Giro d’Italia Bike Tour
- Region: Italy
- Destination: Tuscany
- Duration: 6 Days / 5 Nights
- Level: Four
- Price From: $4995
- Single Supplement: $300
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Italians will swear the Giro d’Italia is the most epic bike race in the world, and after this epic week, you may agree. This year, the Giro will be hosted by Tuscany, that famous cycling heaven where locals eat amazing food and drink even better wine. Take on thirty-kilometer climbs in combination with jaw dropping, curving roads descending into valleys where The Gladiator was filmed. Ride part of the stage, and watch the pro riders finish in the medieval town of Arezzo. And top it all off with a VIP viewing of the Time Trial day in Chianti. Pack your bags–we’ll see you in May!
Tour by Day
Day One: Welcome to Tuscany!
Your guides will greet you at the train station in Chiusi and drive you up into the hills. After toasting our arrival with a welcome Prosecco, we’ll get fitted on our Cannondale road bikes and set out along a rolling ridge past the hill town of Montepulciano before starting the first of many thrilling descents. Our ride follows the famous s-curves of the cypress-lined road above Montichiello before dropping into the scenic Orcia Valley. The climb back to the hotel will be the first test of our legs and will be rewarded with an intimate Tuscan evening at our favorite local restaurant, La Botte Piena.
Meals: Light Lunch / Dinner
Destinations: Montepulciano, Montichiello, Orcia Valley, Montefollonico
Accomplished: 26 miles / 42 km, elevation gain: 514 meters
Day Two: Monte Amiata
Set off today for Tuscany’s pre-eminent climb: Monte Amiata. Cycling through the historic town of Pienza and across the Orcia Valley to the base of the mountain. The next 27 kilometers on the dormant volcano are almost all uphill. Professional roadside support will be with us the whole way to ensure we have everything we need to achieve peak performance. Enjoy a well-earned, scenic lunch before our epic descent. Tonight we’ll enjoy a private tour of our friend and local winemaker Vittorio Innocenti’s cantina. Taste his traditional Vino Nobile and Vin Santo, then enjoy an exceptional dinner with our friends Dania and Umberto at La Chiusa.
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Destinations: Pienza, Orcia Valley, Monte Amiata, Montefollonico
Accomplished: 70 miles / 113 km, elevation gain: 1,784 meters
Day Three: Arezzo
Today we leave the sleepy town of Montefollonico and spin past perfectly preserved, hilltop towns, olive groves, and vineyards, before descending into the Val di Chiana and arriving in Arezzo. The city will be dressed in pink and full off festivities as the Italians celebrate the Giro d’Italia arrival in bella Toscana tomorrow. Tonight we dine on local delacacies at one of our favorite spots in town.
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Destinations: Petroio, Montisis, Arezzo
Accomplished: 53 miles / 86 km, elevation gain: 1404 meters
Day Four: Giro d’Italia
For months, the old men in the piazza have been talking about the Giro’s arrival, and the day has finally come! We’ll start out early to try out the same routes the pros will ride. Cycle over the famous Strade Bianche (white roads) of Tuscany before the pros race their way across. Celebrate the sport of cycling and an epic day of riding tonight in Radda where you will have a free night to explore the town.
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch
Destinations: Arezzo, Radda
Accomplished: 55 miles / 90 km, elevation gain: 1700 meters
Day Five: Time Trail in Radda in Chianti
We’ll head out for an early morning ride with an espresso stop at one of our favorite cafes. The team busses will be arriving soon in Radda, and the day’s race starts right out of our hotel doorstep. Use your VIP passes to experience some behind-the-scenes action as the riders get ready to prepare for their Time Trial. Root for your favorite riders as they race to secure victory before heading onto the Dolomites. Tonight, our friend Monica will prepare dinner for us at a local Botega, and we’ll raise our glasses of Chianti to toast our fantastic week together.
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Destinations: Radda in Chianti
Accomplished: All optional
Day Six: Florence
It’s our last day, and you can opt to sleep in, enjoy the hotel, and take a late-morning shuttle to Florence; or make an epic final ride across Chianti for a triumphant finish at Florence’s Piazzale Michelangelo. Say your goodbyes with the stunning Florentine skyline for your backdrop as you head onto your next adventure.
Meals: Breakfast
Accomplished: Optional 29 mile / 48 km ride into Florence
