With Topbike's ‘Classic Italian Climbs’ and ‘Warm-up’, we use five days to find our climbing legs in Italy around the picturesque Euganei hills, before venturing north, high into the Dolomites, for 10 days of pointing our bikes up many of the classic climbs of Italy, all of which appear regularly in the Giro d’Italia.  We move from Venice to the passes of Montegrappa, Rolle, Valles, San Pellegrino, Campolongo, Pordoi, Gardena, Sella, Marmolada, Plan de Corones, Monte Croce, Zoncolan, Stelvio, Gavia, Mortirolo and Passo Tonale before returning to Venice.

The following is the 5 day 'Warm-up' itinerary.
[For the 'Classic Italian Climbs' itinerary please click here]

Sunday, Sept 12, Italian Climbs – Warm-Up
We'll meet at Venice airport, before transferring in the Topbike air conditioned mini-bus to Monselice (75k, 1h).  After assembling bikes we can take a small ride in our local environs.  For the next five nights we’ve chosen a small B & B, in the historic centre of Monselice, where we’ll dine locally each night, we may make a visit to Chioggia (a little Venice style experience, without the crowds) for a taste of seafood, and sample many other local, culinary experiences.
 
Monday, Sept 13 – Thursday Sept 16, Italian Climbs – Warm-Up
The Euganei hills surround Padua, in the Veneto region and take their name from a semi-mythical population, who inhabited the area before the Venetians.  The gentle rolling hills resemble Tuscany at its best, without the ravaging crowds.  Of great interest to us is that the highest point of the Euganei hills is just 600 metres, allowing us many different rides of many distances around the area, without destroying ourselves completely on just the one climb.  This is one of the most scenic riding areas in Italy, and without doubt, one of its best kept secrets.  We’ll enjoy 5 days of near perfect riding conditions, long lunches, siestas, followed by longer dinners, with plenty of time left for hanging around the piazza, drinking innumerable coffees and grappe, or whatever you desire.
 
Friday, Sept 17
We’ll start the last day of the ‘Warm-up’ tour with a morning ride before we head off to Venice airport.  There we pick up those arriving for the ten days of classic Italian climbs and bid farewell to those only doing the ‘Warm-up’.  From Venice airport we’ll transfer in the Topbike air conditioned mini-bus to Crocetta del Montello (95k, 1.5h).  After assembling bikes for our new chums, we’ll take in a small ride in our local environs.  For the next two nights we will stay and dine in an agriturismo (Italian farm-stay). 

For the following ten days of 'Classic Italian Climbs' itinerary, Sept 17 -27, please click here.