Strada dell’Assietta

One of Sauze d’Oulx hidden gems, the Strada dell’Assietta is a wonderful trail for mountain bikers, hikers and off-road vehicles. The road can be accessed from Sportinia or directly from Sauze by cycling/driving up via Clotes or Via Dalmare.

Image: Strada dell’Assietta Map

About

The Strada dell’Assietta or Strada Provinciale 173 (SP173) is roughly 35 kilometres long, running from Sestriere to Pian dell’Alpe (just below Colle delle Finestre). It is closed to all vehicles except bicycles on Wednesdays and Saturdays in July and August between 09:00 and 17:00.

The road is almost entirely above 2000 metres altitude and so is only open from July 1 to October 31. It runs along the ridge that separates the Val Chisone and Susa valley and passes several mountain passes between these valleys including Testa dell’Assietta (2,566 m), Colle Blegier (2,379 m), Colle Costa Piana (2322 m), Colle Lauson (2,491 m), Colle Bourget ( 2,299 m) and Col Basset (2,424 m).

HISTORY

The road was built in the late 1800s for military purposes and the ruins of forts still remain.Today, some farmers use the road to access their land, but the primary use is by tourists, particularly people on touring motorbikes and mountain bikes. The surface is rough dirt and rock and is generally only wide enough for one vehicle.

This high altitude ridge above Sauze d’Oulx has been of military importance since the 1700’s. However the current road and most of the fortifications were built/began in the late 1800s with additions leading into both World Wars.

In 1747, the Battle of Assietta was fought at altitude here during the War of the Austrian Succession. The Piemontese were forced to spread their forces protecting 13 passes, but successively repelled the French invaders inflicting over 5000 casualties (3700 killed including 7 French generals). This great Savoy-Piemontese victory is still celebrated every July 19th with costumed ceremonies at the colle.

For further information view the Strada dell’Assietta website.

Cm2white, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

CYCLING

The Strada dell’Assietta is a great place for mountain bike riding on an unmade road.

The eastern end of the road is very close to the Colle delle Finestre (a road that is also mostly unpaved on the northern side), which has been featured in several professional cycling races, including Stage 20 of the 2015 Giro d’Italia.

OFF-ROAD

For some of the routes view our Off-Road page

Image: Strada dell’Assietta

CYCLING CHALLENGE

One excellent resource for mountain & gravel biking is the Cycling Challenge website.

For turn by turn pictures and information on the Strada dell’Assietta view this Cycling Challenge page.

Along with the full Assietta information you can also see a breakdown of the Colle delle Finestre & Colle dell’Assietta, a more general Colle dell’Assietta ride here (which includes riding up from Sauze d’Oulx).

There’s also details about the Colle delle Finestre here including a video.

MTB ROUTES

Here’s a selection of mountain biking routes that include part of the Strada dell’Assietta

Testa dell’Assietta

Difficulty: difficult

Distance: 23.9 km

Duration: 5:00 h

Ascent: 1,079 m

Highest: 2,545 m

Lowest: 1,480 m

VIEW MAP

La Via dei Saraceni

Difficulty: difficult

Distance: 33.7 km

Duration: 5:50 h

Ascent: 1,179 m

Highest: 2,510 m

Lowest: 1,480 m

VIEW MAP

Rocce Nere – Testa dell’Assietta

Difficulty: difficult

Distance: 34.6 km

Duration: 5:10 h

Ascent: 1,382 m

Highest: 2,562 m

Lowest: 1,486 m

VIEW MAP

FOUR RIDES

#1 Strada dell’Assietta & Strada Militare Colle delle Finestre from Sauze d’Oulx

This incredible 91 kilometre loop starts from Sportinia. It’s a 1000 metres of climbing on a fun Assietta access road (purple on map) just to reach Col Basset and the Strada dell’Assietta. The route then rides Strada dell’Assietta until Colle dell’Assietta turning higher onto the Strada Militare Colle delle Finestre, finally returning to the start by riding Strada dell’Assietta from Pian dell’Alpe until Col Basset.

#2 Colle delle Finestre, Colle dell’Assietta, and Above

This route climbs the famous side of Colle delle Finestre, joins Strada dell’Assietta until Colle dell’Assietta, finally looping back on the high yellow Strada Militare delle Finestre – Gran Serin.

#3 Strada dell’Assietta via Parco Naturale Gran Bosco

The brown route on the map. This amazing climb on unpaved roads (closed to cars) climbs 1400 metres – much through the woods of the Parco Naturale Gran Bosco – to join Strada del’Assietta. It also includes a detour up Monte Gran Costa to a fort at 2615 metres, high above Assietta. Finally, it descends via an old Strada dei Cannoni trail.

#4 Full Strada dell’Assietta

This loop starts in Sestriere and rides the entire Strada dell’Assietta, it then descends the less famous (light green) side of Colle delle Finestre (it also includes a detour up to Mont Fraiteve – 2702m). Finally, it climbs back to Sestriere – much of the way on unpaved trails – although the main road is possible (and much faster).