Giro d’Italia Cycling Tour
The Giro and Great Italian Climbs
The Alps, the Dolomites, the Apennines; they all define the Giro d’Italia and there can be nothing more rewarding than taking on the same challenge yourself, conquering the iconic climbs of Italy.
Expect amazing days on the bike with jaw dropping mountainous landscapes, thrilling free flowing descents and climbs where you’ll need every bit of your will to keep the pedals turning. Our tour ensures that your experience of the Giro traverses the same mountains and valleys as the pro’s and has you up close with the race at stage starts, finishes and over mountain passes, while also experiencing some time away from the race. It’s the perfect balance.
Our 2019 Tour will be determined by the Giro 2019 Route Announcement in October / November 2018, however for an overview of what you can expect, please review our 2018 Tour itinerary below.
Wherever the route takes us, you will join us for a 9 day adventure that will see you tackle many of the famous climbs of Italy by day, while relaxing into a wonderful food, wine and cultural journey that we’ll take you on each night.
Get ready for the adventure of a lifetime.
YOUR ADVENTURE INCLUDES
A ONCE IN A LIFETIME RIDING EXPERIENCE
614 km’s of riding and 12,900m’s of climbing over 8 days – our Giro route is designed to suit riders who want a comprehensive climbing challenge, taking on many of the greatest climbs in the Italian Alps and Dolomites, and getting a taste for what the peloton of the Giro experience. Our ride guides ensure the needs of different riders are supported on each climb.
Daily Rides:
Day 1 – 4 Veneto – Welcome to Cortina d’Ampezzo. We always start this week with our first ride being a light one and it’s the perfect introduction to the Dolomites. The Dolomites is cycling and climbing paradise. UNESCO protected and home to some of the most stunning scenery, its peaks are nearly always part of the Giro and are an unforgettable experience for road riders. Some of the famous ascents we’ll ride are:
- Passo Falzarego
- Passo Valparolo
- Passo Tre Croci
- Tre Cime di Lavaredo
- Monte Zoncolan
- Sappada
- Forcella Zovo
Day 5 – 6 Lombardia – We head west on our trasnfer to Bormio, where we will stop at the town of Prato dello Stelvio, unpack the bikes and ride up one side of Stelvio and down another into the beautiful alpine town of Bormio. This is a truly spectacular day
on the bike. The following day will see us roll down to the tiny hamlet of Tirano before taking on the fearsome Mortirolo. This is a climb that will test the legs and the mind in equal measures.
Day 7 – 9 Piemonte – We keep tracking west and head into Piemonte for our last few days, and true to the meaning of its name (foot of the mountain), we will be in a land of mountains, which rise to the northwest of the city of Torino where will stay for three nights. Piemonte is surrounded on three sides by the Alps, with some of the highest peaks in Italy, and is home to the famous Fausto Coppi. Some of the iconic climbs we’ll aim to include are:
- Colle delle Finestre
- Pinerolo
- Sestriere
- Collina di Superga
Comprehensive back-up and support on all rides – local ride guides will join us with an intimate knowledge of the Italian Alps, Dolomites and surrounding areas, ensuring your riding experiences are truly local, and take in many of the climbs, back roads and hidden gems of the breathtaking regions that the Giro will pass through in its final week. Rides are fully supported with a support vehicle, mechanic and your safety as our priority.
Being close to all the Giro action – we’ll watch a start, a finish and enjoy the whole show as the peloton motors over one of the major mountain passes. Being up close and personal is certainly a tour highlight.
Full A’QTO cycling kit – designed by AQTO and made in Italy, this exclusive kit for our Travel guests will see you riding in style and comfort through the Italian mountains.
Trusted connections and advice for buying or hiring quality Carbon road bikes – whether you are planning on buying a new road bike or hiring one for the week, we will connect you in with our trusted partners, both well known sellers and hirers of superb quality Carbon road bikes.
Transport to and from Venice and Turin upon arrival and departure – you will be picked up from Venice and driven to Turin on departure, and all your transport needs for the week are taken care of, including the transporting of bikes and bike cases, and transport for non-riding partners to various activities.
A FOOD, WINE & HOSPITALITY JOURNEY LIKE NO OTHER
Beautiful boutique hotel accommodation in 3 places over 8 nights – our focus is on authentic, family run boutique hotel experiences that will have you immersed in the regions we visit. Your nights will be supremely comfortable, with all the amenities and services you need for a great post-ride experience; including swimming pools, saunas, massages and more.
Daily buffet breakfasts – a daily, home made Italian feast awaits, with magnificent local produce including prosciutto, salumi, cheeses, eggs, local breads, pastries and cakes, fresh fruit, muesli’s and cereals, nuts, yoghurt and condiments that will keep you going for hours on the bike.
All dinners included – we’ll be enjoying a range of dinner experiences throughout the course of our 9 days, celebrating all that the regions we visit have to offer. From true artisan, modern style dinners through to traditional home made food and wine specialities, to very special welcome and finale dinners with meals you will always remember, in incredible surrounds. Your Giro food and wine journey will be as much a part of your memorable experience as your riding will be.
Aperitivo hour each day – this is one of our favourite traditions in Italy and a perfect reward after a great day out on the bike. Whether it’s a local icy cold beer, a glass of Italian Prosecco, a regional wine or our personal favourite, the Aperol Spritz, it’s our shout.
Warm, engaging Italian hospitality – your hosts, Damian Hancock and Nancy De Losa will lead you through the week, sharing their warm, open entertaining style. Combining Damian’s experience in leading group rides with their huge passion for Italian food and culture, means you’ll feel right at home in every town we visit. Nancy’s Italian heritage and fluency in speaking the language makes for a smooth experience with the locals each day. You’ll relish the experience that comes from their meticulous planning and attention to detail in all areas on and off the bike.
Your choice to take some time out – take time to explore all that the magnificent towns we visit have to offer – if one day you’d prefer to take a break and enjoy the towns we’re in or the places we’re staying, feel free. This is your experience.
In a word or two, almost everything…
- 8 nights accommodation, twin share with your own private bathroom (talk to us if you would like single occupancy)
- All breakfasts, lunches and dinners, including wine (lunches and dinners during your free time are yours to take care of)
- All transfers / transportation from pick up to drop off, including baggage and bike transportation
- Professional guides with local knowledge and first aid experience
- Unique routes, downloadable GPS routes provided
- Support van on daily rides, with mechanics support
- Full 3 piece A’QTO Cycling Kit including jersey, bibs, and jacket
- Laundry for your cycling clothing
Flights, bike hire and travel insurance are not included in the Tour cost but can be fully arranged for you. Talk to us when booking.
Bikes
- You can choose to bring your own bike and have your case transported in our fully equipped van or we can arrange a carbon road bike hire for you. Talk to us when booking.
Cycling Clothing
- We provide you with an Italian quality jersey, bib shorts, and jacket
- You will need to bring enough other gear to support you for 8 days of riding. We will provide you with a full list of our recommendations of what to take when booking.
On-Bike Food
- Some on-bike food is provided but you will need to bring your own specific gels, energy bars etc
Tubes and Spare Parts
- You will need to bring your own spare tubes and parts for shoes etc. Talk to us about a specific gear list when booking.
We have rated this trip a 4/5 due to our location in the Northern Italian mountains and because we will be taking on a mountain pass or two each day.
This is where the going gets tough, with longer, harder riding through more challenging and varied terrain. Expect tough climbs as well as some tricky descents.
The Rider: “I ride over 4 times per week and always try to put as many hills into the ride as possible.”
The Terrain: 90-120 km and approximately 1600-2000m of elevation a day in more mountainous country, with longer climbs over repeated days.
For our Giro d’Italia and Piemonte tours, we have access to a range of carbon top-specification hire bikes and for L’Eroica, we can also arrange very good quality steel vintage bikes for rent. If you would like to rent a bike, please let us know when you book so we can guarantee the right size is available. Please also send us your fit measurements, so our mechanics can set up the bike for you, ready for the start of your trip. If you’re renting a bike, you need to remember to bring your helmet, pedals and saddle to your trip start.
If you would like to buy a bike in Italy, we can assist with custom made carbon or steel frame bikes by Formigli, a master frame builder in Italy with whom we partner. To have a custom made bike made by Formigli available for pick-up when you’re in Italy, we require 2 months notice to facilitate your bike build.
If you would like to buy a Steel Vintage Bike for L’Eroica, we have a very trusted source whom we recommend highly. Talk to us when booking.
Depending on the locations, we stay in very good quality three-star-chalets or villas, through to small boutique hotels and sometimes, grand five-star hotels. We like to also have access to a kitchen so that we can entertain our guests with a blend of home-cooked dinner parties, often co-hosted with our hosts and using beautiful local produce, alongside dining in some superb restaurants.
During the booking process, we speak with each of our non-riding guests to create a custom itinerary, specifically catering to their interests. Non-riding guests can enjoy the relaxation and surrounds of our beautiful accommodation/grounds, as well as a range of organized activities which can include spectacular walks and hikes, cooking classes and wine appreciation, to wandering around towns, shopping and sight seeing (guided or unguided), and enjoying special lunches with other non-riding guests.
For our Australian weekends and adventures, full payment is payable up-front.
If we have to cancel an Australian trip, your monies will be refunded.
From flights to accommodation, and ideas for pre and post travel, they can help with any aspect of your trip. As cycling enthusiasts themselves, and with extensive travel around the globe, and Europe in particular, their personal and professional experience, together with their special consideration to the transport of bikes is of value. They are committed to making your travel as enjoyable as we are.
Booking through a travel agent is no more expensive than the internet and can offer a personally tailored service – always ensuring the best value and travel experience! We’ll provide you with further details when booking.
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WHAT OUR GUESTS SAY
A perfect world is a life where I don’t have to think about anything other than riding my bike and eating wonderful food. Nancy and Damian at Bici e Gusti are perfect hosts and create an ideal setting for this to happen.
“WOW! What a week you organised for us… This is what we loved so much; Your attitude to making sure we enjoyed every moment… Thank you both so much for the experience of a lifetime.”
