A trip of about 50 km along the Tanaro river from Alessandria to Asti, through changing countryside, mostly level, on roads with little traffic. Leave the railway station in Alessandria and turn left, heading west to the bridge over the Tanaro. Before the bridge, turn left on Strada Vecchia dei Bagliani, heading for Casalbagliano. The river is a matter of metres away, visible every now and then on the right. You can also get to it, here and elsewhere along the route, on tracks that lead to it from time to time. At the traffic lights in Casalbagliano, turn left for Villa del Foro, entering it by the cemetery. Continue towards Oviglio, then Masio. Here is the first bridge over the Tanaro after Alessandria and an ancient medieval tower that dominates the lower Tanaro valley. There’s a brief, steep climb to cross the village, before a gradual, slightly undulating uphill stretch to the hamlet of Mogliotti. The landscape is very different here, with vineyards and woods all around. The climbs ends at the Cantina Sociale, the local wine cooperative. Turn right to cross the hamlet. As soon as you're out you begin a beautiful descent to the flat area around Rocchetta Tanaro. At the bottom, take the Belveglio provincial road. Rocchetta is on the right, but the church of La Madonna delle Ciappellette with its pre-Romanesque apse is worth a quick visit. You can see it at the junction, some metres away on the left. After passing through Rocchetta, you enter the Rocchetta Tanaro Regional Park, which has some marked cycle paths and rest areas. Keep right, as close as possible to the course of the river. The track of about 2 km that takes you out of the park starts here. Come out onto the tarmacked road near the village of Sant'Anna and turn right towards the river. Cycle alongside the river for a stretch, until the turn for the 1 km climb to Azzano d'Asti. This is the only climb that’s a little challenging. The viewpoint overlooks the plain of Asti. After dropping down by some hairpin bends, you enter the village of Carretti at the church of Sant’Anna. Turn right onto a 1 km track, go under the bypass and through the village to come up to the bridge over the Tanaro that leads to the city. Alternatively, if you wish to avoid the track, you can continue straight along the provincial road that leads to Asti after passing through Torrazzo.