Tour Highlights

• Pilgrimage to the Madonna di Ghisallo - Cyclist Museum & Hall of Fame

• Italian Alps Trilogy - The Stelvio, Gavia & Mortirolo Climbs

• Marco Pantani Memorial - A tribute to greatness

• Best of the Dolomiti - The Pordoi, Sella & Giau

This tour is chalked full of long rides and challenging climbs along with the unforgettable memories of past legends. After getting in some rides around the hills near beautiful Lake Garda, one of our first stops is Lake Como for some great riding and the legendary accent of the Madonna di Ghisallo considered to be more of a cyclists museum and a hall of fame than a chapel. It's walls are adorned with past leaders jerseys from the Giro d'Italia and Tour de France.

Also featured in this tour is our classic Italian Alps trilogy featuring the legendary passes of the Stelvio, Gavia and the Mortirolo. The Gavia is where Andy Hampsten battled though a fierce snow storm to gain his tour victory. The Stelvio is the one of the highest paved passes in Europe and is ranked as the worlds most popular alpine accent. Included is a visit to the new Marco Pantani Memorial located on the epic Mortirolo climb.  Afterwards we finish in the Dolomiti mountains and challenge such passes as the Pordoi, Sella, Giau and Erbe.

Package Includes

Tour Itinerary

We will pick you up at the Verona airport and bring you back to our three star sporting hotel near Lake Garda to settle in for a few days. Build the bikes in our well equipped bike room and purchase any last-minute items from the local bike shop. Take an easy spin through the wineries and orchards or down to the lake an back on the 2005 world championship time trial course. After the ride take a refreshing dip in the pool, grab a beer in the bar, enjoy a sauna, or treat yourself to a message. Tonight we will enjoy a great dinner prepared by our hotel's chef,  talk about the tour, and pass out maps and Jerseys.

• Arrival date for this tour is Sunday June 28, 2009

• Early arrival is available for Saturday June 27, 2009

• Departure date is Monday July 6, 2009

• Arrival and departures from the Verona VRN airport or Milan & Venice by shuttle

• See Airport Pick-up & Drop-off Schedule

Today will be a moderate intensity ride with a longer climb through the Valpolicella wine region. This afternoon we will enjoy wine tasting and appetizers in the lush green vineyards of Tre Colline. We will tour their wine production facilities and have a short lessen in the making of wine and olive oil. Tonight we have a special dinner planned at a reservation only agriturismo, "Ca Persane." This restaurant offers a variety of local culinary delights and a good selection of wines including their own wine produced in the vineyard that surrounds the restaurant.

In the morning we transfer to Lake Como for a spectacular loop through the canyons and climbs overlooking the lake, we make our final assent from Bellagio to the Madonna di Ghisallo. Here sits a tiny chapel that has become know as the cyclist hall of fame where you'll find leaders jerseys and bikes from both the Giro d'Italia and Tour de France surrounding the walls; along with the bikes of past legends such as Fausto Coppi, Eddy Merckx and Miguel Indurain.

After breakfast we'll drive to Bormio, a resort town nestled in a valley surrounded by the majestic Italian Alps. Bormio boasts a series of natural hot springs and as a result it is home to five hot spring resorts and wellness centers. Today's major climb will include the beautiful Gavia Pass. Ride through the Santa Caterina Valley to the the base of the Gavia pass which has been touted to be the most beautiful pass of the Alps. At the top of the pass send a post card to a friend at the outpost and have a snack. Time permitting, you have the option of riding down the back side and back up.

• Gavia Pass - 2,621 m / 26 km / 5.4% Ave

Next we head south down the valley to the notorious  Mortirolo Pass. Climbing an astonishing 4,000 ft in 7 miles!, see why when Lance rode this pass in 2005 he said it was the most difficult one he had ever done. Just below the top we find the new memorial commemorating Marco Pantani. 

Marco Pantani Memorial

• Mortirolo Pass - 1852 m / 12.5 km / 10.6% Ave

Test your courage and stamina against today's highest Alpine pass. Today will be an epic ride conquering the famous Stelvio Pass, first introduced into the Giro d'Italia in 1953 and made famous after Fausto Coppi's victory. At the top we will enjoy the view of the Italian and Swiss Alps while sipping on cappuccinos and watching tourists from all over the world mill about in this exciting atmosphere. A German sausage sandwich from the cart vendor is always a favorite on this route. Afterwards we make our way to Corvara.  We have an optional loop descending the Umbrail and up the 48 switchbacks of the North side.

• Stelvio Pass - 2,758 m / 22 km / 7.5% Ave

After Breakfast we get on our bikes and explore the Dolomites. This mountain range offers a wealth of cycling routes surrounded by stunning scenery. We take in the grand loop over some of the most famous passes including the Pordoi, Sella and Giau.

In the morning take in a beautiful climb up to Passo Valparola and back. After our ride we have one final transfer back to Verona.

Additional rides in the Lake Garda area are available based on your departure time.