2023 Alta Maremma and Elba Island, September 24 to October 1

Dates: 24/09/2023 - 01/10/2023
Tour length: 8 Days, 7 Nights
Start / End: Pisa
Terrain: Hilly, steep climbs, coastal and vineyards
Price Per Guest:
$5,600

$800 Single Occupancy Supplement

10% Discount for returning guests

Road Bike and E-Road Bike Rentals $500
Non-Cycling Guest: $4,600
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The Alta Maremma is the place where it all began for Willie’s World Cycling in 2009. We are thrilled to return to Tenuta La Bandita, a 17th Century villa, for the first four nights of this tour. The warm hospitality extended to us by Daniela Filippi has always made us feel like family. Tenuta La Bandita is surrounded by 35 hectares of Tuscan land, where olive trees, holm oaks and chestnut trees make this place an enchanted and poetic paradise.

While La Bandita is located in coastal hills above the Etruscan coast, it is very close to the vineyards where the famous Super Tuscan wines are produced. We will cycle to the medieval towns of Bolgheri, Castagneto Carducci, and Suvereto. We also cycle along the coast to Baratti well known for its Etruscan ruins.

The food and wine of this region includes, wild game, a variety of meats seafood and vegetables all produced in the region. Most of the wines are Super Tuscan blends, beautiful and delicious.

On day 5 we will transfer to Villa Ottone on the island of Elba for three nights. The hotel is immersed in a botanical oasis that ensures its tranquility and privacy. A natural environment of absolute prestige at the foot of the Castello del Volterraio, which overlooks the sea and Portoferraio from above. An elegant but at the same time less formal design characterizes the Rooms and Suites of the Hotel, all provided with large balcony or habitable terrace.

We will cycle around the coastal areas of the island as well as inland routes.

The Essentia Hotel Villa Ottone’s wellness center in Portoferraio recalls the ancient rituals of Middle Eastern hammams and the elegance of the Custom Zone Comfort Zone. Soft lines and delicate colors make the Hotel Villa Ottone’s boutique Beauty Center Essentia a haven of well-being. The entrance to the Wellness Center is located in the splendor of the secular park of Villa Ottone Hotel. From Turkish bath to Reiki, from Thai massage to the techniques that draw on the oldest roots of Ayurveda with Shirodara, Abhyangam and Swedana.

For our non-cyclist guests we will be happy to organize guided activities such as, hiking, cooking class, winery visits, cultural tours and shopping.

Food & Wine

Tuscany, like all the regions for Italy, is known for its exquisite food and wine. Below are some examples of the foods and wines we will enjoy on the tour.

FOOD: Olive Oil, Pecorino Cheese, Pici Pasta, Black and White Truffles, Cinghiale (wild boar), Cinta Sinese Pork, Seafood, Rabbit, Chianina Beef, Organic Produce, Salumi

WINE: Morellino di Scansano, Super Tuscans, Vernaccia, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Vin Santo

Guides

Marco Saligari

Former Professional Cyclist

Marco has an impressive resume including stage victories in the 1992, 1993, and 1994 Giro d’Italia and overall winner of the 1993 Tour de Suisse. He has also been Directeur Sportif of Team Landbouwkrediet-Colnago and Team Crelan-Euphony from 2002 to 2013. Marco has been a race commentator of the Giro d’Italia for Gazzetta Dello Sport Radio, Eurosport Television, and has had his own show, The Coach, on the Bike Channel. Marco is currently a commentator for the Italian network RAI Sports for several races including the Giro d’Italia, Tour de France and Strade Bianche to name a few. He was part of the RAI 2020 Tokyo Olympics commentary team for the cycling events. He is affectionately know as Il Commissario. In addition to all of his accomplishments in the world of professional cycling, Marco is a great guy with a beautiful family. We are honored to collaborate with Marco. He brings a slice of cycling history to share with our guests.

Marco is married to Lela and they have two children, Martina and Giacomo.

Daniele Righi

Cycling Guide

Daniele started bicycle racing at 8 years old and turned professional at age 24. He competed in the Junior category for various teams and secured several victories. His professional cycling career started with Alexia and after 3 years he participated in his first Giro d’Italia where his teammate Paolo Savoldelli won the tour. For the next 10 years, he rode with Lampre and was part of the team that participated in Michele Scarponi’s victory of the 2011 Giro d’Italia.

He has always played a support role for Lampre and participated in five Giro d’Italia, five Tour de France, four La Vuelta a Espana, Tour of Flanders, Amstel Gold, Coppi e Bartali, and the Tour of Poland. In the 2004 Giro d’Italia, he won the Piaggio Trophy for the most miles cycled by any participant that year. Literally, he has cycled almost all over the world in most of the races of the World Tour. In 2013, he retired from Lampre as a rider and subsequently was a Director Sportive with with UAE Team Emirates. He is currently a Director Sportive with Drone Hopper Androni Giocattoli.

Daniele is married to Francesca and they have two children, Chiara and Alessandro.

Massimo Boglia

Cycling Guide

Massimo had a short career as a professional cyclist then joined his father, Mario, at the Cicli Boglia bike shop near Milano. He also appeared on the Bike Channel with two time Giro d’Italia winner, Paolo Savoldelli. Massimo brings with him great experience as a cyclist along with his perpetual smile and acoustic guitar.

Massimo is married to Francesca and they have a daughter, Olimpia.

Beatrice Tonini

Beatrice lives in Verona and spends much of her time helping manage four family hotels.

She has been riding bicycles since the age of 10 and had a professional career with Northern Italian teams. She continues to race as an amateur and loves races with climbs. Fortunately, we have plenty of climbs on our tours.

Bea also collaborates with 2002 and 2005 winner of the Giro d’Italia Paolo Savoldelli, Alessandro Ballan and Marco Saligari on the Sky Network Bike Channel. She loves being around nice people and sharing her passion for cycling and life. That sounds like a perfect fit for Willie’s World Cycling, doesn’t it? We are truly blessed to have Bea as part of our team.

Willie Joffroy

Founder & President

I combine nearly 30 years of experience in international logistics planning with a quarter-century of cycling experience in Italy. My expertise allows Willie’s World Cycling to offer some of the finest cycling tour experiences in Italy. From the choice of simple elegance and intimacy in accommodations, to the delectable regional cuisine of carefully chosen local chefs, (we) my wife Margarita and I impart international style and pay careful attention to detail.

I accompany every Willie’s World Cycling tour, sharing the extensive knowledge I have gleaned from 25 years of cycling in Italy. This storehouse of information includes: Italy’s premier cycling regions, scenic wine-growing regions and small wineries, unique and private accommodations, and fine regional cuisine.

Prior to establishing Willie’s World Cycling, I spent 29 years in cross-border logistics services along the U.S.-Mexico border. Throughout my business career, I have focused on providing my clients with the very best in professional and personalized service. I have instilled this commitment to the client into the values of Willie’s World Cycling.

I have been an avid cyclist for more than 35 years and regularly start my day cycling up and down Mount Lemmon, a 6,800-foot climb from my home in Tucson, Arizona. Fluent in English, Spanish, and Italian, I have a great passion for the cycling, food, and wine unique to Italy, and take great pleasure in sharing that passion. I am a believer in the health benefits that flow from regular exercise such as cycling, fresh and wholesome local food, and fine wine. A consummate host, I make certain that each of my cycling tours inspires treasured memories.

Accommodations

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Itinerary

Day 1:
Sunday, September 24
Benvenuti in Italia! We will pick you up at 9:00am at Pisa Airport and transfer to Tenuta La Bandita. After check in we will enjoy a light lunch and put our cycling kits on after lunch. Final adjustments to the bikes and do a short shakedown ride. Distance 35km and 300m elevation gain. Dinner at La Bandita.
Day 2:
Monday, September 25
After breakfast we will ride to Monteverdi-San Lorenzo-Forni-Case Due-Suvereto-Prata-Sasseta-La Bandita. Distance 60km and 1,000m elevation gain. Lunch on the road. Dinner will be at a restaurant.
Day 3:
Tuesday, September 26
After breakfast we will ride to Pian delle Vigne-Canneto-Guardistallo-Bolgheri-Castagneto Carducci-La Bandita. 77km and 1,310m elevation gain. Lunch on the road. Dinner at a restaurant.
Day 4:
Wednesday, September 27
After breakfast we will ride to Baratti on on the coast. Route, distance and elevation gain TBD. Lunch on the road. Dinner at La Bandita.

Day 5:
Thursday, September 28
Transfer to Elba Island and rest day. Options are to relax, go the beach or both! Dinner at Villa Ottone.
Day 6:
Friday, September 29
After breakfast Villa Ottone to the Vincenzo Nibali training route. Lunch on the road. 78km and 1,317m elevation gain. Visit Porto Azzurro for shopping and dinner.
Day 7:
Saturday, September 30
Villa Ottone to Elba Island Coastal Route. Lunch on the road. 58km and 1,110m elevation gain. Dinner at Villa Ottone.
Day 8:
Sunday, October 1
Transfer to Pisa Airport.
**Please book return flight after October 1

Pricing

Included:
4 to 5 cycling guides and van support
Lodging 7 nights
All breakfasts
All lunches
All dinners
Wine pairings with dinners
Wine tastings as part of the tour
Cooking Class if requested at least 6 weeks before the tour
Colnago or similar quality Bicycle
Cycling kit (jersey and shorts)
Snacks and water on bike rides
Cycling guide, driver, and mechanic services
Tips for cycling guides

Not included:
Road or Road E-Bike Rentals
Airfare
Non-tour hotels
Any rental car or train service you may use outside of tour activities.
Any purchases of a personal nature including bar and hotel mini-bar.
Any incidental expenses associated with non-cycling activities, such as cost of guide, museum entry fees, spa services, archaeological site entry fees, etc.
Laundry service at hotel
Post ride massage if available

Please note that a check or wire transfer is preferred. We also accept, ZELLE Quick Pay or Apple Pay. We do not accept payment by PayPal.

Payment Instructions:

Willie’s World Cycling prefers payment by check payable to:

Willie’s World Cycling LLC

4231 E. Pontatoc Canyon Dr.

Tucson, Arizona 85718

Or

Wire transfers, ZELLE Quick Pay or Apple Pay please contact us.

A *non-refundable deposit is required in the amount of $1,000 with the balance to be paid in full 60 days before the start date of the tour unless otherwise noted. 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 wire transfer. If your party includes a non-cyclist, please notify us when you register and submit your deposit so we can begin planning 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.

We recommend obtaining travel or trip cancellation insurance. Please 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 Challenging.

*Cancellation Policy:
Deposits are non-refundable if a guest cancels. If the guest signs up for a tour during the year of the cancelled tour or the following year then the deposit will be credited to the tour. After 1 full year the deposit is forfeited to Willie's World Cycling. Final payments are not refundable. Exceptions to this policy will be considered in cases of illness or family emergency

45 Days or less: Cancellation charge of 100% of the total cost of the tour

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