Topbike Tours - European Cycling Holiday Specialists

David Olle and Emma Colson

An Australian company, Topbike has a fully equipped European base and its own fleet of high quality hire bikes and E-bikes.

We specialise in quality cycling tours with small groups and are famous for looking after our clients.

+61 415 866 061 (mobile)
PO Box 1717 Collingwood VIC 3066 AUSTRALIA
holiday@topbike.com.au
- SINCE 1997 -
holiday@topbike.com.au
South of Rome Tour - Eat-Drink-Ride Cycling Tour in Italy
$5950 / per person

South of Rome Tour 2020

"EAT-DRINK-RIDE"

'South of Rome' 2020 Tour EAT-DRINK-RIDE

June 24-July 4 2020

The Topbike 2020 ‘South of Rome’ Tour will be 11 days (10 nights) fully supported, riding between all of our accomms’ (which means no no car time), low average daily kilometres, gentle gradients (only one climb with a peak over 700m), all locations off the tourist route, starting and finishing in Lenola after meeting in Formia, in the mediterranean province of Latina.

With Topbike’s ‘South of Rome’ tour we ride our way around the state of Lazio, just south of Rome.  We’ll visit the ancient town of Anagni, that in the 13thcentury produced four popes, and has a history dating back more than 700,000 years.  Nearby is Alatri, which also dates back to the 2nd  millennium BC.  From here we move onto the town of Picinisco, which at 700m is the highest sleep we have for the tour, and also the longest, as we have three nights here, including a rest day.  Post Picinisco we move down to Cassino, where we will visit the Abbey of MonteCassino, the site of a pivotal battle in WWII.  From here it is back to our start/finish town of Lenola, which is famous for nothing, and therefore the ‘real’ Italy.

Group size will be limited to 13, with 3 staff.

Topbike South of Rome Cycling Tour - June 24 - July 4 2020

2020 Tour Dates*

Topbike 'South of Rome' Tour
'Eat-Drink-Ride'
June 24 - July 4 2020
Lenola - Lenola
(Formia - Formia)

Tour Features:
Riding between all accomms (no car time), low average daily kilometres, gentle gradients (only one climb with a peak over 700m), all locations off the tourist route.

‘South of Rome’ Tour – Start & Finish Location:
Formia is a town on the Mediterranean coast, halfway between Rome and Naples, on the main train line (Rome–Formia–Naples railway).  There are 4 hotels within 5 mins walk of the station, and the highest ranked place is 15 mins walk.  Plenty of options for accommodation.  There’s also a day trip, out to the ‘off the tourist route’ island of Ponza available from the Port of Formia, walking distance from the station.

2020 Tour Price: $5950 (AUD) (per person)

[Places are limited to 13 clients in total]

Rides will average less than 70k, along with an average of 1000m vertical, per day.

Topbike Hire Bikes & Electric Bikes

Topbike Hire bikes can be organized at an additional cost.  We have ten 2017 full carbon handmade Italian Casati bikes, all with di2, disc brakes and compact gearing.  There’s also new Wiliers from 2018, 2019 & 2020 coming.


Topbike Electric Bikes are also available: E-Bikes are a great option for those occasional riders or partners of riders who want to come on tour. All of Topbikes’ Cycling Tours are achievable by anyone on one of our E-Bikes.

We have ten Garmin 800s (with euro maps) available to use while on tour.
11 Days/10 Nights
June 24-July 4 2020+ *
Cycling in Italy
LIFESTYLE HOLIDAYS

  • Destination

    Cycling in Italy

  • Tour Start / Finish

    Lenola - Lenola

  • Pick Up

    10.00am June 24 2020 Formia Railway Station (or other location if arranged prior)

  • Drop Off

    10.00am July 4 2020 Formia Railway Station

  • Cycling Fitness/Experience

    Any + E-Bikes Available
1

Wednesday June 24 2020: Day 1 | Lenola - Lenola

We'll meet at Formia Railway Station before transferring in the Topbike air conditioned mini-bus to Lenola (35k, 1h).
After assembling bikes, we’ll take in a small ride in our local environs. We’ll do a loop, where we ride through the centre of town, through the surrounding hills, stopping for coffee in Pastena. Leaving Pastena we can do a little ‘extra’, a climb up to the hilltop town of Campodimele.
Once back at our Agriturismo we’ll stay here for this first night, and return for another two at the end of the tour.

Accommodation

Agriturismo below the centre of town.

Dining

Inhouse Ristorante

26k/46k loop, with 800m vertical.

Terrain: A heart-starter out of Lenola, and another one up to Campodimele, if required.

2

Thursday June 25: Day 2 | Lenola to Anagni

We’re riding out of Lenola, up through town (again) and on towards our next accommodation, outside of Anagni – serious Pope town a few centuries back. The first 7k is uphill, which leads to a long downhill, through Vallecorsa, past Castro dei Volsci, to where we are facing a valley, across which is our final destination. We will not traverse the valley floor, as the roads there carry all the traffic, and have chosen a route, that takes us over our second hill of the day, the 15k long ‘Roccagorga’ climb. Do not fret, yet, it peaks at just 700m above sea level. Once over the Roccagorga climb, there is a descent down to the valley, where we’ll cut across it, to Anagni (stopping for coffee) and further to our accommodation just outside Anagni.

Accommodation

Lovely renovated 300 year old farmhouse outside of town.

Dining

Inhouse Ristorante

Ride: 105k point to point, 1550m vertical.

Terrain: Three climbs of note, and probably the hardest day of riding on this tour.

3

Friday June 26: Day 3 | Anagni to Anagni

A 63k loop, with a couple of tails, today. We’ll be heading for the towns of Alatri, Fumone, and Fiuggi, as well as passing by the lake of Canterno. We’ll either picnic on the road, or maybe, when we return to the old farmhouse. Plenty of coffee stops, photo stops etc, as today’s ride is not a big one, and there is no rush.

Accommodation

Lovely renovated 300 year old farmhouse outside of town.

Dining

Inhouse Ristorante

Ride: 63k loop, < 1200m vertical

Terrain: Two climbs of significance, including one big one first.

4

Saturday June 27: Day 4 | Anagni to Picinisico

Today we’ll be moving house. We’re heading due west, towards the two of Picinisco. We’ll have a few choices for our ride, which we can discuss on the day. Our destination town is backed up against an escarpment, part of the national park of Abruzzo. Once again, we’re staying in the best place in town, and some rooms make up part of the old castle wall. We have three nights here, including a rest day, where there is the opportunity to visit the local vineyard, olive oil production, or maybe even do a cooking class. The choice is yours.

Accommodation

Finest albergo, centrally located.

Dining

local pizzeria

Ride: 82km, <1120m vertical OR 103km, 2000m vertical

Terrain: Seven small (almost) insignificant climbs.

5

Sunday June 28: Day 5 | Picinisco to Picinisco

Rest day! As mentioned, here there is the opportunity to visit the local vineyard, olive oil production, or maybe even do a cooking class?

Accommodation

Finest albergo, centrally located.

Dining

Good local Ristorante

Ride: Rest day!

Picnic spot TBA

6

Monday June 29 : Day 6 | Picinisco to Picinisco

Today we’ll ride out of Lazio, and into Abruzzo, or more specifically, it’s national park. Pescasseroli is a beautiful town located in the centre of the national park. Not sure if it was planned that way, maybe the surrounding hills were just too steep to build upon? But that’s the way it has ended up. Just 50k of riding today, to our picnic town of Pescasseroli, for a picnic in the centre of town.

Accommodation

Finest albergo, centrally located.

Dining

Good local Ristorante

Ride: < 50km, <1300m vertical

Terrain: One big climb, in the middle of today’s ride. Possibility to ride home, if more kilometres are required.

7

Tuesday June 30: Day 7 | Picinisco to Cassino

A couple of choices today, as we make our way down to the town of Cassino. Home to the Fiat factory of the south, and where the allied troops were waylaid on their way north, towards the end of WWII. Two route choices, 48k or 76k. The only problem being that everyone has to do the same route. So, start working the numbers, for which ever route is your preference!

Accommodation

Agriturismo outside the centre of town.

Dining

Inhouse Ristorante

Ride: Choices!

48k or 76k

8

Wednesday July 1: Day 8 | Cassino to Cassino

Just one climb today, and our route total is 23k with just 500 metres of vertical. After a 3k warm up, we’ll be on the climb of Monte Cassino. The top of which is home to the Abbey of Monte Cassino which has been built and wiped out repeatedly throughout history. It’s first build was circa 500 AD, before it was destroyed in 570. Rebuilt in 718, it lasted until the Saracens took a dislike to it in 883. The third time it was resurrected in 949 and stood until an earthquake destroyed it in 1349. In 1369 it was again re-constructed, lasting until bombed by the allies in 1944. It consequently has a fascinating history which also featured supplying at least three popes to the papacy. Don’t forget to bring along your ‘respectable’ civvies in order to be allowed into the Abbey.

Accommodation

Agriturismo outside the centre of town.

Dining

Inhouse Ristorante

Ride: < 23km, < 500m vertical

Terrain: One 500m climb, only.

9

Thursday July 2: Day 9 | Cassino to Lenola

Today we’re heading back to our start town of Lenola. A gentle 60k ride with well under 1000k of vertical. We’ll start with crossing the valley, where the allies made their way north to end WWII. From here we climb a little up into the hills, which is the final range before flattening out towards the Mediterranean coast. We don’t head down to the coast just yet, as our final destination is at 450m, where the air is a little fresher.

Accommodation

Agriturismo outside the centre of town.

Dining

Best ristorante, in the centre of town.

Ride: < 65km, < 800m vertical

Terrain: More down than up, with some climbing.

10

Friday July 3: Day 10 | Lenola to Lenola

For our final ride we’re venturing down to the coast, for coffee, at the town of Sperlonga. Along the way we will cross the ‘Via Appia’ one of the original roman roads, that connected Rome with Napoli. Sperlonga has a beautiful clifftop location, with a history that dates back to the days of the Greeks. In fact it is located just above the ‘Grotte di Tiberius’, a cave rich with Grecian artifacts that was discovered in the 1950’s. From Sperlonga we turn inland and commence to climb the ranges back to Lenola, through the towns of Itri, and also Campodimele, if you missed visiting there on day one. Our final dinner tonight will be in a ristorante in the centre of the old town in Lenola.

Accommodation

Agriturismo outside the centre of town.

Dining

Best ristorante, in the centre of town.

< 70km, <1,200m vertical.

Terrain: Long descent, followed by long flats across to the coast, climbing home.

11

Saturday July 4: Day 11 |

Pack up day, after breakfast we’ll be in the Topbike Vans and off to Formia. Drop off point will be Formia Railway Stazione, by 10am. Or other destination, if arranged prior.
If we do everything planned, we'll have climbed just on 10,000 metres, along with 600k’s, over the ten days. Also worth noting is the minimal car time, achieved by riding between all of our locations. 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: See Topbike Tours Inclusions
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.

Topbike South of Rome Tour | June 24-July 4 2020

'EAT-DRINK-RIDE'

Lenola

With Topbike's ‘South of Rome’ tour we ride our way around the state of Lazio, just south of Rome. We’ll visit the ancient town of Anagni, that in the 13th century produced four popes, and has a history dating back more than 700,000 years. Nearby is Alatri, which also dates back to the 2nd millennium BC. From here we move onto the town of Picinisco, which at 700m is the highest sleep we have for the tour, and also the longest, as we have three nights here, including a rest day. Post Picinisco we move down to Cassino, where we will visit the Abbey of MonteCassino, the site of a pivotal battle in WWII. From here it is back to our start/finish town of Lenola, which is famous for nothing, and therefore the ‘real’ Italy.