Giro delle Dolomiti

Estimated Tour dates are first weeks of August 2009

Cycling-Inform has joined forces with Italian Immersions to bring you this epic Italian cycling experience in Italy’s most famous mountains. For one whole week the Dolomites will play centre stage for a true challenge. A six day stage race over one of the most dramatic mountain ranges on earth. Giro delle Dolomiti is an open cycle tour – a classic, unforgettable event combining serious distance rides with long and steep slopes and breathtaking mountain scenery. This cycling trip provides a unique cycling opportunity like few others. We will be running this event for the first time in 2009.

Got a question about this event? Contact us here.

Limited places available - Register your interest here

I have been working with Darren Welsh from Italian Immersions for several months to create this epic week-long tour in the famous Alps of Italy. Alps that have inspired cyclists for years. Darren a really great guy and like myself likes to run tours with limited numbers. This enables him to deliver to you a full serviced, unique, personalised and intimate cycling experience; just like the Bright Boot Camp. If you are interested in this tour you'll need to commit well in advance (at least three to four months). We will need to have at least ten keen people before we can book the accommodation and run it. We are giving you plenty of time to prepare for the 2009 event.

Please remember that we have to rely on the organises of the Giro delle Dolomiti to provide us with dates at the end of this year – however traditionally it takes place in the first days of August (immediately following Le Tour de France). So this is a great tour to ride just after seeing the Tour de France. As we won’t be running one this year we have mocked up a tour schedule based (see below) on the 2008 dates to you an idea of what this fantastic tour would look like:

Experience:

10 day’s immersed in the best of Italy’s cycling culture
A genuine Italian multi-stage race in it’s most dramatic mountains
Passa dello Stelvio – Italy’s legendary monster climb
Traditional village life in the Alpine area of South Tyrol
The true passion of Italian cycling

What is a Gran Fondo?
The Gran Fondo is a great tradition in Italy. Held throughout the year, Gran Fondo events attract thousands of riders from both Italy and around the world. Many will participants belong to highly tuned teams, as there is enormous prestige for those that excel in these events. For amateurs it is the closest experience to what it might feel like to ride in a professional event.

Giro delle Dolomiti
What makes Giro delle Dolomiti extra special from the other Gran Fondo events (aside from being set in the awe inspiring heart of the Dolomites) is that it is a multi-stage race. Thus each day is timed giving riders an accumulative time at the end of the race. It has to be the nearest experience to what it must be like riding in cycling’s famous professional multi-stage events.

Coaching included ($291.00 worth of extra free value only when you book through Cycling-Inform)!
Book through Cycling-Inform and get two months of Cycling-Inform's remote coaching program leading up to the tour to help you prepare for this epic event. This includes a two month training plan and weekly feedback on your progress via e-mail.

Example of the Trip Itinerary for 2008
Please note that this will differ from the tour that we will be running in 2009.

DAY 1: 25th JULY
Arrival at Verona hotel

Arrive independently at Verona hotel accommodation. Upon arrival at hotel you will meet the trip host who will assist you with any initial travel needs.

Verona with its wealth of Roman sites and streets of pink-hued medieval buildings is undoubtedly one of Italy’s most beautiful cities. Opportunity to experience its vibrant cultural life before tomorrows transfer to Italy’s most famous mountains – the Dolomites.

DAY 2: 26th JULY
Transfer to Dolomites

Following breakfast we transfer to our accommodation in South Tyrol, our base for the next 8 nights. We stay in traditional hotel accommodation (4 star quality) whose origins date back to 1393. Situated in market square of village at foot of Dolomites it is the perfect place to experience the best of Italian cycling and cultural traditions.
Each evening of our stay the hotel will prepare and serve us traditional dishes of the region with local wines.
Meals: B; D

DAY 3: 27th JULY
Giro delle Dolomiti – Stage 1

DAY 4: 28th JULY
Giro delle Dolomiti – Stage 2

DAY 5: 29th JULY
Giro delle Dolomiti – Stage 3 (Passo Stelvio)

DAY 6: 30th JULY
Giro delle Dolomiti – Rest day
Following the previous 3 stages of strenuous but unforgettable racing there is a scheduled rest day. We will have the opportunity to immerse in a session of water therapy. Indeed, spa water treatments have been prominent in these parts since ancient times with locals testifying to the enormous healing benefits of the area’s thermal waters. We will be hoping that they are right!!

DAY 7: 31st JULY
Giro delle Dolomiti – Stage 4

DAY 8: 1st AUGUST
Giro delle Dolomiti – Stage 5

DAY 9: 2nd AUGUST
Giro delle Dolomiti – Stage 6 (Final Stage)

DAY 10: 3rd AUGUST
Departure to Verona/ End of Trip

ACCOMMODATION: 1 night 3 star Hotel accommodation; 8 nights 4 star accommodation
COACHING: Get two months of Cycling-Inform's remote coaching program leading up to the tour to help you prepare for this epic event. This includes a two month training plan and weekly feedback on your progress via e-mail.
TRANSPORT: Minivan Bus (all transfers)
TRIP HOST: Company representative co-ordinating activities and servicing participant needs; Sports Science qualified
DRIVER: Local driver providing 24 hour service throughout trip; Bi-lingual; experienced cycle operator
GIRO DELLE DOLOMITI: Event entry and vehicle support during race stages
GROUP SIZE: Minimum 10
MEALS: 9 breakfasts, 8 dinners with local wine
DEPARTS: Friday 25th July 2008, finishes Sunday 3rd August 2008
ESTIMATED COST: ~$3,990.00

TRIP LEADER
Darren Welch – Co-founder of Italian Immersions. Darren has been passionate about Italy ever since attending an Italian fi end’s birthday party when he was 10 years old!! Aside from embracing Italian culture he has a background in Sports Science; having qualifi ed at tertiary level and prior to Italian Immersions worked with high performance sports teams both in Australia and abroad. Subsequently, Darren has an enthusiasm for physical activity with cycling currently at the top of his preferred outdoor pursuits – particularly if it involves Italy!! On your trip Darren’s role will be to co-ordinate the itinerary and provide service and support to participant needs.

Got a question about this event? Contact us here.