27.4
PDI
23.8 mi
DISTANCE
5,844 ft
GAINED
4.3 %
AVG. GRADE
FULL CLIMB STATS
INTRO
Piano Battaglia (a Collesano) is one of Sicily's great mountain marathons: 38.4 km (23.8 mi) from the Tyrrhenian coast at Lascari to the high plateau of the Madonie Mountains, gaining 1,781 m (5,844 ft) at an average grade of 4.3%. It's a tough climb - currently ranked in the top 500 climbs in the world in our global database - a length-over-steepness climb that rewards pacing more than raw power.
The route runs from sea level at Lascari through the medieval Norman-era town of Collesano before climbing into the Madonie Mountains on the SP54, finishing near the Piano Battaglia plateau (1,572 m) between Monte Mufara (1,865 m) and Pizzo Carbonara (1,979 m) - Sicily's second-highest peak after Mount Etna.
Piano Battaglia is Sicily's other ski resort, and in summer its chairlift keeps running for hikers and cyclists, with hooks on some chairs built specifically to carry bikes up to Monte Mufara's summit.
Regional landslide damage has closed several of the Madonie's mountain roads in recent months, including stretches of the SP9 and SP54 on the Isnello side - but as of February 2026, the Collesano-Campofelice corridor this climb follows remains one of the few routes into the park that's regularly passable. Confirm current road status before a trip, since conditions in this part of the Madonie have been changing month to month.
PLAN YOUR ROUTE
We've partnered with Sherpa-Map.com to bring you the best route planning tool. With a PRO Membership you can use this climb as a reference when creating your route. Piano Battaglia (a Collesano) gains 1,781 m (5,844 ft) over 38.4 km (23.8 mi) for an average grade of 4.3% - a long, rolling climb rather than a consistently steep one. The steepest kilometer averages 8.6%, and the hardest mile comes in at 8.0%, with much of the real climbing concentrated in the SP54 switchbacks above Collesano as the road works its way up into the Madonie. The final kilometers roll across the high plateau approaching Piano Battaglia at 1,572 m, finishing just above at 1,655 m (5,428 ft).
Roadway: The climb starts on the paved SP9 coast road at Lascari before turning inland onto the SP54 through Collesano and up into the Madonie Mountains. Recent landslide damage has closed sections of the Madonie's road network on the Isnello side, including parts of the SP9 and SP54 there - but as of February 2026, the Collesano-Campofelice corridor this route follows has remained one of the few sections regularly open to traffic. Confirm current conditions with the Città Metropolitana di Palermo or the Ente Parco delle Madonie before heading out, since the situation has been evolving month to month.
Traffic: The coastal SP9 section near Lascari can carry moderate holiday traffic in summer, especially near Cefalù. Once the road turns inland through Collesano and climbs into the mountains, traffic thins out considerably - expect light local and agricultural traffic, plus seasonal skiers' cars if you're riding when Piano Battaglia's slopes are open.
Parking: Free street parking is available in Lascari near the coast and in Collesano itself, both reasonable places to start if you don't want to ride the full length from the coast. At the top, Piano Battaglia has a large parking area serving the ski lifts and mountain refuges, with space to regroup before the descent.
This is a long day in the saddle - 38.4 km (23.8 mi) one-way - so plan nutrition and water for several hours of steady climbing rather than a short, hard effort. The coast at Lascari and the town of Collesano both have shops and cafes for a final stock-up before the road turns quiet in the mountains.
Temperatures swing significantly from the Tyrrhenian coast to the 1,500+ m plateau, so pack a real layer for the top even on a warm Sicilian day - Piano Battaglia is one of only two places in Sicily where snow reliably falls, and the air up there stays noticeably cooler than the coast well into late spring.
Before heading out on any cycling adventure check out our Things to Bring on a Cycling Trip and use our interactive check list to ensure you don't forget anything.
Collesano, roughly at the halfway point, is a good base or rest stop - a medieval Norman-era hill town with its own small-town charm inside the Madonie Regional Park. If you're not looking to ride the full 38.4 km (23.8 mi) from the coast, starting from Collesano itself cuts the distance while keeping the more scenic mountain half of the climb.
Piano Battaglia is Sicily's second ski area after Etna, and its chairlift runs through the summer for hikers and cyclists alike - some chairs are fitted with hooks specifically to carry bikes up to Monte Mufara's summit, worth knowing if you'd rather ride the plateau and let the lift handle the final push. See other climbs nearby, including alternate approaches to Piano Battaglia from Petralia Sottana and Polizzi Generosa, with our Routes in the Area tool.
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