Now that we’re halfway through the competition, stage 10 of the Giro-E Enel 2026 takes us to the Varese area, where bikes are serious business. These cycling-friendly roads are home to the top riders of the area: Luigi Ganna, Alfredo Binda, Stefano Garzelli and the eternal Claudio Chiappucci, who took part in the Giro-E Enel 2026 as captain of the Regina team. Many local races are held here (most importantly the Three Varese valleys) and so are many championships (the 2008 UCI Road World Championships in Varese, with Alessandro Ballan winning the Men’s Road Race).
Today’s stage started in the quaint town of Angera, on the south-eastern shore of Varese Lake. It is known for its imposing fortress (called Rocca di Angera or Rocca Borromeo, named after the family that has owned it since 1449), which houses one of the most important museums of dolls and toys in all of Europe. The lakeside is very nice, as is the historical centre and the protected natural areas of the Oasi della Bruschera and the Isolino Partegora.
Angera is not only the starting point of today’s Giro-E stage, but also of the Varese-Angera, known as the little Milan-Sanremo, which is normally reserved for U17 cyclists (Pippo Ganna won it in 2012). If you return to the Garden City, as Varese is known owing to the wonderful medieval garden within the fortress, don’t forget to grab a book by Piero Chiara, the writer from Luino, another town facing Lake Maggiore, but all the way up north.
The Angera-Verbania stage
It was a nice ride for our e-cyclists, including motorbike racing world champion Marco Melandri, who has already taken part in the Giro-E. The stage was 67.5 kilometres long and featured 800 metres of elevation gain. Not an extremely demanding one, but nevertheless our cyclists had to pedal. The effort was certainly worth it, because the (partial) tour of Lake Maggiore on a bike is truly an experience you’ll want to have. Today’s path was the final part of the professionals’ stage, all on the Piedmont side of Lake Maggiore. The Giro-E joined this route after a 17.8 kilometre off-course section. From a cycling perspective, the stage got a bit more complicated in the final part, with the main difficulties being in Bieno (fourth category) and Ungiasca (third) before the long, final downhill section all the way to the finish line in Verbania. A “stroll” on the lakeside that offered insights for the next and more relaxing rides to discover the beauty and typical features of the area. One example is the “Sancarlone,” the huge statue standing on Sacro Monte di Arona. It was built between 1624 and 1698 and was dedicated to Saint Charles Borromeo. It is 35 metres high, making it the second highest bronze statue in the world after the Statue of Liberty in New York.
Stresa is home to a small port with ferries that take visitors to the Borromee Islands. Visiting the sumptuous palaces and gardens of the Isola Madre and Isola Bella is highly recommended: it is a truly unforgettable experience. Once back on the coast, you can visit the Pallavicino Park, a precious oasis of plants and animals that you just can’t skip. May is the time of the year all rose gardens bloom, so you can’t miss this opportunity.
When in Verbania, you just have to pay a visit to the Botanic Gardens of Villa Taranto, one of the most important botanic gardens in all Europe, with thousands of species and spectacular flowers. Many colours and scents can also be enjoyed in Villa Maioni, where the Camellia Library is, a botanic park with hundreds of different species.
