Where the road ends, the mountains begin. Forno, at the confluence of the valley of Sea and the valley of Gura, a pleasant, silent place like its famous sanctuary dedicated to the Blessed Virgin of Loreto from which usually the excursions to the mountains depart. Pedalling along the SP33, which starts at the crossroads of Mezzenile, a road with little traffic, because it does not go anywhere, but this time it is even less haunted because of the restrictions that limit our mobility in the red zone of covid-19, no one around, not the usual tourists and not the usual mountaineers of the valleys.
Once known among the valleys of Lanzo for the small town of Groscavallo, where also was possible practice cross-country skiing and skating in the winter months. Today there are still some signs, the empty parking lots, a couple of nice restaurants closed and the sound of the river.
A gentle climb, never stiff, the perfect awakening ride after the winter when you just want to go far and think about nothing, not even the fatigue of an alpine pass, still far away in the season. A gentle climb that lets you pedal with your head held high and aim for the snow-covered peaks. It seems you can reach them along the way as they get closer and closer, the snow increases as you climb to the side of the road, the sun is hot, but the air is fresh. I think how lucky I am to be able to cycle in this peaceful road, rocked by the wind, kissed by the sun.
About halfway up the climb, by the town of Breno, a curious succession of tanks opens up on the left side of the road. That unusual fam immediately attracted my attention, the tanks are full of fish. Even from the street, I could spot the trouts jumping. I stopped enchanted and for a moment I though about going to get a couple of trouts for dinner, but then the image in my mind got cancelled by the fear of never being able to remove the smell from the bag!
It has been a long ride from Turin, on the slightly hardened saddle of my old bicycle, I was afraid of arriving tired at the end of the day, but in reality, the view of the mountains had recharged my batteries, so on the way back, I allowed myself to a detour towards minor roads with a constant up and down until the arrival. A tour that I would like to recommend to those who live not too far away, a good alternative to the more demanding climb of Pian della Mussa in cold seasons.
Go for Plan B 
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