Giro d’Italia Experience Sicily to Abruzzo
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Location
Sicily and Southern Italy
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Duration
8 days | 7 nights | 6 days riding
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Length
up to 450km
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Climb
up to 7,500m
9 May 2022 - 16 May 2022
It's tough trying to choose the best portions of Week 1 of the 2022 Giro d’Italia race for you to fully experience. The coasts, countrysides and mountains of Sicily, Calabria, Campania, Molise AND Abruzzo as well as a little luxury time in Napoli.
But don’t be deceived, it’s not all stunning scenery. This week of the Giro is tough for the pros and their teams. Who would've thought you could fit two days of 4500+m climbing outside the Dolomites. No stress, we have created a tour that is not so arduous for you!
Although not riding every kilometre of the race route, you will be riding between 40 - 100 kilometres of the race route on the day before the pros. We have ensured that the longer routes offer shorter versions, and of course there are the opportunities to enjoy the south Italian gastronomy, the wines, to stop for an espresso and cannoli, and to take photos. Napoli will provide the drama and full on festival atmosphere and you also have the rugged and wild beauty of Italy’s national parks.
Grand Tours Project is an Official Giro d’Italia Tour Operator and you have full access to the closed routes, and crossing the finish with access to the podium at Stage 4 on the flanks of the active volcano, Mount Etna.
Total price: From €4,250
- Achieve one of the world's great "bucket-list" sports with the full Giro d’Italia experience
- Ride on the best 40-100km of 6 stages of the Giro, on the same day as the race, just hours ahead of the pros
- Watch the pros fight for the pink jersey, from the best vantage points
- On every stage, enjoy the unique atmosphere of the Giro and the enthusiastic of the public
- At Stage 4 cycle across the finish line, stand on the winners podium, and watch in luxury, the race from the Giro VIP Zone
- Savour fantastic southern Italian food and wine, and relax in our hand-picked hotels
- Official Giro d’Italia route access
- All meals included, picnics en route
- Expert planning and support from our team (guides, mechanics, drivers)
- Minimum and Maximum group size: 7 (1 guide) or 14 (with 2 guides)
- Bike rental (carbon frame and Shimano Ultegra or equivalent) available
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Day 1 - Monday 9 May
Benvenuto
30km | 300m
We will collect you from Catania airport and take you to our hotel. After checking in, we’ll help with bike fitting or reassembling your bike. In the afternoon we head out for an easy bike ride.
At welcome drinks we will discuss the plans for the week and then enjoy a Sicilian dinner.
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Day 2 - Tuesday 10 May
Scordia - Paternò - Etna Rifugio Sapienza
25km | 1,680m or 60km | 1,900m
Hotel EtnaAfter an early breakfast, we’ll transfer you to one of two riding options. In both cases you will be racing before the caravan and professionals on the winding race route through the black lava fields with islands of green, to and over the official finish line at Etna Rif. Sapienza. First day riding and you also get to stand on the Giro d’Italia Podium. We will have warm clothes for you and in the Giro VIP Zone you can cheer and applaud the riders as they arrive at the finish.
After the podium presentations, we’ll transfer you back to the hotel.
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Day 3 - Wednesday 11 May
Castiglione - Monforte San Giorgio
70km | 855m or 90km | 1,150m
Hotel Reggio di CalabriaAnother two options today, both follow some of the race route starting from our hotel. We’ll climb up and over Portella Mandrazzi and down to Sicily’s north coast. You can stop here or choose to ride further on and into delightful medieval Monforte San Giorgio.
We’ll stop for lunch here and then transfer to Messina and our ferry to Reggio di Calabria, and our hotel.
Time dependent, there is yet a mystery third option to ride from Monforte San Giorgio towards the east coast...a bit more climbing and hairpins on unknown roads maybe?
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Day 4 - Thursday 12 May
Palmi - Pizzo
60km | 675m
Castello di AltomonteAfter a leisurely breakfast we’ll transfer to the start of Stage 6 and then climb the race route to Aeroporto Luigi Razza. We’ll stop here to regroup, have an espresso and cannoli, and then descend to Pizzo for pizza!
Our hotel is close to the start of tomorrow's ride that finishes in Potenza, so our transfer is further than normal. However if we make it to Pizzo in good time, there is the opportunity to transfer from further along the coast.
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Day 5 - Friday 13 May
Viggiano - Potenza
65km | 1,550m
Hotel NapoliFor the professional riders, today is epic. But no stress, we are keeping the kilometres to a reasonable double digit figure and the altitude gain will provide an adequate challenge.
We will be riding through Italy’s youngest national park, Parco Nazionale dell'Appennino Lucano Val d'Agri - Lagonegrese, an area that protects and continues the natural and historic environment with neighbouring parks - beautiful, dramatic with several old villages that you will ride through.
At the stage finish, we will cheer on the pros and then depart for amazing Napoli and our equally amazing hotel.
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Day - 6 Saturday 14 May
Napoli Loop
55km | 365m
Hotel NapoliWe think you deserve a little sleep in and a leisurely breakfast today! We have enough time to ride the full circuit but without the multiple loops on the Bacoli peninsula. Yet to be confirmed, we can find a perfect place near Bacoli or on Monte di Procida to watch and cheer on the riders or we can return to the finish and watch them arrive at the Stage 8 finish.
There's time to explore Napoli but keep your personal items close, cross the roads very carefully, enjoy the chaos and craziness of Napoli, espresso, gelati, pizza, fashion, people watching...enjoy.
Dinner will be at an authentic Napolitano restaurant.
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Day 7 - Sunday 15 May
Roccaraso - Fara San Martino - Passo Lanciano
40km | 1,500m or 80km | 1,625m
Hotel RomeYet another massive day for the Giro teams. It's exhausting just reading the figures! We have narrowed down two route options again.
It's a long transfer to Roccaraso for the longer route and a bit further to Fara San Martino for the shorter version. There is also a ‘shortcut’ to ensure you get to Passo Lanciano in time to find yourselves with enthusiastic Italian crowds to cheer the pros up and over the pass. They have another 1,500+m of ascent before reaching the Stage 9 finish!!
As soon as the road is open, we are back in the van and transferring to our hotel in Rome.
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Day 8 - Monday 16 May
Arrivederci
Week One of our Giro d’Italia Experience is completed. We hope that you enjoyed the Giro d'Italia is all its pink festive glory, that you achieved some memorable riding milestones or had a relaxed fun time with friends and family.
We will help you pack up and take you to the airport for your onward journey. Or perhaps you are joining us in our next Giro d’Italia Experience in 2 days time?
Until next time, safe journey and see you then.
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Hygiene With international travel regulations causing continued uncertainty, we have made it our priority to implement COVID-19 hygiene procedures to ensure you a safe and worry-free holiday. Here's what you can expect when you choose to travel with Grand Tours Project.
Hygiene Consideration on your trip:
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- Hand sanitizer will be available at all times and located in convenient areas to ensure the possibility of regular disinfecting and washing of hands.
- All guests and staff will be provided with face masks that must be worn where necessary. (for example in vehicles, where a distance of 1.5m can not be obtained between guests etc.)
- The anti-bacterial spray will also be readily available to be used to sanitise physical equipment such as surfaces, boxes, bottles etc.
- Staff will disinfect all vehicles daily on tour and bikes will continue to be cleaned daily.
- Staff will prepare and serve any food with gloves and face masks.
- All staff will be tested 24 hours before each tour departure.
- Guests must comply with government rules set by the host country (This may include quarantine upon arrival).
- Regular temperature checks will be taken by staff and guests throughout the trip.
- If a guest or member of staff displays symptoms of COVID-19 they will immediately be put into an isolation point and a medical test will be organised at the earliest convenience.
- A track and trace system will be in place to ensure that if any guests display symptoms up to 14 days after the trip, all guests and staff on the trip will be notified.
https://www.myswitzerland.com/en-ch/planning/about-switzerland/clean-safe/
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A Work in Progress by Grand Tours Project
Grand Tours Project aims to become a B Corp recognised environmental and socially sustainable business. We have commenced the process of identifying the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals that apply to us.
We are assessing our impacts, designing methods of measurement, and setting achievable short term and long-term goals that will help Grand Tours Project become a sustainable business.
We are sure that this process will be a steep learning curve and hope that you will support and critique our work as we undertake this journey.
