Dolomiti Alps Tour
23rd May - 1st June 2020
Saturday May 23rd - Conegliano
We get to wake up in our hotel in Conegliano* set for a big day. After breakfast we will get a short 2hr ride in - including the Sal Lorenzo climb.
Then its back to the hotel to get ready for a big day of Giro action. We are in for a treat today as the Giro starts under a km from our hotel. We can check out start, see the buses and the riders before having lunch and find a bar for the afternoon to watch the action. Tonight we will have our opening dinner in the famous Conegliano Castle culminating in one the many bars littered through the beautiful cobbled streets
Sunday May 24th - Conegliano
We start with with a not so early start on the bike so enjoy the beautiful breakfast the hotel has to offer, then we are off for a long day on the bike, our longest of the tour.
We have two ride options; Option 1 - includes the now famous Passo San Boldo, lunch in Vittorio Veneto then onto Piancavallo for the Giro stage finish with munchies and drinks. Then ride back to our hotel in Conegliano. A 130km ride and such a fantastic day.
Option 2 - is to ride to Piancavallo via Vittorio Veneto for lunch to meet up with the other group, then return back to Conegliano.
Then its off to the local. Conegliano Pub for dinner.
Monday May 25th - Cortina
Today is a rest day in the Giro but for us its not.... We leave our hotel in Conegliano and head to Cortina in the heart of the italian Dolimites, about 1hr 30mins from Conegliano. We have a 50km ride fromCortina to the famous Tre Cime. This is such an iconic climb and up hill straight from the hotel driveway, all 25km of it. Once at the top, we will regroup before descending and grabbing a bite to eat for lunch somewhere at the top or at the lake half way down.
Then we can enjoy a relaxing afternoon in Cortina before heading to dinner.
Tuesday May 26th - Cortina
Today we can enjoy another late-ish start as we choose to give the Giro stage a miss today and embark on one of the Dolimites greatest rides. We start from our hotel in. Cortina climbing Passo Fazarego and onto Passo Valdengo, then climb Campalongo and the famous Giau. The loop will be around 70km including 4 passes and about 3000m of climbing. A challenging day but we have all the time in the world to take in the scenery, the climbs and enjoy lunch somewhere enroute.
Then its another relaxing afternoon in Cortina and a good chance to grab a drink and watch the Giro stage on tv, possibly a stage for Sagan? Definitely a stage for the punchy sprinters/opportunists. Then a nice dinner to re-fuel the tanks.
Wednesday May 27th - Madonna di Campiglio
Today we leave our stay in Cortina and head to the Trento area. We have a 2.5hr drive to Comano terme where we start todays 60-80km ride to Madonna di Campiglio where todays stage of the Giro will finish. Gruppetto came here 6 years ago and it was a ripper of a stage and we expect the same this year. Once we finish riding the last two climbs of the stage we then get to settle in and watch the Pros do it. We’ll include a B option for riders, a 30km ride (descend Madonna di Campiglio and turn at the bottom to climb up with the others). We can enjoy lunch and few drinks while watching the Giro race right past our hotel where we will spend the night. Before dinner, maybe take a stroll through the town and see what teams you can see and check their set ups and how they do it.
Thursday May 28th- Bormio
Today we start with a short drive from the hotel to Ponte di Legno before tackling the famous Gavia climb from the eastern side and then descend into Bormio, past our hotel and onto the final climb of the day to watch the Giro come through. Then rolling back to our hotel for the night. The ride should be 70-80km and watching the riders pass by with only a few kilometres to go will be epic - especially after the day they have had in the mountains including the Stelvio.
Tonight we will enjoy dinner at one of the famous pizzerias in the area!
Friday May 29th - Lecco
Today we get to ride the famous Passo Stelvio. We will leave Bormio and drive to the top, rugging up for the very beautiful and long descent into Switzerland and a roll back around into Italy to tackle the famous side of the Stelvio. Once we finish the 60km loop and get to the top no doubt it will be full of hugs, high fives, laughs and even tears... We will enjoy some lunch before heading off in the van south to Lago di Como for our stay at Lecco.
Lecco is a beautiful town on the eastern tip of the right leg of Lago d Como. Perfect opportunity to take a walk, find a spot to have a drink and enjoy the views or catch up on some Giro action on TV.
Tonight we can take in the views of the lake while enjoying another Italian feast.
Saturday May 30th - mama's (Cossato)
We head out of our hotel in the vans and head West, stopping just short of the French border. We will get on our bikes and head out on a loop including Colle di Finestre and Sestriere, where will will stop for lunch and watch the race. After watching the Giro complete its final climb of this years race and the finish of the stage we will descend to the vans. The loop being 70-80km in length. There is a secong option which would include the climb to Sestriere, regroup with the others, watch the race and descend (30km).
We will then drive back to Mama's, the home of Gruppetto Cycling tour for the first of a two night stay. Hope you’re hungry....!
Sunday May 31st - Mama's
Todays last ride will be short but we will include the climb to Oropa. Its a 40km loop and includes this iconic climb that has been apart of the Giro in so many editions. We can take a few minutes to check out the awesome view and church at the top and definitely a group pic.
Then its time to drive Milano to watch the final stage which happens to be a time trial. That gives us plenty of time to see every rider, take in Milan, enjoy the fantastic atmosphere and have a few drinks.
Then its back to Mama's for a feast and celebration. You will love this authentic Italian family and you will experience Italy as no one else does!
Monday June 1st
Unfortunately its time to pack up and head to Milan Malpensa for a 10am drop off. Good memory's and good byes for now...