Ride Detail-Fausto
Italian “Fausto Coppi” Gran Fondo Experience
Duration: 8 nights/7 days
Cost: 1,950 euros (group discounts available)
Experience Level: intermediate/advanced
Sunday –
Today is the gathering and getting to know you day. As people will be arriving from all areas of the globe and country it is expected that people will trickle in to Barolo throughout the day. For this reason we have organised this as a bike building/exploring/gentle riding/eating and drinking day! You’ll have the opportunity to settle into your room and get ready for the week of riding. If you arrive in the morning or around lunch we can make suggestions for lunch and for passing the hours away exploring nearby ancient towns and castles. In the evening we will gather for a welcome aperitivo on the terrace where we can talk about how the week will function. After the aperitivo we will head out for organised dinner at one of the local restaurants La Cantinetta where you can get accustomed to the typical 10 course meal!
Monday-
“piano piano” as the Italians say we are going to take it slowly, slowly. Today we’re going to get you accustomed to riding with the group with a gentle 70 km circuit throughout the rolling hills of the Langhe region, taking in some of the magnificent villages. You’ll also need to get accustomed to not falling off your bike looking around at the spectacular scenery! After the ride we’ll gather for a long lunch at “la Terrazza” in Castiglione Falletto where you can sit and view the rolling hills that we’ve just been riding through. After lunch we’ll visit a winery and then head to Monforte to explore the ancient centre with it’s roman ampitheatre and then head to one of the fantastic bars/enotecas for an aperitivo
Tuesday-
Today we make the ride through the upper Langhe and over the mountains and descend to the Ligurian coast to the sea!
- Barolo to the Coast
The langhe is separated from the Ligurain coast by a grand massif that drops down sharply to the sea. We’re going to take you on a journey through the lovely villages of the upper langhe, climbing , climbing till you reach the point where you can view the Ligurian sea below. There we will stop for a break at the cyclist only café and then make the exhilarating descent to the sea. Upon reaching the coast we will take you to the beautiful village of Finale Liguria, voted one of the most beautiful villages in Italy. Cars cannot enter this village so it is a haven of peace! After a long lunch sampling the Ligurian specialties of seafood and pesto we will head along the coast to the beach resort of Varigotti where we can take a dip and enjoy the sea. In the afternoon we will have you transported back to Barolo
Wednesday-
Ok so we’ve been kind now it is time to get serious about the riding. Today we tackle the six climbs of champions, a 100km circuit with six short sharp climbs that will have you out of your saddle.This ride contains six climbs all dedicated to the Italian greats of riding. After this ride you’ll have worked up a hunger so we’re going to aim to satiate this with a great picnic within the vines. With food and wine provided by local producers you can taste some of the amazing food and wine of the region as we sit nestled amoung the vines. After a lazy afternoon we’ll gather back in Barolo for an optional group dinner.
- climb of champions ride
Thursday
This one is the tough one, the one that will sort us all out it’s the Colle day. Weather permitting we will head to the Colle Dell’Agnello for what is an exhilirating but tough climb. The third highest road pass in Europe, this was the pass that sorted out the men from the boys in the 2008 Tour de France,and has featured 3 times in the Giro, this is a toughy!
After the arduous climb and thrilling descent we’ll organize lunch for you at the base of the Colle in Chianale another of the villages voted most beautiful in Italy! On our way back to Barolo we’ll visit Saluzzo a vibrant town with an ancient centre where we will visit one of the best cheese shops in Italy
Friday-
Our final major day of riding before the Fausto Coppi Gran Fondo, and we aim to please with more climbing and big downhills. Slightly shorter than the other days, the course takes us through both sides of the Langhe starting in Barolo and climbing to La Morra for a fantastic view down the valley to Alba and Asti, riding along the ridge before dropping back down and finding 2 challenging climbs ahead of us. Following the 2nd of these climbs we have a descent rest period with long fast straights and a big downhill into Dogliani before hitting the 20% climb to lunch at the winery of Pecchenino with sweeping views and for a lunch and tasting on the terrace with Orlando the wine maker that is crazy about cycling.
Saturday -
In preparation for the Gran Fondo we have an optional short local circuit planned for the morning. In the afternoon we’ll head to Cuneo where we will be staying for the night to get ready for the early start the next day. We’ll get you introduced to race organisers and have you well prepared for race day!
SUNDAY -
Race day! La Fausto Coppi is one of the longest running and most exciting of the Italian Gran Fondo’s set in the amazing Alps above Cuneo. This race retraces one of the legs of the Giro d’Italia made famous by the legendary Fausto Coppi and thus named in his honour. With the short course of 110km and the long a gruelling 198km, this race is perfect for anyone who wants to experience a real Italian gran fondo! ExperienceIT cycling are proud collaborators with the race we’ll have you intimately involved with the race from pre race meetings to post race celebrations. And after it’s all over we’ll head up for a celebratory aperitivo on the lawns of the famous 5 star Boscareto hotel, sit back in the luxurious outdoor sofas and chat and laugh about our fantastic week!!
Monday- departure day! We’ll take it nice and slow this morning getting you ready to head off to wherever you are going, whether it be home to rest or off to tackle another gran fondo!
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