2012 Topbike Giro Milano Tour May 18 – 28
Milano to Milano, as at Oct 11. With Topbike's Giro Tour 2, we follow the final 10 days of this grand tour as it twists it's way around the top of Italy, through Piedmonte, Lombardia and the Dolomites, before returning to Milano for the final stage. This is a fantastic event, where you can really get in touch with these world class riders. We ride most mornings, encompassing parts of the stages the riders will be competing on. We get to see the riders signing on, race starts, sprints, climbs and finishes. You'll be swept away by the energy and intricacies of grand tour stage racing.
13 places only @ $6,590.00 pp
Our itinerary for 2012 follows:
Friday, May 18, stage 13: Savona - Cervere, 121 km
We'll meet at Eurohotel in Milano, 10.00am, before transferring in the Topbike air conditioned mini-bus into the Barolo region of Piedmonte (165k, 2h). Today's stage finish is 30k to the west of our base, so we can sort out our bikes and take a small ride out towards Cervere and have a good look at the Giro for the first time. The final kilometres encompass the foothills of Barolo, so it's more likely to be a stage for a 'rouleur' than an outright sprinter. Tonight we're located in a small hilltop town's hotel, where we'll dine inhouse for the next 2 nights. Or maybe on the balcony, overlooking the vines, if the Italian spring weather is kind to us. (ride 60k med)
Saturday, May 19, stage 14: Cherasco - Cervinia, 205 km
Today's stage start is 22k from our Hotel, so we'll ride over in time to see what it takes to get the whole Giro on the road. We'll visit the team buses, check the team cars, watch the sign on, and get right in amongst the riders before they take off on the first (real) 'mountaintop' finish stage of the giro. The finish at Cervinia is at 2001 metres and the riders have to get over Col de Joux (1640m) first. Once the race is on its way we can map out a ride through the hills, covering roads the Giro di Piedmonte has used in years gone by. We should be back home, in a local bar to watch the end of today's stage on the tele. (ride 80-100k med-hard)
Sunday, May 20, stage 15: Busto Arsizio - Lecco/Pian dei Resinelli, 172 km
We'll hit the road early to make our way to 'Sotto il Monte' (translates as under the montains) where we'll arrive and immediately depart, or as soon as practical depart, to make our way to the first hillclimb of today's stage. The base of Valcava is 17k away, and it's a 1000m plus climb in 11.6k (17% max) which should provide enough entertainment for the day, as we climb it, watch the pros go over it, and then make our way down. For the super keen it may be possible to ride to the base of the finish climb, at Ballabio, but I wouldn't want to be the one that put that idea in anyone's head. The non riders can make themselves familiar with Bergamo's citta alta, before watching today's stage live, in a local bar, surrounded by locals. Nothing better! PS don't miss out on 'Tagliata di Manzo con rucola' if it is on tonight's menu…
Monday, May 21: Rest Day
Today is a rest day for the peloton, but last year there was a beautiful stage (16) run to the east of Bergamo, and we'll take the opportunity to ride the final 60k of it, over the pass of Ganda (1060m) that includes a gorge run on the way home. Love it. We'll dine tonight up in the Citta Alta of Bergamo, and plan the next day's itinerary. (<100k, medium-hard).
Giro Bike Tech
Tuesday, May 22, Stage 16: Limone sul Garda - Falzes/Pfalzen, 174 km
Two choices today, both finishing in Cortina.
Leaving Bergamo we'll transport for 3.5h up to Canazei, deep in the Dolomites, and only a couple of k from the start of the Sella Ronda loop. Without doubt one of the best riding (and ski) loops in the world. Saddling up, we'll ride the passes of Sella, Gardena and Campolongo, from here we can make a beeline for Cortina, or finish the loop going over the final pass of Pordoi. It's a further 47k into Cortina, for the keen (53k full loop, plus 47k into Cortina, or 79k without Passo Pordoi)
As today's stage is followed by an Autostrada, for at least 100k, it is an ideal day to chase the race, and view it 2, 3 or 4 times, maybe even getting to the finish as well. No promises here though, it may all come down to how good a lunch the Carabinieri have had, on how our access goes!
Wednesday, May 23, stage 17: Falzes/Pfalzen - Cortina d'Ampezzo, 187 km
In Cortina we are located in the valley underneath the climb up to the 2011 Giro's 'Cima Coppi', which features in 2012 as the 4th and final climb in today's stage, Passo Giau, which at a height of 2236m, is just 18k away. I'm hoping that if we play our cards right, we should have time to see the peloton twice today. Riding out early we can pedal over to Passo Valparola (2197m) just 20k away, and watch the peloton pass over the first KOM. After which we can choose to return to Cortina for the finish, or shortcut through to Passo Giau, for another hilltop viewing. It's well within our reach, so it will be up to you how much climbing you take on today. Alternately, as the stage finish is close to our hotel, you could make it a rest day. Ie: just pose around town on your carbon fibre steed, doing nothing more than drinking a few espresso's, and looking the part. Easy! (0-100k, as hard or easy as you like it)
Thursday, May 24, stage 18: San Vito di Cadore - Vedelago, 139 km
Today's stage start is just down the road from Cortina, so again we will have two options:
Into the car and off to Prato allo Stelvio (225k, 3h) where we will climb the traditional side of Stelvio, the one not featuring in 2 days time. That's the one with over 1,800 metres of ascent. Descending the other side means we will ride into our next accommodation in Bormio, where we will be for the next 3 nights. (ride: only 45k, it's the 2k of vertical which is the killer here)
Off to today's stage start in San Vito, here we can watch the riders sign on, yell for the 'Skips' and anyone else we recognise, and cheer the riders on their merry way. As they tackled one of the Giro's toughest stages yesterday, they are deserving of a little encouragement. Post start we'll make our way over to Bormio, and take up residence for the next 3 nights.
Friday, May 25, stage 19: Treviso - Alpe di Pampeago, 197km
We'll be taking a day off from chasing the race and doing our own ride around the environs of Bormio. No end of choices here for us today! The 'queen' choice being the 111k loop that goes over Mortirolo and Gavia with just 3,200m of climbing, affectionately known by us as 'Dial M for Mortirolo'. Alternately there are the final climbs of tomorrow's planned stages, Mortirolo and Stelvio, or you can tackle both sides of Gavia if this is what tickles your fancy. Terrific scenery, great places to stop and eat en route, it's all here in the mountains. Just make sure you are back home in time to watch today's 5 pass stage finish on the tele.
Saturday, May 26, stage 20: Caldes/Val di Sole - Passo dello Stelvio, 218 km
Today's stage was engineered by the Giro race management 'twitter polling' the fans, and asking which climbs they would most like to see feature in the final mountain stage. While an entertaining marketing exercise, with 5 mountains to climb, it's probably more than enough exercise to kill half the athletes. But, it will make good entertainment for us, and Bormio is an ideal place to watch it all from. So it's up Mortirolo, or Stelvio, or over Gavia and back (whatever you missed yesterday) for viewing, or once more stay put and watch the riders ride through town, before the final climb of this year's Giro. Terrific!
Sunday, May 27, stage 21: Milan - Milan ITT, 31.5 km
Today, with an early start, we will journey into Milano (192k, 2.5h) to watch the grand finale in the centre of town. It's an individual time trial of 31.5k, and it could hold the secret to the winner of the 2012 Giro d'italia within it's short distance. Our hotel is located near the TT route, so spectating and cheering the arrival of all the riders will be an easy task today. After the presentations we'll venture out in Milano, and enjoy our final meal together.
Monday – May 28, Milano After breakfast, packing up bikes and luggage, it’s the end of our tour. We’ll ensure that everyone meets their next transfers or accommodation smoothly.
If we do everything planned, there'll have been:
8 Days of race viewing, incorporating 2 stage starts, 2 stage finishes, 4 GPMs, and 2 roadside views. We'll also have ridden about 5-600k, climbed many mountains including the passes of Valcava, Giau, Valparola, Stelvio (both sides) Mortirolo and Gavia. It'll be the end of a great tour, so after enjoying breakfast together, for all of those not staying on, it's pack-up time, and off to further destinations, arrivederci!
This tour includes:
All transport from Milano to Milano for you, your bike and one bag (in the Topbike air conditioned mini-bus)
Accommodation
All breakfasts and all dinners
You will also receive a full 2012 Topbike kit.
Also included is your experienced and knowledgeable guides, maps, training tips, coaching (if required) and mechanical back-up for your bike.
NB: The itinerary above is to be used as a guide only, as Topbike Tours are well known for making use of all (and creating some extra) opportunities, expect that variations from the above can happen at any time. Please note all distances are approximate and subject to change.
