PMC Bike Across Italy

This coast-to-coast tour passes through four of Italy’s most beautiful regions: Le Marche, Umbria, Lazio and Tuscany, each known for its charming hilltowns, lush landscapes and unique cuisines. After this tour, we ride our own Pan-Mass Challenge – PMC Italy! A 150 mile route, PMC Italy takes place on August 2 and 3, 2008, the same days as the PMC’s Sturbridge to Provincetown ride.

The 6-day pre-PMC tour begins in Fano, a small resort town on the Adriatic Coast, just north of Ancona. We then pedal inland to Urbino, where we cycle along rivers, which have carved deep ravines through the lush mountains. We stop at the spectacular Grotte di Frasassi, Italy’s largest known caves. We then enter the gentle landscape of Umbria, which has inspired poets and painters from Dante to Raphael. The peaceful rhythm of this region envelops us in Assisi, the birthplace of St Francis, where friars wander the narrow streets and birds cast playful shadows on the pink stone.

After a rest day full of Italian culture, history and cuisine, you’ll be ready to ride the Italian countryside toward the Tuscan coast, as your stateside PMCers pedal toward Provincetown!

The 2-Day PMC Italy includes:

• Spectacular riding in the Italian countryside, from Spello through Umbria to Orvieto, then into Tuscany
• 3 nights hotel accommodations (1 night each in Spello, Orvieto and Sorano)
• 3 breakfasts, 3 picnic lunch, 2 dinners
• Cycling coaching, cultural and culinary excursions, language lessons
• Expert guide services including riding with Lauren Hefferon and 2 native Italian cyclist guides

CAN'T MAKE IT TO ITALY? THEN JOIN TEAM GELATO!
If you can’t make it to Italy, then join Ciclismo Classico’s Team Gelato for the PMC back home. You’ll get a free Team Gelato jersey, training rides, and a great PMC with a fun and festive team. All team gelato riders receive $100 off a 2009 Ciclismo Classico tour. Email Lauren Hefferon for details.

Day 1 – Fano
We begin in Fano, a small resort town on the Adriatic Coast, just north of Ancona. Explore this ancient city and take a dip in the Adriatic before our warm-up ride.

Day 2 – Urbino
Enjoy a relaxing roll to the hometown of Renaissance painter Raphael. We'll ride through tiny villages with views of gorgeous foothills and distant mountains.

Day 3 – Genga
After a morning tour of Urbino's Palazzo, we set out for the roughly hewn Le Marche region. Oddly patched with farmland and forests, the region has a rather wild feel to it. We'll ride past a spectacular gorge and through lovely mountain farmland.

Day 4 – Gubbio
Following a visit to the largest grottoes in Europe, pedal through Umbria toward medieval Gubbio, dramatically perched on a mountainside.

Day 5 – Spello
This morning, descend from Gubbio through lush landscape. Stop at the Roman Amphitheater for a great photo op! The gracious beauty of Assisi will unfold in front of you as you approach it from the north. This evening we'll have a cooking demonstration, followed by a dining delight.

Day 6 – Rest Day
Today is a free day. Perhaps you’ll visit the hermitage of St. Francis, enjoy our guided walking tour in Assisi, and/or walk up via Belvedere for a magnificent view of the town.

Day 7-8 – PMC Italy!
Our special PMC Italy route will take us through the hills of Umbria to Tuscany! We will share our arrival on the Mediterranean with the PMCers back home (dipping our tires in the sea, of course) as they arrive on the sunny shores of Provincetown.

Day 9 – Arrividerci!
Bravi PMC Italia Riders!! This morning we'll say a fond farewell, and shuttle you to Orvieto to make your connections.