Tour Piemonte

Saturday 10 September to Sunday 18 September 2011

This 9 day trip is a great way to see Piemonte and all its varied terrain, from the lakes to the north, the Alps to the west and wine regions to the South, Piemonte has it all. We will take in the shores of lake Maggiore, a climb up to Sestriere and a ride through the rolling hills covered in Barolo vines. Piemonte is the home of the Slowfood movement, you can be sure that you will find some of the best foods and wines here.
This 9 day tour starts in Lake Como in neighbouring Lombardia and runs anticlockwise around Lake Maggiore and the Alps, before heading south down through the famous wine regions of Barolo, Dolcetto and Barbera before finishing in Asti. You get to eat some fantastic food in the area that is heart of the Slow Food movement with lots of different local plates to try.

Tour Programme

Saturday 10 September 2011 - Arrival in Como and Preparation. Collection of participants from Milan Malpensa Airport and transfer to your hotel in Como. Time to unpack; prepare bicycles and equipment for the next 9 days' group cycling around Piemonte. If you cannot wait to check out the immediate locality then you can take a short cycle ride on your own along the lake edge or take a stroll through the the town.
Evening – Dinner at leisure.

Sunday 11 September 2011 - Como to Stresa (103km – 1300m) We start the ride by leaving Como and crossing briefly into Switzerland where we pick up the road along the edge of lake Lugano before returning back into Italy. We then head west to Luino on the edge of lake Maggiore from where we pick up the coast road down to Laveno and the ferry across to Verbania. Once off the ferry we take a short ride south along the lake to our lake side hotel in Stresa.
Evening - Dinner at local restaurant.

Monday 12 September 2011 - Stresa to Ivrea. (113km – 2600m) The days ride is hilly one, no big climbs along the way, but the terrain is rolling. From Stresa we climb up through the tress to get around the Mottarone mountain and the descent down to lake Orta. Once at the bottom of the lake we turn west and head over the mountain to Borgosesia, cross the river and pick up the road that cuts through the foot hills of the mountains to Biella. From Biella we keep heading west, but this time on a gradual uphill as we climb to Andrate, the road is then all down hill to the base of the short and steep climb to our hotel - the view from the hotel will more than make up for the effort!
Evening – Dinner at hotel.

Tuesday 13 September 2011 - Ivrea to Bussoleno (100km – 1000m) Today is an easy day with no major climbs. The route takes us south west from Ivrea towards the Val di Susa from where we will start the climb of Sestriere the day after. The route takes in some nice back roads that skirt the bottom of the mountains.
Evening – Dinner at local restaurant.

Wednesday 14 September 2011 - Bussoleno to Pinerollo. (112km – 2000m) Today is the day of the ride up the mountain to Sestriere and down the other side to Pinerolo. The ride starts from our hotel just outside Busoleno, the ride starts of with a flat ride to Susa from where we pick up the mountain road to Oulx and the base of the climb to Sestriere at 2037m. Once at the top the ride down to Pinerolo is all down hill for 50km.
Evening – Dinner at hotel.

Thursday 15 September 2011 - Pinerollo to Bra. (108km – 1700m) Today’s ride takes in the southern tip of Piemonte and enters the wine region, taking in famous Barolo. We start of with a van transfer 60km south to Cuneo. The ride heads east towards Mondovi from where we head cross the river and climb into the Langhe wine hills, home to some of the worlds most famous wines. We pass though Dogliani, Monforte d’Alba and Barolo before heading down hill into Bra and our hotel above the Ascheri cellars.
Evening – Dinner at local restaurant.

Friday 16 September 2011 - Bra to Acqui Terme. (100km – 1300m) Today we continue our journey through the rolling Langhe hills as we head east towards Acqui Terme. We start off heading via La Morra to Alba, the home of Italian Food Culture, before heading up to Barbaresco and on to Santo Stefano Belbo. We then pick up the valley road and the climb to Castino, we then descent down to the valley below and start the final climb up to Case del Santi and the road to Monastero Bormida. It is then a flat run in to Acqui Terme and our hotel in the centre.
Evening – Dinner at local restaurant.

Saturday 17 September 2011 - Acqui Terme to Asti. (80km – 1100m) The final days riding takes us from Acqui Terme to Asti via Nizza Monferrato. The route is rolling through valleys and over the vine covered hills as we wind our way north west to the finish in Asti.
Evening – Celebration dinner at hotel.

Sunday 18 September 2011 - Departure from Asti to Milan Malpensa. Morning transfer of participants to Milan Malpensa airport for the return flights home.

Tour Details

For the tour we have included 8 nights in a 3*/4* hotels on the route, most evening meals, all transfers between Milan Malpensa Airport and Como and Bra. Plus exclusive Italian Cycling Tours cycling jersey and shorts. On top of all that, hopefully one of the most memorable bike tours you will have ever done. For a precise break down see below.

Tour start date:Saturday 10 September 2011

Highlights: Ride the famous climb to Sestriere.
Ride along the shores of Lake Como and Lake Maggiore.
Ride through the rolling wine regiones, the home to the Barolo, Dolcetto and Barbera wines.

Included: 8 Nights in 3*/4* Hotels along the route.
Private transfers between hotel in Como and Milan Malpensa Airport, and the hotel in Bra and Milan Malpensa airport.
6 Dinners.
Italian Cycling Tours Jersey & Shorts.
Secure bike storage.
Full mechanical assistance.
Fluent Italian speaking guide.
Full van support on the road.

Not included: Airline Flights
Lunches.
Wine & Beer etc at Dinner.
Dinner on arrival day and rest day.
Anything not listed in the 'Included' section above.

Max/Min Number of guests: 8 to 12

Deadline for booking: Thursday 11 August 2011

Price Per Person: £1,250.00 Single Room (including £375.00 deposit) - £1,050.00 Twin Room (including £315.00 deposit)