Dates: MAY 14-20 2012 | Start: MILANO Finish: MILANO | Activity Level: C
Overview
This 6-day tour will take you through the beautiful region of Piedmont. We will cycle through the famous wine growing areas of Langhe, Roero and Asti. This is the land of Barbesco, Barolo, Barbera, Dolcetto, Moscato d’Asti and Arneis wines. Vineyards seem to be everywhere you look. We will taste the wines of world re-known producers such as Angelo Gaja. We will also taste the wines of smaller producers such as Albino Rocca, Pietro Rinaldi and Piero Busso as well as those of Small Vineyards producers, Poderi Elia and Tre Donne.
Piedmont is known for its delicious cuisine as much as its famous wines. It is the birthplace of Slow Food, an international movement founded by Carlo Petrini. The Slow Food movement focuses on preserving traditional and regional cuisine and promotes farming using plants, seeds, and livestock that is indigenous to or characteristic of the local ecosystem. Piedmont is also known for its white truffle or “tartufo bianco”.
Cycling in Piedmont is as good as it gets with its roads winding in and around vineyard covered hills. We will cycle through the small hilltop villages of Monforte d’Alba, Barolo, La Morra Barbaresco and Neive to name a few.
The first 2 days we will be staying at Palazzo Finati in the historic center of the small city of Alba. The last 4 days we will be at Le Case Della Saracca in Moforte D’Alba. Housed in a restored 1,000 year old building combining the old with the new, this hotel is a magical place.
Breakfast will be served daily before our rides, and lunch will usually be on the road. Each evening, we will enjoy the culinary masterpieces of Piedmont.
May is a wonderful time for wildflowers and the budding of Piedmont’s fresh herbs. But then again, just about any time is a good time to visit Piedmont!
This tour is best for those of you that enjoy rolling and hilly terrain.
Our tour will be led by an incredible team of expert guides, all residents of Italy. Our cycling guide Giorgio Rivella, a resident of Alba and the owner of La Bicicletta d’Alba will take us on the roads that he has cycled on for over 25 years. With more than 15 years of experience, Gerardo Carpentieri, our driver and professional cycling mechanic has accompanied over 100 tours. Gerardo also owns Ciclosport bicycle shop with his wife Daniela and son Riccardo in the town of Donoratico.
Antonio Sanguineti, winemaker and partner in Small Vineyards, will join us at some of our dinners to describe the wines we will be enjoying. He is a resident of the beautiful city of Siena. Willie Joffroy, owner of Willie’s World Cycling, will be your host.
Our goal is to provide you with an experience that immerses you in Italian life as cyclists and lovers of food and wine in the most authentic way. The people you meet and the places you visit will make you feel as if you are at home with family.
We welcome our guests’ non-cycling partners and ensure that they too experience the joyful immersion into Italian life and culture. When you book our tour, we will put non-cyclists in touch with our tour guide, Chiara Sanguineti, who will assist them with formulating an itinerary that appeals to their interests. Chiara will also accompany non-cycling guests on their excursions, which in years past have included visits to Etruscan hot springs and spas, hikes into the scenic countryside, tours of medieval villages, shopping, or just relaxing in charming town piazzas.
Itinerary
Day1, May 14: Benvenuti in Italia! Meet at Milano’s Malpensa Airport at 9:30 a.m. where you will be met by Gerardo and Willie. Depart to Palazzo Finati our hotel in Alba where we will lodge for the next 2 days. We will check in and have a light lunch. After lunch we will make any adjustments to the bikes and start cycling! We will take a ride from Palazzo Finati through Roddino, Dogliani, Grinzane, Diano and back to Palazzo Finati. Dinner will be in Alba. Ride distance 50-60 Kms.
Day2, May 15: Breakfast will be between 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. with a short briefing on the day’s ride. We will leave Palazzo Finati and travel toward Madonna di Como, Barbaresco, Neive, Castiglione Tinella, Santo Stefano Belbo, Torre Bormida, Cravanzana and Palazzo Finati.After lunch we will visit the Gaja winery. Dinner will be in Alba with a wine producer. Ride distance about 70 Kms.
Day3, May 16: Breakfast will be between 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. with a short briefing on the day’s ride. Today we will transfer to Monforte d’Alba via Serravalle, Dogliani, Carru’, Murazzano, Bossolasco and Monforte d’ Alba. Lunch will be on the road. After lunch we will ride to Le Case Delle Saracca our hotel for the next 4 days in Monforte d’Alba. Dinner will be at La Saracca restaurant with a wine producer. Ride distance about 70 Kms.
Day4, May 17: Breakfast will be between 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. with a short briefing on the day’s ride. We will travel from Le Case Della Saracca toward Alba, Scaparoni, Monteu Roero, Santa Vittoria, Pollenzo, La Morra and Le Case Della Saracca. Lunch will be on the road. Dinner will be in Monforte d’Alba with a wine producer. Ride distance 80 Kms.
Day5, May 18: Breakfast will be between 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. with a short briefing on the day’s ride. We will travel from Le Case Della Saracca toward Guarene, Castagnito, Treiso, Rodello and Le Case Della Saracca. Lunch will be in Monforte d’Alba and then enjoy a relaxing afternoon. Late afternoon we will make winery visits and dinner will be in La Morra with a wine producer. Ride distance 60 Kms.
Day6, May 19: Breakfast will be between 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. with a short briefing on the day’s ride. We will cycle from Le Case Della Saracca toward Murazzano, Bivio Bragioli, La Pavoncella, Valle dell’Eden, San Benedetto, Bossolasco and Le Case Della Saracca. Lunch will be on the road. Dinner will be at La Saracca with a wine producer. Ride distance 90 Kms.
Day7, May 20: Breakfast will be between 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. After breakfast, we must bid our guests farewell. Gerardo and Willie will transfer the group back to Milano’s Malpensa Airport.
Details
Prices:
$4,750 U.S. Dollars per cyclist Double Occupancy
$4,000 U.S. Dollars per non-cyclist Double Occupancy
$500 U.S. Dollars Single Occupancy Supplement
What this includes:
- Lodging 6 nights
- All breakfasts
- All lunches
- All dinners
- Small Vineyards wines paired with your dinners plus tastings that are part of the tour
- Bicycle (Guests are responsible for damages to their bicycle, so please treat your bike as if it were your own.)
- Cycling kit (jersey and shorts)
- Snacks and water on bike rides
- Cycling guide, driver, and mechanic services
- Tips for cycling guides
What this does not include:
- Airfare
- Non-cycling guide 200 euros per day
- Any rental car or train service you may use outside of tour activities.
- Any purchases of a personal nature.
- Any incidental expenses associated with non-cycling activities, such as museum entry fees, spa services, archaeological site entry fees, etc.
- Small Vineyards wines will be available for purchase at a discounted price. Freight charges in the USA to your address are additional.
A deposit is required in the amount of $1,000 by January 1, 2012, with the balance to be paid in full by March 14, 2012. Tour prices are based on double occupancy per cyclist or non-cyclist. A single occupancy supplement may apply to those traveling alone and requesting their own room. Please make checks payable to Willie’s World Cycling or pay via PayPal using the Make Payment button. If your party includes a non-cyclist, please notify us when you submit your deposit so we can put you in contact with our tour guide to plan stimulating and rewarding activities while cyclists are on the road.
Our prices are in U.S. Dollars and are based on exchange rates in effect at the time of publication. While we make every effort to avoid adding surcharges, Willie’s World Cycling reserves the right to do so should the U.S. Dollar lose substantial value against the Euro.
After your deposit is received, you will be sent more information regarding the sizing for your bicycle, liability waiver, and general information that will be helpful for your visit to Italy.
Cancellation Policy:
If you must cancel your trip for any reason, the fees for doing so are as follows:
91 to 120 Days: 50% of tour price
; 0 to 90 Days: 100% of tour price.
We recommend checking out Insure My Trip if you are interested in obtaining travel or trip cancellation insurance. This online service gives the customer a choice of several types of coverage from various companies. Or speak to your travel agent for further assistance.
Willie’s World Cycling reserves the right to cancel any tour prior to departure for any reason. We will refund any payment received by Willie’s World Cycling which will constitute full settlement.
Although we make every effort to contract the very best in outside services, we do not guarantee services provided by third parties.
Preparation:
Please make sure you have a valid passport.
We count on our clients to ensure they are healthy and adequately fit for this tour. This tour is rated Activity Level C (Enthusiast Level).
C: Enthusiast Level
Regularly Training Cyclists
Thorough Pace (cyclists who choose challenging terrain on a regular basis and are in excellent physical condition)
35-80 Miles per Day
Rolling and Very Hilly Terrain
Please read the Activity Level page under the Details section to determine your fitness level. Consult with your doctor if you have any doubts about your ability to participate in strenuous exercise.
Print PDF: Itinerary
