The ride every Turin cyclist has in their legs
There is a reason why Milano–Torino, the oldest classic in the world, first run on 25 May 1876, chose Superga as its finish: the climb from Sassi is one of the hardest and finest in Italy within reach of a city. Four point nine kilometres at 9% average, with a stretch at 15.3% after the tram overpass and pitches of 18%, and Juvarra's basilica at 672 metres on top.
The classic loop links it to the hill's other mythical climb, the ramp of via Allason and Strada della Vetta above Pecetto — the "Inferno di Pecetto" — up to the Colle della Maddalena at 715 metres, the highest point of the Turin hills. In between, the Strada Panoramica dei Colli, closed to motorbikes since 1992: a descent to savour. All told, under forty kilometres from the Fausto Coppi monument and about a thousand metres of climbing.
Staying in Pino Torinese gives you an advantage: the B&B sits exactly between the two climbs. You can leave from the door, ride Superga in the morning and the Maddalena in the afternoon, or split the loop over two days.
Route facts
Route: Turin (Coppi monument) → Sassi → Superga → ridge road → Pino Torinese → Pecetto → via Allason and Strada della Vetta → Colle della Maddalena → Turin.
Length: under 40 km. Ascent: about 1,000 m.
Sassi–Superga: 4.9 km, 447 m, 9% average, 18% maximum according to sportfolks. The Milano–Torino 2025 race roadbook measures 4.2 km at 9.1–9.2% with pitches of 14% from a different starting point; other databases give 550–600 m of ascent and a 15% maximum.
Inferno di Pecetto: via Allason about 700 m at 15%; the final section to the pass 1.3 km at 8% with pitches of 11–12% and a brief downhill 300 metres from the top.
Colle della Maddalena: 715 m; from San Vito 6.2 km, 464 m, 7.4% average per climbfinder.
Surface and traffic: Sassi–Superga is busy at weekends; the ridge road has been closed to motorbikes since 1992, with good surface and wide bends; via Allason is narrow.
Water: fountain in Superga hamlet; "i turet" on the ridge road; water point at the start of the ridge road in Pino; fountains in Pecetto.
Climb data vary with the starting point and the measuring tool: the figures above report the main sources, not a single measurement.
1. From the Po to Sassi
By tradition the ride starts at the Fausto Coppi monument in front of the Motovelodromo and follows the Po along corso Casale to Sassi: ten almost flat kilometres to warm up the legs, and you will need all of them. The climb begins at the foot of Strada Comunale Superga, opposite the rack tram station. Starting from Pino Torinese, you instead drop into Turin by the Pino road or the ridge road and reach Sassi along corso Casale.
2. The Superga wall
It is not a climb for everyone: after a hundred flat metres the road rears into double figures. The first kilometre averages 9.8%, with 200 metres at 15% after the corner with via Borgofranco; then 400 metres of relief at 6% and 200 metres at 12%. Passing under the tram overpass, 1.9 km in, opens the hardest section: 300 metres at 15.3% with pitches of 18%.
The fourth kilometre, from the Pian Gambino stop, is the toughest overall at 11.8% average; the last 980 metres alternate 300 metres at 6.7% to the Baldissero junction and 680 metres at 7.7%. Then the esplanade, the basilica, the view over Turin and the Alps, and the Grande Torino memorial at the back: worth every watt.
Gearing: a 34×30 or easier is no dishonour on Superga. At weekends the road is busy: weekday mornings are far better.
3. At the top: Milano–Torino
Milano–Torino was born in 1876, when Paolo Magretti covered the first edition's 150 kilometres in ten hours and nine minutes. Superga is its iconic finish, won by Contador, Ulissi, Diego Rosa, Miguel Ángel López, Rigoberto Urán, Thibaut Pinot, Michael Woods and Primož Roglič in 2021, among others. After a few editions finishing elsewhere, the race returned to the basilica: on 19 March 2025 Isaac Del Toro won ahead of Ben Tulett and Tobias Halland Johannessen; on 18 March 2026, in the 107th edition, Tom Pidcock beat Johannessen and Roglič in 3h48'45".
On the esplanade there is a panoramic bar and the basilica café; in the narrow street of the hamlet, heading down towards Baldissero, the historic fountain for refilling bottles.
4. The ridge road to Pino
From the basilica you drop to Superga hamlet, join the via dei Colli and follow it to Pino Torinese. This is the Strada Panoramica, opened in 1964 and closed to motorbikes since 1992 after a long series of crashes: today it is one of the hill's favourite roads for cyclists, with a good surface, wide bends, the wood closing overhead and fountains along the way. Climbing it from Pino gives you the "gentle" way to Superga: steady gradients, none of the Sassi walls.
At the start of the ridge road in Pino Torinese there is a water point and parking. The B&B is minutes away: the right place for a break, or to end day one.
5. The Inferno di Pecetto and the Colle della Maddalena
From Pino you continue towards the hermitage and Pecetto Torinese, the cherry village at 400 metres. The "Inferno" begins in via Allason: a ramp of about 700 metres at 15%, narrow and relentless, which in 2022 also featured in the Giro d'Italia. Continue on Strada della Vetta towards the Colle della Maddalena; the final section is 1.3 km at 8% average with pitches of 11–12%, and a short downhill 300 metres from the top that fools the legs.
The pass, at 715 metres, is the highest point of the Turin hills: the Faro della Vittoria, the Maddalena park and the view of the Alpine arc from Monviso to Monte Rosa are the reward. To avoid the via Allason wall you can climb the Maddalena from San Vito: 6.2 km at 7.4% average, 464 metres of ascent.
6. The descent to Turin
From the pass you drop towards Turin by the San Vito road or via Cavoretto, the city opening up below. Reach the Po, pass the Coppi monument again and close the loop: under forty kilometres, about a thousand metres of climbing, two climbs you will talk about for years.
Four variants from the B&B
Superga only, the gentle way. From the B&B climb to Superga along the ridge road: steady gradients, fountains, no motorbikes. Coffee at the top, then descend the wall to Sassi with good brakes and return to Pino along corso Casale — or come back the same ridge road. Perfect for intervals.
The full loop clockwise. Pino → Pecetto → Inferno di Pecetto → Maddalena → descent to Turin → corso Casale → Sassi → Superga → ridge road → Pino. The hardest climb comes last, on warm legs. Just under 40 km and about 1,000 metres.
Two days, two climbs. Day 1: Superga from Sassi, back over the ridge road. Day 2: the Maddalena from Pecetto, back via the hermitage. Each day stays under 30 km, leaving time for a long lunch.
Recovery day. Descend to Turin and the Po cycle path, or drop to Chieri and the first hills of the Asti Monferrato: flat or rolling kilometres to spin the legs out.
When to come and what to know
The ride works from March to November; in high summer the ridge road and the Pecetto section are shaded, but Sassi–Superga is a job for early morning. At weekends the Superga road is busy with cars and the tram; on weekdays it is far quieter. The motorbike ban on the ridge road is permanent. Still, check the Turin and Baldissero council notices before setting out.
The Sassi–Superga rack tram takes bikes — up to 3 on the car going up, up to 6 on the bike wagon in both directions, one ticket per bike, booking advised: an option to descend safely or climb without effort. It is closed on Wednesdays.
Practical tips
Gearing and brakes. Superga and via Allason are genuine walls: 34×30 or easier. Descending the ridge road the bends are wide, but from Pino towards Turin the road gets more technical: brakes in order.
Water. Fountains in Superga hamlet, "i turet" on the ridge road, the water point in Pino, fountains in Pecetto. Two bottles in summer.
Traffic. Sassi–Superga is busy on holidays; the ridge road has no motorbikes and few cars; via Allason is narrow and steep, watch for descending cars.
From the B&B. Ask us about bike storage, a breakfast time that fits a dawn start, and the GPX track for the loop.
Start from here
Paradise Nature & Wellness is in Pino Torinese, between the Superga wall and the Inferno di Pecetto, with breakfast and parking included. Message us on WhatsApp and we will plan your ride together.
Sources: sportfolks.net (detailed Sassi–Superga profile); climbfinder, salite.ch, Gulliver (climb data); Milano–Torino 2025 roadbook; milanotorino.it (history and 2025–2026 winners); Outdooractive; GTT (bikes on the rack tram). Times, fares and road conditions change: always check before setting out.
Direktbuchung über WhatsApp, Frühstück und Parkplatz inklusive.
