On the bicycle fair in Utrecht we happened to be in contact with Aad van Opstal a few months ago at one of the many stands. Back home and after having seen all the options again, a consensus was reached quickly and unanimously: it would become Piëmonte, through the sympathetic Aad who had immediately won our trust. And as it turned out: an absolute hit! . Piemonte can easily withstand the comparison with the more famous regions of Tuscany and Umbria. An undulating landscape with unseen views, with idyllic and picturesque villages, with countless little churches and watchtowers and endless vineyards. It is certainly worthwhile to deviate as much as possible from the route as far as possible to explore the nearby villages. With the exception of the connection routes to reach and / or leave slightly larger towns such as Acqui Terme, Alba and Canelli, the routes run on low-traffic, rural roads. Although the routes can be described as tough with slopes that sometimes are 8 km long with here and there (very) steep gradients and despite a temperature that exceeded 30 ° daily, the physical effort was already quite limited by the excellent, powerful e-bikes. Those who really can not (or do not want to) make an effort, will nevertheless end up at a leisurely pace. As “Burgundian” Belgians, we also took maximum advantage and enjoyed the many culinary Piemontese delights. For those who want to eat something on the way in the afternoon, there is some searching here and there, but with the help of the locals you sometimes find “hidden treasures”. Some “highlights” that we do want to remember: the restaurant Belvédère (terrace with fantastic panoramic view) in Alice Bel Colle, the center of Acqui Terme, the serene cemetery at the top of Cassinasco, Castelletto D’Erro with its tower, the center of Alba, the historic villages of Neive and La Morra, wine town of Barolo with its castle, Roccaverano and the view (Belvédère) at the top of Verduno. But the absolute summit is undoubtedly the stay (2 nights) at the agriturismo la Torricella in Monforte d’Alba. The top location with incredible views, combined with delicious food, fine wine (incl wine tasting) and a flamboyant host Francesco made this stay a magical and unforgettable event. Those who can not leave their bikes can visit some nice villages in the area on the day of rest. And last but not least there is organizer Aad, who not only ensured good reception and explanation on arrival, but was also permanently accessible for any problems with bike or trail. There is nothing to criticize about the organization. In short: we are a great experience richer, discovered a fantastic region and really enjoyed it !!!
Stefie, Geert, Anneke and Patrick from Aarschot, Belgium