Follow the Giro d'Italia
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Follow the Giro d'Italia
Catch all the exciting action in 2012!
Our 2012 itinerary is the best ever, with lots of racing action and beautiful riding in some of Italy's most dramatic mountains.
Highlights
- Charming hotels and classic inns
- Bilingual guides with extensive knowledge and cycling experience
- Cycling on the Giro d’Italia race course
- Fantastic riding in the Trentino and the Dolomites, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Watch three mountain stages, including one finish on “The King”, the Passo Stelvio
- Conquer the epic climbs of the Dolomites
Description
Ciclismo Classico brings you the exciting opportunity to follow Italy’s favorite sporting event up close: The Giro d’Italia! Along with a certain race in France, the Giro is undoubtedly the most famous, most challenging, and most exciting cycling race in the world. You’ll ride many of the same famous climbs as the competitors, and watch from unparalleled vantage points as the peloton races past. This is a trip designed by cycling enthusiasts for cycling enthusiasts; our expert guides bring years of experience leading tours that follow top cycling races in Italy and abroad. Ride over exhilarating passes, climb by soaring spires and coast downhill to charming hamlets surrounded by meadows of wildflowers on mountain routes made famous by the world’s greatest cyclists. We’ve planned an exciting 7-day tour to meet up with the Giro d’Italia on three stages in one of the cycling paradises of Europe: the Dolomites.
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Price
$4,395
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Single Supplement
$700
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Ability Level
Expert
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Terrain
Classic mountain passes of the Giro, with long climbs and descents
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Distance
Total Mileage: ~250 miles Daily Average: ~45 miles
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Departing
Bolzano
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Arriving
Bolzano
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Bike Rental
Included
- View our Suggested Reading
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Other Trips You'll Like
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Dates
- May 21, 2012
Day 1: Bolzano warm up ride
Meet for introductions & light lunch at our hotel in Bolzano. We do a bike fitting and a warm up ride through this medieval gem and out into the surrounding area. Enjoy the atmosphere of this bilingual town where Austrian and Italian cultures mix in a perfect balance visible in the architecture but also in the local cuisine and traditions.
Day 2: Bolzano to Val Badia
Today's ride starts with a challenging climb to the enchanted high plan of Renon, right above Bolzano and follows the Isarco valley before heading up towards the Dolomites at the Passo Erbe. We will eventually arrive at our cozy hotel in the alpine resort of Colfosco di Corvara, nested in the Val Badia, the kingdom of skiers and cyclists, surrounded by the majesty of the UNESCO World Heritage sites of the Dolomites.
Day 3: Passo Falzarego and Stage 17
Today we will see the Giro d'Italia on the Passo Falzarego, a climb that often has been theatre of epic breakaways during the Giro but also an area where major battles of WW I were fought. Today we can enjoy the Giro d’Italia stage #17 (Falzes to Cortina) right at the top of Passo Falzarego and cheer the pros tackling one of the most difficult climbs of this stage.
Day 4: Passo Gardena and Bolzano
On our ride we'll climb the Passo Gardena and Pinei before a long descent into Bolzano. Part of today’s ride is in one of the Alps most beautiful circuits called “Sellaronda.” A dream for skiers, and a challenge for cyclists, this is another unforgettable ride near the majestic Sella Massif. In the late afternoon in Bolzano we will enjoy an interesting guided tour of the town before our deserved dinner in the capital of the Dolomites.
Day 5: Bolzano loop to Passo Lavazè and Stage 19
On our loop ride we climb along the Val d'Ega to reach the Pass Lavazè where we’ll admire the pros performing live. Another option today will be to watch live the Giro d'Italia at the Alpe di Pampeago which is the final destination of today’s stage 19 (Treviso to Alpe di Pampeago). Today you will discover, “the soul of the sport of cycling”, taking part of one of the most important stage races in the world!
Day 6: The King, Passo Stelvio and Stage 20
Today we climb the King of passes of the Italian Alps, the climb that every cyclist must have on his carnet, the passo Stelvio, a 15-mile long climb at an average grade of 7.5%! We’ll ride to an ideal vantage point to check out all the action and cheer on our heroes as the route climbs toward the beautiful and winding road famous also for the numerous switchbacks. Once at the top we'll wait for the finish of Stage 20 (Caldes to Passo Stelvio) at Passo Stelvio, before our final downhill to Prato allo Stelvio, to celebrate during our final dinner a great achievement: the conquer of some of the most famous passes in the Dolomites!
Day 7: Arrivederci!
The tour ends after breakfast and at around 9am we’ll provide a shuttle to Bolzano train station to make your connections to other parts of Italy. Don’t hesitate to ask your guides any help for your post-trip travel planning.
