The Bicknell cycle route: a ride of Wonders

An itinerary in the far west of Liguria among the wonders and mysteries of the Alps, the Bicknell Cycle Route is a route to be spread over several days to enjoy all the beauty of this extraordinary area.

A loop in the heartland of the Maritime and Ligurian Alps, straddling Italy and France, through charmed villages, lush forests, magnificent art and archaeology. The Bicknell Cycle Route is a sports tourism itinerary that starts on the coast and then ventures into the ancestral heart of inland Bordighera and crosses most of the Ligurian Alps Park, before looping back to the palm trees.

It takes its name from Clarence Bicknell (Herne Hill, 27 October 1842 – Casterino, 17 July 1918), a gentleman from the city of London who was sent to Bordighera to become head of the Anglican church and who then fell in love with the nature and history of the Riviera and settled there, becoming one of the cultural reference points throughout the 20th century. A botanist, mathematician, internationalist and scholar of Esperanto, the language that promotes peace among the people of the world by overcoming national language barriers, his studies on the local flora and the Monte Bego petroglyphs still have a lot to tell us today. Yet another reason to cycle through these places, all waiting to be discovered.

Set out on this adventure with the spirit of an explorer rather than that of an athlete, on an MTB or, better still, an eMtb, though the more expert cyclist could use a gravel bike. Given its length (150 km) and elevation gain (4,800 – 5,600 m+), we suggest you split this itinerary into two or more stages: this will allow you to really appreciate the area and everything it has to offer, from the local food to the breathtaking views. Some sections of this route require a good level of training and advanced cycling skills.

Here is the itinerary