Monte Grappa
Monfumo roads
Valdobbiadene B&B
Cortina D'Ampezzo
Near Cortina
Passo Costalunga
Passo Fedia
Giro Stage Viewing
The Dolomites
Sella Ronda Dolomites
Basso TT
Maglia Rosa
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| Day 1 Castelfranco Veneto
We’ll meet at 1 p.m. at our hotel for a brief orientation, then you’ll have the remainder of the afternoon to assemble/fit bikes and explore the town. For those interested, we’ll do a short warm-up ride. We will be staying in a comfortable 4-star hotel built into the clock tower of this 12th-century walled town. Welcome dinner together.
Castelfranco Veneto
Of all the walled towns of Veneto, few bear comparison with Castelfranco. The brick walls that the Trevisans built in 1199 to protect the city still encircle most of the old centre. Castelfranco offers frequent train service from Venice (one hour) or the Marco Polo Airport, so it’s a convenient place to start if you fly into Venice.
Day 2 Valdobbiadene - Mt. Grappa!
Riding: Leisurely ride or Mt. Grappa ...You Choose!
Base Ride: 30 miles/1000 feet
Option 1: A leisurely warm-up ride as we cycle along quiet farm roads to Asolo--the city of a hundred horizons--and its medieval hill town. You can have lunch in one of the numerous chic cafés in Asolo before cycling along the beautiful rolling hills of the Monfumo region on our way to Valdobbiadene, our final destination.
Option 2. If you have the legs, you can climb Mt. Grappa—it’s huge, with a circumference of 100 km. The Giro has visited Mt. Grappa three times; the last was in 1982 in the Comacchio-San Martino di Castrozza stage, won by Vincente Belda of Spain. If you climb Grappa by the "classic" route (from Romano d'Ezzelino), you can stop at the inn at Ponte San Lorenzo and see autographed photos of Gino Bartali and Marco Pantani! Dinner together tonight.
Valdobbiadene, a small village located in the foothills of the Veneto and surrounded by vineyards, is the home of Prosecco, one of Italy's finest sparkling wines. We'll stay at a wonderful B&B located in the vineyards where you'lll enjoy tasting the wonderful local Prosecco.
Day 3 Alleghe
We'll ride into to Dolomites and warm up our "climbing legs". For those interested, we'll visit a great bicycle museum in Cessiomaggiore, where all the streets are all named after famous Italian cyclists. We’ll continue along a scenic rolling road along the edge of the Dolomites and into the narrow Zoldo Valley to our hotel in Alleghe. Dinner together.
Alleghe is located on a beautiful lake at the base of the two of the highest peaks in the Dolomites, the imposing Monte Civetta and Monte Pelmo.
Day 4 Cortina D'Ampezzo
After a easy warm up spin, we'll ascend Passo Giau, our first Dolomitti pass. Enjoy a well-earned lunch break at the café at the top and enjoy spectacular views of the Dolomites. After lunch, enjoy a long descent in Cortina D'Ampezzo, our home for the next two nights. Dinner on you own at one of the numerous Cortina restaurants.
Cortina D'Ampezzo is nestled in a valley surrounded by a ring of extraordinary mountains, offering an ideal location in the Dolomites. There are plenty of shops, biergartens, restaurants and gelatorias, not to mention the nightlife; there’s plenty to keep you busy in town!
Day 5 Cortina D'Ampezzo Ride/Spa
Ride the Tre Cime di Lavaredo Loop: 37 miles/5,000 feet
Relax, hike or ride today, it’s up to you! We’ll begin with a climb up the Passo Tre Croci and ride to Lago di Misurina, a shimmering, deep blue lake surrounded by the jagged peaks of the Cristallo mountains. There’s an optional five-mile climb to the base of the remarkable triple-peaked mountain, Tre Cime di Lavaredo (7,612 ft.), where we can enjoy a well-earned lunch in the refugio at the top. Our loop continues mostly downhill through beautiful alpine scenery over the Passo Cimbanche back to Cortina. Dinner together.
Day 6 Canazei
First we'll ride up Passo Falzarego before enjoying a sweeping descent to Corvara. From Corvara, we’ll continue our way up Passo Campolongo (6,152 ft.) and climb 33 switchbacks over six miles to Passo Pordoi (7,379 ft.). This is a great place to refuel and enjoy the views before your final descent in to Canazei, our home for the next two nights. Dinner on your own tonight.
Canazei is a classic European ski resort in winter and a popular spot for hikers and cyclists in the summer. Ladin is the local language here. With views of the Marmolada, the Sella mountains, and the Rosengarten, this village is a wonderful place to stay and explore the surrounding area.
Day 7 Watch Stage 15 Finish at Fedia
We’ll watch the stage 15 mountaintop finish on Passo Fedia, an extremely challenging and decisive stage. We’ll begin with an easy spin along the valley before climbing Passo Fedia (7 miles/1,800 ft.). Passo Fedia is located at the base of the Marmolada (10,968 ft.), the mightiest mountain in the Dolomites. After watching the stage finish, we’ll enjoy an easy descent back to our hotel in Canazei. We’ll enjoy delicious Ladin cuisine at dinner together.
Option: If you have the legs, you can ride Passo San Pellingrino and then climb along the Giro route up the steeper east side of the Passo Fedia to watch the stage finish.
Day 8 Watch Stage 16 Individual Time Trial on Plan De Corones.
You’ll have an opportunity to witness history in the making! This time trial up the Plan de Corones will be one of the most difficult time trials in history. The last 3.4 miles of the climb is unpaved with gradients of 20 to 25%! We’ll begin with a climb up Passo Sella (7 miles/2,244 ft.) to beautiful Passo di Gardena, and then descend six miles of switchbacks to Corvara. We’ll enjoy 16 miles of glorious riding to the base of Plan de Corones to watch the time trial. After all the Tour excitement, we’ll have an easy descent to our 4-star hotel.
Day 9 Tour Conclusion
Our tour ends after breakfast, when you’ll transfer for your mid-morning train to Venice or Milan, or you may choose to extend your stay. Brunico offers frequent train service to Venice or Milan
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