Ride25 — London to Sydney by bike, one leg a year
Book

Founders Leg 4

Milan to Rome

The route and day-by-day itinerary ridden by the Founders on this leg.

Ridden by the Founders — no longer available to book

This is the route and itinerary as it was planned for the ride, kept as a record of the journey so far. For legs you can still join, see the Book Now page.

Founders Leg 4 — Milan to Rome, October 2025
Dates
2nd to 6th October 2025
Start
Arco della Pace, Parco Sempione, Milan.
Finish
The Vatican.
Days Cycling
4.5
Distance
727 km
Total climbing
6,793 m climbing
Max capacity
100 people

Itinerary

  1. Day 1 – Milan to Piacenza – 100 km, 119 m total ascent

    Leave from Parc Sempione and brush around the outskirts of central Milan before picking up the canal southbound taking us 37 km out of Milan to Pavia. We then cycle along the flat Po plain including crossing the vast River Po before reaching the historic city of Piacenza. Dinner at the Grand Albergo Hotel in the heart of the city.

    Day 1 Strava Route

  2. Day 2 – Piacenza to Bologna – 182 km, 230 m total ascent

    After leaving Piacenza we cycle through the flat plains of Emilia-Romagna in the Po basin. The area is renowned for its agriculture, cheeses, hams…. and Ferrari manufacture. We cover a long distance but there are no significant hills with practically no climbing all day. The highlight of the day is arriving in the stunning city of Bologna for the evening after enjoying the last flat countryside of the trip. Dinner is in a historic building in the heart of the winding lanes in Bologna.

    Day 2 Strava Route

  3. Day 3 – Bologna to Figline Valdarno – 146 km, 2,548 m total ascent

    Soon after leaving Bologna we start to get a taste for the day ahead – crossing the border into the rolling hills of Tuscany! We complete the two largest climbs of the Leg in the morning with lunch at a hilltop restaurant at the top of the 2nd climb at the Passadel Giogo. The afternoon involves more of the same but with 2 far less significant climbs. The highest point of the day is 966 m versus 2,478 m at the ‘Nurofen’ (Nufenen) Pass in Leg 3 and 1,719 m in Leg 2 over the Jura Mountains. In the evening we stay in Figline Valdarno with a dinner on a terrace overlooking this small historic town.

    Day 3 Strava Route

  4. Day 4 –Figline Valdarno to Orvieto – 156 km, 1,840 m total ascent

    More rolling Tuscan hills as we continue through Tuscany and move into Umbria. One climb in the morning with two in the afternoon but nothing too serious with a peak altitude all day of 534 m. Stay the night in the outstandingly stunning and dramatic city of Orvieto. Arrive early to enjoy roaming the medieval streets and take in the views. Dinner in the centre in a family owned restaurant renowned for its truffles.

    Day 4 Strava Route

  5. Day 5 – Orvieto to Rome – 155 km, 2,056 m total ascent

    Two climbs in the morning in the Umbrian countryside including the Lake Vico Nature reserve before having lunch and the opportunity for a cooling swim in Lake Vigo. After lunch we cycle through the national park and around Lake Bracciano before crossing the plains to Labaro and picking up a great cycle path that takes us almost entirely traffic free the last 16 km into the centre of Rome and 400 metres from the finish at The Vatican. The hotel is a further 2KM from the Vatican (Included on the route).

    Day 5 Strava Route