The Giro (capital G) di Lombardia, the first one, on November 12, 1905. Ready, set, go, at 6:50 AM. The rain made the first selection: of the 74 registered riders, only 55 showed up. Then 230 kilometers, most of it through mud. The Red Devil triumphed – Giovanni Gerbi –, time 9:13'52", average speed 24.970 km/h, more than 40 minutes ahead of second-place Giovanni Rossignoli, and third-place Luigi Ganna. Among the prizes for the winner was, among other things, a gold medal from the Municipality of Milan. Among those who fell, the favorite, Giovanni Cuniolo, in Lodi, crashed to avoid a tram.

Today a giro (lowercase g) di Lombardia is simpler, easier, even more beautiful. Especially if you follow the work composed by Albano Marcarini, published by Ediciclo, titled "Lombardy by Bicycle" (384 pages, 25 euros), subtitled "Complete guide to cycle routes and gravel paths, cycle paths, bike lanes and greenways".

Cycle tourism of the giro di Lombardia was born before the cycling of the Giro di Lombardia, Marcarini claims in the introduction: "In January 1895 the newspaper 'La Bicicletta', published in Milan, published the first itinerary reserved for cycle tourists, described and illustrated with map and elevation profile. It was the classic route Milan-Asso-Bellagio along the Valassina Road, which would later be frequently included in the Giro di Lombardia route". Marcarini, after more than 130 years, has explored, compiled, developed and refined the network of trails and roads to show "how many and what kind of routes exist in Lombardy that guarantee a certain degree of safety for the cycle tourist". Because safety, now more than ever, is decisive. Thus, better to emphasize it, "cycle paths, cycle roads, gravel routes, greenways, former railway routes, canal towpaths and river embankments, urban and non-urban bike lanes".

They exist. And there are many. The author divides them into six categories: major inter-regional routes; along the Po; along the great rivers of the plain; along other rivers, canals and waterways; in the great plain and among the hills; Alps and Pre-Alps. The longest is the UNESCO Grand Tour of Lombardy, approximately 820 km, starting and ending in Milan, on gravel. The shortest is the Riso Valley, 3.3 km, from Ponte Nossa to Riso in the Bergamo area, by touring bike. Three are the flattest, with 10 meters of elevation gain: the Via dei Prati Iemali, a gravel route from Casterno to Soria Vecchia in the Lower Milanese area; the Via d'Acqua Nord, a cycle route from Garbagnate Milanese to Rho; and the right bank of the Secchia, a cycle path from Bondanello in the Mantua area.

In total 116 routes for more than 5,000 km, with GPS tracks, maps and elevation profiles, photographs, descriptions and technical information sheets. A deep and monumental work. A clear and simple text.