Cycling in the Land of Venice and the Prosecco Hills: A Love Story on Two Wheels

They say you only really get to know a place when you leave it.

I was born in Treviso, a small city just north of Venice, surrounded by gentle hills, quiet roads, and a culture steeped in wine, food, and an incredible cycling tradition. It is the hometown of Pinarello, and has featured regularly in Giro stages, most recently in 2025. But like many, I didn’t truly appreciate the magic of my homeland until I left. I spent almost twenty years abroad, studying, working, living a life far from the gentle landscapes of the Veneto region.

Then I met Bob, a Canadian with a deep love for bicycles and mountains. He not only made me fall in love with cycling... he made me fall in love with home all over again.

Every time we visited my family in Italy, Bob would plan rides through the hills between Treviso and the Dolomites. He’d create GPX files, prep our bikes, and take us off the beaten path through vineyards, hilltop villages, and tiny trattorias I’d never noticed before. I started to see my own country through his eyes: not just as a place I came from, but as a place worth discovering,  deeply, slowly, one (sometimes labored) pedal stroke at a time.

That’s how CyclingHero was born.

We didn’t want to create just another bike tour company. We wanted to invite others to discover this quieter, more authentic Italy, far from the tourist crowds of Venice, Florence, or Rome, where the cappuccino is still less than €2 and the food tastes like mama's.

So here’s our invitation: come cycle the Prosecco Hills with us. 

Where Are the Prosecco Hills? Why Ride Here?

Tucked between the shimmering Adriatic coast and the dramatic peaks of the Dolomites lies one of Italy’s most quietly enchanting cycling destinations: the Prosecco Hills. A short ride from Venice and just north of Treviso, this landscape is a patchwork of vineyard-covered slopes, winding country roads, medieval villages, and forested ridge lines, and it's still a well-kept secret for international cyclists seeking the best cycling in Northern Italy.

This is Prosecco Superiore DOCG country, where centuries-old viticulture has shaped not only the wine but the landscape itself. In 2019, this region, specifically the area between Conegliano and Valdobbiadene, was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its unique “hogback” hills and man-made terraced vineyards. But for cyclists, it’s not just the views that make it special, it’s the way the terrain rides.

You’ll find yourself climbing gentle switchbacks that suddenly open onto panoramic views, descending into quiet valleys where time seems to have slowed down. Roads here are narrow but well-paved, most with very little traffic. And while Tuscany is undoubtedly beautiful, the Prosecco Hills offer a quieter, more intimate cycling experience, one where you can ride for hours and encounter more tractors than tour buses.

The Prosecco Hills offer that rare kind of cycling landscape that suits everyone, from the road cyclist chasing punchy climbs, to the gravel lover seeking off-the-beaten-path adventure, to the couple on e-bikes wanting to soak in the views (and maybe share a bottle of Prosecco at the end of the ride).

And if you're looking for a challenge while cycling in Northern Italy? You’ll find it here too. The legendary Passo San Boldo, with its dramatic hairpin tunnels carved into the mountainside, rises just beyond Valmareno and offers a short but unforgettable climb. And not far from the rolling wine country sits the mighty Monte Grappa, a true icon of Italian cycling and history. With its multiple ascents, some over 20 km long, it’s a mountain that has tested both World War I soldiers and Giro d’Italia pros.

And let me tell you this (Bob will probably be disappointed, he is the more rational one)… there’s also a romantic side to riding here, a slower pace, a warmer light, a certain intimacy with the land that makes this place feel deeply personal. Maybe that’s why some couples have even chosen to celebrate their honeymoon here on their bicycles with us. Sharing the road, the views, the climbs, and yes, the food and wine, becomes a way to connect not just with the land, but with each other.

And did you know? Many bike and bike-related manufacturers are based nearby: in addition to the already mentioned Pinarello, there is Campagnolo, Wilier-Triestina, Selle Italia, Castelli, Basso Bikes, SIDI, Fizik, Elite… just to name the most popular ones. I didn’t know much about them before meeting the Canadian… with the exception of Pinarello, of course. Giovanni “Nani” Pinarello was the one to whom I brought my little pink bike to be repaired when I was a child! 

Local Charm: Treviso, Asolo, and Hidden Villages

When people think of Northern Italy, they usually picture Venice, and rightly so. But just 30 km inland sits Treviso, my hometown and a true hidden gem. It’s a place of cobbled lanes, pastel palazzos, and quiet canals, where the spritz is cheaper, the crowds are fewer, and the rhythm of life feels effortlessly Italian. For cyclists, it’s also a perfect starting point: from here, you can roll straight out into the countryside (with a pitstop at the swanky Pinarello headquarters, of course!).

Follow along the gentle ridge of the Montello, and you’ll reach one of the jewels of the Prosecco Hills: Asolo, known as “the city of a hundred horizons.” This elegant hilltop town has inspired poets and painters for centuries. The ride up to it is short but sweet, and the view from the top, where terracotta rooftops spill into vineyards with the Alps in the distance, is worth every pedal stroke. An Asolo bike tour is always a highlight for our guests seeking the best cycling in the Prosecco Hills.

But Asolo is just the beginning. Head into the heart of the Prosecco area and you'll discover Rolle, a perfectly preserved village suspended in the hills, and Follina, with its Cistercian abbey and peaceful stone piazza, or Cison di Val Marino, dominated by the majestic medieval Castel Brando. These are the places where time slows down, where you can stop for a pastry or a glass of Cartizze (the premium Prosecco varietal) and feel like you’ve entered a postcard. These are the hidden villages of Italy you don’t find on the standard tourist trail.

For us, it’s the perfect balance of accessibility and authenticity. You’re only an hour from Venice, but you’re riding through the kinds of places that still feel untouched, where a morning spin can turn into a full-day adventure, and golden-hour descents lead you straight to a tiny osteria serving handmade gnocchi and local wine.

Bob and I spend much of our off-season out here, scouting new roads, riding gravel segments through old chestnut groves, or just following our curiosity into villages we’ve never heard of, and yes, often ending up in a trattoria we’ll come back to again and again. We’ve found tiny bakeries tucked behind church towers, family-run wineries where Nonna still does the bottling, and cafés that seem to exist purely for cyclists.

And we love sharing those discoveries.

Sustainable Travel and Cycling: Why It Matters

It’s no secret that Italy is under pressure from mass tourism, especially in places like Venice, Florence, and the Amalfi Coast. But just a few kilometers off the main tourist routes, you’ll find a very different Italy: one that’s slower, more welcoming, and still deeply connected to local traditions.

At CyclingHero, we believe the best way to discover this quieter Italy is by bike.

Cycling is one of the most sustainable ways to travel. It allows you to experience a region intimately and at a human pace, without the traffic, the noise, or the environmental footprint of conventional tourism. And it supports local economies in a meaningful way. When you stop at a family-run trattoria in the hills above Valdobbiadene, or buy wine directly from a small Prosecco producer in the village of Rolle, you’re contributing to a living, breathing landscape.

Our tours are designed to make that kind of responsible travel in Italy both easy and rewarding.

We don’t generally run larger group trips, with the exception of our special departures associated to select annual local cycling events. Instead, every CyclingHero trip is private, supported, and custom-built to your pace and preferences. You choose your start date, your ride length, your level of challenge, your cycling companions and we take care of the rest. This means less strain on local infrastructure, and more flexibility for you.

And even if you decide to come on one of our trips on your own, you're never really alone.

Our CyclingHero Companion App is your co-pilot on the road. It offers:

• Daily ride options with multiple route lengths and profiles
• GPX files and elevation charts
• Cultural tips, food suggestions, and café stops marked along the way
• Live location sharing with our team, so we can ensure your safety and assist if needed

For us, cycling isn’t just a sport. It’s a way to build a more authentic and more sustainable kind of tourism, one that gives back to the land we love.

If you’re looking for a boutique bike tour in Italy that combines freedom, personal attention, and purpose, your Prosecco cycling holiday starts here. Check out our handpicked Veneto and Prosecco Hills cycling tours and get inspired. Whether you ride a road bike, gravel bike, or e-bike, we’ll tailor everything to you for what we believe are truly the best cycling trips in Italy.

Or better yet, book a free call or send us an email. We’re happy to help you build your perfect cycling trip in the land of Venice and make your next cycling holiday unforgettable.