Location
Sicily and Calabria
Duration
5 days | 4 nights
Length
From 185 up to 245km
Climb
From 3,500 up to 4,250m
9 May 2022 - 13 May 2022
A short 5 day escape to Sicily and Calabria in May plus a VIP riding experience of the Giro d’Italia. Sicilian and Calabrian cuisine, local wine, spring sunshine, passionate fans - Perfect!
Grand Tours Project, an Official Giro d’Italia Tour Operator, has designed a tour with 3 full days of riding between 40-100 kilometres per day on the race routes ahead of the pros. On the first day, Stage 4, you will finish on the flanks of Mount Etna, cross the finish line, mount the podium and enjoy VIP Zone access to watch the professional races arrive.
The next two days will follow specifically chosen portions of the Giro d’Italia race route but also allow you to enjoy scenic detours and enjoy southern Italian sites and hospitality. There is a fantastic detour to Monforte San Giorgio with a mystery route through the mountains to the east coast of Sicily if you are up for the challenge! And there is the opportunity to relax and on Stage 6 and join the local fans as the caravan and pros race past.
Sicily, Calabria and Giro d’Italia - sunshine, food, wine and cycling passion - the perfect escape!
Total price: From €2,750
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.
Scordia - Paternò - Etna Rifugio Sapienza
25km | 1,680m or 60km | 1,900m
After 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.
Castiglione - Monforte San Giorgio
70km | 855m or 90km | 1,150m
Another 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 a mystery third option to ride from Monforte San Giorgio towards the east coast...a bit more climbing and hairpins on unknown roads maybe?
Palmi - Pizzo - Lamezia Terme
60km | 675m or 95km | 900m
After 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.
After lunch we will find the best position amoungst the Calabrian fans to watch the race pass us and then we'll continue to ride onto Lamezia Terme and our hotel. There is also the option to jump in the GTP support van if you are not up for more riding after enjoying the food, wine and festive atmosphere!
Dinner will be somewhere authentically southern Italian.
Arrivederci
We hope that you have enjoyed your short tour and the festive pink Giro d'Italia atmosphere. Hopefully a taster for future longer tours riding Giro d'Italia routes!
We will help you pack up and take you to the airport for your onward journey. Or perhaps you are joining us in another Grand Tour Race this year? Until next time, safe journey and see you then.