Giro d'Italia Tour
An unforgettable experience
RESERVE THIS TRIP NOW

Download the Client Release From

GIRO D’ITALIA 2008

Gruppetto Tours is offering an exclusive tour covering the most dramatic days of this year’s Giro d’Italia starting in the heart of the Domomiti and finishing in the center of Milan. We will ride all the prominent climbs, and be there on the course to watch the riders as they battle it out each day for the maglia rosa.

Trip Details:

• Dates: 27 May to 2 June
• Duration: 7 days/6 nights
• Rides: full-support & guided by ex-pro Jo Planckaert
• Sport massage service included
• Mileage: 15-110 miles (20-180kms)
• Airport Pickup: Milan Malpensa
• Price: $3650 in double-occupancy
• Deposit: $1000 due at time of reservation
• Single-occupancy: $600 supplement
• Breakfasts, dinners and most lunches included

Climb Mortirolo

The Mortirolo is one of the toughest mountain climbs in Italy and in Europe.   Many professional cyclists consider it to be one of the most challenging mountains featured in any of the three major tours.  Even Lance Armstrong referred to it as the hardest climb he'd ever ridden.

Distance: 12.4 kms
Average grade: 10.5%
Max grade: 18%

Giro d’italia 2008
Itinerary

Tuesday, 27 May—Arrivals
You will be greeted at the Milan Malpensa airport and shuttled to our hotel near Varese, a city in north-western Lombardy 55 km north of Milan. After everyone has settled in we will help prepare your bike and go out for a short ride to help shake off the jet lag.  Group dinner at hotel.
Ride: 35kms

Wednesday, 28 May—Stage 17:  Sondrio to Locarno 192kms
After breakfast we will head out for a beautiful ride around Lago di Como.
Today’s stage heads into Switzerland.  We will watch the mountain top finish of today’s stage on TV as we prepare for tomorrow’s big ride.
Ride: 75kms

Thursday, 29 May—Stage 18: Mendrisio to Varese 182kms
Today you will have the opportunity to ride a complete Giro stage from start to finish,   a total of 182km or 113 miles. Today’s stage is relatively flat, beginning in Mendrisio and with a finish in Varese.  We will watch the stage finish in Varese and then transfer to our next hotel.  Dinner and massage at our hotel.
Ride 182kms

Friday, 30 May—Stage 19:Legnano to Presolana / Monte Pora
You will ride the toughest section of today’s stage beginning at the bottom of Passo di Vivione and riding the final 80 kilometers of this pivotal mountain stage.  Today you will climb three category climbs, including the final climb to the stage finish atop Monte Pora.  Gruppetto Tours’ staff will be waiting for you there with food and support.  We will be roadside to watch the mountaintop stage finish.  Dinner and massage at our hotel in Ponte di Legno.
Ride: 80kms

Saturday 31 May—Stage 20: Rovetta – Tirano 224kms
Today you will ride from the hotel and ride the official stage route up Paso Gavia and the mythical Mortirolo.  We will watch the race atop on Mortirolo, one of the toughest climbs in Europe.
Ride: 95kms

Sunday, 1 June—Stage 21: Cesano Maderno to Milano (ITT) 23.5kms
You will have the option to ride the ITT course from Cesano Maderno to Milan this morning before the riders.  We will watch the stage finish, and Giro d’italia finale in Milan.  Final group dinner in Milan.
Ride: 23.5kms

Monday, 2 June--Departures

GIRO D’ITALIA TRIP INFORMATION

Travel Information:

Arriving to Milan: We recommend that you book your roundtrip ticket into Milan Malpensa.  Please note that here are two international airports in Milan, Linate and Malpensa.  Most airlines offer non-stop flights to Milan from major U.S. cities.  Most U.S. flights arrive into Milan in the early morning and we will schedule airport pickups between 10:00 and 12:00.


Massage Service:
There will be three to four soigneurs on your Giro staff.  Your soigneur will schedule massage times with you in the evenings.  Massage sessions usually last 20-30min.  A post-ride massage will aid recovery and help reduce any stiffness and soreness by removing any lactic acid build-up from your muscles.   Sports massage is an essential part of any sports training program and can help avoid injuries, speed recovery from hard training sessions as well as improve performance.

Rides, Support Vehicle & Equipment:
Rides are guided and fully supported.  The team car will follow the group and be able to provide you with extra water and fuel during your ride.  We will be climbing some incredible passes.  You may want to consider standard gearing with 27 as your low gear or a compact.

RESERVE THIS TRIP NOW

Photos by: TDWsport.com