RBT - Roero Bike Tour

As you cycle along the Roero Bike Tour, you will move from village to village along nature trails or low-traffic roads on a journey through the oneof- a-kind landscapes and vistas, such as the Rocche (singular: rocca, a term that refers to local rock formations that are an unusual geological phenomenon and which protect a wealth of biodiversity), vineyards, truffle forests, cultivated groves, hilltop villages and castles.

Its 7 sections are complemented by a number of variations, including both alternate and connecting routes, and encompasses the three major existing trails:
- the “Grande Sentiero del Roero”- S1 (Great Roero Trail);
- the “Sentiero del Roero Centrale”- S4 (Central Roero Trail);
- the “Sentiero dell’Acino, Mulini e Castelli – Roero Orientale” - S3 (West Roero Trail of the Grape, Mills and Castles).

CHARGING POINTS FOR ELECTRIC BIKES:

Vezza d'Alba: electric bike recharging point located in p.za San Carlo, in the hamlet of Borgonuovo, near the Comprehensive Institute. (Geolocation)

Govone: electric bike recharging point in the Castle park near the driveway entrance after the masonry arch. (Geolocation)

Pocapaglia: electric bike recharging point in the sports facilities of the historic centre. (Geolocation)

ITINERARY

Leg 1
Borbore (Vezza d’Alba) - Montà
A route connecting the two hearts of the Roero region – one that looks out over the Langhe and the other that runs along the crest of the Rocche rock formations – this section will take you from Vezza to Montà by way of Canale, to encounter a number of theme-based trails.
Along the route, in the Montà area, you come across the "Valle delle Rocche" Outdoor Centre: an equipped area for MTB use with cycle repair shop, pump track, bike school, bike wash, relaxation area. (Geolocation)
To use the area, contact the Ecomuseum of Rocche of Roero tel. +39 0173 976181.
Work financed with FEASR funds (European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development: Europe invests in rural areas.)
Lenght: 11,5 km
Elevation +: 370 m
Difficulty: MC (average skill level)
Path with some portage needed. 

Variant 1A
Canale - Rocca Tagliata (Canale)
A variation of the previous section, this route takes you to the isolated hamlet of Rocca Tagliata along a section of the S1 trail and then a section of “Sentiero del Castagno”, while also extending into the territory of Cisterna d’Asti and with the option of going to Montà.
On the route, in the Canale area, you come across the Chicca - Casa Natura: an area equipped for naturalistic and educational use with a cycle workshop, a relax area and a panoramic point.
(Geolocation). To use the area, contact Canale Ecologia (canale.ecologia@gmail.com) or the Ecomuseo delle Rocche del Roero tel. +39 0173 976181.
Work financed with FEASR funds (European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development: Europe invests in rural areas).
Lenght: 2,7 km
Elevation +: 314 m
Difficulty: MC (average skill level)
Path with some portage needed.

Leg 2
Montà - Monteu Roero
A route along the central crest of the Rocche rock formations to admire the “miracle” of how the Tanaro river was captured and what that event created.
Along the route, in the territory of S. Stefano Roero, you come across the Camper Area: an area equipped for use with campers and a panoramic point.
(Geolocation). To use the area, contact the Municipality of S. Stefano Roero tel. +39 0173 90112 or the Ecomuseum of Rocche of Roero tel. +39 0173 976181.
Work financed with FEASR funds (European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development: Europe invests in rural areas).
Lenght: 8,5 km
Elevation +: 417 m
Difficulty: MC (average skill level)
Path with some portage needed.

Variant 2A
Monteu Roero - Battagli (Vezza d’Alba)
A variation of the RBT itinerary, this section connects the two central crests of the Roero region as you ride alongside the crest of the Rocche rock formations, descend into the valley, then head back up towards Vezza d’Alba.
Lenght: 7 km
Elevation +: 326 m
Difficulty: MC (average skill level)
Path with some portage needed.

Leg 3
Monteu Roero - Pocapaglia
This leg of the itinerary takes you along the historic “Grande Sentiero del Roero”, which winds along the crest of the Rocche rock formations through the Silva Popularis, old-growth woods of the Po Valley. From Pocapaglia, you can also reach the centre of Bra by following the signage for Trail S1.
Lenght: 14 km
Elevation +: 475 m
Difficulty: MC (average skill level)
Path with some portage needed.

Variant 3A
Saliceto (Pocapaglia) - San Sebastiano (Pocapaglia)
A variation of the main RBT itinerary, this is a flat ring loop through the woods that reaches out to the village of Sanfrè and its impressive castle, with possibility to reach, with a brief detour, the centre of Bra.
Lenght: 15,5 km
Elevation +: 300 m
Difficulty: TC (tourism)

Leg 4
Pocapaglia - Monticello d’Alba
Leg 4 of the Roero Bike Tour connects the area of the Rocche rock formations to the central series of Roero villages, winding along paved, low-traffic country roads for about the first half of the route.
Lenght: 16 km
Elevation +: 300 m
Difficulty: MC (average skill level)
Path with some portage needed.

Leg 5
Monticello d’Alba – Borbore (Vezza d’Alba)
A route that follows “Sentiero del Roero Centrale” (trail S4) through hilltop villages as you admire castles, towers and groves.
Along the route, in the Piobesi d'Alba area, you come across the cycle workshop with external bike storage and washing - located inside the Sports Center - with entrance at the Piobesi Swimming Pools car park (geolocation).
To use the facility, contact the Municipality of Piobesi d'Alba, in Piazza San Pietro 16, from Monday to Saturday 8.30-11.30 - tel. +39 0173 619448, extension 1 - piobesi.dalba@ruparpiemonte.it.
Work financed with FEASR funds (European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development: Europe invests in rural areas).

Lenght: 18,5 km
Elevation +: 790 m
Difficulty: MC (average skill level)
Path with some portage needed.

Leg 6
Borbore (Vezza d’Alba) –Govone
The ideal continuation of the previous leg, you will now ride to Govone through the Asti countryside and its hillside vineyards, right through the heart of Langhe Roero wine region where one of the youngest DOCG wines are produced.
Along the route, in the Magliano Alfieri area, you come across the cycle workshop with toilets, located near the parking lot in p.za Bartolomeo Gosio, formerly the spheristerium (Geolocation). For information on using the area, contact Alla Corte degli Alfieri restaurant/cafeteria tel. +39 0173 66244 in Via Alfieri 4, (at the Castle) on the following days: from Monday to Sunday, except Tuesday all day and Wednesday morning.
Information point at the entrance to Castello Alfieri, (open on weekends and public holidays from April to October. Consult the calendar here: www.castellodimaglianoalfieri.com.
Work financed with FEASR funds (European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development: Europe invests in rural areas).

Lenght: 20,5 km
Elevation +: 550 m
Difficulty: MC (average skill level)
Path with some portage needed, low traffic roads.

Variant 6A
Castagnito - Guarene
A variation of the official RBT itinerary, this section connects the Castagnito and Guarene crests for one-of-a-kind vistas of the Roero and Langhe regions.
Along the route, in the area of Guarene, you come across the cycle workshop with toilets located at the entrance to Via Ortigara, next to the spheristerium (geolocation). For information on using the area, contact the Municipality of Guarene tel. +39 0173 611103 in Piazza Roma nr 6.
Work financed with FEASR funds (European Agricultural Fund for rural development: Europe invests in rural areas).
Lenght: 2,5 km
Elevation +: 120 m
Difficulty: TC (tourism)
Path with some portage needed, low traffic roads.

Leg 7 and Variant 7A
Govone – Castagnito
Together with Leg 6, this leg forms a loop connecting all of the hilltop villages of this part of the Roero region to discover the secrets of the mills and of the crossings of the Tanaro river.
Along the route, in the area of Guarene, you come across the cycle workshop with toilets located at the entrance to Via Ortigara, next to the spheristerium (geolocation). For information on using the area, contact the Municipality of Guarene tel. +39 0173 611103 in Piazza Roma nr 6.
Work financed with FEASR funds (European Agricultural Fund for rural development: Europe invests in rural areas).
Lenght: 22,5 km (+variant 2 km)
Elevation +: 530 m
Difficulty: MC (average skill level)
Path with some portage needed, low traffic roads.

WARNINGS

The Roero Bike Tour has its own signage designed for cyclists. Search the diamond-shaped signs along the itinerary, that gives you information about the difficulty of the path:

- green: easy
- yellow: medium
- red: difficult.

For any doubts, consult the GPS map that can be downloaded. 

There are technical sections in places, but these can always be overcome on foot, carrying or pushing your bike, or by making use of public transit between villages. Along the route, there are marked stations for charging e-bikes and for minor repairs that may be necessary along the way.

ROERO BIKE TOUR: WHAT YOU NEED TO GO:

•The ROAD BOOK, available at the Tourist Office of Ecomuseum (p.zetta vecchia Segheria 2/B - Montà - Cn) or at the Tourist Office of Alba Bra Langhe Roero (p.za Risorgimento 1 - Alba - Cn).

•If you prefer cycle without minding signage and itinerary, you can book a MTB Guide that will carry you in your mtb trip, tells you about the territory and take a break with you in the best local wineries!