Tour Type
Giro d'Italia Experience
Riding Level
Leisure
Location
Italy
Duration
8 days | 7 nights | 6 stages
Length
20 - 100 km daily
Climb
Mixed terrain
The Giro d’Italia 2025 Week 3 ‘Experience’ - Leisure Tour is ALWAYS in the mountains and always exciting. Team tactics are essential, mind games are played, stages are won and lost by margins. And you are in the midst of this final week of pink mayhem - ascending the same passes on the day of the stages, ahead of the pros. It doesn’t get any better than this!
“This experience of riding on the same course as the pros, and just a few hours ahead of them, is unique in the sporting world. The atmosphere is simply incredible.” Keith Tuffley, Founder – Grand Tours Project.
The mountains in Week 3 are always challenging in Italy, in keeping with the Giro d’Italia description ‘the toughest race in the world’s most beautiful place’ and this time there is gravel as well on the Cime Coppi, Colle delle Finestre! Another famous climb includes Mortirolo as well as numerous other lesser known gems like Santa Barbara, Saint-Pantaleon and Joux. And in 2025 Tadej Pogačar will be defending his win and the Maglia Rosa. He won by a huge margin in 2024, can he and his team, UAE Team Emirates do it again?
Finally, it’s Italy – festive is an understatement! Superb Italian produce and famous regional dishes, fine wines; a country obsessed with the Giro and the colouring everything pink; passionate fans show support for everyone – professionals, amateurs and dilettantes. By the time Week 3 has arrived, the intensity, the expectations, and the stage celebrations will be in full force only to be outdone in Rome. It’s going to be spectacular!
The Grand Tours Project Giro Week 3 Experience provides finish line crossing and podium on Stage 19 at the finish line, as well as riding from the start on Stage 18 ; carefully crafted routes that include the climbs of the actual race route as well as a detour to Bellagio and the classic climbs above Lake Como; and top VIP Hospitality at the Stage 21 Finish line in Rome. Add in our exceptional guides and team support, the comfortable hotels and Italian gastronomy and you have a perfect Giro d’Italia Experience.
As an Official Tour Operator of the Giro d’Italia 2025, we have special access to the full race route, so we will have our support vehicle with us the whole distance, all the way to the finish line each day. Riding on the race course just a few hours before the pros makes this an unforgettable experience. Check out this story to be convinced!
If you are looking for a more challenging tour, please have a look at our Giro d’Italia Ride Every Kilometre tour.
The GTP team will meet you at Venice Airport at a predetermined time and transfer you to your hotel. Once checked in, the team will assist in assembling your bikes or finesse the fitting of the rental bike and then take you on a Welcome Ride. Back at the hotel you can relax before regrouping for pre-dinner drinks to discuss the logistics for the coming week. Dinner follows after the presentation and you can interrogate the GTP team members.
First day riding, first day climbing in beautiful environments, a recurring feature of the Italian Alps. Depending upon your enthusiasm and goals you can ride from the hotel to Bolognano and the start of the steep but stunning climb to Santa Barbara (1,174 m) – views of Lake Garda, rocky escarpments, forests, immaculate roads and 25 hairpins. Enjoy the descent to Loppio and after a short flat commence climbing again to San Valentino Brentonico, the ski resort. Again, amazing views to distract you from the long climb. The shorter option is the single climb, either to Santa Barbara or Loppio to San Valentino.
Today you will tackle the legendary Mortirolo which first featured in the 1990 Giro d’Italia. The Mortirolo (1,852 m) is renowned for its hairpin bends and narrow road that winds gracefully to the summit. Starting from the base of Passo del Tonale (1,877 m) you will ride approximately 14 km on a steady ascent, and then descend 24 km and about 1000 m to Monno to start the Mortirolo ascent. During the ascent or to the summit, the team will find a place to watch the pros ride by. When the roads reopen you can ride down to the van and transfer to your hotel.
GTP have organised entry to the Giro VIP start area. A chance to wander past the team buses, admire the bikes and chat with support teams and riders. Soon enough, teams and the leaders are called up and presented to the crowds of fans at the start line and they’re off. The GTP team will transfer you to Varenna for a ferry ride to the beautiful and glamorous Bellagio, coffee and light refreshments before the classic ride with fantastic views to Madonna del Ghisallo and the cycling museum. After the museum visit, you must attempt the infamous Muro di Sormano! Only 1.8 km but it’s called a wall for good reason.
The Aosta Valley and surrounding mountains that lead to Switzerland and France dominate this day. And 2 options. Both start from the hotel – the shorter option is direct to the alpine village, Champuloc via Col de Joux (1,642 m) and Brusson. The long option includes a loop to Col de Saint-Pantaleon (1,665 m) before returning to Chatillon and on the same short option route to Champuloc. Watch the Stage finish from the VIP Hospitality area and then a transfer to Susa.
THE last day of climbs and THE Cima Coppi climb of the Giro – Colle delle Finestre (2,178 m) and a bucket list climb. The ascent is a real adventure – 19 km and an unrelenting 1,700 m of climbing with an average of 9%. There are 44 hairpins to assist you and adding to the challenge, the last 7-8 km is gravel! Don’t stop at Finestre, enjoy a downhill run and then a 17 km climb to Sestriere (2,035 m). As soon as everyone has regrouped, you will be transferred to Torino Station for a fast train to Rome and the bikes transferred in the vans.
Final day of riding. Stage 21 is in Rome and according to our guides, the best place to finish. Straight after breakfast the team will take you on a circuit that is part of the race route, past Roman, mediaeval and Renaissance structures and buildings to the official Giro Finish with all the cheering and support from fans lining the final kilometre! A quick change and then into the Leonardo VIP Hospitality area to watch the race on the screens and then live to the thunderous cheering of fans as the sprinters, teams and winners arrive. Stay for the presentation and then a final celebratory dinner.
What a week! Are you invigorated and ready for summer? Inspired to continue your col challenges? The 108th edition of the Giro d’Italia is completed but in about a month’s time the Tour de France will start – will you join us there? If not, drag up the armchair and turn on the tele for another 3 weeks of intense racing…and remember your Giro Week 3 Experience in the Italian mountains.
The team will help you check out and take you to the Leonardo da Vinci Rome Fiumicino Airport for your onward journey.
Why are there 2 different ride distances on the daily descriptions? (e.g. 65km / 750m or 148km / 1,800m )
On those days you will be able to choose from either a longer or shorter ride option. Both rides will be supported by a guide and vehicle.
What’s Not Included?
Giro d'Italia Experience
Giro d’Italia 2025: Grande Partenza “Experience” – Albania Escape
Giro d'Italia Experience
GIRO D’ITALIA 2025: “Experience” Week 1 – Southern Italy, Apennines & Tuscany
Giro d'Italia Experience
GIRO D’ITALIA 2025: WEEK 2 ‘EXPERIENCE’ – TUSCANY, Emilia Romagna & Veneto
Giro d'Italia REK
Giro d’Italia 2025: “Ride Every Kilometre” WEEK 1 – Albania and Southern Italy
Giro d'Italia REK
Giro d’Italia 2025: “Ride Every Kilometre” Week 2 – Tuscany to Northern Italy
Giro d'Italia REK
Giro d’Italia 2025: “Ride Every Kilometre” Week 3 – ITALIAN ALPS & ROMA
Giro d'Italia REK
GIRO D´ITALIA 2025: THE ULTIMATE RIDE EVERY KILOMETRE – 21 STAGES
Spectator Experience
Giro d’Italia – VIP Spectator Experiences
