2025: Pisa to Nice
We completed four days of incredible riding from Italy across the border into France, to finish by the sea.
From 24th - 29th September 2025 we cycled just under 600 km with about 6,000 m of elevation. Starting in Pisa with scenic climbs through Tuscany and passing through historic Lucca, the ride continued with coastal views, mountain roads, and the epic ascent to Col de la Lombarde. The route combined challenging climbs with breathtaking scenery, finishing in the centre of Nice.
One More City regular rider Pete Lunt gives us a review of One More City 2025:
“As we finish the 8th (or 9th, if the inaugural London to Paris is included) One More City ride, it’s difficult not to reflect on past editions, and the journey collectively taken. Smashing the Flemish cobbles on our way to Amsterdam. A year later departing in atrociously wet conditions for a cold, frigid 4-day journey to Strasbourg. With COVID, finishing the first day in the cold, dark North while the mist settled and the temperature plunged. And the following year, the West Country, freezing on Dartmoor. With some kind of normalcy, the beautiful autumnal forests as we finally left Strasbourg heading south to Munich. Then crossing into Austria and over the high mountain passes in glorious sunshine to Venice. The words “Italy is not flat” rings true on our route to Rome, which brings us to 2025: Pisa (Rome was going to be busier than usual thanks to the Pope) to Nice.
What would be the standout memory of 2025?
The purpose remains the same. Raise awareness of and funds to research treatments, and hopefully cures, for secondary breast cancer. It’s this which brings a group of 37 riders, 4 support crew (and 1 route reconnaissance champion) to take 4 days out of daily life to sit on a bike with friends and soon to be friends.
Everyone has a story, a friend, past or present.
Day 1: Pisa to Marina di Massa
A little over 100 km, a little under 1000 m
As the crow flies, about 50km and pancake flat between Pisa and Massa, but there is no One More City spirit in that. While short compared to other “day 1s”, a few ramps and fast descents were the offer on the day. But first, obligatory start line photos. And where else but in the shadow of the fabled leaning tower? With that done, groups headed into a bit of morning traffic and then traced the arrow straight ‘Acquedotto Mediceo’, a Medici creation finished in 1613 supplying precious water to the village of Pisa.
For our group, we split in half: professional images of the Rapha One More City kit were captured for the early October launch. For the balance, in fine tradition, we headed for the first coffee at Torrefazione Drupa, a mere 30 km up the road. Hearing of other groups stopping in Lucca, a further 20 km along, second coffee, this time with excellent bombolini. Now, with an unhealthy caffeine to kilometre ratio, it was time to attack the Tuscan hills. There were not the Strade Bianche type roads one might associate with Tuscany. Instead, paved roads with verdant vineyards and olive trees, churches atop hills and very little traffic.
A fast, flowing descent led us to a small village. A left turn, up a little climb where the pavement ended and a gravel track began. There, on the side of a hill, sat a little oasis of tables and chairs, outside. Bread and olive oil, water, pasta, espresso and, mosquitoes. Good thing it was mostly downhill back to the coast. A cross tail wind carried us the remaining 20 km or so to our lovely hotel for an early finish and for some, a swim in the Mediterranean.
Day 2: Marina di Massa to Genoa
Three climbs – about 160 km and 2000+ m
The route today would take us high above the world-famous Cinque Terre, the five lands, popular with tourists, locals and more popular with influencers. The colourful and photogenic architecture, set in the steep slopes abutting the sea acting like a magnet. Our route would take us past the Fontana Di Fausto Coppi. Il Campionissimo won the Giro d’Italia five times the Tour de France twice. Coppi (a) revolutionised nutrition, some say amphetamines in the bidon is a great way to go faster and (b) shocked conservative Italy with an affair and a divorce. Still, his exploits helped to unify a divided post war Italy, it was nice to sit briefly where maybe he (or his domestiques) once filled his bottles and, as it’s said, performance enhancing drugs do not turn a mule into a racehorse.
The day started wet, damp from overnight rain and leaden skies. The chatter centred around waterproof booties and shakedry gore-tex jackets. Either way, puddles, potholes, road furniture, poor visibility and heavy rain marked the initial kilometres of the day. At the first opportunity, coffee and pastry were the antidote to the wet conditions and bad traffic. The road tilted upwards and the rain cleared, which was a blessing for the views as well as enjoying the flat ridge line section. A fast descent, more coffee while the team regrouped and then back to climbing towards our lunch spot. On the menu was pasta (with pesto), followed by chicken, chips and salad and for some, a small glass of vino rosso. This was the first of 3, 100-mile days so important to replace energy, after all. A few more ups and downs until quiet country lanes turned to traffic congested city roads and a twilight arrival into our industrial zone located hotel on the outskirts of Genova.
Day 3: Genoa to Cuneo
A series of shorter climbs and one long stretch – 160 km and 1800 m
On paper, an undulating start along the coast, followed by a solid but not steep, fairly constant gradient climb up the escarpment to (early) lunch, then a few more lumps before a flat run into Cuneo.
At the start, plenty of nerves about possible rain, and while overcast, it was neither cold nor wet. Our route led to a tour of the industrial side of Genova which the tourist attracted by this historical city doesn’t see, before dropping us onto the coastal road. Being Saturday, many Italians on bikes heading out for their club rides and, a beautiful traffic free path complete with tunnels, along the sea front. Before the climb, a quick top up of espresso and pastry. We split on the climb and regrouped on the run into an early lunch – pasta or pizza (!) – our hosts accommodating our needs.
A long steady climb followed, past a collection of giant objects (where some sought rest and enjoyed the views) while others pushed on. Over the top, another flowing fast descent and a little detour onto C road, shall we say. It wouldn’t be One More City without a 15-20% ramp, and here it brutally arrived. Turning off a delightful valley road, surrounded by early autumnal forests and farmland, a lung busting but relatively short pinch with views at the top. On the upside, gelato was mere kilometres away.
Having refilled bidons and bellies alike, it was on for the last 30 or 40 km into Cuneo. And when I say on, I mean we rode tempo through endless orchards and fields of maize. On our left and in the distance, with moody skies sat the high mountain passes we would hopefully traverse tomorrow. With 10 km to go, a stop was called and a bag of jelly babies handed around topping up the energy stores for the final run along busy roads to our hotel. We were warned not to wear socks through the lobby…
Day 4: The epic day. Cuneo to Nice
Just one climb but it was one to remember – 160 km and 2300 m
The Queen Stage. Col de la Lombarde (Colle della Lombarda) (el. 2351 m.)
Starting at ~500m above sea level, in the shadow of the Alps and the Dolomites, meant a certain level of crispness at this time of year. Long fingered gloves, jackets or insulated gilets, polka dot dress for one lucky individual plus many doubts about the trade offs between leg warmers, weight, carrying capacity and over heating. While a cold start, clear blue skies signalled it would warm up and hopefully be a not too hot – not too cold kind of climb.
It was pretty much up from the go, gentle and rolling at first, along lovely country lanes nestled amongst oak trees where, we assume, truffle hunters were out early searching. It might have been a bit stressful for the proprietor of the little café at the base of the Lombard when 35 cyclists arrived in a 15-minute window and basically cleaned the place of pastry products and coffee, however, we needed it. It’s not often the Garmin (or wahoo) displays a climb of 20.9km at an average 9% gradient. This climb has 3 parts: switchbacks to soften the steepness and take one out of valley floor, a flowing climb through forest and rock fields and, above the tree line for an exposed final few kilometres up to the pass. Sun was out, the warmth balanced by shade from the trees and the cold breeze coming of the snow that fell earlier in the week. The air was clear and clean, with plenty of water available from creative roadside fountains, and views for days provided a distraction. Unless one was in the ‘fast group’ trying for the QOM/KOM.
Over the top, it was basically 50km of downhill: 30k of steep and technical, 20k of rolling down the Tínee Valley - a deep weathered canyon with a solid blast of wind blowing and blustering against us. While technically a descent, we had to turn the pedals to maintain progress. With lower altitude came higher temperatures, and strict instructions to be at the lunch stop as one large group. For a change, it was sandwiches on the roadside accompanied by whatever one bought from the café. Portraits holding icy poles to capture the moment. And then, it was gruppo compacto to navigate the tunnels within the time window and in the manner agreed with the City of Nice.
It was one long line of riders after the tunnels – the road opened up to dual lanes and it was perfect to sit on a wheel. Until the peloton blew apart and fragmented back into groups. A tiny accidental sit down clipping a road block led to minor scratches (fortunately) and a dog off its lead caused an unplanned stop while said dog ran away from its owner, chasing a solo rider. Bike paths led to a main road where it was all a bit uncertain whether we should or should not be playing with cars or seeking safer options. Either way, before long we traded queues of traffic for a narrow bike path dealing with tourists, scooters and e-bike riders for the final few kilometres into Nice. A photo shoot on the pebbly beach, a few more k’s to the hotel, and then shower, beer and dinner, not necessarily in that order.
And the memory? Neither a place nor a moment, but a gentleman quietly and assuredly completing One More City on a Brompton. Complete with front bag, tail rack and a dodgy back tyre (until it was replaced), deserves a chapeau. A first, and possibly a last, but hopefully again.”
One More City 2025 has raised more than £63,000.
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Photography by Vincent Engel. View our 2025 Flickr Album.