Bicipace
The historic inter-provincial bike ride for peace and the environment
About Bicipace
A ride that carries a message
Bicipace is one of the longest-running and most popular cycling events in Northern Italy: every year, on a Sunday in May, thousands of people hop on their bikes to ride together in the name of peace, the environment, and solidarity. Promoted by the Legambiente Il Pioppo Circle and the Galliate Peace Laboratory in the province of Novara, it is considered the most important inter-provincial event dedicated to these themes, supported by dozens of municipalities across the provinces of Novara, Varese, and Milan.
From Galliate to a common goal
The hallmark of Bicipace is its decentralized start: from Galliate, in the Novara area, as well as from numerous other towns in Western Ticino, the Novara region, and the Milan metropolitan area, caravans of cyclists set off, meeting along the route and converging on a single destination. The long line of bicycles winds through the countryside, canals, and villages of the territory, often stopping at bridges and symbolic locations for moments of gathering.
The arrival: celebration, food, and culture
The most convivial part of the day takes place upon arrival. The program typically includes a low-impact lunch prepared by volunteers using natural food, as well as guided tours, exhibitions, live music, dancing, book stalls, and workshops for children. There is also the traditional charity raffle, with proceeds supporting humanitarian and environmental projects. It is an opportunity to combine the sporting and gentle nature of cycling with a moment of collective celebration and reflection.
A tradition of the Piedmont and Lombardy regions
Born in the 1980s, Bicipace has managed to reinvent itself while keeping its original spirit intact: using the bicycle as a tool for sustainable mobility and as a symbolic gesture against war and land consumption. Each edition chooses a theme linked to international current events and local environmental issues. For those visiting Piedmont and the province of Novara in the spring, it is an appointment that showcases the civic and environmentalist soul of this lowland landscape, among rice fields, canals, and ancient villages.
Bicipace — edition 2026
The 42nd edition of Bicipace, on Sunday, May 17, 2026, focused on the theme "The World at War": a cry against rearmament and land consumption, with thoughts turned toward the conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza, and other forgotten crises. The event brought together over a thousand cyclists with the patronage of about 25 municipalities in the provinces of Novara, Varese, and Milan.
The destination for this edition was Villa Annoni in Cuggiono, an 18th-century residence with a 23-hectare park, where the arrival party took place.
Programme Bicipace 2026
Sunday, May 17, 2026 — "The World at War"
Bicipace is characterized by decentralized departures from multiple cities, with caravans converging toward Villa Annoni in Cuggiono.
- From Galliate (NO): meeting in the square at 10:45 AM, departure at 11:00 AM.
- Intermediate stop: meeting at the Padregnana bridge, towards Turbigo, around 11:30 AM.
- From Rho (MI): meeting at 8:45 AM in front of the Town Hall, in Piazza Visconti; first stop in Vanzago, for about 30 km at a leisurely pace.
- Arrival at Villa Annoni, Cuggiono: expected around 12:30 PM.
Along the routes, medical assistance and bicycle repair services (RiCiclO and Ciclone workshops from Somma Lombardo) were guaranteed.
At the arrival party at Villa Annoni
- Low-impact lunch with natural food prepared by volunteers
- Visit to the Villa and the Civic Museum of local history
- Exhibitions, book displays, and photography
- Live music and dancing
- Workshops for children
- Charity raffle supporting the edition's solidarity projects
The 2026 edition specifically supported the "Friends Without Borders" project for the reception of Palestinian children, and the popular action supporting the workers of the former GKN in Campi Bisenzio for ecological conversion.
Highlights Bicipace 2026
Prices Bicipace 2026
Practical information — Bicipace
When
A Sunday in May. The 2026 edition took place on Sunday, May 17th.
How to participate
Participation is open and free: simply show up with your bicycle at one of the meeting points. In Galliate, the meeting point is in the main square in the morning. Medical assistance and bicycle repair services are provided along the route.
Getting there
Galliate can be reached by car via the A4 motorway (Novara Est exit) and by train via the Galliate station on the Novara-Varallo line. As the event is inter-provincial, there are also departures from other towns in the Novara, Western Ticino, and Milan areas.
Tips
Bring water, a bicycle in good condition, and clothing suitable for the weather. In case of rain, a "consolation" lunch is usually held indoors.
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Where does it take place — Bicipace
Piazza di Galliate