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the Grand Tours:
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Giro Tours 2010:
Tour 1: May 7-17, 2010,
Tour 2: May 21-31, 2010, Venice - Venice |
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interest for 2010.
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The following are our two itineraries for the 2010 Giro
Topbike Giro Tour (1) May 7 – 17, 2010
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Topbike Giro Tour May 7 – 17, 2010
(Cagliari – Rome)
Friday May 7:
Friday morning 11.00am, meet at Elmas airport, Cagliari. You can contact us on our Italian mobile (+39 333 5959 217) on your arrival in Italy. After everyone has arrived we’ll transfer to our accommodation in Cagliari, where we can assemble bikes before going on an orientation ride around our local regions. Dinner, with specialities of the Sardegna region tonight (surely grilled sardines) locally tonight.
Stage 1, Saturday, May 8
Today we’ll ride north, away from the coast of Sardegna, passing through the small towns of Senorbi, Mandas and Isili, on our way to eventual destination town of Nurallao. Here, not too high in the hills, in a scenic locale, very close to the geographical centre of Sardegna, we will spend 2 nights in a traditional ‘Agriturismo’ (Italian Farmstay). Opening prologue of the Giro d’italia, live from Amsterdam, on the telly all afternoon. 80k with some climbing (med)
Stage 2, Sunday, May 9
With an early start we’ll head out for a scenic 120k loop, circling one of the central mountains of the island. With the Topbike van following close behind, taking care of any of the worries. We’ll stop for lunch en route and once back in Nurallao we can relax and enjoy the Giro’s first 209k stage (after yesterday’s short prologue) live on the teev, with a glass of wine, a coffee or maybe even a grappa. Dinner this evening in our accomm, where we can fully dissect the Sunday ride over dinner. 120k with climbing (hard)
Stage 3, Monday, May 10
As the Giro moves southward down through Holland, completing another 209k stage from Amsterdam to Middleburg, we’ll be continuing our ‘pure’ Italian experience, here on Sardegna, heading northwards, riding our way towards the port of Olbia, and stopping overnight in Oliena in another Agriturismo. Dinner in our accommodation tonight, a family owned hostel, with a traditional dining room, and if we’re lucky, roast suckling pig grilled over coals. 100k with net loss in height (med)
Rest day, Tuesday, May 11
The Giro has finally entered Italy, albeit for a rest day in Piedmonte. As for us, we are still cycling northwards on our way to the port of Olbia, where, once the evening arrives, we’ll board the ferry to Genoa. We’ll have dinner either at Olbia before we leave, or on board, and inside our cabins enjoy a pleasant, overnight, sea sojourn.
Stage 4, Wednesday, May 12
After arriving in Genoa shortly after 7.30am, we’ll transport to Venasca (165k, 2.5h). It’s the day of the Giro’s 32.5k Teams Time Trial, from Savigliano to Cuneo, and it is happening almost on our door step. We’ll venture out onto the course the moment we arrive in Venasca and strike the race, face to face, for the first time. NB it’s the first time the race competes on Italian soil in 2009! Post ride back at our digs we’ll enjoy dinner in our accommodation, a small family owned hotel, with a Trattoria inhouse. The traditional speciality of the region is a long-rolled gnocchi, in a cream sauce.
Stage 5, Thursday, May 13
Today’s ‘tappe’ finish, with a 20k loop that sees the riders passing through the finish town twice, is where we will ride to, to spectate this classic Italian style of stage finish (they never do this at the Tour de France, so it is a real treat). We’ll ride the final parts of the stage and then take up positions to see the sprinter’s teams do their set up to get their man over the line first, in Novi Ligure. Traditional specialities on the menu once again back in our accommodation in Venasca.
Stage 6, Friday, May 14
Now that the race, once on Italian soil, is racing away towards Tuscany, we had better get a wriggle on to keep up with it. We’ll be on the road with time to spare today to make it to a feed zone en route as we head towards Montalcino, where tomorrow’s stage will finish. Once more we will be in a local agriturismo, and with a bit of luck maybe some ‘Brunello di Montalcino’ – one of italy’s most famous wines - will come our way with dinner.
Stage 7, Saturday, May 15
Carrara to Montalcino is today's stage, the riders have 215 kilometres to cover today, so while they are getting prepared and making their way towards us, we will be off in the tuscan countryside. Siena is just 45k to our north so we’ll ride up their in the morning, to have a look at the famous piazza that hosts the ‘Palio’ (a crazy horse race around the centre of town) take a coffee, before making our way back to Montalcino and witnessing the stage finish. Dinner inhouse once again, prepared by our hosts, don’t miss the Tagliata di Manzo (sliced rare beef)!
Stage 8, Sunday, May 16
Today’s stage start is a few kilometers away in Chianciano Terme, so we’ll pop over there and mingle with the masses as the team buses arrive, the riders prepare and warm up, sign on and take their places on the line. After we wave them off, we will continue on a circuitous loop returning to our accommodation a couple of hours later, after a shower and a bit of lunch we’ll take off to a local bar and watch the end of today’s stage amongst the locals. We will return, to a glorious dinner once again prepared in our lodgings.
Stage 9, Monday, May 17
After breakfast, packing bikes and luggage it’s off to Roma airport (250k,3h) for the end of our tour. Drop off time at Fiumicino 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 Cagliari to Roma for you, your bike and one bag, accommodation, all breakfasts and all dinners. You will also receive a full 2010 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. Not included: Ferry/hydrofoil tickets.
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.
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2010 Topbike
Giro Tour (2)
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, from Venice to Zoncolan, Gavia, Mortirolo and Monte Grappa before returning to Verona 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 compete 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 @ $5,990.00 pp
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Our itinerary for 2010 follows: |
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Friday, May 21
We'll meet at Venice airport, before transferring in the Topbike air conditioned mini-bus to Crocetta del Montello (95k, 1.5h). While today’s stage finish is well south of us, we can catch the highlights of the sprint finish on the TV, after assembling bikes and taking a small ride in our local environs. Tonight we’re located in an agriturismo (Italian farmstay) where we’ll dine inhouse for the next 2 nights.
Saturday, May 22
Today’s stage finish is just 14k from our accommodation, but en route is one of the 2010 Giro highlights, the GPM of Monte Grappa, which is 44k from home and is a climb many Topbike Tour clients are familiar with, as it is must-do, if ever we are in the region. Scorching sun, thick fog, varying grades, a ‘grapperia’ halfway up the climb and a peak of 1,775m. All these attributes have added to the experience. Just add the Giro for a whole lot more fun.
Sunday, May 23
The Giro starts in Venezia Mestre today, which is south of us. We’ll take off early, for it is an ideal opportunity to ride the final 42k of today’s stage, and take in 3 GPMs. Both Passo Duran (1,069m) and Sella Valcalda (958m) provide the antipasto for Zoncolan (1,730m 11% avg, 22% max) which will be the main course. That’s if you can reach the top before the lead chasers catch you! Gilberto Simoni topped it here on the last two visits, but in 2010 it might be time for a new chum to arrive first. Tonight we’ll change accomms and take up residence in Villabassa, in the heart of the Dolomites, just 14k from Austria, where we will reside for 3 nights in Topbike’s favourite Italian hotel.
Monday, May 24, Rest Day
Today is a rest day for the peloton, and after our own two days of climbing mountains, we too will be keen for an easy, sight-seeing day. We’ll ride up the valley into Austria, to Lienz, where quite a few recent Giro stages have featured, here we can enjoy a relaxing lunch, before returning to Villabassa, where we can make use of the pool and sauna, refreshing and preparing us for our evening meal. Alternately we can 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).
Tuesday, May 25
Down the valley and up a little climb (23k), In the opposite direction to yesterday’s jaunt, is where today’s individual uphill time trial will be held. Although this is a road grand tour, today’s stage is more reminiscent of a mountainbike course. Enough, in fact, last year (2008), for our favourite rider, Jens Voigt, to curse out loud while passing our group, ‘Strada stupida!’ upon striking the dirt section that signalled the final 5 kilometres. Held over 13 kilometres, with an average grade of 8.5%, and peaks of 24%, it would be no surprise to hear all the riders make the same call. Back to Villabassa tonight.
Wednesday, May 26
The Giro is heading west, and so are we. Today we’ll jump on the road ahead of the race, visit a feedzone and catch the riders as they crest today’s GPM, the Passo delle Palade. Here we can mount up and ride into tonight’s accommodation near Ponte di Legno, where we will bed down for four nights in another Agriturismo, in the shade of the passes of Gavia and Mortirolo, both the scenes of many Giro d’italia successes and failures.
Thursday, May 27
While today’s flat stage (of respite for the GC contenders) will be one for the sprinters, we’ll quietly make our own way around the infamous passes of our neighbourhood. We’ll climb Gavia (17.3k, avg 7.9%, max 16%) and Mortirolo (12.8k, avg 10.5%, max 18%) in one fell swoop of 95k. Well, we’ll swoop the down hills, and as long as we’re upright we’ll meander our way over the passes, and return to our hotel which is on Saturday’s route. Good hot chocolates (and good grappa) to garner recovery, when gasping on top of Gavia, guaranteed.
Friday, May 28
The infamous pass of Mortirolo is one of today’s features, and we’ll ensure that we are featuring on it - along with thousands of other Italian tifosi (fans). It will go off. Another option is to roll 20k down to Edolo, and view as the peloton passes through twice on today’s stage.
Saturday, May 29
A day of highlights, all close to our hotel. Today’s stage finish is a hilltop one, on Passo del Tonale, approx 10k away. That’s not to mention the Cima Coppi (highest pass in the Giro) of this year’s race, which is Passo Gavia, being just 17k away. And if you’re going up Gavia, you might as well go down the other side and visit the stage start in Bormio beforehand, this will give you two viewings and a ride of 86k. Alternately, the stage passes within one K of our hotel, so you can skip the ride and just slack off in the bar, after a short stroll, if that is your bag. Oh, the agony of choice!
Sunday, May 30
Today, with an early start, we will journey into Verona (194k, 3h) to watch the grand finale in the centre of town. It’s an individual time trial of only 15.3k, but it could hold the secret to the winner of the 2009 Giro d’italia within it’s short distance. Our hotel is located on 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 Verona, and enjoy our final meal together.
Monday – May 31, Verona
After breakfast, packing bikes and luggage, it’s off to Venice airport (120k, 2h) for the end of our tour. Drop off time at Marco Polo is 12.00 noon, and we’ll ensure that everyone meets their next transfers or accommodation smoothly.
If we do everything planned, there'll have been:
7 Days of race viewing, incorporating 1 stage start, 3 stage finishes, 5 GPMs, and 1 feedzone. We'll also have ridden about 5-600k, climbed 9 mountains including the passes of Monte Grappa, Duran, Sella Valcalda, Zoncolan, Gavia & Mortirolo. 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 Venice to Venice for you, your bike and one bag, accommodation, all breakfasts and all dinners. You will also receive a full 2010 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 are 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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