giro dello scorpione – program and proposed bike routes
On this page you’ll find the proposed program and bike routes for the Giro dello Scorpione 2015. These may chance a bit, but will give you a good idea of what to expect.
distance: 33 km / total ascent 447 m
The road leading to the panoramic viewpoint near Partinico
We end the first day of the Giro dello Scorpione with a dinner in one of the local restaurants (included in the price for the gds).
distance: 74 km / total ascent 960 m
Possible stops for drinks, ice cream, lunch, etc.: Bars/gelateria on the town square of Carini
The Carini climb
distance: 45 km/ total ascent 610 m
Possible stops for drinks, ice cream, lunch, etc.: Bars in the harbor of Castellammare del Golfo and Wine bar Cantina Aurelia.
In Castellammare del Golfo
Dinner in Ristorante Pizzeria La Batìa in Alcamo (optional).
distance: 75 km/ total ascent 1600 m
Possible stops for drinks, ice cream, lunch, etc.: Segesta archaeological park
My Ridley Helium SL near the temple of Segesta
On the climb to the Bosco di Alcamo
distance: 60 km/ total ascent 1060 m
Possible stops for drinks, ice cream, lunch, etc.: Segesta archaeological park.
On the climb to the temple and amphitheater of Segesta
Dinner in Ristorante Serisso 47 in Trapani (optional).
distance: 125 km / total ascent 2150 m
Possible stops for drinks, ice cream, lunch, etc.: Panoramic point near Castellammare del Golfo, Valderice/Erice and in Dattilo (Eurobar Di Michele Mazzara) where you’ll find the best cannoli!
The Medieval town of Erice on top of Monte Erice
On the climb to the Medieval town of Erice
distance: 59 km/ total ascent 1265 m
Possible stops for drinks, ice cream, lunch, etc.: Panoramic point near Castellammare del Golfo and in Valderice/Erice
On the climb to the Medieval town of Erice
At the entrance gate
Lunch in the town of Erice (optional).
Sports massage in Balestrate (optional, costs 50 Euros p.p. for one hour)
Dinner in Ristorante Il Gitano in Castellammare del Golfo (optional).
distance: 65 km / total ascent 925 m
Possible stops for drinks, ice cream, lunch, etc.: Bars in Grisì and Camporeale.
The hilly landscape between the towns of Grisì, San Cipirello and Camporeale
Lago Poma
distance: 40 km/ total ascent 530 m
Possible stops for drinks, ice cream, lunch, etc.: Bars in Grisì and Trappeto.
In the town of Trappeto
Wine, olive oil, cheese and salami tasting (included in the price for the gds).
Pizza! (included in the price for the gds).
distance: 125 km / total ascent 1815 m
Possible stops for drinks, ice cream, lunch, etc.: Bars in Piana dell’Occhio, Torretta, Sferracavallo and Carini.
The view from Piana dell’Occhio
distance: 47 km/ total ascent 505 m
Possible stops for drinks, ice cream, lunch, etc.: Bars in Piana dell’Occhio, Torretta and Carini.
On the descent to the town of Torretta
The hairpins of the descent to the town of Torretta
Dinner in Ristorante del Golfo in Castellammare del Golfo (optional).
distance: 76km / total ascent 1500 m
Possible stops for drinks, ice cream, lunch, etc.: Panoramic point at Castellammare del Golfo, bars in Scopello, and Balata di Baida.
Castellammare del Golfo
The area near the town of Balata di Baida
In the Scopello area
distance: 64 km/ total ascent 1175 m
Possible stops for drinks, ice cream, lunch, etc.: Panoramic point at Castellammare del Golfo and bars in Scopello.
Dinner in Ristorante Pizzeria La Balestra (optional).
Amici del Giro dello scorpione:
Sport 77 – visit the website
on-Sicily – visit the website
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about me
Ciao! I'm Don Bici and I'm a cycling guide on the sunny island of Sicily and ambassador for Polar bottle and Pursu nutrition. I blog about cycling in Sicily, training and beautiful bike routes and post lots of pictures of this beautiful part of the island (the area between Palermo and Trapani).
Click here to read more about me.
Is the giro also suitable for mountain bikers?
Ciao Rob! Mountain bikers are also welcome. I’ve done all rides, except for the one to the medieval town of Erice, on a mountain bike before, so they are certainly doable. However, the routes are made for road cyclists, so nothing off-road I’m afraid. I can point out some nice routes you can do on a MTB, like the one to Monte Inici, so on some days you could skip the programmed routes and do a route that’s more interesting by mtb. Arrivederci in Sicilia!
Looks excellent and suitable for a few of my clubmembers. Can you tell me more about the inclination of the Sicilian hills? Average percentage, maximum percentage? And will there be enough time left for the cyclists to meet with the non-cyclists, in other words, how long does an average ride take on the days you are proposing?
Buongiorno Ad,
Sure! There are lots of climbs with gradients up to 7% and a few with steeper stretches of 9-10%. There are no long, very steep climbs programmed. To give you some idea: the average of the short Segesta climb is 6.6%, the average of the Bosco di Alcamo climb is 7% and the average of the Carini climb is 4.8%.
It’s hard to say how long an average ride takes. In many cases we can be back after lunch, but it all depends on the skills of the cyclists, the number of stops to enjoy and take pics of the scenery and to eat or drink something and the chosen route (for every programmed route there’s an alternative, shorter route with less climbing). Cyclists are also free to decide to skip a ride if they prefer to stay in the Borgo delle Olive or go out with their family/non cycling partners. Besides, during the rides there are also several possibilities to join up with family and non cycling partners (for instance on the ride to Erice, to Scopello, to Segesta, etc.).
In short: there will be enough time for cyclists to spend with their partners/family.