La Primavera
May 14-21, 2013 $3195
La Primavera. La Classicissima. Milano-San Remo is known by both of these names. Join us as we trace the famous route and recreate the passion of the pro peloton's longest single-day race and one of the five "monuments" of cycling. Enjoy the food and wines from two regions, Piemonte and Liguria on this unique cycling vacation.
May 14 - Overnight flight from the USA to Milan
May 15 - Arrive at our northern Italian HQ, Hotel Ariotto in the Monferrato wine region. Assemble and fine-tune your bike (or be fitted for one of ours) before relaxing in the spring sunshine with your fellow travelers or take a warmup ride through the vineyards that produce the local Barbera wines. We'll toast the start of the tour before a dinner of Piemontese specialties in the Ristorante della Villa.
May 16 - After a hearty breakfast including freshly made cappuccino, we're off to Gavi along part of the famous Milano-San Remo route. Our destination is the Villa Sparina wine estate, just outside of Novi Ligure, the Citta die Campionissimi, home of both Costante Girardengo and Fausto Coppi, who together triumphed in San Remo nine times. Enjoy a sumptuous dinner at La Gallina the famed ristorante on the estate.
May 17 - Enjoy breakfast with a sparkling view of the local vineyards before heading off to Castellania, birthplace of Fausto Coppi where we hope our friend and mayor Piero Coppi will be waiting to show us the tombs of his famous cousins, Fausto and Serse. Enjoy pranzo at l'Airone, the on-site osteria where the owner might perform some of his magic tricks for us. We'll drive into Novi tonight to visit the Museum of Champions and perhaps dine on simpler fare like wood-fired pizza.
May 18 - Departing Gavi, we're soon onto the famous race route again, including a climb of the Turchino Pass, gateway into Liguria. You'll understand the importance of the famous climb as it relates to the golden age of cycling, making this ride truly a pilgrimage. Continue down a hair-raising descent to the coast and its seaside sunshine before tackling the more recent edition, the climb of the Manie. Shortly after the summit we'll stop for the night at an inn with both a Slowfood acclaimed trattoria and an amazing view of the Ligurian coastline.
May 19 - Fuel up well at breakfast, we'll complete the Primavera route with a final push all the way to San Remo, over the Capi - Mele, Berta and Cervo as well as the more recent addition, the Cipressa and finally the Poggio, before the our descent into San Remo. Tonight we'll lodge in one of the first hotels ever built in the seaside resort. Enjoy dinner on your own in the lively seaside resort or dine with us, it's your choice.
May 20- Enjoy an easy cruise by the sea on a bike path created from a disused railway followed by lunch along the seashore before our transfer back to Ariotto. Pack up your bike then relax by the pool until we pop the cork to toast the end of our adventure, followed by a farewell dinner featuring risotto or tajarin topped with black truffles.
May 21 - Morning airport shuttles
RESERVE YOUR SPACE!
Elevation Profile
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