From Cadenazzo, a paved road leads to Sant'Antonino at a mostly level altitude, perfect for warming up. The loop tour of Monte Ceneri is also an immersion in the past: information panels teach you interesting facts about the history of the villages, their inhabitants and the transport routes. The mountain bike tour starts with an ascent, first on a paved road through Paiardi, then on a comfortable forest road. Crossing a well-tended chestnut grove and passing an arboretum, the route climbs towards Monti dei Bassi. A short but fun single trail awaits you here. Interrupted by a paved section, the second single trail soon follows. There are a few exposed spots on this one, where it is best to push the mountain bike. After about one and a half kilometres, the terrain becomes easier. Alternating between asphalt and single trails, you reach Robasacco on the northern slope of Monte Ceneri. The chestnut forests there are among the most magnificent in Ticino.

The route continues to climb towards Monte Ceneri. You cross the ancient chestnut forest of Pontiva on a mix of single trails and dirt roads. Short steep sections will raise the pulse of even the most trained mountain bikers. Down below: the Ceneri base tunnel which digs its way through the rock beneath the mountain bikers. The military area of Monte Ceneri is home to a logistics centre of the Swiss army and an armoury. The landmark at the top of the pass is the totem on the Piazza Ticino. The square symbolises the unity of the regions of Locarno, Bellinzona and Lugano which was strengthened by the Gotthard and Ceneri alpine transit tunnels and is expressed in the totem: it consists of rock dredged during the construction of the tunnel.

Finally, more trails follow, not difficult, but sometimes slippery, winding through the woods down to Contone and back to the Cadenazzo train station. Did you know that the region around Monte Ceneri has been the venue of international competitions several times? For instance, the European Mountain Bike Championships 2020 took place here. You can thus ride on trails where professionals from all over the world have competed.