The Granfondo Dolci Terre di Novi is held on the second Sunday of every April in Novi Ligure. This classic race is organised by Overall Cycling Team in Novi Ligure (http://www.teamoverall.it) in collaboration with ASD Costante Girardengo in Cassano Spinola.
The Mediofondo, on the other hand, is the shorter version of its big brother, but still covers a fair distance of 94 km, with an overall climb of more than 1,100 m. This shorter route is all within Alto Monferrato.
The race is designed for cyclists signed up to clubs and begins in Novi Ligure, town of champions. It is the opening event of the Coppa Piemonte for amateur cyclists. You can follow the route of the Mediofondo Dolci Terre di Novi on your own throughout the year, and discover the beauties of these landscapes in the process. The shorter route is all within Alto Monferrato, with its hills teeming with the vineyards that produce the fine local wines.
Just like the Mediofondo, the route starts in the big car park in Piazza Stefano Pernigotti in Novi Ligure. The Mediofondo route is similar to the one for the bigger Granfondo until Arquata Scrivia. But we'll describe it in detail.
The route goes through part of the Lemme valley before immersing you in the beautiful hill country around Gavi. Go along Corso Romualdo Marenco, then Corso Piave, Via Urbano Rattazzi, Via Pietro Mascagni and the SP 56 until Pasturana. Go through a series of Monferrato villages – Pasturana, Basaluzzo, Francavilla Bisio and San Cristoforo – and you'll come to La Cammarella, the first challenging climb on the route, short but fairly steep (1.55 km at 7.16%). Pass Castelletto d’Orba and then make a second climb to Montaldeo (4 km at 4.5%) but less challenging than the previous one. Carry on to Mornese and the nearby village of Mazzarelli, the highest point on the route. Now the ups and downs begin until the junction with Bosio. Turn left and go downhill to Costa Santo Stefano. Shortly after is the climb to Cadegualchi, 1.5 km at 6.8%, followed by some more ups and downs along the ridge of the hill, between vineyards and open fields. From Parodi Ligure, a short descent takes you to the junction for Cadepiaggio, from where there's another climb of 2 km at 7% to Nebbioli. The countryside here on the slopes of the Lemme valley is fantastic. Go down to Gavi, where the last and longest climb on the route, at 5.4 km and 4.2%, begins.
The descent to Carrosio brings you back to the river Lemme. Once you've passed Gavi, go into the tunnel at Monte Croce dei Rossi, which is 510 m long, then to Crenna and down to Libarna in the Scrivia valley. A little further on in Arquata Scrivia, the last 28 km of the route begins. It's almost all downhill but seems flat, with the exceptions of Cassano, where there are some very hard stretches in the Pian dei Botti and after Merella with Lo Zucchero. Arrive in Novi Ligure where you'll find Museo dei Campionissimi, the museum of Costante Girardengo and Fausto Coppi, on Viale dei Campionissimi.