Giro Cycling the best of Italy
Giro Cycling 2017 Tour Itinerary
Saturday May 20th – Arrival Day in Lombardy
Planned Ride Option:
Distance 30km Ascent 100m route Riva di Solto
Inclusions: Milan Malpensa Airport (Italy) Transfer, Welcome Drinks & Dinner on Lago d’Iseo
Non Cycling Guests: Share the spectacular tour day sights
Arrival Day in Lombardy and welcome to the Giro d’Italia 2017 and the start of your dream bike tour experience on the magnificent shores of Lake Iseo nestled in the foot hills of the Italian Alps! Once transferred to your Hotel and should time permit we can take a relaxing bike ride along the shores of Lake Iseo and admire this beautiful part of Italy. The town of Lovere is the perfect location for your Giro adventure and proudly belongs in the prestigious club of “The most beautiful small historical towns in Italy”, thanks to its considerable well-preserved artistic and cultural heritage.
This evening relax and enjoy an Aperitivo as we officially welcome you to the Giro d’Italia, followed by classic Italian dinner, finished in true Italian style with a Gelato and Grappa!
Sunday May 21st – View Giro d’Italia Stage 15: VALDENGO – BERGAMO (Colle/Finish)
Planned Ride Option:
Distance 92km Ascent 1450m route Selvino GPM (948m 12km @ 5%)
Distance 72km Ascent 1000m route Aviatico
Distance 48km Ascent 300m route Bergamo
Inclusions: Breakfast, Giro Polenta Restaurant Lunch
Non Cycling Guests: Share the spectacular tour day sights & Giro d’Italia stage finish
Here it is! The Giro 2017 live from the roadside, the first of our thrilling opportunities to see the best professional cyclists in the world at this years Giro d’Italia. We will be riding on very famous roads today as we pick up the final 30km of todays stage on some of the most iconic roads of international cycling the route of the classic ‘Il Lombardia’. Known as the ‘race of the falling leaves’ the event is the final Monument of World Tour cycling each year and considered to be the most prestigious and oldest race in cycling! Once we arrive on the outskirts of Bergamo feel the electric atmosphere of the Giro d’Italia finish line on the historic streets of Bergamo Alta and be immersed in the Tifosi fans of cycling!
We’re sure you’ll agree only the very best of rewards are fitting for cycling of this calibre with an unforgettable Italian Polenta restaurant lunch feast; there is so much to experience at the Giro d’Italia 2017!
Monday May 22nd – Largo d’Iseo
Planned Ride Option:
Distance 105km Ascent 1200m route Colli di San Fermo (1064m 16km @ 5.2%)
Distance 65km Ascent 300m route Circuit Largo d’Iseo
Inclusions: Breakfast, Franciacorta Wine Tasting & Lunch
Non Cycling Guests: Share the spectacular tour day sights
It’s a rest day for the Giro d’Italia professionals, so in the true spirit of Italian lifestyle we can also slow down the pace a little for the day! We have a great choice of bike routes available for us this morning with a circuit of Largo d’Iseo not to be missed, passing quaint little towns and enjoying the views of the three islands: Loreto, Monte isola and San Paolo. You can see for yourself why Largo d’Iseo is one of Italy’s secret treasures, smaller than Como and offering far greater charm. If you find your legs twitching for a challenge from the shores of the lake, don’t worry there’s always a hidden gem available with Practice Bicycle Tours with one of the local spectacular climbs overlooking the lake.
After the perfect ride, reward yourself by spending the afternoon relaxing with Franciacorta sparkling wine tasting or shopping and wandering the streets of Lovere. Tonight is a free evening to explore and dine at your leisure.
Tuesday May 23rd – View Giro d’Italia Stage 16: ROVETTA – BORMIO (Passo)
Planned Ride Option:
Distance 128km Ascent 900m route Giro Lovere
Distance 84km Ascent 1700m route Passo del Mortirolo GPM (1854m 17km @ 6.7%)
Distance 64km Ascent 900m route Mono
Inclusions: Breakfast, Giro Alps Restaurant Lunch
Non Cycling Guests: Share the spectacular tour day sights & Giro d’Italia in the Alps
The Giro d’Italia contenders are now starting the critical stages of this year’s event and the Alpine Queen stage in the Alps with a staggering 5,400m of ascent facing the professionals! We can feel a sample of this epic day with our unique ride options, including the Mortirolo (one for the strong legs).
With today’s stage passing by Lovere we will be amongst the action from the Go, riding the route from our Hotel door, a fantastic opportunity to follow the valley to our ‘Unique Live Viewing Spot’ and all the Giro action from the roadside on today’s spectacular climb. We have also just the ideal place for our Giro Alps restaurant Lunch together.
With the Passo del Mortirolo (1854m) GPM climb on offer will this be your target for the day, a challenge for only the most determined of us or if you prefer enjoy the lower slopes before relaxing over a leisurely lunch the Italian way. An amazing and unforgettable day whichever ride option you decide at the Giro d’Italia in the Alps…with all the action of the Grupetto live.
Tonight feel more Italian than you thought possible with a traditional evening promenade and dinner of an Italian feast at your leisure.
Wednesday May 24th – View Giro d’Italia Stage 17: TIRANO – CANAZEI (Start)
Planned Ride Option:
Distance 90km Ascent 775m route Aprica GPM (1173m 12km @ 6%)
Distance 60km Ascent 100m route Edolo
Distance 0km Rest Day
Inclusions: Breakfast, Giro Farewell Dinner to remember!
Non Cycling Guests: Share the spectacular tour day sights & Giro d’Italia stage start
The Giro Organisation have left no doubt that the winner of this Giro d’Italia will be determined on the roads of this final week, with the peloton taking on 3 GPM climbs during this stage. Like fine wine, the team at Practice Bicycle offer refined Bike Race Tours, only possible with all the experience of International racing and now shared with you. We have witnessed the excitement of the finish in Bergamo Alta, the admiration of suffering on the Passo del Mortirolo, it’s time to complete the show with all the razzmatazz of a Giro stage start in Tirano!
Today we have called this the ‘flexible day’, with firstly a transfer to the stage start followed by the options of riding the Aprica GPM and the downhill route back to Lago Iseo or alternatively take a well-earned rest day from the bike and enjoy the comfort of the support vehicle at your Giro 2017.
Experience for yourself why we love Italian cycling and the Giro d’Italia at the stage start with all the flash and glitz of a fashion parade at one of the biggest bike races in the world! Whilst you wander amongst the start area, look out for your favourite teams and cycling stars in a tired but tranquil mood after the tension of a Grand Tour bike race. It’s a great opportunity for you to get that special memento picture of the Pink of the Giro!
Tonight join us to celebrate a great Giro d’Italia experience together with that marvellous Italian institution Farewell Dinner on the shore of Lago d’Iseo.
Thursday May 25th – Departure Day from Lombardy
Inclusions: Breakfast, Milan Malpensa Airport (Italy) Transfer
Departure Day and It’s unfortunately time for your Giro d’Italia 2017 to draw to an end and so must the dream as we transfer you to the Airport and your homeward travel, ‘Arrivederci’ from Practice Bicycle until the next time.
*As with all the Practice Bicycle Tours planned rides you always have the option of taking it easy and enjoying the comfort of the support vehicle and all the spectacle of the day at a more leisurely pace.