Road · Italy
Stage 11 of 11 · Munich to Venice via Brenner, Lake Garda and Bologna← Stage 10
San Lazzaro to Imola
A rolling 71 km road cycling route from San Lazzaro, Emilia-Romagna to Imola through Fossolo, San Lazzaro di Savena and Mercatale, with 513 m of climbing. Mixed surface: 83% is mapped as paved and 16% as gravel or unpaved.
At a glance
- Best for
- Rolling day rides
- Distance
- 70.8 km
- Elevation gain
- 513 m
- Riding time
- 3½–4½ hours
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Bike
- Road bike with sturdy tyres, or gravel bike
- Surface
- Mixed surface
- Traffic
- Some main roads
- Food & water
- Regular
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start → finish
- San Lazzaro → Imola
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 513 m
- 71 km
What it was like to ride
Route description
- San Lazzaro
- Fossolo
- San Lazzaro di Savena
- Mercatale
- Ciagnano
- Ozzano dell'Emilia
- Osteria Grande
- Castel San Pietro Terme
- Zolino
- Imola
This 70.8 km ride starts in San Lazzaro di Savena, passing several places including Fossolo, Pontevecchio, and Castel dei Britti. The first half of the route contains most of the climbing, with the main climb starting just after 20 km. It is 3.5 km long, gains 248 m at an average gradient of 7.2%, reaching a height of 338 m. The road surface is mostly paved (83%) with some gravel or unpaved sections (16%).
The route proceeds over a mix of road types, including 17.7 km on main roads without cycle lanes, 15.9 km on minor roads, and 12.2 km of cycle paths. Longest named roads ridden are Via Idice for 10.8 km and Via Emilia Ponente for 4.9 km. Food and drink options are available early on and after approximately 35 km, with a longest gap without café, shop, or water between 26.1 km and 34.8 km (8.7 km). Several bike shops and petrol stations are present along the way. The final part includes a gentler climb of 1.8 km with 55 m gain at 3.1% before descending to Imola at 51 m elevation.
At the start in San Lazzaro are convenience stores, restaurants, supermarkets, and bars. The finish in Imola offers cafés, a bakery, a pharmacy, a supermarket, and a greengrocer. Bailout points with railway stations are available at Varignana (45.6 km), Castel San Pietro Terme (55 km), and Imola (67.5 km). Total elevation gain is 513 m with the highest point at 344 m near 26.9 km.
Why ride this route?
- Tops out at 344 m, 26.9 km in.
Highlights
- Main climb 3.5 km at 7.2% gradient
- Highest point at 344 m near 27 km
- Route passes through Castel dei Britti, Ozzano dell'Emilia, Castel San Pietro Terme
- Cycle paths cover 12.2 km of the route
Along the route
Places passed
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed climb | 20.8 km | 3.5 km · 248 m · 7.2 % · max 11.8 % | 338 m |
| Unnamed climb | 55.8 km | 1.8 km · 55 m · 3.1 % · max 5.7 % | 129 m |
Traffic, surface and gradient
Expect stretches on main roads without a cycle lane (17.7 km in all) between quieter sections.
- Roads
- 26% main road · 23% minor road · 18% quiet street · 18% cycle path · 15% other roads and tracks
- Main roads
- 17.7 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Cycle paths
- 13.4 km on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane
- Main roads used
- Via Idice (11 km), Via Emilia Ponente (5 km)
- Surface
- Mixed surface: 83% is mapped as paved and 16% as gravel or unpaved.
- Gradient
- 13% climbing · 14% descending · 73% flat
- Steep sections
- 3 km over 5% · 1.4 km over 8% · 0.9 km over 10% · steepest 500 m averages 10.3% at 24.5 km
- Longest descent
- 3.7 km from 28.2 km, dropping 224 m
Food, water and services
No stretch is longer than 15 km without a café, shop or water. Along the route: 223 cafés and restaurants, 51 shops, 37 water points, 22 petrol stations, 6 public toilets and 22 bike shops.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 0 kmCiclofficina Popolare · bike shop · 160 m off route
- 0.3 kmDrinking water · 120 m off route
- 2.9 kmREL · petrol station · 80 m off route
- 3.3 kmDrinking water · on the route
- 15.6 kmDrinking water · 80 m off route
- 20.1 kmIP · petrol station · on the route
- 24.6 kmOsteria La Palazzina · restaurant · 180 m off route
- 36.5 kmDrinking water · on the route
- 40 kmDue Ruote · bike shop · 150 m off route
- 45.6 kmDr. Max · pharmacy · 40 m off route
- 45.9 kmCoop · supermarket · 200 m off route
- 50.3 kmIl Gallo da Nonna Dant · restaurant · on the route
- 54.5 kmGelateria Glassé · café · 70 m off route
- 54.7 kmToilets · 210 m off route
- 60.8 kmCMG · petrol station · 30 m off route
- 63.7 kmToilets · 60 m off route
- 66.5 kmDrinking water · 60 m off route
- 67.3 kmBiCi Ciclofficina · bike shop · 100 m off route
Need to bail out?
- 0 km — Bologna Santa Rita (halt), 310 m off route
- 45.6 km — Varignana (station), 940 m off route
- 55 km — Castel San Pietro Terme (station), 930 m off route
- 67.5 km — Imola (station), 750 m off route
Worth a stop
- 1.1 km — Monumento alla Brigata Partigiana Maiella (monument)
- 24.8 km — Area di sosta Via del Pilastrino (picnic site)
- 44.5 km — Claterna (archaeological site)
- 54.7 km — Torrione di piazza Garibaldi (ruins)
- 60 km — Madre Teresa di Calcutta (monument)
- 63.4 km — Sacrario ai Caduti della Prima Guerra Mondiale (monument)
Stay after this ride
- Hotel Ziò · hotel · 0 m from the finish
- Imola Residence · hotel · 280 m from the finish
- B&B Il Giardino Segreto di Alda Zanelli · guest house · 450 m from the finish
- Love and More House · guest house · 590 m from the finish
- Bed And Breakfast G.m. · guest house · 380 m from the finish
Start and access
At the start
- Food and coffee
- Baclas (190 m), Il gelato di Fini (140 m), Santa Rita (80 m)
- Shops
- Alimentari (10 m), Esselunga (350 m)
At the finish
- Food and coffee
- Caffetteria Elise (90 m), XYZ Bar (90 m), Forno Le 3 Mani (100 m)
- Shops
- Conad (90 m), OrtoVerde (130 m)
- Pharmacy and medical
- Cavour (60 m)
Know before you go
- Longest gap without café, shop or water is 8.7 km from 26.1 to 34.8 km
- 17.7 km on main roads without cycle lanes