Overview

 “Il Cuore delle Dolomiti” – The Heart of the Dolomites. This region of Italia is a true cycling paradise. This adventure begins in the alpine village of Cortina surrounded by the massive summits of the Dolomites. From Cortina ride the world famous Sella Massifs’ Sellaronda loop featuring the passes of the Campolongo, Pordoi, Sella and Gardena. This tour will test our legs and heighten your senses. This area was recently added the UNESCO World Heritage sites as one of the most beautiful places on Earth.

Itinerary

Day 1: Warm-up ride around Cortina

For this tour you arrive in Venice where the bikes are built and cases stored. Our early afternoon shuttle will get you and your bikes to the start of the tour in Cortina. Take a spin through the town or the surrounding hills. After the ride we will enjoy a great dinner prepared by our hotel’s chef, talk about the tour, and pass out maps and Jerseys.

Day 2: Climb of the Tre Croci & Tre Cima

From Cortina we ride a long loop around the green valley and up the passo Tre Croci and summit of the Tre Cime. Tonight we stay in town for another night.

Day 3: Sella Ronda loop

After breakfast we ride from Cortina to La Villa around the sella massif for what is known as the Sella Ronda loop, a classic ride in alpine cycling. On this route you get to climb 4 mountain passes, 3 of which are higher than 6,600 feet. On this loop, you are always surrounded by the awesome jagged peaks of the Dolomites. It is a rare opportunity in the cycling world to be able to tackle four such awe inspiring passes in single day!

Day 4: Climb the Passo Valparola, Pordoi & Fedia (Marmolada Massif)

After Breakfast, we continue exploring the Dolomites. This mountain range offers a wealth of cycling routes surrounded by stunning scenery. After climbing the pass of Valporola we continue on to Passo Fedia located just below the Marmolada Massif. The final challenge of the day will be the Passo Pordoi from the back side, a true leg burner!

Day 5: Passo Giau

Today we will experience the stunningly beautiful and quiet road of the Passo Compolongo and the mighty Passo Giau. The Passo Giau will be a finishing climb in the 2012 Giro. It features a series of 14% slopes near the bottom of the climb which ease toward the top, with an overall average of 9.3 %! After enjoying the top you will truly feel rewarded with the 17km descent into Cortina. Tonight, we will have a celebratory farewell dinner reminisce on our experiences of the week and start planning for next year.

Day 6: Departure

After breakfast we will transfer back to Venice Mestre to conclude the tour. Late flight departures (after 3:00 pm) are possible. Additional accommodations can be arranged in Venice or surrounding areas on request.

Details

Package Includes:

• 3 star accommodations
• FREE Pick up and drop off from Venice
• Support vehicle
• Assistance with bike building and re-packing/ Bike box storage
• GranFondo Cycling Tours jersey
• ALL breakfasts and All dinners included
• Optional shorter or longer routes available most days
• Arrival and departure from Venice Mestre Hotel
• Plan to arrive in Venice 1 day early to be ready for our FREE AM transfer to Cortina.

Climbing Highlights:

• Passo Pordoi
• Passo Sella
• Passo Giau
• Passo Tre Croci & Tre Cime

Our groups are kept small so reserve your spot soon. To make your reservation please submit your reservation form along with a credit card deposit of $300. Note: deposits are refundable within 3 months prior to the tour date minus a $100 processing fee. Final amount will be due 3 months prior to the tour departure date.

To Sign Up, Please email Tobias@gftours.com Please include your name, dates, and how many are in your group.

Once you have reserved your tour an account will be created for you that will be used to track and update your customer information required for your tour. This will include your contact information, rider profile, and various tour options. You will be able to view or update your information at any time.

Final payments are due 3 months prior to the tour date. These can be paid by check or credit card. Checks can be sent to the address below.

Checks:

Payable to: Granfondo Cycling Tours

9939 Hibert St #105
San Diego CA 92131

Or by Credit Card (Visa / Master Card)

Travel insurance … also known as trip insurance, is recommended for anyone traveling in a foreign country. They are relatively low cost and can protect against unexpected cancellations and depending on the company can provide additional medical coverage, property damage, theft etc. For our tours we recommend CSA Travel Protection. When purchasing please mention that you are with our group. Agent initials CAP and producer code W8000182.

Airfare assistance … For a good source on tickets you can contact Connoisseur Consolidators 1-888-646-6522. If you call, please let them know you are with Granfondo Cycling Tours.

Cancellation Policy … In the event that you have to cancel your trip the following rules apply to regularly scheduled tours. Private tours may have additional guidelines.

• • 100% of deposit refunded within 30 day of payment
  • $100 administration fee within 3 months prior to tour start date
  • 50% refund within 1 month prior to the tour start date
  • Medical emergencies are on a case by case bases
  • Travel insurance is always recommended