. We also planned, within the same day, a 54-kilometer cycling tour , so that anyone who wanted to pedal without the stress of competition could appreciate the truly unique landscapes and panoramas of the Cinque Terre."
"Another important aspect for us," he concludes, " is having the granfondo coincide with La Spezia Outdoor . It's an event dedicated to outdoor sports, a signal that wants to show that cycling isn't the only thing, but that different events can coexist and support each other , also encouraging participants to bring companions."
Ride
The morphological and geographical characteristics of the Cinque Terre territory blend perfectly with the intention of enhancing its beauty and naturalistic passages , and this is what inspired those who designed and tested the route.
The Cinque Terre are one of the major tourist and cycling attractions in this part of Liguria, a characteristic due to a series of events and factors linked to the territory's morphology. Alessandro Colò knows this territory very well, having also brought the Giro della Lunigiana ( an internationally renowned junior stage race ) to these roads .
"In terms of cycling," Alessandro Colò tells us, "the Cinque Terre offer a lot of elevation gain but unique views. In just a few kilometers, you climb and find yourself on natural terraces from which you can admire La Spezia and the coast . The scenic potential also matches that of the facilities; in fact, many hotels are becoming bike-friendly . Cycling tourism is a rapidly growing trend here too, thanks to the fact that traffic in the Cinque Terre is very low , as those who come to visit prefer to travel by train. This makes it possible to pedal and enjoy the scenery even away from organized events."
