Topbike Giro Tour May 9 – 15, 2012 (Venice - Rome)
Wednesday, May 9, Stage 4, Verona-Verona 32.2 km
We'll meet at Venice airport, 10.00am, before transferring in the Topbike air conditioned mini-bus to the Veneto region, just south of Verona (136k, 1.5h). Today’s Time Trial stage start and finish is conducted 20k to the north of our base, so we can sort out our bikes and take a small ride into the centre of Verona and have a good look at the Giro for the first time. The city of Verona is beautiful on it’s own, but with the Giro, it’s spectacular. Tonight we’re located in a small town’s hotel, where we’ll dine in-house for the next 2 nights - or maybe on the balcony, if the Italian spring weather is kind to us. (ride 40k easy).
Thursday, May 10, Stage 5, Modena - Fano 199 km
Today’s stage start is 84k south from our digs, 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 straightest and flattest stage of the 2012 giro. The finish at Fano is at 2 metres above sea level, and given the race start was at 42m, the race is technically, downhill all the way. If they get a tailwind, with the straight parcours it could be the fastest stage of all time. Once we’ve bid them adieu, we can soak up a bit of the local atmosphere, in the company of the locals, enjoy lunch, and watch the stage finish in a local bar. We can return to our Agriturismo in the air conditioned van. Another home cooked meal in our accommodation tonight. (ride 85k med)
Friday, May 11, Stage 6, Urbino - Porto Sant'Elpidio 207 km
Departing early, we’re on the road again, heading down the peninsula, we’ll travel to Jesi (335k, 4h) where we can jump on our bikes and ride part of the stage, visiting the first of the day’s small(ish) GPM’s that feature not far up the road. There are a couple more GPM’s not much further along the course, so if you are keen, you can combine them in a loop and watch the riders from your chosen vantage point. Post stage, after watching the stage finish in a local bar, we’ll continue on to Montegiorgio, another 82k, where we will spend the next 2 nights. (Ride 40-60k, med)
Saturday, May 12, Stage 7, Recanati - Rocca di Cambio 202 km
The course passes to the west of us today, and there are a few points we can ride to and spectate the Giro. Montegallo, today’s GPM is under 60k away, so we make take in a bit of mountain action with a 120k ride, or just tootle over to Passo Sant Angelo and back for less than 40k. It’s a short hilltop finish today, a good time for any of the GC (General Classification) riders to show what their intentions are in the 2012 Giro. (40-120k, medium-hard).
Sunday, May 13, Stage 8, Sulmona - Lago Laceno 229 km
This is our last move, and we’re headed further south to Lenola in Lazio. We’ll skip seeing the race today, opting for a ride into the hills, south of Montegiorgio. Post ride we’ll make our way onwards to Lenola, in the unknown and untouristed region of Latina. En route we’ll catch the end of the stage on the tele, and once at Hostaria Ai Pozzi, we’ll take up residence for the next 2 nights. Cross your fingers that there’s wild mushroom fettucine on the menu, there’s nothing like it, fresh!
Monday, May 14, Stage 9, San Giorgio nel Sannio - Frosinone 171 km
From Lenola we’ll do a 70k loop, through the coastal town of Sperlonga, stopping there for coffee of course. Before continuing on, over the hills to Itri and taking in one of the 1996 Giro GPM climbs, Madonna della Civita, above Campodimele, before returning home. A very picturesque 70k loop. Before lunch we’ll freshen up, maybe have a picnic in the garden, and make our way over to Frosinone in the car, to catch the stage finish. Should be one for the sprinters today, so we can cheer for the ‘Skips’ and anyone else we recognise. Dinner tonight back at Ai Pozzi.
Tuesday, May 15, (Civitavecchia - Assisi 187 km)
After breakfast, packing up bikes and luggage, it’s off to Rome for 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:
5 Days of race viewing, incorporating 1 stage start, 1 stage finishes, 2 GPMs, and 1 time trial start and finish. We'll also have ridden about 3-400k and climbed as many GPMs as we wanted. 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 Venice to Rome for you, your bike and one bag (in the Topbike air conditioned mini-bus)
- Accommodation
- All breakfasts and all dinners
- 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.
- 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.
- Not included: Ferry/hydrofoil tickets.
- Please pack your bike in a collapsible bag or disposable cardboard box. Please also see our recommended list of things to bring, it is most important to bring front and rear flashing lights.
- 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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