The Route

A straight line from Quorn to Assisi crosses half the mountains in Western Europe and a large patch of water. A simple compass bearing will not do. First problem is the water. The obvious route across the channel is Dover to Calais. Closer scrutiny reveals that Portsmouth is nearer to Quorn than Dover and Caen is nearer to Italy than Calais. Crossing from Portsmouth avoids London. The journey from Caen across France is almost due east so has a better chance of a favourable wind. Purists might complain that this is cheating since a significant distance is covered just by sitting on a boat. To them I can only apologise that the argument from authority is unsatisfactory but usually conclusive. I make the rules.

The next significant reason for deviating from a straight line is mountains, principally, but not only, the Alps. There are many options and none of them are easy. I couldn't find a clear cut winner. Some of the cols are lower but have long hilly and twisty approaches. Traffic and tunnels are also an issue. The Gotthard pass is certainly cyclable even though bikes have to use the old cobbled road down into Italy. The road down to Como through the Ticino would be a spectacular ride. However the journey across Switzerland to the Gotthard is problematic. The ancient pilgrimage route from Canterbury to Rome, the Via Francigena, crosses the Grand Saint Bernard pass. Most of the route across Switzerland from Yverdon to Martigny at the foot of the GSB is signed cycle route though how good it is remains to be seen. To date I have been unable to find a pilgrim to speak to, despite a search on sackcloth cyclist. There may be traffic problems on the way down the Val D'Aosta. There is certainly a big climb from France into Switzerland. On balance though the vote has gone to the GSB.

So with a week to go the plan is to head due south from Quorn through Northants and Oxfordshire to Goring on Thames for the first night. Then it is west for a while to Kingsclere and south to Portsmouth over the Downs. From Caen the route is just slightly south of west through Chartres and Pithiviers to Burgundy (not a drop - honest) around Dijon to Pontarliers then up, up and over into Switzerland. The first call in Switzerland is Yverdon at the foot of the Lac de Neuchatel. Then it is due south to Lausanne on the northern shore of Lake Geneva. A marked cycle route follows the edge of the lake through Montreux and on up the Rhone valley to Martigny for the ascent of the GSB. Then it should be downhill all the way through Aosta to Ivrea. A day on busy roads to Vercelli looks hard to avoid but then there are minor roads through Pavia and Cremona along the Po valley to Bologna. Big cities are usually best avoided by cyclists but I am willing to make an exception for Bologna, there may even be time for a leisurely lunch in La Grassa. From Bologna there is a choice between the straight flat but potentially busy Roman Road (Via Aemilia) to Cesena or a zig zag route nearer to the river. I intend go with 2000 years of history. We then turn south again following the old road that runs alongside the E45 autostrada. The first section may be a bit lumpy but then it is down the Tiber valley from Sansepulcro to Perugia and a last climb up to Assisi.

So that was that. Then with three days to go before departure I look again and, perhaps foolishly make wholesale changes. Switzerland will  no longer feature. I will head south through Burgundy down the Saone and Rhone valleys then across to Chambery. The climb over the Alps will be up the Maurienne valley and over the Col de Mont Cenis. That means a descent to Turin then back onto the original route down the Po valley. The full itinerary is set out below but may be subject to change without warning.

I would be delighted to hear from anyone who has cycled any of this or has a suggestion for an alternative

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ROUTE SECOND ATTEMPT



OUISTREHAM

Troarn

St Pierre de Dives

Vimoutiers D979 D12

Monnai

La Ferte Frenel D12

L’Aigle D918 D45

St Maurice le Chanencey D24


CHARTRES D939

Quarville

Angerville D145 D6

Andonville D22

Pithiviers D950

St Maurice sur Fressard



MONTARGIS D943


St Romain le Preux D89

Senon D19

Laduz D31



AUXERRE D239 D606

Vermeton

Avallon D606

Cussy-les-Forges D606

Vernon D70

Precy-sur-Thil D70

(Clamery) D970

Pully-en-Auxois D81 D970

Bligny-sur-Oudre D970

Beaune D19


CHALONS-SUR-MARNE D978

St Germain-du-Plain D933

Cuisery D933

Pont-de-Vaux D933

St Laurent

Pont-de-Veyle D2

Chatillon s-Chalaronne D7

Chalamont D904

Chatillon-la-Palud D77

Layment D77

Vaux-en-Bugey

Lagnieu D122

St Sorlin-en-Bugey D122 D19 D40

St Genix D1516 D916


CHAMBERY D1006

St Jean-de-Maurienne

Col de Cenis


SUSA S25 S24

Pianezza
Alpignano


TORINO

St Mauro Torinese P590

(Chivasso)

Cavagnolo

Campagna P31 P596

(Casale Monferrato) P596

Lomellina P5

Valle Lomellina

Lomello P193

Sannazzaro de’Burgondi P193 P596

San Martino Siccomario


PAVIA P234

Ospidelletto

Casalpusterlongo P234

Codogno P234

(Pizzighettone)


CREMONA P82

San Giovanni-in-Croce P343

Casalmaggiore P358

Guastalla P42

Novellara P30

Carpi

Limidi

Sozzigalli

Nonantola P255

San Giovanni-in-Persiceto


BOLOGNA

San Lazzaro di Savena S9

Imola

Faenza

Forli S9

Diegara P51

San Vittore

Borrello P138

Mercato Saraceno

Bagno di Romagna


SAN SEPULCRO

Citta di Castello

Umbertide

(Perugia)

Bastia


ASSISI