21 uphill slopes, 21 stages and 21 different locations throughout the Verbano Cusio Ossola territory. All of this can be disovered and reached on just two wheels. Mountain bikes of city bikes, a good, strong pair of legs and the desire to discover a land that moves from the lake's waters to the peaks of the Alps.

Le salite del Vco [The VCO's slopes] is the title of this initiative, now at its fifth edition, which offers various routes that can be covered by bicycle throughout the Verbano Cusio Ossola territory, passing lakes (Maggiore, Mergozzo and Orta) and reaching the Ossola Valleys. Routes submerged in the purest and most suggestive natural surroundings, but also itineraries steeped in history and curiosities all to be discovered on two wheels. Participants can buy a membership for the event, at the cost of 25 euros, which must be shown at each of the 21 checkpoints that make up the circuit, where, upon arrival they will receive a cycling suit. The aim of the initiative is to collect funds for the fight against muscular dystrophy.

The three areas that make up the VCO province have each proposed seven itineraries. In the Verbano district the seven areas are Alpe Pala, the small villane of Cicogna, Gurro, Piancavallo, Pollino, the historic Trarego and Sant'Agata. Moving on to Cusio the areas to reach are Alpe Quaggione, Boleto, Campello Monti in Val Strona, Coiromonte, Luzzogno, Montebuglio and Mottarone. Perhaps the most intense but by no means less spectacular, are the Ossola itinineraries which cover Alpe Cheggio in Valle Antrona, Alpe Soi in Valle Anzasca, the famous Toce falls in Val Formazza, Formarco in lower Ossola , San Bernardo in Val Bognanco and the pictorial Santa Maria Maggiore in Val Vigezzo. Membership cards can be bought at the following sales points

Verbano: Ver-Bike, c.so Europa, 64 VERBANIA PALLANZA tel. 0323 501475Ciclomania Barale, c.so Cairoli, 63 VERBANIA INTRA tel. 0323 519516

Cusio: RC-Bike, via IV Novembre, 137 CRUSINALLO di OMEGNA tel. 0323 883078

Cicli Pitillo, via Alberganti, 2OMEGNA tel. 0323 661804Sport e bike, via F.lli DI Dio, 61OMEGNA tel. 0323 887380

Ossola: Ciclomania Barale, via Giovanni XXIII, 64 DOMODOSSOLA tel. 0324 241203Ciclope, via Sempione, 41, VILLADOSSOLA tel. 0324 53845Pro Loco Domodossola Iat, atrio stazione FFSS in piazza Matteotti, DOMODOSSOLA tel. 0324 248265