July 19-July
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Colle delle Finestre |
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The Savoy Alps, straddling the border between Italy and France, are a marvel of snow-capped peaks, imposing fortresses and dreamy castles. Experience the unique blend of cultures while tackling some the most imposing climbs of the Giro d’Italia and Tour de France
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July 19: Overnight flight to Milan
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July 20: A brief van transfer
will have you assembling your bike (or being fitted for one of ours) before a warm-up ride in the Monferrato wine country. Enjoy the sun by the pool before our welcome dinner of
Piemontese specialties.
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July 21: After breakfast of warm cappuccino and Susi’s homemade cookies, we’ll make a brief transfer to Val d’Aosta. Skirt the ancient fortress of Bard before challenging the 1640 meter Col
d’Joux.
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St. Pierre |
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Or skip the climb and wind your way through quaint hillside hamlets past the perfect medieval castle at Fenis on your way to our hotel above Aosta. Tonight we’ll join locals in the old city for a dinner featuring
Valdostani specialties
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Millelluci's Pool |
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July 22: Fuel up at breakfast featuring homemade cakes before ascending the fabled Gran San Bernardo. This pass bordering Switzerland is home to the famous dogs, but we won’t be needing their assistance today. After a pleasant mountain lunch, enjoy a thrilling descent to Aosta. Relax by the pool, take a sauna or Jacuzzi bath before dinner at your leisure in town.
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Colle San Carlo |
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July 23: Today’s our
tappone! Challenge Colle San Carlo, one of the most difficult but little-known climbs in the Alps. Enjoy lunch in La Thuile but don’t eat too much, you’ve got the Piccolo San Bernardo, crossing the border with France, then a sweeping descent before the final push to Val
d’Isere. Open night for dinner in the lively mountain town.
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July 24: Our Cima Coppi, the mighty Col de l’Iseran (2770 m)
is your first challenge, followed by the much less daunting but beautiful Col du Mont Cenis. Pause for a hearty mountain lunch in the alpine sun before crossing the border and descending to Susa. Check into our charming hotel for two nights. Tonight we’ll enjoy Val di Susa specialities at an authentic trattoria just outside the town.
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Col de L'Iseran |
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July 25: Check your gearing because today we’ll tackle the climb made famous by the 2005 Giro d’Italia. Stage 19 proved to be the decisive showdown on the Colle delle Finestre. Who can forget the images from a bygone era as the pros made their way up the tortuous eight kilometers of strada sterrata (dirt road) before the final push to the ski station of Sestriere? Enjoy pranzo in the mountain sun in Sestriere before returning to Susa. Open night for dinner in the lively mountain hamlet.
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Colle delle Finestre |
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July 26: Say arrivederci to Susa as we’ll make a short van transfer to the other side of Torino and enjoy a final ride through the Monferrato wine country, arriving at Hotel Ariotto in time to pack our bikes and relax by the pool before our farewell dinner
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July 27: Morning airport shuttles.
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Elevation 
Profile
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