Chic 3&4 Star Cycling Friendly Accommodation
Meet your hosts & guides for the 2021 Ultimate Giro d’Italia
Our Tour
Our Giro d’Italia tour provides the perfect mix of “ride more – transfer less”, with challenging rides in the Alps, Dolomites, lake Como. You’ll have your fill of riding, plus we’ll see different aspects of the Giro d’Italia race stages, including stage starts, midpoints, feed stations, hilltops, stage finishes, mixed with a cultural and culinary Italian experience.
There’s something beautiful about riding a bike in Italy, it’s a country practically born and raised on two wheels, the terrain is almost purpose-built for cyclists who love panoramic climbs, sweeping views, lakeside roads, it’s any wonder Italy is regarded as cycling’s birthplace.
Each of our Grand Tour Itinerary’s provides a unique experience as the race route changes dramatically each year. At our 2021 Giro d’Italia tour you can count on riding many of the legendary Italian rides and routes including:
The Stelvio Pass, where you can opt for a double ascent of the Stelvio and climb both sides if your legs are feeling good, we also ride the beautiful Mortirollo climb while we are in the area.
From our Lake Como base, we’ll ride to the stunning lakeside village of Bellagio, the Colle del Madonna Ghisallo with its beautiful chapel of the patron saint of cycling, the nearby Wall of Surmano and soak up the surrounds of Lake Como.
Our Giro d’Italia tour is led by our experienced team who’ve been hosting tours to Italy for many years, we know how to get the best out of your riding, Giro d’Italia race experience, all in a safe, supported – team like environment.
May is a beautiful time to visit and ride in Italy, we’ll provide a fantastic Italian emersion experience, show you the best smaller roads, charming villages, stay in chic Italian hotels, eat wonderful regional Italian produce and sample the best of the Italian dolce Vita “Sweet Life”.
We look forward to showing you around our favourite places, intersecting the Giro d’Italia race stages and watching the final stage of the race. We’re sure you’ll love Italy and the Giro d’Italia as much as we do.
Ciao Pat, Phil, Grace and The Team.
While we are finalising details for our 2121 Tour – see our 2020 itineraries as a guide for how your 2021 itinerary will look.
2020 Ultimate Giro d’Italia Cycling Tour.
10 Days | 9 Nights
Stay, Regions : Beluno, Dolomites, Italian Alps, Lake Como/Lecco, Milano region
Start Location: 8.30am Venice, Marco Polo International Airport or 8.45am Venice, Mestre Trainstation
Finish Location: 10am Milan, Milan Malpensa International Airport.
Start Date: Saturday 23 rd May 2020
Finish Date: Monday 1st June 2020
Pre Tour: Friday 22nd May. *We highly recommend arriving/meeting at our Pre Tour Team Hotel in Venice the day prior to our official tour start. Arriving early will allow you to explore beautiful Venice’s waterways pre-tour, it’ll also assist with adjusting to the European time zone, reduce travel stress and have you in great shape for the following day’s action-packed Tour Start and Giro d’Italia Tour ahead.
Ask us how, we can take care of the pre-tour accommodation booking details for you (non-inclusion).
Day 1 Saturday 23rd May. Action Packed – Official Arrival Day:
Meet at our Pre Tour Hotel in Venice: 7.30am – 9am.
Airport Pick Up: 8.30am. Venice Marco Polo International Airport.
Trainstation Pick Up: 8.45am. Venice, Mestre Trainstation.
Details: Short Transfer to our Pre Tour Team Hotel in Venice. Build Bikes.
Load Vehicles: 10.30am-11am. Depart for 90 minute drive north to our Team Hotel in the Beluno region of Italy.
Ride: 12.30pm-1pm: Welcome day ride. 45-65km/1250m loop ride over the incredible Passo San Boldo in the southern Dolomites. We descend through the incredibly engineered switchbacks down to the valley below and onto to Valdobbiadene – to watch the Time Trial finish in the town.
5.30pm: After race finish / Time trial transfer to our Team Hotel.
7.30pm: Meet in our Hotel Lobby. Welcome dinner Included.
Day 2 Sunday 24th May. Giro Finale – Piancavallo
7am-8am: Breakfast
8.30am: Depart Hotel in Vehicle. Transfer 1.5 hrs to the foot of the Dolomites.
10am: Ride start. Loop Ride & see the race on the final climb.
Ride: 45 -105km/ 2600m climbing.
45 km Shorter ride to enjoy a more relaxed tempo, experience la Dolce Vita, visit small towns and villages enroute, enjoy a coffee, a snack and then ride final 14.5km Climb to Piancavallo, to watch todays Giro Stage finish on the climb.
105km wolf-pack ride to head out on 60km loop climbing the beautiful 1127m Passo Crosetta before tackling the Piancavallo, which is the final climb & finish of todays Giro stage. The Piancavallo finale is 14.5km, 1145m climbing at 7.9% avg gradient, we’ll all be there to see all of the action.
5pm: After race pass, transfer to our Team Hotel in vehicles, 1.5 hrs.
Day 3 Monday 25th May. A Day In The Dolomites
7am-8am: Breakfast
8.30am: Depart Hotel in Vehicle. Transfer 1.5 hrs to the Italian Dolomites.
10.30am: Ride start
Ride: 35km-65km-125km/3200m.
From our Team Hotel deep in the Italian Dolomites, we ride down the Fassa Valley on a beautiful loop through the jaw droppingly beautiful Italian Dolomites, we pass over the Passo Rolle, Passo Valles, Pass Pellegrino. Options from 35km – 65km/2000m climbing.
Optional Extras 60km/1200m. We pass through our Team Hotel then up to see a piece of James Bond History, we ride the Passo Fedai, then over Lago de Fedai and under the peak of the impressive Marmolda. Total = 125km/3200m
7.30pm: Meet Hotel Lobby. Dinner Included.
Day 4 Tuesday 26th May. Sella Ronda, The Best Loop Ride In Italy – The World
7am-8am: Breakfast
8.30am: Ride start
Ride: 55km-95km-150km/3700m
“Sella Ronda Loop – “The Worlds Best Mountain Loop Ride”. Two start point options, transfer from our Team Hotel to the Start of the Sella Ronda Loop or Ride from our Team Hotel.
Lunch enroute at a Mountain Top Chalet with stunning views.
Optional Extras: Challenge yourself to a double loop of the Sella Ronda first loop anti-clock wise then a clock wise loop. Total=150km/3700m climbing.
Late afternoon return to our Team Hotel, relax in the Spa complex or take a massage.
7.30pm: Meet in the Hotel Lobby. Dinner at our family run hotel.
Day 5 Wednesday 27th May. Transfer to Italian Alps – Giro d’Italia Mountain stage / Passo Bondone Midpoint.
7am-8am: Breakfast
8.30am: Vehicles Depart our Team Hotel for a morning transfer toward the Italian Alps, Approximately 1.5 hours:
Ride: 50 -80km. Active recovery day.
Today we ride the climb to todays Giro d’Italia midpoint Passo Bondone.
3pm: Transfer to our Team Hotel deep in the Italian Alps. Approx 4 hours.
8pm: Meet Hotel Lobby. Dinner at our Hotel.
Day 6 Thursday 28th May. Passo Stelvio & Giro Stage Finish
7am-8am: Breakfast
8.30am: Depart our Team Hotel by bike, ride the fantastic Passo Stelvio, see the race pass over the famous Stelvio Pass, or Return to Bormio to watch the race pass then finish live on TV, or cycle to the base of the final climb to watch the race ascend the beautiful switch backs of the Torre de Frialle.
Ride: 50km/1600 – 80km/2600m
Passo Stelvio 50km /1600m
Optional Extra’s: Torre de Frialle climb to todays Giro stage finish 30km/1000m
Day 7 Friday 29th May. Passo Mortirollo – Lake Como/ Lecco
7am-8am: Breakfast
8.30am: Depart our team Hotel by bike or in our vehicle.
Ride: 30km-70km/1500m (100km/2500m )
From our Team Hotel along the Stelvio valley and down to the base of the Passo Mortirollo, ride what Lance Armstrong called the hardest climb he ever raced up “the Mortirollo”.
Late Lunch in Tirano. Late Afternoon transfer Tirano to Lake Como /Lecco. 90mins
early evening explore Lecco our beautful lakeside village
8pm: Informal social dinner at one of our favorite restuarants (Non inclusion)”
Day 8 Saturday 30th May. Lake Como – Chapel Madonna Ghisallo
7am-8am: Breakfast
8.30am: Depart our team Hotel by bike or in our vehicle.
7am-8am: Breakfast
Non-Cycling: Visit Bellagio, Madonna Ghisallo Chapel, Wall of Surmano, return to Lake Lecco / Como via alternative descent back to lake.
Ride: 30km-65km-80km/2600m
8.30am: From our Team Hotel on Lake Lecco/Como ride along the lake to Bellagio. Ride up the famous climb to the Cycling Church – the Chapel of Madonna Ghisallo.
Climb to the pass of Sormano or via the incredibly steep Muro d’ Sormano / Wall of Sormano – made famous by the end of season race the Giro d’Lombardia “The race of the falling leaves”.
Return to our lakeside Team hotel via and alternative route back down to Lake Como/Lecco for a Gelato”
8pm: Join us for a Informal social dinner at a local favorite restuarant (Non inclusion)”
Day 9 Sunday 31st May. Giro d’Italia Finale – The Race of Truth.
7am-8am: Breakfast
8.30am: Depart our team Hotel in our vehicle, transfer to our Team Hotel. Approx 1 hour
Ride: 70km / 200m climbing
Start 10am: Morning Ride from our Hotel to the start of the Time Trial Course, we’ll follow the course into Milano Central, take a sightseeing loop around beautiful Milan central, have your camera handy. We’ll ride back to our Hotel to freshen up.
2pm: Afternoon transfer to Milan central for a day of sightseeing, relaxing, watch the Final Giro d’Italia stage, race winner crowned and the final podium presentations as only the Italian’s can do.
6pm: Return to our Hotel to freshen up and frock up for our final Giro d’Italia celebration dinner.
7.30pm: Farewell Dinner
Day 10 Monday 1st May. Arrivederci – Departure Day
6.30am-8am: Breakfast
9am: Depart Hotel in vehicles, Airport Drop Off to Milan/Malpensa International Airport or Saronno Trainstation.
Safe travels from Pat, Phil, Grace and the Ride International Tours Team
2020 Ultimate Giro d’Italia Itinerary
TOUR INCLUSIONS
TOUR EXCLUSIONS
Advance Bookings:
We open up our Advance Reservations for tours so you can book well ahead. Guarantee your position by booking up to 12 months prior.
If you’d like to organise and book your trip more than 12 months prior, contact us via email or phone, we’ll arrange everything so you can make an advanced early booking.
An advance booking, accompanied by a fully refundable $750 AUD (Australian Dollar) ensures priority booking status when the trip details are announced. Note, an advance booking is not considered final until payment is received.
Once specific trip itinerary details are finalized, we’ll contact everyone on the advance reservation list via email, we’ll include the itinerary and offer a priority booking position before opening up bookings to the wider community.
If a trip fills – as it often does in the advance bookings, we create a waiting list and then offer reservations on a first-come, first-serve basis (based on the date the advance reservation was made) once our advanced booking guest have finalised.
To cancel an advance booking submitted in writing/ via email within 14 days of the trip details being published. The (AUD) $750 advance reservation payment will be immediately refunded for any cancellation received within this 14-day period.
Final Payments:
The balance of your trip payment is due no later than 120 days prior to your trip departure date, we will forward via email your final payment invoice. You can choose to make full payment earlier if you prefer to finalise your trip payment early, contact us and we will arrange for an invoice to be sent.
What if I have to transfer, change or cancel my trip:
We understand you may not be able to go on your trip, cancel, change or transfer due to personal or medical reasons. We want to make it as easy as possible for you to transfer to another trip that has places available. If you have a question give us a call or email.
Due to the high demand, limited hotel availability and the advance payments expected by our hotels and restaurants we use, the following cancellation conditions apply to all of our tours.
* PLEASE NOTE: For Phil Anderson to attend this tour, there needs to be a minimum of 4 guests booked. In the event that Phil does not attend this tour, our experienced, professional team of Australian and local on and off-bike guides will host your tour.
AFTER BOOKING, IF YOU CANCEL:
120 – 91 days prior to departure | 50% cancellation fee of the trip price |
90 – 61 days prior to departure | 75% cancellation fee of the trip price |
60 days and less prior to departure | 100% cancellation fee of the trip price |
13
Years of Experience
63
Tours Completed
1,384
Trip Guests
32,926km
Cycled on Tour
238
Hotels Visited