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Image 0 - Ticino and cycling
Image 1 - Ticino and cycling
Image 2 - Ticino and cycling

Ticino and cycling

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Cycling has deep roots in Ticino where, since decades, the sport enjoys huge popularity. As the environment is perfectly suited for cycling, many top riders live in the region. Thanks to the Alps, which protect the territory from Nordic climatic influences, and the presence of many lakes, the climate is pleasantly Mediterranean. Training profiles are wide-ranging; from flat on the lakesides to a steep 1500 meters on the local mountains. Within short distance, the legendary Swiss mountain passes such as St. Gothard (2108 m), Nufenen (2478 m), San Bernardino (2065 m) and Furka (2431 m) offer excellent altitude training possibilities.

Ranging from leisure cyclists and ambitious amateurs, to elite mountain bikers and professional road riders, Ticino's cycling is indeed multidimensional! The same applies to the local events-scene. Traditionally, the Swiss road cycling season starts with the GP Chiasso and the GP Lugano, the two historical professional races. The Road Cycling World Championships took place in Ticino in 1953 (Lugano, won by Fausto Coppi), in 1971 (Mendrisio, won by Eddy Merckx), in 1996 (Lugano, won by Johan Museeuw) and will again return to Mendrisio in 2009.The diversity of the landscape also makes Ticino perfectly suited for mountain biking. The MTB World Championships took place on the Monte Tamaro in 2003 and, every year, the prestigious Monte Generoso Bike Marathon attracts a large number of MTB aficionados.

Last but not least, the Ticino gastronomy provides all what a cyclist ever dreamt of!

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