Dolomites and Italian Alps Cycling Challenge in Italy

6 Days, Multiple Departures

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Dolomites and Italian Alps Cycling Challenge in Italy
  • About
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  • Itinerary
  • Things to keep in mind
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Keen on an unforgettable Dolomites climbing experience? Join us on a tour as we take on 10,700m of climbing over 6 days in the high mountains of the Dolomites & the Italian Alps. Tackle up to 11 bucket-list climbs from the Giro d’Italia climbs including the iconic slopes of: Passo Stelvio (up to 3 ways!), Passo Mortirolo, Passo Gavia, Passo Giau, the Sella Ronda’s & Passo Falzarego.

All riders receive an exclusive jersey & welcome pack. Benefit from professional support on every climb – our goal is that every rider achieves their goals for the day.

Join the team for this once-in-a-lifetime climbing experience. Built and approved by climbers, for climbers – these are certified climbing trips like no other. In addition to accumulating more than the height of Everest during the camp, you’ll pick up invaluable climbing and descending skills from our experienced guides. They know, because they have all completed the challenge themselves!

Duration: 6 days/5 nights
Distance: 439km
Hotels: 3* and 4*
Region: Italian Alps
Terrain: Road
Average Distance X Day: 88km
Level: Epic
Average Time X Day: 4 hours 25 minutes

Tour Highlights

Passo Giau

Sella Ronda

Passo Stelvio

Passo Mortiolo

Umbrail Pass

Is this tour for me?

EPIC

Rated 4 out of 4 our Epic tours are designed for people who train 3 or 4 times a week and are looking to push themselves on back to back challenging days on the bike. Riders should be confident riding in a small group, comfortable on extended climbs (at your own pace) and have good bike handling skills on corners and descents.

About

Cycling - Full support

Accommodation - 3* & 4* Hotels

Food - Full board

Transfers

Airfare

The tour was an incredible experience from start to finish. They prepare you very well for this trip. They are extremely attentive to all questions before the trip begins. The booking process was simple and they helped with hotel upgrades and accommodated my wife who was not cycling. Having the cafe and bike shop in a central location in Girona was perfect. The bikes were great. The food, drinks and camaraderie at the Cafe were a nice bonus. From the moment we met the team they made us feel welcome, safe, and fully supported. The guides were kind, friendly, funny, and encouraged us to seek new heights (literally) on the bike. They were all perfect gentlemen to my wife and made her feel included on the trip despite her not cycling with us. They were all so attentive to everyone's needs during the trip whether they be dietary or road safety or anything in between. Josep, Chris, Zippy, and Chris were class act guys, incredible cyclists and just a blast to be around. Lunch set ups during our rides were superb - ice cold drinks, nourishing, delicious and healthy food. Coffee stops were thoughtful and a nice bonus. They put on fantastic meal spreads at the most scenic spots when our tanks were empty and ready to be refilled. Ride support before and during the rides was exceptional. The hotel we stayed at (Nord - an upgrade) was a lovely spot in town with excellent breakfasts, small soaking pool, bike storage, friendly english speaking staff and clean comfortable rooms. Lastly each night we were guided to a different restaurant with the team and our whole group. Many of us became friends and still communicate on Strava now. The restaurant selections were wonderful as each restaurant was different than the other in terms of cuisine, ambience, and level of formality - it was honestly a great mix and high quality food which was important given that it was included in the package. A nice perk during the trip was that a media team traveled with us for video and photos to help with their promotion. They were a nice crew and made us feel like superstars. In summary I cannot say enough about this company and about their people - this trip was incredible. The value was excellent also. My friend and our wives who accompanied us reminisce about this trip often. I recommend them to everyone now . . . and we are planning our next trip with them already for next year. Thank you so much!

Louis, Lynnfield, MA (As seen in TripAdvisor, Oct 2022)

Gallery
About The Host

As the host, it’s our pedal-powered mission to share our love of cycling with anyone who likes to ride a bike.

We run unique cycling tours across Europe and beyond. Enjoy the company of our exceptional local guides, stay in the best hotels a region has to offer & discover your chosen destination at the best time of year to ride.

Our Cycling Hubs are located in the heart of two of Europe's most popular cycling destinations, Girona & Málaga. Shop a handpicked range of bikes, accessories & apparel, hire a high-quality rental bike, book your bike into the workshop, settle down on the terrace with a chilled beer, or join one of our regular rides.

We put sustainability at the heart of our operations & seek to embed environmentally friendly practices in everything that we do. We believe that it's time to give back to, & protect, the amazing landscapes that give us so much joy as cyclists.

Itinerary

Day 1 Welcome To The Dolomites

Meet the group at 10:00 AM at Venice Airport for the transfer to Corvara. Meet your guides & fellow riders over a welcome lunch before getting set up and ready to ride. Today's ride is the a showstopper & features on the bucket list of cyclists from all over the world. The Sella Ronda is a string of 4 passes starting and finishing in Corvara. Warm-up for the ride on the Passo Campolongo, descend and climb again to the Passo Pordoi. Next up is the Passo Sella & finish with the gorgeous Passo Gardena & a spectacular descent back to Corvara. Enjoy steady gradients, well surfaced roads and switchbacks constructed by the god’s of cycling.

Eat: Welcome lunch and evening meal
Sleep: Hotel
Cycle: The Sella Ronda 51 km, 1680 m

Day 2 Passo Giau, Passo Falzarego, Passo Valparola, Mul Dl Giat

Take on Passo Giau and Passo Falzarego, Passo Valparola, Mur dl Giat today. The ride begins with an easy roll out of town and then up and over into Arraba. From here, the road has undulating hills until kilometre 34 where the first challenge begins. Passo Giau is 10 km in length and gains 908 m making the climb and average gradient of 9%! After a stunning descent, get ready for the next one as you take on Passo Falzarego. This climb takes you across Passo Falzarego and Valparola. It is more gentle, averaging 5.7% for 11 kilomtres. After a winding descent, there is a long stretch of road taking you down to Mur dl Giat. The challenge is not over yet, you have another 8 kilometres of a steady gradient back to your hotel.

Eat: Breakfast, lunch en route, evening meal
Sleep: Hotel
Cycle: Passo Giau & Falarego 88 km, 2657 m

Day 3 Ride Stage 18 Of The 2020 Giro From Lasa To Lake Cancano Via Passo Stelvio

The day begins with a transfer to Lasa. From here, ride out along the Adige river until about kilometre 10 where the climb up to Stelvio begins. The climb from this side is 25 km in length, gains 1,868 m and averages a steady 7%. Halfway up the climb you'll take on the infamous switchbacks taking you to the summit. From the top, descend down and end your ride in Bormio or, if your legs haven't had enough, ride out to Lake Cancano and back.

Eat: Breakfast, lunch en route, evening meal
Sleep: Hotel
Cycle: Ride Stage 18 of the 2020 Giro from Lasa to Lake Cancano via Passo Stelvio 89 km, 2892 m

Day 4 Passo Mortirolo and Passo Gavia

Head South of Bormio and towards Passo Mortirolo. Today is a long day with two huge climbs. The Mortirolo begins at kilometre 30 as you turn off from the village of Mazzo di Valtellina. The climb is 12 km in length and gains 1,305 m, averaging 10%! After the descent, there is a steady incline to the foot of the Passo Gavia. This climb is more gentle but nontheless demanding. Remember to fit your lights to make it safely through the tunnel! From the top, it is all downhill back to Bormio.

Eat: Breakfast, lunch en route, evening meal
Sleep: Hotel
Cycle: Passo Mortirolo & Passo Gavia 112 km, 3193 m

Day 5 Passo Stelvio From Bormio and The Umbrail Pass

The final stage of the tour is just as mighty as the rest of the tour. Climb up to the Umbrail Pass, situated on the Swiss-Italian border. It is the highest paved road in Switzerland, and undoubtedly provides stunning views. Continue to the summit of Stelvio and descend the way we climbed on Day 4. After a few kms in Switzerland climb back up to the Umbrail Pass.

Eat: Breakfast, lunch en route, farewell evening meal
Sleep: Hotel
Cycle: Umbrail Pass 99 km, 3233 m

Day 6

Sadly the tour draws to an end on day 7. Plan your ownward travel from Tirano Train Station. We can arrange private transfers to Milan on request.

Eat: Sleep

Things to keep in mind

Cancellations

Book your cycling tour with confidence. Booking a holiday is a reason to be excited & should not be a source of stress or uncertainty. Our cancellation policy offers complete flexibility & 100% of your booking is fully refundable & transferable up until 61 days before you travel. Take a look below at our refund & tour credit timeline & just let us know if you have any questions.

Cancellation policy for scheduled tours

Book with confidence with our refund & cancellation timeline. Any credit on your account is valid for 24 months from the date of issue.

DAYS TO DEPARTURECANCELLATION FEEFUTURE TOUR CREDIT
More than 90 days
No Fee
100% of deposit
61 – 90 Days
50% of Tour Price
75% of Tour Price
31 – 60 days
75% of Tour Price
50% of Tour Price
0 – 30 days
100% of Tour Price
No Tour Credit
Please note that Custom & Private tours have different conditions – please check the Custom & Private Tour Cancellation Policy below.

Once one guest books a scheduled tour it is guaranteed to run. In the event that a scheduled tour does not meet a minimum group size of 4 guests we reserve the right to reduce the level of support on the trip to one guide. The guide will either drive a support vehicle whilst guests ride self-guided or they will guide the group on the bike if a support vehicle is not required.

The group size will be communicated to guests 1 month before the tour departure date & we will schedule a call with each guest to discuss any changes in the delivery of the trip. Our goal is always to ensure we can deliver the best experience for every rider.

Cancellation policy for custom and private tours

Once booked, custom or private tours are non-refundable but we still offer complete flexibility to move the reservation for the complete group or issue each traveler 100% credit towards future travel up until 90 days before departure. Please see the tour credit & cancellation fee timeline below. Any credit on your account is valid for 24 months from the date of issue.

DAYS TO DEPARTURE
CANCELLATION FEE
FUTURE TOUR CREDIT
More Than 90 days
25% Tour Price
100% of deposit
61 – 90 Days
100% of Tour Price
75% of Tour Price
31 – 60 Days
100% of Tour Price
25% of Tour Price
0 – 30 days
100% of Tour Price
No Tour Credit
Please note that Scheduled tours have different conditions – please check the Scheduled Cancellation Policy above.

Custom and private tours are quoted with a minimum group size. In the unlikely event that the minimum group size is not met we reserve the right to update the quoted price per head. Should this not be accepted we will offer tour credits as per the timeline above or, before 61 days to departure, the opportunity to move the trip to dates when everyone can travel.

Cancellation policy for bike hire and Girona services

Book with confidence with our refund & cancellation timeline. Any credit on your account does not have an expiry date. No refunds or credits are possible after the rental begins. If we are forced to cancel a rental, we will award a 100% refund.

DAYS TO DEPARTURE
CANCELLATION FEE
FUTURE TOUR CREDIT
More than 31 days
No Fee
100% of price
14 – 30 days
10% of price
100% of price
72 hours – 14 days
25% of price
100% of price
72 hours or less
100% of price
0% of price
No refunds or partial refunds are available after a rental has started.

Girona Services refer to services including (but not exclusively) – hiring a guide, airport transfers, food experiences, day trips & vehicle support. If you have purchased any of these services as part of a tour package, our Custom & Private Tour Cancellation Policy applies (see above),

To book a scheduled, self-guided, custom, or private cycling tour, a 30% deposit is required at the time of booking. The remaining balance is due 3 months prior to the trip.

FAQ