19-May-2017

Day 1

Stage 13, 162km. Reggio Emilia - Tortona

Today's Ride: Pick up and transfer, Nil Ride.

The peloton has an absolutely flat stage today on a route that follows some of the Milan SanRemo parcours. As much as our interest in this stage is piqued given the History of this classic race we do not intersect the Giro today as we are just getting our bearings on home soil.

Our tour begins at Milan Malpensa Airport. On Your arrival Phil and his staff will assist with your bike set up and with introductions over we will transfer to the Piedmont district. The name itself implies its proximity to the mountains, the lakes and foothills are the backdrop for some classic Italian riding over the week to follow.

We transfer to our impressive 4 star base for the next 3 nights, where we will be well placed to chase the race, relax lakeside or add some pretty impressive climbs to our ride card. 

20-May-2017

Day 2

Stage 14, 131km. Castellania - Oropa

Today's Ride: 90km Mountainous

On a day when every climber in the the peloton will be pushing for line honors on the Montagna Pantani, the mountain goats in our team will have a chance to replicate his feat before the peloton hits the same slope.

Forgoing the traditions of the Phil Anderson Welcome ride we will hit the ground riding, as we head straight out onto the Giro course. A lunch stop is planned en-route before we intersect the course, halfway up the final climb. Spectating position secured those who are keen can have a go at remainder of the stage’s final climb. Measuring 11.8 km in total and at an average gradient over 7%, topping 13% halfway this climb is tough!

A long day of riding, coffee, Italy and the Giro complemented by a relaxing ride we rack the bikes and feet up head home for more of the regional culinary delights that will wrap up a great day at the Giro perfectly

21-May-2017

Day 3

Stage 15, 199km. Valdengo - Bergamo

Today's Ride: 120kms Rolling Hills

As we ease into the race chase and head closer to the high mountains we will extend our legs on a longer loop ride today that will take in the start of the 200km Stage 15.

The festivities of a Giro start are always entertaining and it will be our first opportunity to get an intimate view of the teams as they prepare for a long stage. Riders will face a 150km flat section before they put their race faces on for some classic Italian racing. Some hard sharp ascents on a technical course will unsettle some in the last 40km.

22-May-2017

Day 4

Giro Rest Day

Today's Ride: 50kms Very Hard

The pro’s will have their legs up today - rest imperative if they are to survive the gruelling last week of the 100th Giro d’Italia. As the peloton heads to the Dolomites there is a sense of dread as, these architecturally inspired peaks reach for the sky so sharply that most pro’s seek only to do their job and then survive leaving the contest to the final GC contenders.

We change locations today, transferring to Bormio but not before bagging a major bucket list climb, the Passo dello Stelvio en-route. Tipping the scales as one of the highest passes in Europe at 2758m this ascent sits between you and our next 5 star hotel. 

23-May-2017

Day 5

Stage 16, 227km. Rovetta - Bormio

Today's Ride: 60kms Very Hard

Time to put our race faces on as we attempt one of the toughest rides ever contemplated by a cyclist, let alone intersecting the peloton not once, but possibly twice. Today’s logistics are enough to deter the feint hearted. 

Lance Armstrong called the Mortirolo the hardest climb he had ever ridden and each time the Giro includes this climb, the first climber to reach the top in race conditions is awarded the Cima Pantani. The first climb of the day for the peloton this will be followed by two ascents of the Stelvio. We will intersect the race on the Passo Mortirolo, a road formed by goats and farm carts but sealed in the modern era and hence its reputation.

Timing is everything as the race and possibly elements descend in on us. We don’t have time to wait and so will follow the peloton over the top and home to Bormio. Those with the legs can then decide to chase the race back to the Stelvio Pass for more sensational climbing and a hard look at how the pro’s are faring on one of the toughest days of the 2017 Giro d’Italia.

24-May-2017

Day 6

Stage 17, 219km. Tirano - Canazei

Today's Ride: 50km Easy

We move again to the Trentino region of the Dolomites. Our last transfer before the finish in Milan it is a PAC rest day should you wish. We have scheduled a post lunch ride to the hotel, an easy recovery ride to roll out the legs to ready them for our last assault on some significant Italian climbs.

A long day in the saddle for the peloton, the calm before the storm of the queen stage, they will finish in the town of our new hotel where the slight 70km uphill roll to the line would suggest we will be treated to a bunch sprint.

We will take up position in the final metres, a perfect spectating opportunity and a chance to get close to the excitement of the race. We will join the passionate tifosi, cheering the riders on. We will of course stay in town, attempting to blend in with locals by celebrating in the way only Italians know how.

25-May-2017

Day 7

Stage 18, 137km. Moena - Ortisei

Today's Ride: 60km High Mountains, hard

We have not planned a long ride today but it is a famed loop known to many cyclists. We will ride ahead of the peloton who likewise ride the Sella Ronda loop, plus a little more. We stop to spectate the Giro on our first climb, the Passo Pordoi, a steady enough climb at 6.8% with 27 hairpins which was tough enough when I raced on it in 1990.

Once the race passes we will follow the pro’s down the descent then turn to follow the Sella Ronda loop to the Campolongo Pass, a short climb with sensational views but often windy. We intend to re-join the Giro course and the challenge today is to reach the summit of the next climb, the Passo Gardena prior to a peloton that is intent on causing damage to the GC. It will not be the highest or hardest we have attempted during this trip but this 3rd climb under pressure will hurt.


We will secure a place for a second round of spectating at the 85km mark of the stage before we press on to finish our loop on the Passo Sella, then turn for home.

26-May-2017

Day 8

Stage 19 191 km San Candido/Innichen - Piancavallo

Today's Ride: 70km Very Hard

Forgoing the race chase for our own Italian Odyssey we have designed a classic Italian affair today.

We will ride the Passo Marmolada loop in an anti-clockwise direction. The Marmolada is an 11km climb with average grades of 7% kicking up to 12% at time before you reach the plateau. Surrounded by sensational glacial views you will have to stop for a moment to soak it in. We bypass the full descent for a very short detour up the sensational Serrai di Sottoguda canyon pass where you will have to stop, so impressed by the unfolding scene that an obligatory ‘ride’ photo is essential, to post to envious friends.

We climb the Passo Pordoi in reverse from yesterday , not so long and nice climbing out onto high pasture and more views to impress before we descend to our hotel at rides end. An afternoon to relax, watch the stage highlights while regaling our own heroic efforts on this trip before our last official meal together as we head towards Milan and Giro’s end.

27-May-2017

Day 9

Stage 20 190km Pordenone – Asiago

Today's Ride: Coffee Ride

We’ll wake up in time for a classic morning coffee ride before heading to Milan for your onward travels or a chance to stay on for one more day.

We do have a chance to pick up the race one last time as the peloton passes Bassano del Grappa depending on how we feel. We have intentions of making it to Milan Malpensa airport for early evening connections.

28-May-2017

Day 10

Stage 21, 28km. ITT

Today's Ride: No Riding today

If the final holder of the Maglia Rosa has yet to be determined, today will be a frenzied finale. Starting in the home of Italian moto racing, Monza, the riders will descend slightly to the finish line at Milan's Piazza Duomo, the birth place of the Giro d’Italia.