San Remo Cycling — Colle d'Oggia Mountain Loop
About this Route
← Italian Riviera Liguria Cycling GuideA demanding loop from San Remo into the Ligurian hinterland. Colle d'Oggia is a Category 1 climb of 13.2km at 6.9% average — rising from the coast to 1,118 metres through olive groves and remote mountain villages. WorldTour teams train on these roads throughout the winter. 82 kilometres, 1,182 metres of climbing.
The first 20 km of this route gave no indication of what was coming. From San Remo the road follows the Ligurian coast east -- flat, fast, hugging the sea past Santo Stefano al Mare and on toward Imperia. It felt like a rest day warm-up. Then the road turned inland, and everything changed.
The climbing begins gently through olive groves and terraced hillside villages, but the gradient builds steadily as you gain height. The road narrows and quietens -- by the time you are committed to the upper slopes of Colle d'Oggia there is almost no traffic at all, just the sound of the bike on the tarmac. The climb is 13.2 km at 6.9% average, a sustained Category 1 effort that rises from the valley floor to 1,118 metres. When I rode this the views from the upper section were extraordinary -- the Ligurian Alps in every direction and the Mediterranean reduced to a thin blue line far below.
The summit felt genuinely remote. This is not a tourist road, and I had it almost entirely to myself. The descent drops through the hinterland on fast, sweeping roads -- through villages that feel unchanged in decades -- before eventually returning to the coast and the final flat kilometres back into San Remo. WorldTour teams train on these roads throughout the winter, and having ridden it I can see why -- it is serious climbing on beautiful, quiet roads.
Kilometre by Kilometre
From San Remo the route follows the coast east for approximately 20 km of flat riding to Imperia, hugging the Ligurian Sea. At Imperia the road turns inland and begins climbing through terraced olive groves and characteristic hill villages toward the foot of the main climb.
13.2km at 6.9% average — a sustained Category 1 climb to 1,118 metres. The gradient is consistent throughout with no brutal ramps. Views over the Ligurian Alps and the Mediterranean open up as you gain height.
A long descent through the hinterland before the final coastal section returns to San Remo.
Gallery
On the Road
Route map & elevation profile
Key Climbs
Tips & Local Knowledge
- Best ridden October to May — summer heat on south-facing slopes can be extreme
- WorldTour teams train on these roads in winter — you may encounter professional riders
- The upper section of Colle d'Oggia is remote — carry sufficient food and water
- Views from the summit on a clear day extend to Corsica and the French Riviera
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Route Details
- Country
- Italy
For experienced cyclists. Significant elevation and demanding distances.