Short description
Starting in Vicenza, famed for Palladian villas and a UNESCO world heritage site, this tour takes you on a grand tour of the Veneto region of Italy. Your route takes you through the staggeringly beautiful Prosecco hills and up to the summit of Monte Grappa with its colossal war memorial. The floating city of Venice awaits later in the week, along with some more leisurely cycling along coastal roads.
The itinerary
Day 1 | Arrival in Vicenza
Transfer to your first hotel. Vicenza is the city of racing bikes and home to many professional cyclists. It is a city of art and industry, where dozens of world-famous companies are headquartered, including Selle Italia, Wilier, Campagnolo and many others.
Day 2 | Vicenza to Bassano del Grappa
From Vicenza you cycle north towards Marostica, pedal through the square where they play chess and up along the castle walls heading for the high plain of Asiago. The ascent to Asiago is intimidating, 15 km at 6% that leaves you breathless but with splendid scenery, through secular woods with the tallest of pine trees. A slight downhill stretch and then immediately up again towards Foza and again down to Valstagna. The Valsugana cycle path takes you to Bassano.
Day 3 | Bassano del Grappa to Treviso
This stage starts immediately with the ascent up to Mount Grappa, where epic battles were fought during World War I, but also in the Giro dItalia and in the historic race that has been run here since 1930: 27km, a difference of 1,500m in altitude, with a central apparently flat stretch of 3.5km. Long descent down to Valdobbiadene in the province of Treviso, through the Prosecco wine hills.
Day 4 | Treviso Round Trip
A tough circular route with continual uphilldownhill stretches through the Montello and Prosecco hills. In the lovely Vittorio Veneto you can take a break before heading back to Treviso. This stage follows part of the 1985 world championship course, where Zoetemelk, Lemond and Argentin fought for the win.
Day 5 | Treviso to Venice and Chioggia
A flat route along the canals of the Sile River that head seawards. You cycle through Jesolo, a renowned summer tourist resort and come to Cavallino Treporti, where you take a ferry that stops in Venice, Lido island, Pellestrina and Chioggia.
Day 6 | Chioggia to Abano Terme
The stage starts with 40km of flat cycling along the rivers to Monselice. From here you come to the Euganean Hills regional park, where you find continual ascents and descents, some hard, and delightful little towns such as Arqu Petrarca. This stage ends in Abano Terme, a renowned spa resort.
Day 7 | Abano Terme to Vicenza
Today you leave the Euganean Hills behind you and cycle to Ponte di Barbarano, where the road starts to rise and fall a dozen times, through the Colli Berici. Down towards Costozza and after a few km on the level, as you come into Vicenza, you can admire the marvellous Villa La Rotonda by Palladio.
Day 8 | Departure
We say arrivederci before transferring you back to the airport or train station.
Key information
- Highlights
- Fully serviced aluminium road bikes with carbon fibre upgrade options
- Water bottle and accessories
- Bed & breakfast basis as standard
- 3 & 4 star accommodation (unless otherwise stated)
- Tour information pack upon arrival
- Detailed navigational material often including GPS maps
- Local support whenever needed
- Flights and transfers not included as standard but available on request
- Full financial protection through ABTA and ATOL
