2006
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2006
Giro d'Italia Route
Massimo
Strazzer
Giro
Sprint Finish
I
Dolomiti
Passo
di Sella
Madonna
del Ghisallo
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2006 GIRO D'ITALIA
TOUR
DATES - May 19 - 30th, 2006
With
its inclusion in the UCI ProTour now requiring the presence of the World's
top 20 teams the Giro d'Italia has become much more than a National
Race and indeed last years' edition was the most exciting in years.
Nonstop Ciclismo has been bringing avid cyclists to the Giro since 1996
and we know how to get you right into the thick of things. You'll experience
first-hand the exhilarating atmosphere which makes riding a bike in
Italy during the Giro one of the most unforgettable experiences of a
lifetime. Our tours concentrate on great quality rides - we try to avoid
lengthy transfers and heavily traveled roads at all costs - this means
you'll have more time on the bike and you'll see much more of the country
with the added benefit of coming home in really great shape! Many of
our guests have used our Giro Tour as a base for a summer race program.
Our staff motto is why get in the van when you can ride it – we
are committed to riding as much of the route as possible. Of course
it is not a race! - we like to enjoy the surroundings and the camaraderie
of sport at a pace that is enjoyable for everyone. We have van support
on all of our point to point rides and it’s always optional to
cut short a ride or take a rest day. We’re here to have fun and
enjoy the incredible experience of cycling in Italy!
The 2006 Giro d'Italia will be held from May 6-28, 2006. It will begin
with a prologue in Seraing, in the Wallone region of Belgium, and end
with the traditional stage into Milano. Our tour will focus on the last
week of racing and will take in the big mountains of the Dolomites.
We will not follow the full Giro route day by day (as this can be quite
hectic) but pick strategic locations from which to ride and see the
tour. Our focus is on quality ride time and of course being there to
see the best parts of the race. We'll enjoy accommodations in 3 and
4 star hotels (often in the same hotels as Giro Teams) and if the route
allows - we'll be staying in some of our favorite Agriturismi (Italian
Bed and Breakfast Inns).
Due to
the limited size of our group (maximum 14 guests) we are now taking
reservations for this tour. If upon release of final cost and itinerary
you decide it's not for you we'll offer a full refund of reservation
deposit for 15 days.
Click here to reserve your spot
We
are currently planning for airport pick-up and drop-off at VERONA
International Airport.
We are happy to help you make arrangements to join us if you will be
coming from a different destination.
ITINERARY
Day 1: 19-MAY
Upon arrival in Verona
we’ll make a short transfer to our base hotel situated just outside
Verona on beautiful Lago di Garda. You'll have time to meet our staff,
assemble the bikes and go out for a short shake-down ride by the shores
of the lake. Tonight we'll enjoy the first of many wonderful meals together.
Max ride distance: 45km/28mi
GIRO STAGE 12 Livorno-Sestri
Levante, km 165
Day 2: 20-MAY
Our
first official ride will be highlighted by the presence of recently
retired pro Massimo Strazzer. Massimo is from Verona
and he'll be taking us on some of his favorite training roads through
the wine region of the Valpolicella in the hills above
Verona, training ground for Giro star Damiano Cunego. This will be a
perfect day to settle in and find your climbing legs before hitting
some of the longer climbs in the days ahead. This evening you'll have
the opportunity to visit the beautiful city of Verona and enjoy a dinner
in town.
Max ride distance: 110km/68mi
GIRO
STAGE 13 Alessandria-La Thuile, km 216
Day 3: 21-MAY
Today's route is an incredible ride up Lago di Garda and long
climb over the massive Monte Baldo, the large mountain
on the East side of the lake. Our ride will be filled with incredible
vistas as we ride up the East side of Lago di Garda towards Torbole.
At the top of the lake we'll turn east and begin the long, challenging
climb up to 1425 m. At one point it is possible to see the surface of
lake Garda more than 1300 meters below! From here it's a long descent
back down to Caprile and our base hotel. After dinner together in the
hotel we'll have the option to visit nearby Garda, a lively tourist
town on the edge of the lake.
Max ride distance: 130km/81mi
GIRO
STAGE 14 Aosta-Domodossola, km 224
Day 4: 22-MAY
Today the Giro d'Italia wil be arriving in nearby Brescia
and we'll be there to see the sprinters fight it out for the last of
the sprinter's days before the Giro hits the high mountains. In the
morning we'll ride to our next hotel near Salo riding the scenic route
along the Southern part of Lago di Garda taking in historical and beautiful
Sirmione.
There will be an option to do a longer ride in the hills to the West
of the lake. In the afternoon we'll travel by van to Brescia where we'll
be well placed to see the sprint finish.
Max
ride distance: 128km/80mi
GIRO
STAGE 15 Mergozzo-Brescia, km 182
Day 5: 23-MAY
Today's Giro stage should prove to be an epic day of racing
culminating in the race to the top of Monte Bondone,
a 17 km climb rising 1372 m at an average gradient of 7.9%. We'll start
out early from our hotel and intersect the route at around the 85 km
mark. From here we'll ride the remaining 100km including the final climb
where we'll be on site to watch the stage finish. After the stage we'll
have a short transfer to our hotel for the night in Bolzano.
Max
ride distance: 140km/87mi
GIRO
STAGE 16 Rovato-Trento/Monte Bondone, km 180
Day 6: 24-MAY
Today the Giro moves into the Dolomites and our route will
take in the principal difficulties of the day including the Passo
di Pinei (1442 m), Passo delle Erbe (1987
m), Plan de Corones (2273 m). You'll be able to choose
between a full ride which takes in all three climbs or heading up the
road in the van to ride a shorter portion of the route. The final 5
km of the finish climb are dirt/gravel gravel with pitches up to 24%!
Remember the colle delle Finestre last year?! After the stage finish
we'll have a short transfer to our hotel for the next 2 nights in Corvara.
Max
ride distance: 137km/85mi
GIRO
STAGE 17 Termeno-Plan de Corones, km 158
Day 7: 25-MAY
Today is
an optional rest day - Corvara is a great place to relax and recover
strength for the second part of the trip. For those who want to ride
we are in a great position to ride the Dolomitic classic route of the
"Quattro Passi". This is a 75 km route that will take you
over Passo
Campolongo (1875m), the Passo Pordoi
(2239m), the Passo di Sella (2213m) and the Passo
di Gardena (2121m).
Max
ride distance: 75km/47mi
GIRO
STAGE 18 Sillian-Gemona del Friuli, km 227
Day 8: 26-MAY
Today's stage of the Giro takes in no less than 4 massive climbs
which will no doubt make for an incredible day day of racing. We'll
have two options for a ride today. The adventurous will be able to interesect
the Giro Course at about the 125 km point. From there we'll ride the
fearsome Passo Fedaia (2057m), often referred to as
"la marmolada" as it passes just beneath
the Marmolada Glacier, the Passo Pordoi (2239m), and
the Passo di San Pellegrino (1918m). For those who
choose the shorter route it will go over the Passo Campolongo
directly to the Passo di San Pellegrino. From here
we'll meet up and catch the stage finish together on the slopes of the
final climb. There will be a van transfer afterwards to Ponte di Legno
where we'll be strategically .
Max
ride distance: 125km/78mi
GIRO
STAGE 19 Pordenone-Passo di San Pellegrino, km 220
Day 9: 27-MAY
Today’s Giro stage departs from Trento and makes its
way up to Ponte di Legno where we'll be strategically placed to ride
out of our hotel and onto the Giro route at about km 95. The first difficulty
of the day is the
Passo di Gavia (2621m) which is the "Cima
Coppi" or highest point of the this years' Giro. Afterward a long
descent into Bormio we'll tackle the awesome Mortirolo
(1842m) and then ride to the uphill finish in Aprica
(1184m) where we'll see the riders arrive after a 212 km day in the
mountains. We'll have a transfer to our lodging in Varenna
for the next two nights on Lake Como.
Max
ride distance: 120km/75mi
GIRO
STAGE 20 Trento-Aprica, km 212
Day 10: 28-MAY
This is the final day of the Giro d'Italia and the organizers
have planned a controversial split stage for the final day. The first
part will come in the form of an individual time trial up to the famous
Madonna
del Ghisallo located in
the small town of Magréglio. This is a tiny chapel dedicated
to the patron saint of cyclists as proclaimed by Pope Pius XII during
the 1949 Giro d'Italia, the Beata Vergine Maria Del Ghisallo. The walls
of this tiny church are covered with the jerseys, bicycles and plaques
of the greats – Coppi, Bartali and Moser to name a few - a must
see for any cycling fan. We'll start out early in the
morning from Varenna along the scenic lake shore roads and ride to intersect
the race course. From here we'll find a place to cheer for the riders
coming up the climb. Afterwards we'll continue our ride around the lake
riding down to Bellagio, Como and
the up to Menaggio on the West side of the lake. From
here we'll take a ferry back across the lake to our Hotel in Varenna.
Max
ride distance: 127km/79mi
GIRO
STAGE 21a Canzo-Ghisallo (individual time trial), km
11; 21b
Lecco-Milano, km 116
Day 11: 29-MAY
Our last day together and there are a number of options. We
can do a morning ride along a portion of the Tour of Lombardy race route
then to Bergamo where we will then have lunch and visit
the city before transferring back to our base hotel on Lake Garda -
or we can transfer back to Verona to visit the city
and get in a final spin ride from our base hotel. Tonight we'll enjoy
one last great dinner together.
Max
ride distance: 100km/60mi
Day 12: 30-MAY
Early morning transfer to VERONA
International Airport or other connection.
Arriverderci!
SUMMARY
5.18: Depart USA for Italy 5.19:
Verona airport pickup; transfer to Calmasino (optional loop ride) 5.20:
Ride Valpolicella loop 5.21: Ride Lago di Garda M. Baldo loop
5.22: Ride Calmasino - Salo 5.23: Ride Salo - Monte Bondone;
transfer to Ortisei 5.24: Ride Ortisei - Corvara 5.25:
Ride Corvara Loop 5.26: Ride Corvara - Passo di San Pellegrino;
transfer to Ponte di Legno 5.27: Ride Ponte di Legno - Aprica;
transfer to Varenna 5.28: Ride Varenna - Madonna del Ghisallo
loop 5.29: Visit Bergamo - Optional ride Varenna - Bergamo; transfer
to Calmasino 5.30:
Depart
Italy from Verona International Airport
TRIP
INFO
mileage Maximum of 1200 km/740 mi (all routes have
shorter options & rest days)
terrain Varied including High Mountain Passes
length 11 riding days and nights
maximum group size 14 guests with 3 or 4 staff
difficulty Advanced
cost $3200 USD
single room supplement $400
(subject to availability)
INCLUDES
• Airport pickup at VERONA
International Airport
(VRN)
• Eleven nights accommodations (two
per room) in friendly Agriturismi or 3 and 4 Star Hotels
• All breakfasts and 9 dinners including
wine
• Guide services of 1 or 2 guides
• Vehicle support at intervals along
the route on town-to-town days
• Mechanical assistance
• Travel planning assistance
For
additional information or to book a vacation click here.
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