Giro d'Italia Tour
An unforgettable experience
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GIRO D’ITALIA 2009
Bella Route—Celebrating 100 years

There is a love for cycling in Italy that can not be described, it isn’t until you stand amongst a group of cheering Italians that you feel and understand how passionate they are for the sport. This is what makes the Giro one of the greatest races of all to see live. The 2009 Giro d’italia will be celebrating 100 years this May and the list of contenders for its maglia rosa include Armstrong, Basso, Sastre, Simoni, Di Luca, Brusehin and Menchov. Armstrong’s return after almost four years will certainly make this one of the most exciting Giro d’italia races ever.

Gruppetto Tours is offering a seven day trip mid-race covering several pivotal mountain stages and the long 61.5km individual time trial. This is one of our performance trips with over 320 miles of riding, including the entire Stage 10 from Torino to Arenzano, with massage service and team car support. To guarantee you the best personal service possible we keep our group sizes small, so spots are limited.

Monday, May 18th: Arrivals/Torino
Giro d’italia Rest Day
Welcome to Italy, and Torino. Upon arrival to the hotel staff will be on hand to help you get your bike dialed and ready for the week. Welcome reception and group dinner at our hotel.

Tuesday, May 19th
Stage 10: Cuneo to Pinerolo
Today’s 250km stage includes the Izoard, the race’s highest point, Maddelena, Vars, Mongenevre and Sestriere. This is the first of two difficult stages coming before the long individual time trial. We should be able to see the favorites in action today.

Today you will ride the last 90kms/ of the stage including the last 2 mountain passes, Col de Montgenevre and Sestriere. We will have a spectacular spot to watch the race on top of the final climb of today’s long stage. We will have an Italian-style feast here as we watch the riders climb Sestriere. After the race you will follow the race and the team caravan into Pinerolo.

Ride: 90kms/55miles

Wednesday, May 20th
Stage 11: Torino to Arenzano
Ever wonder what it would be like to ride a Giro stage—the entire stage? Today you will have the option to ride the entire stage from Torino to Arenzano/Geneva. With a team car following providing you support along the way: this is your opportunity to feel like a pro rider. The stage finishes with a climb up Turchino, the climb done in Milano-San Remo Classic. We will watch the stage finish in Arenzano. There is a second option to ride the last 100kms/63miles as well.

All that riding does not come with out a good rub down in the evening by your masseuse and a wonderful meal with wine.

Ride: 206kms/128miles *Option 2: 100kms/63miles

Thursday, May 21st
Stage 12: Sestri Levante to Riomaggiore (ITT)
Today is going to be one of the most decisive stages of the Giro. Today’s 61.5km/38.2mile individual time trial is the longest in the last 13 years of the Giro. The long time trial certainly favors Lance Armstrong, however who ever takes today’s stage will not take it easily. This mid-race time trial will most certainly be pivotal for those GC riders.

We will go out for an early morning ride from the hotel before packing up. Today we will watch the time trial mid-stage in Passo del Bracco, which is the first of two climbs that the riders must contend with today. Passo del Bracco (elevation gain of 613m/2011ft) comes 17.7kms/ into the stage. This is where the first time check will be.

Tonight we transfer to Lucca, a beautiful city in Tuscany. Behind the imposing Renaissance walls hides more than 100 churches, winding streets, excellent shops and restaurants.

Ride:50km/31mile

Friday, May 22nd
Stage 13: Lido di Camaiore to Firenze
Today’s stage from the Tuscan coast to Florence is relatively flat and should certainly play well for the sprinter’s teams. The stage will pass through Lucca and Empoli (a short distance from Vinci, Leonardo di Vinci’s hometown) before arriving into Firenze.

We ride from the hotel and pick up the stage at kilometer 65 and ride into the Chianti region. We will watch the stage near Ponte a Sigma, just outside of Firenze, and then ride to our next hotel. It is said that arriving in Tuscany is like arriving at the pearly gates of food and wine heaven. Tonight we shall see over a well-deserved group dinner at a local winery.

Ride: 80kms/50 miles

Saturday, May 23rd
Stage 14: Campi Bisenzio to Bologna
Today’s 174km stage will not be an easy one with five climbs, the last coming at the finish. The stage start is in Campi Bisenzio in Prato and heads north going over the Passo della Collina, Valico di Mediano, Valico di Tole, Mongardino and then ending with an uphill finish on Colle di San Luca in Bologna. This is the penultimate mountain day so we should expect a lot of action among the climbers.

You will pick up the stage just outside of Pistoia and ride the first three climbs. Staff will have a great spot on top of Valico di Mediano with Tuscan picnic prepared and waiting for you. We will share a few bottles of wine and watch the race action from here.

We will transfer to Bologna after the stage. Final group dinner in Bologna.

Ride: 97km/60miles

Sunday, May 24th: Departures

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Trip Details:

7 days, 6 nights
Price: 2980 euros
Arrival: Torino Italy
Departure: Bologna Italy

Stages: 5
Days of riding: 5
Total ride mileage: 523kms/324miles

Included:
Pick-up, drop-offs
Excellent accommodations
4 dinners with wine, 3 lunches and all breakfasts
Professional sport massage
Ride support

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Photos by: TDWsport.com