The fourth leg of the Northern Way goes from Gubbio to Valfabbrica and is one of the journey’s most difficult stretches because of the ascent to get from the valley of Gubbio to the valleys of the Chiascio River. You have 35 kilometres to cover on your bike today, not all that many, but you have two difficult climbs for a total ascent of about 700 metres. To compensate for the hardship, the route is mostly over roads without traffic, surrounded by nature and now and again passing through small characteristic towns like Colpalombo, Carbonesca and Casa Castalda. You start out from Piazza Quaranta Martiri in Gubbio and pass the church of Santa Maria della Vittoria. The first stretch is pretty easy, the difficult parts are halfway through the day’s cycling.
After some 13 kilometres you’ll have a climb that is short (less than 2 km) but steep (gradient between 7 and 10%). At the end of the descent that follows it you’ll start the second of the day’s hard climbs, one that leads to Carbonesca. Take the first kilometres of this second climb slowly, seeing as your legs may be hard from the first ascent. Once you’ve gotten past the first hard stretch the gradient eases and you’ll be able to enjoy the views that surround you, a panorama that spans the Umbria-Marches part of the Apennines. A few kilometres beyond the pass you’ll reach Casa Castalda, a great place to stop and rest, fill your water bottles and eat something before you head off once again, this time almost all downhill. Getting to the charming little town of Valfabbrica, your day’s destination, is easy from here.