The San Lucio's refuge with Mount Gazzirola in the background

This tour begins in Tesserete, a small village that can be reached by car in a few minutes either from Lugano or from Taverne. Take the road that begins east of the village and ascend the Colla Valley following the Cassarate River (watch out not to take the road that goes to Bidogno). After gently climbing on the paved road for 8 kilometers you'll get to Maglio di Colla. Following the signs for Sonvico, you'll get to the other side of the valley and after a couple of minutes you'll have to take the country road that climbs up to Cimadera (1020 m). Then take the gravel road that departs on the left at the second U-turn (signs for the skiing track). If everything goes well your going to meet again the paved road only on the other side of the valley, after 20 kilometers.

After a couple of kilometers of gravel road you'll get to a bifurcation marked with some red MTB signs. Follow the sign indicating San Lucio (gravel road on the right). Here things will get steeper and more challenging. After an horizontal interlude that will bring you close to Alpe Cottino there is a very steep leg that climbs up to San Lucio's evocative Romanesque church (1542 m), that hangs between Switzerland and Italy and is the center of a yearly gathering between Swiss and Italians shepherds.

Tough climb to Gazzirola, avoidable if you stay on the gravel road

From San Lucio on you have to head north and face the Italian side of Mount Gazzirola. Up to the Garzirola refuge (1875 m) a steep and bumpy gravel road will force to use short gears. The road stops at the refuge, and the only way to continue is to follow the hiking path. You'll have to carry the bike until you reach the cross, then the path will get a little gentler and you'll be able to pedal up to the top.

The long sunset shadows caress Mount Gazzirola's south ridge

The descent is on the west ridge, tighter and bumpier, 'cause extreme MTBikers like to ache. The first part is brightened up by an outstanding panorama, but your eyes must be fixed on the shaky path. The rocks and the holes that stud the trail and the pastures will steadily stress your arms and your back, and you'll have to keep very concentrated to avoid falling ruinously.

Past the steepest part you'll get to a short flat stretch where you'll probably want to walk. After sighting the stalls of Alpe Pietrarossa (1549 m), you'll have to leave the crest and go down on the left. You'll get to a relatively wide dirt single track that you'll have to follow on the right (slightly climbing). After a few hundreds meters you'll get to a bifurcation, where you'll have to follow the red MTB signs to Signora (994 m). This single track is wide and smooth and in a few minutes of pure adrenalin you'll zero the 600 m difference in elevation that still separated you from the Colla Valley's main road.

Once you have rejoined the paved road, head right. You'll have to undergo just another short climb, then a fast descent through chestnuts woods and small mountain villages will lead you back to Tesserete.