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Giro Tours 2009:
Tour 1: May 8-18, 2009, Rome* - Milano
Tour 2: May 22-June
1, 2009, MILANO |
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interest for 2009.
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The following itineraries are from 2008, our itineraries for 2009 will be announced after the Giro route is launched in November
Giro Tour 1, Start Palermo, finish Milano,
Friday May 9:
11.00am, meet at the Topbike Hotel in Palermo. You can contact us on our Italian mobile (+39 333 5959 217), on your arrival in Italy. After check-in we’ll go for an orientation ride around Palermo, ride the Time Trial course and maybe even venture up to Monreale and generally just have a good look at the town that will host the prologue start of the 2008 Giro d’italia, tomorrow! Dinner will be nearby in a local restaurant. |
Stage 1, Saturday, May 10, Palermo (Team Time Trial), 28.5km
Us: The Giro is here, and so are we. Where we are located is in central Palermo. The race passes 100m from our hotel, and the build up will be virtually on our doorstep, we’ll get to see the team buses, the sign on, the press crush and the riders all at very close range, before the Giro d’italia Team Time Trial kicks off in the afternoon. Dinner locally again tonight. |
Stage 2, Sunday, May 11, Cefalù - Agrigento, 207km
Us: Today we’ll transport to Cefalu and spend the morning doing it all again, we may even stop a little way out of Cefalu and watch the peloton as they head up their first climb of the Giro, as they make their way north to south across the full breadth of Sicily. After the riders have passed we’ll saddle up and ride the coast road, with views of the Aeolian islands, in the direction of Milazzo. It’s over 135k so we’ll transport the final 50k in the mini-bus ensuring we don’t miss watching the day’s stage finish in a bar, alongside the locals. Dinner inhouse at the Petite Hotel tonight, overlooking the port of Milazzo. |
Stage 3, Monday, May 12, Catania - Milazzo , 208km
Us: in the morning we’ll do a 75k ride, out and back, up to Novara di Sicilia (650m) for some elevated views of the meditteranean, and of course the Aeolian islands in the distance. Post ride back at our hotel we’ll be able to watch the race on the tele as it makes it’s way towards us. As the excitement builds we’ll make our way to the stage finish and watch the sprinters do their thing on the streets of Milazzo. Dinner inhouse again tonight. |
Stage 4, Tuesday, May 13, Pizzo Calabro - Catanzaro, 187km
Us: As the circus moves across the Straits of Messina to the peninsula, we’ll stay on Sicily, riding our way to the port of Catania, either over or around Mt Etna, where we’ll board the ferry to Napoli. We’ll find a bar in Catania to tune in and watch today’s stage finish. We’ll have dinner either at Catania before we leave, or on board, and inside our cabins enjoy a pleasant overnight sea sojourn to Napoli, awakening in one of the craziest towns on earth. |
Stage 5, Wed, May 14, Belvedere Marittimo - Contursi T. 170km
Us: We’re off for a rural adventure now, in Lenola (pop 5000, 140k, 2h) so we’ll drive out of Napoli in the direction of Rome and check in to our accommodation amongst the vines and olive groves, the farmers and the hills, with the coast not too far away. We’ll stop for two nights and enjoy some fantastic riding, dining and wining, at a ‘contadini’ (farmworkers) pace. |
Stage 6, Thursday, May 15, Potenza - Peschici, 247km
Us: There are a myriad of rides available to us here, be it down to the coast or inland over to Montecassino, the sight of a pivotal battle in WWII. We can do 50, 70 or 100k loops or nothing. The day’s entertainment is up to us, there are no deadlines today so we can rise and ride whenever and wherever we please. Not to be missed, the coffee is fantastic at Frizzi’s bar in Piazza Lago (NB he also has a terrific selection of grappa too) we might make a (light) deadline to watch today’s stage finish at his bar. Dinner again inhouse, enjoying treats from the BBQ. |
Stage 7, Friday, May 16, Vasto - Pescocostanzo, 179km
Us: Now we are starting to get serious, Sunday is granfondo day, and we are off to our agriturismo accommodation just outside Cesena. It’s 450k and over 5 hours drive, so we’ll get there with plenty of stops, not destroying ourselves en route. Once at Cesena we should have time to go for a flattish roll out just to keep the legs and lungs in tune for Sunday’s big effort. |
Stage 8, Saturday, May 17, Rivisondoli - Tivoli, 200km
Us: The scenery, as well as the riding here is magnificent and the Giro will almost catch us up here, passing through a couple of days after we depart. We’ll enjoy a bit of a rest day, while we register for Sunday’s GranFondo, have a look at the start/set up arrangements, and watch the Giro d’italia’s stage live on the tele in the afternoon. Dinner in house once again, prepared by our hosts. |
Stage 9, Sunday, May 18, Civitavecchia - San Vincenzo, 194km
Us: Today we’ll have an early start for which ever Granfondo route we choose to do (be it 130 km or 200 km). They both traverse, in different configurations, the glorious hills that separate this area from Tuscany. Both routes are well serviced with feed stations placed along the way. At the final ‘Arrivi’ there are showers, massages and a pasta meal available for all participants, along with a ‘Memorial Medal’ of the event. With over 8,000 participants on the road, as if we’d ever be able to forget it! At some stage after we have discussed our own achievements that day, viewed the Giro’s stage on the Tele, live, we will return, to a glorious dinner once again prepared in our lodgings. |
Rest Day, Monday, May 19,
After breakfast, packing bikes and luggage it’s off to Milano airport (360k, 3.5h) for the end of our tour. Drop off time at Malpensa is 12.00 noon, and we’ll ensure that everyone meets their next transfers or accommodation smoothly.
Included in your tour is all transport from Palermo to Milano for you, your bike and one bag, accommodation, all breakfasts and all dinners. You will also receive a full 2008 Topbike kit, which includes a short-sleeve jersey, a long sleeve jersey, a vest, long sleeve thermal top and 2 pair of knicks. Also included is your experienced and knowledgeable guides, maps, training tips, coaching (if required) and mechanical back-up for your bike. Picnic lunches are bought using a ‘kitty’ and daily sweeps are run, giving everyone a team for the day, and a jackpot for the final day. Please also see our recommended list of things to bring.
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.
13 places only @ $5,990.00 pp |
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Topbike
Giro Tour into Milano Finish: May 23 - June 2
Starting in Milano, with Topbike's
Giro Tour we follow the final 10 days
of this grand tour as it winds it's way across the top
of Italy, to the dolomites and Austria in the east and
back into 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 stage 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 @ $5,490.00 pp |
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Our itinerary for 2008 follows: |
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Friday, May 23, Stage 13 Modena → Cittadella 192km
We'll meet in Milano, assemble and rack all our bikes and transfer in our air concitioned mini-vans to Citadella (245k, 3.0h) to view today's sprint stage finish. Post stage we'll unload bikes and ride over to Crocetta del Montello (35k) to improve our appetite before dinner. Dine inhouse at our accomm, a typical Italian agriturismo, famous for serving us potatoes cooked 5 different ways in the one meal. With no star rating, it still rated the best restaurant on last year’s Giro tour.
Saturday, May 24, stage 14 Verona →Alpe d Pampeago 195km
Today we will pass on spectating, and make a beeline for the dolomites (120k 2h). Once ensconced in Arabba we can ride the Sella Ronde, the best 60k cycling loop you can ever do. 4 passes, Campolongo, Gardena, Sella and Pordoi with approx 2,000m of climbing, before returning to our salubrious accommodation and watching the stage’s mountain top finish on the tele in a local bar. We’re in Arabba for 2 nights, we’ll dine inhouse and make good use of their varied and prodigious wine cellar.
Sunday, May 25, stage 15 Arabba → Marmolada Fedaia 153km
While the Stage finish is 31k away at Passo Fedaia, on the infamous Mt Marmolada, today’s stage start is in our town. We’ll have numerous options available. We can rise early and set off to ride today’s complete stage in front of the peloton, or we can watch the stage start, before riding over to the finish climb and catch the arrival of the peloton, after riding the final ascent. No car today. Wine & dine inhouse again tonight.
Monday, May 26, stage 16 San Vigilio-Marebbe → Plan de Corones 13.8km ITT
Today we’ll ride out of the hotel and over to the climb to be used in today’s ITT hillclimb, the finish of which is just 50k from Arabba. Time trials make for exceptional spectating, and even more so when it’s a hillclimb. We’ll send the cars ahead with our bags to the accommodation in Villabassa before they return to pick us up on the other side of the climb, after the day is over. Accommodation for the next 2 nights is in Villabassa (south Tyrol region of Italy)
Tuesday, May 27, rest day
The Giro’s rest day, while we enjoy a flat(ish) ride, following the tourist route and journey in to Austria, just because we can. On our return we can make use of the hotel’s private pool and sauna, or we can just skip the ride, choosing to sleep in, take a coffee in the town square and enjoy a relaxing passegiata in our local environs (go for a walk). Dine inhouse again tonight.
Wednesday, May 28, stage 17 Sondrio → Locarno 192km
The Giro is heading off to the west and we’ll move in that direction to Bergamo, the fashion and industrial heart of the north of Italy (350k, 4h). We can choose to take one last ride around the Dolomites or transport to Bergamo for a more urban ride. We’ll be staying in the exclusive Citta Alta (old upper part of town) located at the back of the ancient Venetian walls of San Vigilio.
Thursday, May 29, stage 18 Mendisio → Varese 182km
With today's stage well west of us, we’ll take a ride around the Bergamasco valley, where the Felice Gimondi Granfondo takes place every year, and ride a few of the climbs. The granfondo has 3 routes over a variety of climbs, the most interesting through the spa town of San Pellegrino Terme, the home of the world famous sparkling water. We’ll watch today’s stage finish on the Teev if we’re keen. Dinner once more inhouse.
Friday, May 30, stage 19 Legnano → Presolana/Monte Pora 228km
It’s just 50k to today’s stage finish, but there’s a chance the race will pass even closer, ideally we’ll spectate at a feedzone before heading out of town and over to today’s hill top stage finish, buried high up in the Bergamasco valley. Afterwards we’ll transfer a further 71k to Edolo, where we’ll spend two nights dining inhouse.
Saturday, May 30, stage 20 Rovetta → Tirano 224km
Quite a special day, the last hillclimb stage and ‘Il Giro’ will ride through our town, twice, today. There is a ‘hard nuts only’ ride option this morning, setting off early to cover the two main obstacles in today’s stage, the famous Passo Gavia, and the more infamous Passo Mortirolo. Both these climbs have been decisive in previous Giros. The American Andy Hampsten set the stage for his win here in 1988, going over a snow covered Gavia in a solo breakaway. At this year’s Giro launch he stated “doing the Mortirolo after the Gavia will be terrible. The Gavia is not the hardest, it is long, it’s steep, there is no way they can go easy over it." There are plenty of other alternatives for rides today, along the valley floor, or perching up on one of the climbs, or simply staying within walking distance of the hotel and seeing the race pass by twice. Dine inhouse again tonight.
Sunday, June 1, stage 21Cesano Maderno → Milano (Individual Time Trial) 23.5km
Today we will journey down to Milano to watch the grand finale in the centre of town. It’s an individual time trial of only 23.5k, but it could hold the secret to the winner of the 2008 Giro d’italia within it’s short distance. We’ll check into our hotel and make our way over to the finish to spectate and cheer the arrival of all the riders. After the presentations we’ll enjoy our final meal of the tour in one of the many fine local restaurants.
Monday - June 2, Milano
If we do everything planned, there'll have been:
6 Days of race viewing (& 4 days of doing our own thing) incorporating 1 stage start, 5 stage finishes, 3 KOM, a rest day and 2 roadside views, we'll also have ridden about 500k, climbed 6 mountains including the famous passes of Gavia, Mortirolo, Pordoi, Sella, Campolongo and Gardena. 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!
Included in your tour is all transport from Milan to Milan for you, your bike and one bag, accommodation, all breakfasts and all dinners. You will also receive a full 2008 Topbike kit, which includes a short-sleeve jersey, a long sleeve jersey, a vest, long sleeve thermal top and 2 pair of knicks. Your experienced and knowledgeable guides, maps, training tips, coaching (if required) and mechanical back-up for your bike. Please also see our recommended list of things to bring.
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 approx and subject to change.
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