Via degli Dei: Bologna - Firenze in 2 giorni in MTB. Giorno 2

Day 2 - Passo della Futa-Florence - 63km - 1740m dsl

We start from Il Sergente campsite to go up on asphalt to Passo della Futa and turn first right following the VD signs (on foot) plunging into the woods on a wide dirt road with a rather regular bottom with quite steep sections both uphill and downhill, with a few clearings from which you can see the panorama below, very fun and with some technical sections, especially downhill, you resume at Passo dell'Osteria Bruciata a dirt road more easily pedaled and, after Monte Alto, begins the first long descent on a forest path with an earth and rock surface, technical and fun until Sant'Agata, where you resume the asphalt road and breathtaking views toward San Piero a Sieve. Right in the middle of the village, climb right on steep asphalt (VD) that becomes narrow dirt road until you reach Castello del Trebbio, after which you descend left on narrow asphalt to climb again immediately after crossing the main road on first asphalt and then dirt road and steep path until you come out in front of the abbey of Montesenario, resume the path and climb again until you reach the Santuario dell'Addolorata di Montesenario, an excellent rest area with fountain and bar.

Descend on dirt, asphalt and then more dirt road that opens onto a hill ridge with spendid scenery (and to the right the Florence finish line is visible in the basin) with gentle ups and downs, followed by an ascent on a very steep trail with pushing stretches to Poggio Pratone, the last summit from which you descend on trails and dirt roads to end on the secondary asphalt leading to the northeastern outskirts of Florence. We proceed toward the center to end the Via between bicycle paths and narrow roads.

To return to Bologna we choose Flixbus, half an hour from the center, which, however, does not carry bicycles in the high season; it is equally difficult to find the IC train, since no bikes are carried on the Frecce.

Day 1

Asphalt 40% - Dirt 30% - Trails 30%; Physical condition: medium challenging; Technical difficulty: medium challenging