Tour of Piemonte 2023
Aug 28-Sept 5
Torino - Torino
9 days (8 nights) of rolling hills dotted with the odd classic climb and enjoying the culinary delights of the famous Barolo wine region. The riding is particularly scenic and green, as we meander the foothills of the Alps which surround the river plains of the Po on three sides.
Starting and finishing in Torino, we ride our way through the region of Piedmonte, Italy’s most western state. We’ll start with the ancient town of Vicoforte, home to a magnificent church famous for its oval designed cupola, the largest in Europe – if not the world. Nearby is the climb up to Prato Nevoso, where Simon Gerrans won his first Tour de France Stage, back in 2008. Leaving Vicoforte we move north to Serralunga di Alba, for three days of rolling hills. From here we’ll head further north to just outside Torino, and our finish town of San Sebastiano di Po, or more correctly, the castle thereof. Plenty more rolling hills on offer there to, along with the 15thC castle.
Truly a special riding, dining and long lunch Italian cycling tour experience.
Features: Riding between our accomms where possible, low average daily kilometres, gentle gradients (only one climb with a peak over 2700m), all locations off the tourist route.
2023 Tour Price: $6950
(AUD) (Per Person)
Tour of Piemonte
Aug 28-Sept 5
2023 Tour Price: $6950 (AUD) (Per person)
Group size will be limited to 8, with 2 staff.
Topbike Hire Bikes & Electric Bikes
Topbike Hire bikes can be organized at an additional cost.
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.
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Destination
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Tour Start / Finish
Torino - Torino -
Pick Up
10.00am Aug 28 2023 Torino Porto Nuova Railway Station -
Drop Off
11:00am Sept 5 2023 Torino Porto Nuova Railway Station -
Cycling Fitness/Experience
Any + E-Bikes Available
1
Monday, August 28 2023: Day 1 | Vicoforte
We'll meet at Torino Railway Station before transferring in the Topbike air conditioned mini-bus to Vicoforte and our accommodation.
After assembling and set up of 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 one of our favorite locales. Once back at our Hotel we’ll bed down for two nights.
2
Tuesday August 29 2023: Day 2 | Vicoforte to Vicoforte
A 66k out and return, today. We’ll be heading for the top of Prato Nevoso where Simon Gerrans won his first TdF stage, in 2008. It’s a simple ‘climb out, roll home’ style of ride, with a couple of exceptions. We can either picnic on the top of the climb, or maybe, when we return to our hotel. Plenty of coffee stops, photo stops etc, as today’s ride is not a big one, and there is no rush.
3
Wednesday August 30 2023: Day 3 | Vicoforte to Serralunga di Alba
Moving house today, with a ‘Ride-out-ride-in’ type of ride. We ride out of Vicoforte, heading north, skirting some of the bigger hills in the area, into the town of Serralunga d’Alba. It’s not a huge ride, and while there are no monster climbs, it is rarely flat. It is very scenic and we’ll be stopping along the way for a picnic, and as many coffees as you wish.
We first stayed at tonight’s hotel back in 2005, and have been going back there ever since. Excellent ‘traditional local cuisine’ in their inhouse Ristorante.
4
Thursday August 31 2023: Day 4 | Serralunga to Serralunga, via France
Today we’re heading for France. Or the border, on a hilltop pass at 2744m, which can be under snow and closed, for more time than it is open, each year. It is Col d’Agnello and almost 125k from our hotel. If you prefer, you can start at the base of the final ascent, 50k from the top and climb 2000 metres in one bite. It is a monster of a climb, the third highest pass in Europe and not to be underestimated. So doing the final 50k from Venasca could be a prudent, or sensible, choice. Transport back to our hotel this evening in the Topbike van.
5
Friday September 1 2023: Day 5 | Serralunga to Mango, return loop
Just another scenic 60k loop today through the rolling hills of the Langhe – Piedmonte – Barolo vine covered valleys, to the town of Mango.
Mango is a small town (pop 1300), in the hills, famous for not much, and therefore one of the places you need to visit, to see the true Italy.
We’ll ride at a leisurely pace, with a picnic stop and enough coffee stops to keep everyone happy. Tonight we’ll be going out to a local ristorante, in Serrlaunga, that is Michelin starred.
6
Saturday September 2 2023 : Day 6 | Serralunga to San Sebastiano da Po
Todays ride, to the north, we usually do in the opposite direction, when we ride to Serralunga for lunch. The odd thing being, that we ride past about forty ristorantes, to get to the one we want to use. It’s a great ride, in either direction, with seven little climbs, and today it finishes with a small climb up to our digs, located in a 15th century castle, atop a hill, outside the small town of San Sebastiano da Po. Dinner at a ristorante on our hill, but outside the castle walls. Two minutes walk, at most.
7
Sunday September 3 2023: Day 7 | Castello Loop, south
Our last day of rolling hills, this is an enchanting loop around the backblocks of the hills directly behind the industrial town of Torino, and an absolute joy to ride. Once again, plenty of cafés to be visited en route, as there is no need to rush through the ride. Back at the Castle, we can relax by the pool for the afternoon, before another local dinner.
8
Monday September 4 2023: Day 8 | Castello ride, North
For most of our tour of this state, we have travelled from the south to the north, and this theme continues for our final ride, as we ride out of the top of Piedmonte into Aosta. We head out of the rolling hills of Piedmonte and ride across the plains northward to the Alps that form the border here between Italy and Switzerland. While the ride is almost uphill all the way, it is very gentle, and the vertical for the day is less than 500 metres, for a 70k ride. We’ll finish our ride in the small town of Pont-Saint-Martin, where we’ll have lunch before returning to SS da Po for our final night.
9
Tuesday September 5 2023: Day 9 | Drop off day - Torino
Pack up day, after breakfast we’ll be in the Topbike Vans and off to Torino Railway Stazione, by 11am. 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 'Tour of Piemonte' - Cycling Holiday in Italy
Topbike Tour of Piemonte | August 28 - Sept 5 2023
With Topbike's ‘Tour of Piemonte’ we ride our way through the region of Piedmonte, Italy’s most western state.
We’ll start with the ancient town of Vicoforte, home to a magnificent church famous for its oval designed cupola, the largest in Europe – if not the world. Nearby is the climb up to Prato Nevoso, where Simon Gerrans won his first Tour de France Stage, back in 2008. Leaving Vicoforte we move north to Serralunga di Alba, for three days of rolling hills. From here we’ll head further north to just outside Torino, and our finish town of San Sebastiano di Po, or more correctly, the castle thereof. Plenty more rolling hills on offer there to, along with the 15thC castle.
