FULL ITINERARY
DAY ONE TUE 11 JUL | WELCOME
Arrive in Orbetello, and settle into your beautiful hotel. You may have brought your own bike, or hired one of ours. We'll make sure they're all ready to roll. Optional warm-up ride in the afternoon to stretch the legs after travelling.
DISTANCE | 30KM | 20MI
ELEVATION | 600M | 2000FT
DAY TWO WED 12 JUL | ORBETELLO TO BOLSENA
Flat start to your first day's route. After 20km or so, we start the climb towards Pitigliano, an ancient village that grows out of the cliff-face. Well worth a small detour for a look. The climb continues out of Pitigliano, but nothing today with an average greater than 4%. The final 15km is downhill with a flat finish to the delightful town of Bolsena, set on the shores of the volcanic lake, Lago di Bolsena.
DISTANCE | 100KM | 62MI
ELEVATION | 1600M | 5250FT
DAY THREE THU 13 JUL | BOLSENA TO PIEDILUCO
We lake hop today, from Lago di Bolsena to incredibly picturesque Lago di Piediluco. An undulating course that sees the metres add up as we ride from the province of Lazio into Umbria, across farmlands in the Apennine foothills.
DISTANCE | 100KM | 62MI
ELEVATION | 1700M | 5750FT
DAY FOUR FRI 14 JUL | TERMINILLO
The first big climb of the tour, Terminillo. This gorgeous ascent winds up through tree-lined roads with panoramic views. This is an out-and-back route, as the pass over Monte Terminillo has been closed for some time, so you will get to enjoy the road from both perspectives. After the fantastic descent, we'll stop for an amazing lunch, before the van transfer to L'Aquila.
DISTANCE | 80KM | 50MI
ELEVATION | 2100M | 6700FT
DAY FIVE SAT 15 JUL | GRAN SASSO
What a ride! Today we cycle into the Gran Sasso d'Italia, literally "Great Rock of Italy". This massif holds the highest peak in the Apennines, Corno Grande at 2,912m. Our route climbs 'only' to just over 2,100m, towards the Passo della Portella. To describe this ride as scenic is to do it an injustice. Say no more. You'll have to see it for yourself!
DISTANCE | 90KM | 56MI
ELEVATION | 2100M | 6700FT
DAY SIX SUN 16 JUL | L'AQUILA TO VILLA BREDA
A day to turn the legs over on an easier day as we transfer by bike from L'Aquila to the base of our next challenge. Enjoy the rolling terrain of Abruzzo as we skirt the southern end of the Gran Sasso massif, to within cooee of the Adriatic Sea.
DISTANCE | 80KM | 50MI
ELEVATION | 1000M | 3600FT
DAY SEVEN MON 17 JUL | BLOCKHAUS!
A climb to the top of the world! This impressive summit is amid the Maiella massif of the Apennines. First used in the Giro in 1967, Eddy Merckx won the inaugural Blockhaus stage. And just last year, Jai Hindley, an Australian rider from the other side of the world, beat the rest of the peloton for his place among the best cyclists in the world. Your turn to ride this monster! We'll return to our hotel for a shower and lunch, and then head to Acquasanta Terme by van.
DISTANCE | 57KM | 35MI
ELEVATION | 1900M | 6200FT
DAY EIGHT TUE 18 JUL | GRANDE ANELLO DEI MONTI SIBILLINI
The Queen Stage! Today's route follows the 'Great Ring of Sibillini Mountains'. A beautiful part of the Apennines, with most of the peaks over 2,000m, we finish with the ascent of Forca di Gualdo. This section of the Anello dei Sibillini was used in the 2021 Giro d'Italia and is an ever-popular inclusion in the Tirreno-Adriatico. We have a short van transfer before and after the stage.
DISTANCE | 124KM | 77MI
ELEVATION | 2,800M | 9200FT
DAY NINE WED 19 JUL | ACQUASANTA TO SAN BENEDETTO DEL TRONTO
To the Adriatic we go! More downhill than uphill, but there is some climbing to be done on our last day. A beautiful ride to the coast, to the traditional finish of the Tirreno-Adriatico. Celebratory dinner for an incredible achievement! Bravi!
DISTANCE | 95KM | 59MI
ELEVATION | 1400M | 4600FT
DAY TEN THU 20 JUL | GOODBYE
Time to say farewell. Morning transfer to Rome airport.
Until next time!