Topbike just finished a couple of firsts both very successful tours, one in Japan and the other in the Tuscan Apennines.

Our Japan tour started in Onomichi and then headed across the stunning Shimanami Kaido bridges to the Western side of Shikoku Island. There were endless views of the Seto inland sea and all the small fishing villages on its shore. The Shimanami Kaido route has almost become a cycling Pilgrimage with all types of cyclists dotted en-route… build and they will come…it seems to be working for Japan. This tour also included the ‘U.F.O’ ridge line climb, one of the most scenic road climbs to rival those of the European Alps or Dolomites.

Shimanami Kaido.
The group doing each letter and only missing the ‘I’ as ‘I’ was taking the photo…

Meanwhile (in stark contrast re degree of difficulty) Jamie and Annabelle Drew ran the inaugural Tour of Tuscan Apennines (TOTA). Read their report below ‘TOTA’ Tour Report

Under the Tuscan Sun (Apennines style)

The Topbike Tour of the Tuscan Apennines is based in the tiny hamlet of Pracchia, in northern Tuscany, nestled up the steep slopes along the Reno River. Our guests were able to experience the wonderful hospitality that only a fourth-generation Italian family-run hotel and restaurant can offer, each evening serving a huge variety of dishes from Tuscany and Emilia Romagna.

Without the need to change location, cycling was the focus of our week, and TOTA is a climbing tour, not for the faint hearted, nor ‘untrained’. We explored different landscapes and topography, the flat lands around Pistoia and Montecatini Terme, a day up to the mountain top of an Emilian ski field, a day looping around two parallel valleys and the final day up to the Tuscan ski fields. We rode along different river valleys, some with steep slopes either side and medieval villages perched on outcrops, others with broad agricultural land rolling beside. Every day had at least 650 metres of vertical climbing, with the final day’s ‘Queen Stage’ including a whopping 3000m vertical over 145km.

This region is fortunately largely ‘undiscovered’ hence quiet roads with little traffic, unlike some of the more popular European cycling routes. Next year’s Tour of the Tuscan Apennines will be running 18-25 September 2026. We’d love to host another perfect crew…
– Annabelle & Jamie Drew (quasi Pracchia locals!)

A Classic day in the Italian Alps

Prior to both of these tours we had a successful much loved and often pedalled Classic Italian Climbs tour. The early onset of colder weather threatened the tour however the rain held off and a wonderful week of cycling which culminated in staying and dining in one of the largest and oldest castles in Europe near Treviso.

April 17-24 | 2026
 EHIME – JAPAN #1   |

April 27 – May 4 | 2026
 EHIME – JAPAN #2   | (FULL)

May 8-15 | 2026
 EHIME – JAPAN #3   | (FULL)

May 13-20 | 2026
TOUR OF TUSCANY – CLASSIC TUSCAN  |

May 25 – June 1 | 2026
GIRO D’ITALIA   |

June 19-26 | 2026
AC Pyrenees (SOLD OUT)  |

July 6-13 | 2026
FRENCH ALPS (Climbs!)  | (One location. Loads of climbing)

Sept 6-15 | 2026
CLASSIC ITALIAN CLIMBS    |

Sept 18-25 | 2026
TOUR of TUSCAN APENNINES ‘TOTA’   |

Look out for the upcoming

Warburton Gravel Unravel – Big Hill Events
then the next day sneak one in on the new train network…
Shifty Fifty Bonus Round – Warburton Fifty – Big Hill Events

Emma Colson (AKA MBW)
October 2025

WILIER Hybrid E-bikes available, so get your non-cycling friends along to join you, so they can share in the fun.