Giro d’italia
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Welcome to the Giro D’italia
Welcome to the mountains! Your guides will pick you up at the Sondrio train station and transfer you to the mountain village of Bormio, situated at the base of the Gavia and Stelvio passes. We’ll spend our first two nights in this cycling paradise at the luxurious Grand Hotel Nuovi Bagni. We’ll fit you on your bike and take off up the Passo di Foscagno, a great warm-up climb that averages 4.4% for 24 km with expansive views of the Alpine scenery. We’ll have time to soak our legs in the thermal waters in Bormio before our first dinner featuring specialties from the Valtellina.
Meals: Light Lunch / Dinner
Mileage: 26 miles / 42 km.
Destinations: Bormio, Passo Foscagno
CONQUERING THE GAVIA AND MORTIROLO
Today we’ll tackle two of Italy’s most iconic climbs. First up is the Passo Gavia, site of Andy Hampsten’s legendary ride that propelled him to victory in the 1988 Giro. Not only is this one of the highest Italian passes (at 2,621 meters), but one of the most beautiful as well. From the top we’ll drop down the winding switchbacks to Ponte di Legno to refuel before tackling the Mortirolo. With grades ranging from 7-10% for 11 km, this is widely regarded as one of cycling’s toughest climbs. We’ll cruise down the winding road back to Bormio for some well-deserved rest and dinner.
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Mileage: 68 miles / 112 km.
Destinations: Passo Gavia, Ponte Di Legno, Passo Mortirolo
THE GIRO HITS THE STELVIO
Today the racers reenter the mountains to conquer the Gavia and Stelvio passes on their way to an uphill finish in Val Martello. We’ll set out from our hotel and experience the excitement as the tifosi line the route. Watch the racers pedal by on what is sure to be a critical stage. We’ll then follow the race caravan down the pass’s 48 switchbacks and down the Adige River Valley through apple orchards and vineyards towards our hotel in Merano. The combination of pasta and schnitzel, vineyards and microbrews in this German-speaking region makes for a delightfully diverse local cuisine that we will sample with gusto at dinner.
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Mileage: 49 miles / 80 km.
Destinations: Passo Stelvio, Prato Allo Stelvio, Merano
A SUMMIT FINISH ON TRE CIME DI LAVAREDO
Today the peloton will set off on an epic 202 km mountain stage featuring a finish on the daunting Tre Cime di Lavaredo. Starting in the mountain village of San Cassiano, we’ll ride over Valparola Pass and down into the ski town of Cortina. Continue riding the final 22 km of today’s stage up to Misurina Lake and then onto Tre Cime, with an incredible 12% grade over the last 4 km. We’ll have front row seats to the finish here before joining the race caravan on the long descent back to our hotel in Cortina. Enjoy dinner on your own tonight in town.
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch
Mileage: 45 miles / 73 km.
Destinations: San Cassiano, Passo Valparola, Tre Cime Di Lavaredo, Cortina
FALZAREGO AND GIAU
The Giro comes to a close today with a 200 km flat ride across the plains to Brescia. But we still have some climbing to do. Setting out from Cortina, we’ll climb the Passo Falzarego (16 km at 5.6%) before descending through the scenic pine forest on its southern slope. We’ll test our legs on the Passo Giau as well, with its many switchbacks and steady 9% grade that make it another must-ride in the Dolomites. We’ll end in style with a thrilling descent to Cortina. Tonight we’ll celebrate the end of our Giro d’Italia with a farewell feast at our favorite local restaurant.
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Mileage: 39 miles / 64 km.
Destinations: Passo Falzarego, Passo Giau
GOODBYE TO THE DOLOMITES
Opt for a final morning ride or a stroll around Cortina before a mid-morning transfer to Venice, where your guides will see you off at the train station.
Meals: Breakfast