01 Malatesta Castles

This is the so-called “short route” of the famous local “Malatesta Castles” road race of over 100 km, which takes at least four hours to finish at a good speed, considering the altitude range of over 2000 metres it covers.Our route leads through towns and villages with a wealth of history, in the shadow of perfectly conserved castles left by the Malatesta Dynasty that once ruled the area.Starting from the hotel, the route continues through the town towards Ospedaletto/Faetano Lake on the road running along side the River Marano. This is a fast stretch with little traffic and excellent as a warm-up, ascending only 100 metres over more than 15 km of road.From here we enter the Republic of San Marino, climbing along the ridge dominated by its view of San Marino’s Three Towers until we reach the lower slopes of the main mountain.

Detail climb San Marino m 467 asl Total climb 744 meters in 17.9 km average gradient 4.9% 19.6% slope up rise time 48m

We then climb up to Borgo Maggiore with an average gradient of 10%, andat 450 metres AMSL turn off towards Ventoso to return into Italy, with a downhill run of 8 km. At the end of this, we branch off towards Verucchio, another pearl of the local countryside (fountain at edge of square).

Detail climb Sogliano al Rubicone m 339 asl Total climb of 388 meters in 10.7 km average gradient 4.5% 16.5% slope up rise time 33m

After cycling thorough the town centre we follow the road down to the floor of the Marecchia Valley, and after crossing the river beneath the peaks of Torriana we reach Poggio Berni, slightly downhill.Passing Camerano we continue towards Sogliano al Rubicone along one of the most popular roads with local cyclists.Along its 13 km it has an average gradient of 5%, with 14% at some points, passing through the village of Borghi (fountain in main square) to reach the 350 metres AMSL of Sogliano al Rubicone, where a stop to fill flasks from the fountain in the town centre is essential.

Detail climb Torriana m 291 asl Total climb of 202 meters in 2.3 km average gradient 8.6% 18.3% slope up rise time 33m

The route then turns back with a long an exhilarating downhill stretchthat passes once again beneath Torriana and then climbs up to Verucchio, but then turning off to Rimini towards Cantelli, at the start of the road known locally as “Coste di Sgrigna”.This is a stretch of about 14 km running along the ridge between the Marecchia Valley and the adjacent valley of San Marino, almost all of it downhill, fast and with a good asphalt surface, and with curves offering splendid panoramas of the Romagna coast and the road that leads us finally back to the hotel.

Detail climb Verucchio m 299 asl Total climb of 246 meters in 3.1 km average gradient 7.9% maximum 15% slope rise time 14m