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 our 'Classic Italian Climbs' itinerary.
For the 5 day 'Warm-up' itinerary, which complements this tour, please click here.

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). 

Saturday, Sept 18
First up in the climbing department is one of the 2010 Giro highlights, the GPM of Monte Grappa, which is 20k 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 attributes that add to the experience.  (ride distance:  100k, 2,200m ascent)

Today we’ll ride the final 80k loop of the 2010 Giro stage 14, won by Vincenzo Nibali from Ivan Basso, Michele Scarponi and Cadel Evans. 

Sunday, Sept 19
Today we’ll change accommodation. We’ll say goodbye to Crocetta del Montello, aiming to cover over 160k, 4 passes and venture deep into the Dolomites. As good as any grand tour mountain stage can be!  We’ll warm up with nearly 80k of (river following) gentle ascent before confronting Passo Rolle.  Halfway down Rolle we’ll turn right to tackle Passo di Valles, before turning left to confront the infamous San Pellegrino.  Swinging off the descent from San Pellegrino we’ll again follow the valley up into Canazei where we’ll face our last climb for the day, Passo Pordoi which leads us onto the Sella Ronda and to our destination tonight of Arabba. (160k, 4500m asc)

Passo Rolle put an end to Graeme Brown’s hopes in the 2003 Giro, he was the last rider over, and failed to sign on the next day.

Monday, Sept 20
After yesterday’s epic we’ll be looking for an easier day today, so we’ve lined up the Sella Ronda.  In winter you can ski this loop, but today we’ll scoot around it, on wheels and sweat.  At just 55k, with four passes, travelling clockwise, we’ll backtrack up Pordoi, onto Sella, Gardena and Campolongo.  It is the most spectacular 55k loop you will ever complete on a bicycle, guaranteed.  While this is not quite a rest day, it’s the next best thing (on a Classic Italian Climbs tour).  (55k, 1600m asc)

The Sella Ronda is the site of where a young Cadel Evans placed himself into the Giro’s leader’s jersey during his first grand tour back in 2002, on a stage finish into Corvara in Badia, at the base of Passo Gardena. 

Tuesday, Sept 21
Just one new climb today, The Marmolada, where Emmanuele Sella won his 2nd consecutive hilltop finish in 2008’s Giro, before going positive and out of the race scene for a couple of years.  We’re just positive we’ll make it over, around, and back over the Pordoi once again (for the 3rd time in as many days) to return to Arabba for our final night of rest on the Sella Ronda.  (74k, 3500m asc)

Wednesday, Sept 22
Passo Campolongo lies to the north of us, and we’ll pass through it on our way to the base of our next challenge, the Plan de Corones.  The climb used for a Giro ITT in ’08 and ’10 and although used in a road grand tour, this stage is more reminiscent of a mountain bike course.    Covering 13 kilometres, with an average grade of 8.5%, it has peaks of 24%.  After the ITT course we continue eastwards to take up residence in Villabassa, just 14k from Austria, where we will reside for 2 nights in Topbike’s favourite Italian hotel.  (84k, 2500m asc)

In 2008, our favourite rider, Jens Voigt, cursed out loud while passing our group, ‘Strada stupida!’ upon striking the dirt section (of the ITT) that signalled the start of the final 5 kilometres. Will you do the same?

Thursday, Sept 23
Here in Villabassa we’re in the Sud-Tirol region of Italy.  It was part of Austria until WW1, hence is heavily influenced and the reason why some towns and streets have two names.  We’ll head south out of Villabassa and parallel the Austrian border while we ride over Passo Monte Croce towards our destination of Zoncolan.  From Ovaro, at the base of Zoncolan, to the top, we’ll climb 1,210 metres in just 10.5km, giving an average grade of 11.5%.  Today we’ll return to Villabassa in comfort, in the Topbike air-conditioned van.

Gilberto Simoni triumphed here in 2006 followed by (once suspended drug cheat and eventual winner) Ivan Basso in 2010.

Friday, Sept 24
We’ll depart early in the vehicles today, as we transport over to Prato dello Stelvio, (200k, 3h) Today we’ll ride a relatively short distance, but it is pure quality as we cover two of the highest climbs in Italy, the passes of Stelvio and Gavia.  Tonight we’ll be located in an agriturismo in Ponte di Legno, just 65k from our ride start.  (65k, 3500m asc)

Stelvio is not only Top Gear’s favourite drive, along with being used by Ferrari as an informal test track, but many a pro rider’s favourite as well. Many a team’s training camp is held in the shadows of Stelvio.

Saturday, Sept 25
Today we’ll quietly make our own way around the infamous passes of our neighbourhood.  We’ll climb the other side of Gavia and the steep (race) side of Mortirolo 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 accommodation in Ponte di Legno.  Good hot chocolates (and good grappa) to garner recovery, when gasping on top of Gavia, guaranteed.  (95k, 3000m asc)

Lance Armstrong used to train on Mortirolo in ‘mufti’, back in his heyday.

Sunday Sept 26
To finish off we’ll enjoy quite a soft day today, we’ll roll out of Ponte di Legno at a leisurely hour, and ascend Passo Tonale.  We’ll accomplish this with plenty of time to allow us to enjoy a long pasta lunch near Pezzo, at the base of the Gavia climb, before returning to our digs to pack bikes and enjoy our final meal in the Dolomites.

Monday Sept 27
After breakfast, packing bikes and luggage, it’s off to Venice airport (315k, 4h) for the end of our tour.  Drop off time at Marco Polo is 2pm, and we’ll ensure that everyone meets their transfers or gets to their next accommodation smoothly.

If we do everything planned, we'll have climbed nearly 24,000 metres, over 16 different mountain passes, some of them 2 or even 3 times.  Also worth noting is the minimal car time, achieved by riding between our first 3 locations.  So after enjoying breakfast together, for all of those not staying on, it's pack-up time, and off to further destinations, arrivederci! 

For the 5 day 'Warm-up' itinerary, which complements this tour, please click here.