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May 15, 2012

Ride Like the Pros at the USA Pro Cycling Challenge

Team Liquigas-Cannondale

Meet the Liquigas-Cannondale professional cycling team.

Lungs screaming as you race towards the sky. Legs burning as you push yourself, higher and higher. And higher still. Finally, sweat dripping down your face and your whole body begging for mercy, you crest the summit. Surveying your surroundings, you see the sign: Independence Pass, elevation 12,095 feet. No wonder that hurt so much. Then, on the road, an even more welcome sign: your DuVine guide waiting at the support van, an ice cold bottle of water and delicious snack in hand. The pain is over. On the Colorado Pro bike tour with Cannondale Tours powered by DuVine, that will always be the case. The suffering is for the bike, and the bike alone.

On Cannondale Tours’ first ever Colorado cycling tour, we’ll conquer the Colorado Rockies, following in the wake of the most challenging bike race in the United States: the USA Pro Cycling Challenge. Every day we’ll push ourselves and our trusty steeds, the Cannondale SuperSix, to the limit, riding over roads famed since the day’s of Greg Lemond and the Coors Classic.

And we’ll get to see the race from the best seats in the house. With direct access to riders on the Liquigas-Cannondale squad, we’ll be right in the thick of things throughout the race, cheering on our favorite riders from behind the scenes and at the finish line. We’ll be truly immersed in the world of professional cycling at its highest level. Can one of the riders in Liquigas green conquer the rest of the peloton? Or will an American like Tom Danielson or Tejay van Garderen reign supreme? You’ll be there to find out.

See Liquigas-Cannondale at the USA Pro Cycling Challenge

We'll be riding the best bikes in the world on the Colorado Pro bike tour.

The pros won’t be doing all the riding, though, and we have an epic route planned for every day of this one of a kind cycling vacation. Whether you join us for the 2.5, 3, or 6-day tour, you’ll be in for nothing short of the cycling tour of a lifetime. Rides like our queen stage, which features Independence pass, will cover as much as 74 miles of Colorado’s greatest roads and gain as much as 6,293 feet of elevation. By week’s end, we’ll have climbed over 19,000 feet. Sound challenging enough for you?

And don’t worry, as soon as we step off the bike not a single comfort will be overlooked. At night we’ll sleep in extravagant hotels like Aspen’s Little Nell and the Millennium in Denver. We’ll refuel with gourmet meals that are equally delicious and rejuvenating, leaving us satisfied and prepared for the journey ahead. And of course, we’ll have the full support you can expect on every DuVine bike tour, with van support every pedal stroke of the way.

Are you up for the challenge? Pack your bags and ride to find out.

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May 11, 2012

Meet Your Guide to Spain, by Bike: Angelo Scimia

On every DuVine bike tour, no matter where or when it is, we aim to capture the full potential of every moment. Angelo Scimia, our Senior Guide in Spain, does that in every way possible. The photographs he takes with his many quirky cameras capture the essence of every moment in ways you never thought possible. He is known to charm guests with a song or two on his guitar, which anyone can tell you he plays masterfully. And he revels in sharing every beautiful moment with our guests, meeting the local farmers, chefs, and wine makers that make every cycling tour so unique and so personal. While you can find Angelo all over Spain and sometimes in Italy as well, his true love is Mallorca. One of the most popular cycling destinations in the world, this Spanish island in the Mediterranean is a true cyclist’s paradise: perfect roads, flawless climate, ocean vistas, and zero traffic. How could you go wrong? Meet Angelo Scimia. Try as you might, we doubt you’ll be immune to his charm. But don’t feel bad, we aren’t either. It’s best to just give in and let him take you on the cycling vacation of your dreams.

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May 8, 2012

Last Minute Traveler? We Have it Under Control

Are you a last minute traveler? Did you wait until a week out to book that cycling vacation of your dreams? Fear not, we understand your needs!

Are you a last minute traveler?

We know all about having to make last minute arrangements and have learned to perfect the craft.

Our infrastructure makes last minute travel seamless and stress free, as our guides are all local to the area (no matter where you are traveling) and available upon request, ready and waiting for you. Not to mention, our wealth of experience designing custom private bike tours contributes to our flexibility with these types of impromptu requests.

We understand that life is filled with unexpected opportunities and we encourage you to reach out to us with your spontaneous plans.  And you don’t need to worry about any additional costs, as we handle all bookings in the same manner – whether you planned a year in advance or the weekend prior to departure.

So if you are feeling impulsive and want book a last minute cycling vacation, there’s no reason to feel dissuaded from doing so. We are here to help you make that spur-of-the-moment decision into the cycling tour of your dreams. It’s as simple as picking up the phone and letting us know where you want to go! We’ll make it happen.

It’s our mission to exceed expectations every day at every turn. No detail is too small, no surprise too extraordinary, no nuance too subtle…. And no booking is too last minute!

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May 7, 2012

Take a Dream Ride on a Cannondale SuperSix

Cannondale SuperSix with Ultegra

The Cannondale SuperSix Ultegra we'll ride on Cannondale Tours.

It was good enough for Liquigas-Canondale’s Ivan Basso to ride to a Giro d’Italia victory in 2010. It was good enough for Vincenzo Nibali to pedal to glory at the Vuelta a España just months later. With a pedigree like that, the Cannondale SuperSix is good enough for, well, just about anyone. And after having ridden them ourselves, we can honestly say that these bikes live up to their world-class reputation. They are the best bikes in the world, and we can’t wait to ride them with you on a bike tour this year.

Meet the Cannondale SuperSix Ultegra. Join us on any of our Cannondale Tours cycling vacations and you’ll get to know it well.

Let’s start with the feather-light, all carbon frame. With a perfectly balanced end to end stiffness, the SuperSix tracks as well as any bike we’ve ever ridden. Point it where you want it to go, and you can count on it following your lead with ease. Descending the cols of the French Alps and Italy’s Dolomites has never been so much fun. Take it out to the races or on a challenging ride with your friends and you’ll find that this steed is built for speed. Every last bit of power you can muster is transferred directly to the road, with not a single watt wasted. If you’re trying to drop the rider behind you on a steep climb or with an acceleration through a tight corner, the SuperSix will be just as eager as you are to leave your competitors or friends in your dust.

Riding a Cannondale in the Alps

The SuperSix is waiting to carry you to the top.

But unlike many stiff and responsive bikes out there that leave you with a harsh ride that is punishing over long miles, the SuperSix is designed to be vertically compliant. Thanks to an intelligently engineered carbon layup schedule, it absorbs road vibrations just as well as it translates your power into speed. So you can keep riding hour after hour without feeling abused by the bumps of the road. It’s rare to find a perfect balance between comfort and performance, but Cannondale has seamlessly integrated both into the SuperSix.

The SuperSixes that we’ll be riding on our cycling tours are equipped with Shimano Utegra drivetrains and Mavic Ksyrium wheels. Our Ultegra components offer crisp and efficient shifting while our Mavic wheels roll smoothly and effortlessly over every mountain road in our path, be it the Rocky Mountains of the Colorado Pro bike tour or the towering peaks of northern Spain on our Vuelta cycling tour. With a compact crankest featuring 50/34 tooth chainrings and an 11-28 cassette, we’ll have the right gear for every type of terrain. And at a total weight of just over 16 pounds, you don’t have to worry about this ride weighing you down.

So what are you waiting for? Pack your bags and ride, and we’ll have your SuperSix waiting.

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May 4, 2012

Meet Duvine’s Pro Series Bike Tour Manager: Justin Wuycheck

Filed under: Cannondale Tours, Guides, Pro Series, Video Blog — Bike tour guru @ 11:43 am

Meet Justin. If there is anyone that completely epitomizes what DuVine Adventures stands for, Justin is it. Our Pro Series Bike Tours Manager and one of our Senior Guides, Justin brings the best of every aspect of the four pillars of DuVine style to every cycling tour he guides: Bike, Eat, Drink, Sleep. Whether pushing to the top of Mount Ventoux, climbing to 12,000 feet above sea level on one of our Cannondale Tours, or taking a leisurely spin among the vineyards in Bordeaux, he is equally at home and delighted to be on his bike. Afterward, Justin is the consummate historian and wine connoisseur, there to make sure that your cycling vacation is as perfect off the bike as it is on it. He is intimately familiar with the culture, people, cuisine, and history of every region he rides in. If you want to know about the origins of the wine you are drinking or the history of a centuries-old abbey in France, Justin is certain to know. And if you need someone to keep pace with you as you try to set your personal record up l’Alpe d’Huez, good luck dropping him.

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May 2, 2012

Where in the World is Andy? April 2012 Bike Tours Update

As usual, it’s been a whirlwind adventure, beginning in the hills of Piedmont and continuing on the coast of California.

First order of business was DuVine Guide Training in Piedmont, Italy, where Andy led the charge indoctrinating our bike tour guides, both old and new, in the ways of DuVine style.

Guide training in Piedmont.

This year’s training featured 35 eager participants hailing from all over the globe. Vlad and Ronald flew in from Costa Rica; Ernesto and Cristian arrived from Chile; Sergio arrived from Argentina; and Ryan came in from California to represent the Americas. Arien and Giovanni led the South African contingent, while Guido, Holly, Fabrizio, Davide, Edoardo, David, Nick, Andrea and Tom held down the Italian front (can you tell that we like Italy?). Not to be outdone, Brook, Dave, Stephane, Tommy, Justin, TKD, Vincent, Adam and Camille represented France. Flying the flag for Spain were Pablo, Angelo and Alex. Rounding out the international flavor were Jonas and Michael from Switzerland; Lukas and Marcel from the Czech Republic; and Silvija, back again from Croatia this year.

Andy and the management team held court over the group during the long days of training, where the instruction was split between on the road and in the classroom training. Every facet of a guest’s experience was role-played and perfected, from lost luggage to a broken derailleur, how to handle inclement weather, and how to prepare the perfect picnic. They also covered roadside logistics, delayed arrivals and missed trains; how to provide the best customer experience and how to BTA guests. The ultimate goal was to ensure that every participant understands what it means to be a DuVine guide and is capable of providing that high level of service, every tour, every day.

The perfect picnic.

It was a very grueling yet successful week, and Andy is proud to share that all guides passed and have been given his stamp of approval for the 2012 cycling tour season.

His mission accomplished in Piedmont, it was off to Milan for the evening to rest up and re-energize for his flight to San Francisco and another eventful week in California.

Upon arrival on the West Coast, he met up with a group of guests in the Napa Valley for a private DuVine tour – better known by its moniker, the TDF (Tour de Fialkow – the ringleader of the group). Andy was here not only to join fellow guests on the TDF, but to design and perfect a new Pro Series tour of the Napa Valley.

Buyer beware, this is challenging riding! After spending three days ascending and descending the undulating hills surrounding Chalk Hill, Howell Mountain and Lake Orville, he reports back that he has more than earned his massage at the Solage Calistoga, his home away from home for the duration of the tour (and the perfect antidote to long days in the saddle).

The TDF in Napa Valley.

He also believes this tour will really appeal to those couples who have a divergent sense of what a cycling vacation, or vacation in general, entails. It is ideal for the rider/non-rider couple. While he spends his days cycling, mancation style, she can have her ultimate spa day and both can meet up later to explore wineries like Silver Oak for wine tastings and enjoy some of the finest dining in the Napa Valley. A winning compromise.

He rounded out his visit in the Napa Valley with a cocktail party at the Solage to celebrate the launch of DuVine’s new venture – Cannondale Tours powered by DuVine.

A bit humbled from the long days climbing with team TDF and in need of a day of rest, Andy took a day off to prepare for his next on-the-road adventure: riding L’Etape du California with teammates like Nelson Vails, Troy Angwin from Champions Systems and Richard Pestes, owner of pezcyclingnews.com.

Stay tuned for Andy’s tales from L’Etape in the next installment of Where in the World is Andy?

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May 1, 2012

April Notes from the Road – Bike Tours Are Here

There’s certainly no doubt anymore that cycling is in the air. The annual DuVine guide training, held this year in Piedmont, was a huge success, and all of our guides, both new and old, are ready for another great year of bike tours. And fresh out of training, they’ve already begun to hit the road, leading cycling tours from Salta to Puglia to Bordeaux and more.

The DuVine bike tour guides on a training ride.

The DuVine guides headed out for a training ride in Piedmont.

DuVine Guide Training 2012, Piedmont - Every year, we kick things off with an exciting week of guide training. A number of our staff, including Andy, get together with all of the guides, both the seasoned veterans and the new, to make sure everyone is ready to roll for another great year. We run through everything and anything that our guides might encounter on a bike tour. We take turns presenting to one another about the regions we specialize in. We eat. We drink. We ride. We ride some more. Sound like a good time? Actually, it is. But trust us, it’s not all fun and games. This is serious business, but we do it for you. But now that it’s done, our guides are as ready as ever to take you on one of the cycling vacations of your dreams. What destination will you choose?

Enjoying a glass on tour at Chateau Soutard.

Bordeaux Bike Tour – Somehow, Bordeaux never seems to get old. Unless, of course, you’re talking about the wine itself, and then it only gets better with age. But if you ask us, the same goes for this cycling tour. Bordeaux is one of the bike trips we have been leading the longest, and that means we know it, and know

it well. If you’re looking for the oenological experience of a lifetime, and want to be truly blown away by every sip of wine you take, you simply cannot go wrong with Bordeaux. As we ride from vineyard to vineyard, spending our days amongst the grapes, the wine tastes even better than it would at home.

According to DuVine guide Tommy Pace, who just finished up a cycling tour in Bordeaux, “We quickly picked up the pace with a visit and tasting to Chateau Soutard in St Emilion. This luxurious estate was impressive – and so were the wines. Of course Chateau Figeac was a favorite for the guests as well. After a bit of wet weather, the sun came out to shine while we explored some historic windmills amidst the vines. A great tour to start off the DuVine season in Bordeaux!!!”

The new DuVine Formigli carbon road bike.

Check out the brand new, custom-made fleet of DuVine carbon road bikes from Formigli.

Puglia Bike Tour – Back in Italy, Andrea and Davide report that it’s been nothing but blue skies and great rides in Puglia. And with Adriatic Sea to one side and the Ionian to the other, this region in the heel of Italy is one of the best kept secrets around. And as we ride through tiny fishing villages, through olive groves and into the Itria Valley, you could swear that time here had stopped. Until you look down, that is, and notice the pristine carbon road bike between your legs. Our guests are already raving about the brand new Formigli road bikes that were custom made for DuVine’s cycling tours in Italy this year. You’ll have to come check them out.

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April 27, 2012

J’adore l’Alsace: Amanda’s Bike Tour in Alsace

DuVine’s very own Amanda Waddell just returned from a visit to Alsace, where she enjoyed one of the greatest cycling vacations of her life on our Alsace bike tour. Cycling from Strasbourg to Ebermunster, and enjoying all the delicious Alsatian Riesling and homemade sausage in between,  she fell immediately in love with this gem on the eastern border of France. Here, she shares her experience on this cycling tour and her passion for the region.

J'adore Alsace!

As I arrived at the Strasbourg train station after a beautiful 2-hour train ride from Paris, I walked outside and the famed half-timbered buildings immediately caught my eye. A lovely woman from Tourisme Alsace drove a fellow traveler and me through the busy streets to our hotel, Hotel de L’Europe, in the center of town. The area actually turned out to be a neighborhood full of restaurants, shops, and hotels that consisted of mostly pedestrians. And yes, I was surrounded by the interesting architecture of the half-timbered buildings and would be for the next week. They made me feel like I was in a different world, because I was.

That night our group ate a full-course meal, stressing the word full, at the Maison des Tanneurs. The food just kept coming! The most memorable part of the meal was when a massive plate of choucroute (sauerkraut) came out accompanied with all different types of pig meat, which included sausage, fried liver, and ankle. Yes, ankle. I will try anything once, and I am glad I did, because that ankle was delicious! My fellow international groupmates were getting a kick out of the American eating ankle in Alsace. It set a great tone for the rest of the week.

A bike tour is the perfect way to see Alsace.

We got an early start on our bikes the next morning, riding through the flat bike paths of Strasbourg heading towards Soultz-les-Bains. Little did I know this was the last flat land that I would see for days. As I rode along the river bed through interspersing forests and fields, I saw many geese, horses, and a sprinkling of colorful homes all soaking up the morning sun.

We had an informative lunch visit at Domaine Doriath, a restaurant that farms their own ducks and produces their own foie gras, which is a French delicacy that can simply be described as fatty duck liver. The owner spoke to us in French, with our guide translating, and explained how they naturally raise and feed their ducks. They make sure to utilize all the parts of the duck and make over 60 products! After the tour we had lunch, and I tried the foie gras. It was explained to me that foie gras in Alsace is au naturel or sans les épices, without spices, while the foie gras, say in Bordeaux, has spices and herbs mixed in. In any case, I tried it, and I can certainly see the appeal, but it was just not my cup of tea. But I could appreciate it in the moment.

Heading back on our bikes towards Rosheim and Obernai, we stopped in little villages along the way. The hills were getting more and more apparent, but I was running on such adrenaline from the ever-surrounding beauty of Alsace that they were no bother. At the Ville d’Obernai Tourisme office we had a lovely welcome drink of sweet white wine and ropküche, a traditional specialty bread. Très magnifique! Our informative tour guide in Obernai explained the complex history of Alsace and how its borders have changed throughout the centuries from Germany to France to Germany to France and so on. That night our group spent the night and had a delicious meal of fresh fish at La cour d’Alsace hotel. The room that contains the hotel’s pool has these walls surrounding it that are painted by a German artist.

Foie gras is one of the rich local delicacies.

The next morning our group rode our bikes over to Gertwiller to the Museé du Pain d’épices, a specialty type of gingerbread, but better. I never knew how many types there were! Chocolate covered, with nuts, no nuts, sugared coating, etc. I was so inspired, and being the baker that I am, I baked my own loaf of pain d’épice when I returned back home.

We then rode through Andlau, which was breathtaking and quiet, and landed in Kintzheim to have lunch at the Auberge Saint-Martin. Here we had dish after dish of tarte flambée, a gastronomic Alsatian thin crust dish covered in fromage blanc, real Muenster cheese, onions, mushrooms, bacon, etc. Do not call it pizza, though.  It is absolutely wonderful and melts in your mouth. Our next stop was Colmar, a charming city. The church bells seemed to be welcoming our group as we arrived by bicycle around 18h20. I am used to church bells ringing on the hour, and no one could figure out why they were ringing at this time, but it was a beautiful experience to hear while riding.

The next day our group participated in a wonderful wine tasting at Wolfberger in Eguisheim. We tasted absolutely wonderful white wines such as Gewürztraminer and Rangen. It was a hard decision to choose, but I decided to bring back a bottle Rangen, an Alsace Grand Cru Pinot Gris. While I like a dry wine myself, this sweet dessert type wine was too delicious to leave in Alsace.

The Church of St. Maurice in Ebermunster.

On our last day in Alsace we visited one of the most beautiful churches I have ever seen, the Church of Saint Maurice in Ebermunster. As our group was walking in, the organ started playing, just like the church bells in Colmar! The intricately painted décor inside the church was unlike anything I have ever seen, and mixed with the organ playing, the experience was quite humbling. And the light that came through the windows was just perfect. I was completely enamored by this church and could have spent all day in there.

The time had come to head to Paris, and while I was looking forward to the next leg of my trip, I wanted to stay in Alsace. There is something charming and magical about the region. Images of rolling hills and vineyards, castles, colorful half-timbered houses, exquisitely decorated village centers, smiling townspeople, storks and stork nests atop buildings, and beautiful scenery everywhere keep running through my mind. And the rich food, oh it’s so delicious, is a perfect accompaniment to the biking.  And the wines are just spectacular and beautiful.  And the mixture of French and German culture and heritage blends so well at every point you turn.  Everything is just lovely about Alsace. J’adore l’Alsace!

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April 25, 2012

Guest Blog: The Adventures of Dr. Mike on Salta Cycling Tour

Dr. Mike on his Salta bike tour.

We know that one of our bike tours was a hit when one of our guests sends us a pages-long letter about his or her cycling vacation. And that is just what we got in the mail from Dr. Mike Fadell after his recent Salta bike tour with DuVine. Thanks Dr. Mike! If you’re looking for a truly unique cycling tour, full of some of the world’s most incredible scenery and outstanding Malbec wines, Salta, Argentina is just the place. Need a little convincing? Just listen to what Dr. Mike had to say:

I have experienced a most exciting and remarkable adventure week in the Salta provence of northern Argentina. Due to my demanding medical practice, the trip was custom arranged for me by the excellent staff of DuVine Adentures and resulted in a truly mano a mano week as I was the only guest hosted by a most intriguing, energetic and friendly guide named Fabrizio [Ghilardi], who soon became my amigo nuevo [new friend - sic]. Fabrizio lives in Salta with his wife and two children and has extensive insight and knowledge concerning the people, culture, customs and geography of the region.

It would be a feeble attempt on my part to describe the most extraordinary and constantly changing vistas that we encountered that varied from mountains, valleys, rivers, passes, cactus fields, caverns, caves, desert and the highest and most exceptional vineyards in the world. The weather conditions were ideal every day with cool nights and mornings, while the days were warm with low humidity. Every day was sunny with not a single drop of rain falling on our distinctive DuVine jerseys.

Dr. Mike sporting his distinctive DuVine jersey.

The BIKE was both challenging and exhilarating over varying road surfaces while encountering climbs, straight flat stretches as well as long descents with frequent switchbacks and hairpin turns. Fabrizio taught me the simple but most practical instruction for cycling which, in his words was, “Watch your heart,” meaning that on long ascents to go slow in the most easy gear setting so as not to increase your pulse rate or have forced breathing.

The HIKE. After 4-wheel driving across a river bed and with use of a local guide, we hiked and climbed along the Valle de las Cuevas, where we viewed the most spectacular canyons leading to unusual red rock formations followed by steep and deep caverns and caves. On the way back, Fabrizio prepared a most tasteful and satisfying picnic lunch with a champagne accompaniment kept chilled in the cool mud of the riverbed.

The EAT. Fabrizio and I shared many meals together with strong emphasis on indigenous cuisine from empanadas, tamales and goat ribs, to more gourmet style lunches and dinners utilizing local ingredients and recipes served by friendly hosts and hostesses in typical and special restaurants and cantinas, many of which were outdoors on handsome patios as well as tables set up on the perimeter of vibrant and pleasant plazas. There were many toasts of salud.

Sampling the local wines of Salta.

The DRINK. The excellent wines of the southern Salta provence are traditionally produced from vineyards located at the highest altitudes in the world, up to 10,000 feet above sea level. The best examples are the distinctive Torrontes and the intense, but suave, red Malbec that has recently achieved world renown. We visited several bodegas, the most spectacular being Colome, where we also enjoyed a fabulous lunch with glasses of both the Torrontes and Malbec followed by a guided tour of the on-site James Turrell Museum.

Not to be left out are the local brand Salta cervezas, which include the blond and negra styles. These are refreshing and tasteful, especially after exhilarating biking segments.

The SLEEP. Following the DuVine tradition, the hotel accommodations were unique, relaxing and refreshing with helpful and friendly staff, many of whom were the local community. From a local hacienda to a 5 star boutique hotel, I was very pleased and pampered by these DuVine selections.

DuVine guide in Salta, Fabrizio Ghilardi.

The GUIDE. Last but certainly not least was my remarkable guide Fabrizio, with whom I established an immediate connection beginning with the Sunday morning pickup and escalating throughout the week. He was the perfect biking partner and guide. We share many interests and passions including music, travel, family and the search for the buena vida [good life - sic]. Fabrizio, my friend, gracias por todos [thanks for everything - sic]!

All enthusiasts are encouraged to heed my strong recommendation and experience the unique beauty, culture and challenge of the Salta adventure. Contact the friendly and helpful DuVine staff and request the trip details and schedule your most exceptional experience!

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April 24, 2012

Ride with Chrissie Wellington on the Kona Bike Tour

Let’s be honest, how many sports actually give you a chance to play and train with your favorite athletes? How many sports let you go toe to toe with the legends of the sport? Unless you happen to be neighbors with the Michael Jordans and Wayne Gretzkys of the world, the answer is not many. But on Cannondale Tours’ cycling tour in Kona, that is exactly what you’ll do.

Ride with triathlon star Chrissie Wellington.

Swim, bike, and run with triathlon icons like four-time champion Chrissie Wellington and rising star Heather Jackson. See how you compare to these living legends of the sport on the cycling vacation of a lifetime as we attend the Kona World Championship, where we’ll test our own mettle on the same routes and in the same waters that the world’s best do year after year. And of course, cheer on your favorite Cannondale athletes as they compete for glory.

For any dedicated triathlete or cyclist, the chance to spend time with some of the sport’s most accomplished competitors is truly invaluable. And on our Kona bike tour, we’ll get plenty of that. We’ll be kicking things off on the right foot with a run on day one with rising star Heather Jackson. Good luck keeping up with her! On day two, we’ll start the day off at breakfast with Chrissie Wellington, where you’ll glean valuable insight into the diet of a world-class athlete. You’ll definitely want to take some notes, because we have some epic days ahead on this multisport bike tour, and you’ll want to fuel every one of them well. (Not that you’ll have any problem with that thanks to the gourmet but nutritious meals provided every day.)

We won’t wake up from our dream just yet, as we’ll get not one, but two more chances to learn from Chrissie. On the afternoon of day two, she’ll take us out on our Cannondale bikes to ride along the infamous Energy Lab, where we’ll feel just what it’s like to be one of the athletes racing the clock and the glaring sun. The next day, after a 30-minute run in the morning, we’ll head out to watch the big event from VIP seating, taking inspiration from all the athletes pushing their physical limits to complete all 140.6 miles of one of the toughest sporting events on earth.

Our final star-studded experience will be the best of all, though, as on day five we’ll swim, bike, and run in a triathlon of our own, and Chrissie will be there to make sure you’re trying your hardest. Can you keep up with her over the 750-meter swim, 40-kilometer ride, and 5-kilometer run? There’s only one way to find out.

The Cannondale Tours Kona cycling tour is far more than a bike tour. It is one of the cycling vacations of a lifetime. We’ll spend every night in one of Hawaii’s most outstanding resorts, King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel. We’ll fuel our rides, runs, and swims with healthy but delicious meals at breakfast, lunch, and dinner. We’ll swim with dolphins, scuba dive with manta rays, and watch one of the world’s greatest sporting events. But as you probably figured out by now, what makes this one of the greatest multisport bike tours around is the chance to run, ride, swim, and learn from some of the sport’s living legends. Sound like a dream come true?

Pack your bags and ride!

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