Italian Alps

This morning we will collect you from Venice at approximately 10:00am. Following a 1hr transfer we arrive to Bassano del Grappa. There will be time to build any bikes and get you fitted on hire bikes. During the afternoon get excited as you can test yourself on the famous Foza climb. The 14.8km climb at 6.4% average grade is a good starter as it’s a fairly constant climb with tens of impressive switchbacks that rise up from the valley floor. The 100^th edition of the Giro d’Italia showcased the Foza climb during its decisive Stage 20 mountainous route! During the evening we will go through a tour briefing and welcome dinner with the guides. Some epic cycling awaits!

Distance: 55km / Meals: Dinner Included / Sleep: Bassano del Grappa

Today you will cycle a brilliant loop through the rolling hills of the Prosecco and Cartize wine area. Following the landscapes of Italy’s prized sparkling wine will be a major highlight. For those looking for a challenge the ride passes by the base of Monte Grappa. Bang! This is a classic Giro d´Italia climb. For Italian cyclists, riding Grappa is a tradition and for many just as important as the Stelvio Pass. The climb rises out of the Veneto plain and measures 27km at an average gradient of 6%. The Giro d’Italia has visited Monte Grappa (1775m) on 6 occasions and was last used during Stage 20 of the 2017 edition. Hosting the penultimate stage of ‘Giro 100’ is saying something about its national importance!

Distance: 100km / Meals: Breakfast Included / Sleep: Bassano del Grappa

Riding from the hotel and you encounter some stunning scenery on the Passo San Boldo climb. The road near the summit includes a series of five switchback tunnels carved into the rock!  The 6km climb at 7.5% average was last contested during Stage 19 of the 2019 Giro d’Italia which an emotional Esteban Chaves went on to win! Rolling across the top of the plateau offers incredible views to the distant Dolomites. Is that snow we often get asked? No, there you have the limestone peaks of the soaring Dolomites! After a coffee stop the cycling continues along the edge of ‘Lago del Mis’ which is a fantastic experience!

Distance: 90km / Meals: Breakfast & Dinner Included / Sleep: Arabba

One of the world´s most iconic cycling routes is on offer today: the Sella Ronda loop!! The Sella Ronda is a must for any cyclist who visits the towering Dolomites mountain region. There are 4 steps to become a member of the Sella Ronda club: Passo Pordoi, Passo Sella, Passo Gardena and Passo Campolongo. The views of the jagged limestone peaks, pine forests, alpine meadows and winding roads will be etched into your memory for a lifetime!

Don´t let the relatively low kilometre count trick you today as each pass goes accumulating elevation, almost 1850m of elevation gain! We often find that Day 4 can be difficult for some on tour so the Sella loop will provide excellent motivation and also the chance for an early ride finish and afternoon of important recovery.

Distance: 60km / Meals: Breakfast Included / Sleep: Arabba

Today is the perfect chance to enter deeper into the heart of the national park for more classic Dolomites climbs. For all the Giro d’Italia tragics out there you would have heard about the southern approach of Passo Giau! For most cyclists who have travelled Italy in and out ‘Passo Giau South’ will be in their top 10 climbs. This beauty measures 9.5km and the 9.4% average grade takes you up to 2236 metres elevation. A little like Alpe d´Huez in the French Alpes, Km 1 of this pass is its toughest with ramps constantly reading 10-12%. At the summit you will be in awe of the seemingly sculptured mountain peaks surrounding you (Nuvolau, Lastoni del Formin, Cernera, Croda da Lago and Tofane). This could well be your most scenic coffee stop yet!

For those keen to ride some more there will be the chance to also climb Passo Fedaia. ‘Fedaia’ is a classic climb and it was last used during Stage 20 of the 2022 Giro d’Italia when Jai Hindley craftily left Richard Carapaz for dead in the last 4km and won the coveted maglia rosa. After marvelling at the Marmolada glacier, a fun descent down to Canazei for lunch awaits before a 2hr van transfer to near the base of the Stelvio Pass. Yes, the Stelvio Pass! 

Distance: 90km / Meals: Breakfast Included / Sleep: Silandro

From Silandro you will warm-up on a 20km route through the apple orchards and woodlands. Now you will need to be ready to climb the mythical Stelvio north side with its 48 hairpin bends that rise up and up for 25km and which gain 1840 metres of elevation. Passo Stelvio (2758m) is the highest asphalted mountain pass in the Eastern Alpes, second only to Col de l’Iseran (2770m) in the French Alpes in elevation and with more than twice the number of switchbacks as the famous Alpe d’ Huez. The climb is epic in every sense of the definition. At the top you can take a bow to his majesty the Stelvio Pass. Your sense of achievement will be at an all time high!

When it comes to Giro d’Italia history the Stelvio Pass has been contested on 12 occasions. It first appeared in 1953 when during the penultimate stage the Italian legend Fausto Coppi attacked on the Stelvio Pass to take the lead and secure victory in Bormio.

Distance: 60km / Meals: Breakfast Included / Sleep: Bormio

After your cycling heroics on the Stelvio Pass for some it is difficult to get going the next day. But you can rest assured after a good warm-up you will be glad you have signed up for yet another authentic challenge. Like the Stelvio Pass, Passo di Gavia (2621m) also rises out of the Bormio sport village. This is just another mythical climb that has crowned many modern-day Giro d´Italia winners! ´Gavia´ with its 1400 metres elevation gain over 25km leaves one short of breath (5.5% average grade). From Bormio the climb begins as a major road accessing ski villages which then changes in a blink of an eye to a narrow remote mountain road which passes eerily through forest and later up into a barren glacier field. The ‘real’ Gavia road begins at Km12.5 with the first right hand switchback out of Santa Caterina ski village. We guarantee that you´ll never forget its tight switchbacks and steep ramps!

1. Km 0 – 6: Gradient: 2.5%
2. Km 6 – 12.5: Gradient: 6.0%
3. Km 12.5 – 23: Gradient: 7.4%
4. Km 23 – 25.6: Gradient: 3.5%

The Gavia summit is a remarkable location but to get there you have to deal with its forever changing gradients. Near the summit you find the beautiful Lago Bianco with the Corno dei Tre Signori mountain (3359m) keeping guard. And right at the top the glacier means the temperature at this elevation are always quite low even in the middle of the summer. Jump into the family owned cafeteria (rifugio) for a nice hot chocolate or coffee!

Distance: 75 or 125km / Meals: Breakfast & Dinner Included / Sleep: Bormio

It’s not every day you get the chance to attempt an out and out wall like Mortirolo. This was a road which was always a secondary mountain route until it became asphalted in 1990.  From that time on a new page in the Giro history books was opened. In those 30 years there have been as many as 14 Giro crossings and names such as Marco Pantani, Ivan Basso, Steven Kruiswijk and Luis Leon Sanchez have all lead the peloton over this 1851m elevation summit. It will be a great chance for everyone to test themselves on an authentic Giro d’Italia classic. Once over Mortirolo there will be a 2hr transfer to Lake Como. Bellagio is considered to be the pearl of Lake Como.

Distance: 70km / Meals: Breakfast Included / Sleep: Bellagio (Lake Como)

The grand finale concludes on the ´Ghisallo´ and ‘Sormano’ climbs which are often used during the Giro di Lombardia professional race (5^th cycling monument race alongside Milan-San Remo, Tour of Flanders, Paris Roubaix and Liege-Bastogne-Liege). It is a wonderful experience arriving at Piazzale del Ghisallo with the church dedicated to cyclists and the new cycling museum. We will finish descending to our hotel for the final celebration with spectacular Lake Como views!

Distance: 70km / Meals: Breakfast & Dinner Included / Sleep: Bellagio (Lake Como)

Following breakfast we will transfer you to Milan Malpensa Airport. If you would like to spend additional days relaxing and enjoying the Lake Como area please feel free to ask us for more information. We hope you have enjoyed your ‘Dolomiti’ cycling experience and we look forward to seeing you again in the near future!

Meals: Breakfast included