St.-Gotthard-fünf-Pässe-Bike

Airolo, surrounded by a magnificent mountain backdrop, is located in the valley of the young river Ticino, which gives the canton its name. In the Leventina, the main road, motorway, railway and tunnels meet in a very small space. You can make rapid progress by bike on the section that runs along the Ticino River.

Before Piotta, you turn off to the valley station of the steep funicular, which takes you to another world in the space of a few minutes: the quiet Piora Plateau with its two mountain lakes is set in a rugged high mountain landscape. Did you know? Lake Cadagno is so mysterious that it keeps researchers from all over the world occupied. The lake consists of three different layers of water that do not mix. This is unique in Europe. The middle layer is particularly exciting: its water is pink due to a particular bacterium. After the two lakes you come to the hut, where you can stop off all day.

Suitably refreshed, you can tackle the climb to the Passo del Sole. It is easy to negotiate up to Alpe Carorescio, but the final section up to the pass is quite challenging. However, once you reach the top, your efforts are rewarded: the backdrop is fantastic with the steep peaks of the Adula group and the Ticino Alps. It is all downhill now from the highest point of the tour, and a good technique is essential here: the demanding ride down to Olivone is characterised by technical trails, larch groves and fir forests, as well as lush green plains where cows and horses graze. The destination of the stage is Olivone, which is located at the foot of the pyramid-shaped Sosto in the upper Blenio Valley. This is very sunny due to its north-south orientation and is also known as “Sun Valley”.