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Always held at the beginning of the year, it is a true “classic” event, with most of the world’s major cycling heroes having won it, at some point. In previous years a number of professional riders have taken part including Ivan Basso and ex-world champion Paulo Bettini. Last year’s ride by Fabio Canceralla was an absolute demonstration of patience and power as he stormed away up the final straight, having sat in the bunch for most of the day. One of our former clients, and Italian Road Champion, Enrico Gasparotto, looked good until the final few hundred metres, but had no answer to the awsome power of the CSC rider. However, he (Gasparotto) did go on to win the European Pro-Tour, and a change of team from Barloworld to Lampre. One of the most exciting finishes ever was in 1992 when Sean Kelly pipped Italian rider, Moreno Argentin, at the finish after a classic duel over the Poggio. Be there to witness this fantastic race. Sean Kelly Races to the finish: (YouTube Video) Now is your chance to watch, close up, the 100th Milan San Remo, and see who is in form at the start of the year. Itinerary: Friday 20th March: Saturday 21st March: After breakfast we shall ride out from our San Remo base and watch the Pro riders on the Milan San Remo. For those that wish to do so, we will ride out to the Cipressa and follow the route back to watch the final climb of the race, the Poggio. (approx. 100km) For those wishing to watch the finish in town, or just on the Poggio (those without bikes) there is plenty of time to get a good vantage point after a day in town or down by the port. Sunday 22nd March:
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3
Nights in Ghent, No overnight travelling
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The 100th Milan San Remo
pro race is THE monumental classic one day race in the whole of the
professional calendar. The race is organised
by the the Italian sports newspaper Gazetta dello Sport, the same people
who organize the Giro d’Italia, and covers 300km from Milan,
south to the coast, and then almost to the French Border.
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PRICES... |
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| TRIP: | |
DEPOSIT: |
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| TRAVEL INSURANCE: We recommend having adequate travel insurance for your cycling holiday. Click Here for more details. | |
| SINGLE ROOM SUPPLEMENT: | |
| GRAHAM
BAXTER SPORTING TOURS CYCLING KIT OFFER: |
£70 |
Day Trip
Saturday 11th April:
Collections at Leeds, Sheffield/Manchester, Birmingham, London and
service stations on the motorway networks used en route to Dover.
Sunday 12th April:
Take the 03.00hrs sailing and travel direct to Compiegne for the start.
Using our expert knowledge of the race route you will see a number
of pave sections including the forest of Arenberg and the finish
on the Velodrome at Roubaix. After the finish we shall return home
taking the 21.30hrs Sailing to Dover, with the following approximate
arrival times, London 23.30hrs, Birmingham 02.30hrs, Manchester/Sheffield
05.00hrs, Leeds 06.00hrs monday morning.
3 Nights in Valenciennes - Bring your bike and ride the cobbles!
No overnight travelling
Friday
10th April:
Our bike carrying coach will make collections at Leeds, Manchester,
Birmingham, London and service stations on the motorway networks used
en route to Dover, for an afternoon sailing to Calais and early evening
arrival in Valenciennes for 3 nights accommodation and 2 evening meals
at the Hotel Campanile.
Saturday 11th April:
Your rep, a cyclist who has expert knowledge of the Paris-Roubaix route
will guide the cycle ride over the latter part of the Paris-Roubaix
course, from the Forest of Arenberg to the finish on the Velodrome
of Roubaix. You will ride all the famous cobbled sections including
the Arenberg Forest, Mons en Pevele, Carrefour l’Arbre. Back
up provided by the coach.
Sunday 12th April:
You will be taken to the start in Compiegne, after which using our
expert knowledge of the race route you will see a number of pave
sections including the forest of Arenberg and the finish on the Velodrome
at Roubaix. After the finish you will return to Valenciennes for
a 3rd nights stay.
Monday 13th April:
Return home, taking a midday sailing, arriving London 16.00hrs, Birmingham
19.00hrs, Manchester 21.00hrs, and
Leeds by 22.00hrs.
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| PRICES... | ||
| TRIP: | ||
| DEPOSIT: | £40 | £85 |
| SINGLE ROOM SUPPLEMENT: | ||
| TRAVEL INSURANCE: We recommend having adequate travel insurance for your cycling holiday. Click Here for more details. | ||
| GRAHAM
BAXTER SPORTING TOURS CYCLING KIT OFFER: |
£70 | £70 |
3 Nights
in Valkenburg
Ride
the Amstel Gold Cyclo sportive & see the Amstel Gold Race
IN
ORDER TO GUARANTEE YOUR ENTRY TO THE CYCLO-SPORTIVE RIDE YOU MUST ENTER
BEFORE 15TH DECEMBER 2008
Friday
17th April:
Arrange your own flight with budget airline www.bmibaby.com or www.flybmi.com from
either London Heathrow, Nottingham East Midlands, Leeds Bradford or Edinburgh
to Brussels airport (Belgium). Alternatively contact ourselves
for other flight details. At 17.00hrs you will be met by our rep who
will show you to the awaiting transport that will take you to Dutch
town of Valkenburg where we shall spend 3 nights on B&B basis
at the excellent 4* Grand Hotel Voncken.
Valkenburg is a the perfect place to be located, as the Cyclo Sportive
events start and finish here and on Sunday the Amstel Gold Race passes
through the town 3 times and finishes on the climb of the Cauberg which
is just out of the town.
Saturday
18th April: Amstel Gold
cyclo sportive event
Today you will have the opportunity to ride your own Amstel Gold
Race and ride the Amstel Gold Cyclo sportive event. There are 6
distances
to choose from (50km, 100km, 125km, 150km, 200km, 250km) and they
all start and finish from Valkenburg. The event is part of the UCI
Golden Bike series (www.golden-bike.ch).
After breakfast we shall ride the short distance from our hotel to
the start from where you will take part in the distance that suites
you best. After the finish you can return to our hotel in Valkenburg
at your leisure.
For those without bikes, you will have the day at leisure in this very pleasant Dutch town. There is lots to do in town, and there are many shops, bars & restaurants.
Sunday
19th April: Amstel Gold Race Pro Race
After riding our own Amstel Gold Race, today we’ll see the Amstel
Gold Pro Race. The race starts in Maastricht and finishes on the climb
of the Cauberg just out of the town of Valkenburg. After the start
in Maastricht the race route completes many loops around a small area
of the Limburg hills. For those with bikes you will be able to see
the race many times by riding between sightings, whilst those without
bikes will be able to see the race pass 4 times through Valkenburg
(3 of these are on the Cauberg). The race finishes on the climb of
the Cauberg and after seeing the finish we shall return to our hotel
in Valkenburg.
Monday
20th April:
After breakfast you will have the morning at leisure
in Valkenburg. We will leave Valkenburg at 13.00hrs and return to Brussels
airport
for your return flight. We will arrive at Brussels airport at approx
14.45hrs in time for the flybmi flights back to the UK, which all
have afternoon flights leaving between 16.40hrs and 17.20hrs.
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PRICES... |
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DEPOSIT: |
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| SINGLE ROOM SUPPLEMENT: | ||
| TRAVEL INSURANCE: We recommend having adequate travel insurance for your cycling holiday. Click Here for more details. | ||
| GRAHAM BAXTER SPORTING TOURS CYCLING KIT OFFER: | £70 | |
3 Nights in Liège
Friday
24th April
Arrange your own flight with budget airline www.bmibaby.com or www.flybmi.com from
either London Heathrow, Nottingham East Midlands, Leeds Bradford or
Edinburgh to Brussels airport (Belgium).
Alternatively contact ourselves
for other flight details. At 17.00hrs you will be met by our rep who
will show you to the awaiting transport that will take you to Liege
where we shall spend 3 nights on bed & breakfast basis at the centrally
located 3* Hotel Ibis.
Saturday 25th
April
There will be an organised bike ride over part of the Liege Bastogne
Liege route, together with the opportunity to see the riders team presentation.
Sunday 26th
April
You will be able to walk from the hotel to the start in Liege after
which we shall take you to numerous sightings of the race, including
the steep hills of the Cote St Roch, Cote de Wanne, Cote de Wanneville,
Cote de La Redoute and the finish in Ans.
After a leisurely breakfast you will have the morning at leisure in Liege. We will leave Liege at 13.00hrs and return to Brussels airport for your return flight. We will arrive at Brussels airport at approx 14.45hrs in time for the flybmi flights back to the UK, which all have afternoon flights leaving between 16.40hrs and 17.20hrs.
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| PRICES... | ||
DEPOSIT: |
£280 £75 |
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| SINGLE ROOM SUPPLEMENT: | ||
| TRAVEL INSURANCE: We recommend having adequate travel insurance for your cycling holiday. Click Here for more details. | ||
| GRAHAM BAXTER SPORTING TOURS CYCLING KIT OFFER: | £70 | |
Flanders,
Gent Wevelgem and Paris - Roubaix - FULLY BOOKED
Friday 3rd to Monday 13th April 2009
For
2009, we will again be offering clients the chance to spend a week
at the Spring Classics, and see 3 fantastic races, Tour of Flanders, Gent
Wevelgem, and Paris - Roubaix.
Friday 3rd April:
Coach travel from UK to Ghent or coach transfer at 13.00hrs from
Brussels airport to Gent, where we spend 6 nights on bed & breakfast
basis at a 3* in the city.
Saturday 4th
April:
There will be the option of taking part in either the 140km or 70km Tour of
Flanders cyclo event that follows the latter part of the race route including
all the famous climbs. For those not bringing bikes the day will be at leisure
in the city of Ghent.
Sunday 5th
April: TOUR OF FLANDERS
We shall take you to the beautiful city of Brugge for the signing
on & start of the Tour of Flanders. Using our expert knowledge
of the region we shall see the race at numerous locations, including
the famous cobbled climb of the Murr de Grammont.
Monday 6th
April:
We
hope to repeat last years program where we visited the Ridley
bike factory in the morning and in the afternoon have a bike
ride through the Flanders countryside.
Tuesday 7th
April:
Last year we met up with various teams and had the privilege to
ride with them. We hope to meet up with one of the pro teams and have
a morning ride with them. In the afternoon we shall visit the Tour
of Flanders museum in Oudenarde.
Wednesday 8th
April: GENT - WEVELGEM
Using our expert knowledge of the region we shall see the race at numerous
locations, including the famous cobbled climb of the Kemmelberg.
Thursday 9th April:
Travel from Ghent to Valenciennes (France) where we spend 4 nights
on bed, breakfast & evening meal at the 3* Hotel Novotel. Those
with bikes can ride from Ghent to Valenciennes.
Friday 10th April:
We shall ride the latter part of the Paris Roubaix course. It is also
the day the pro teams survey the route so you are likely to see them
during the ride. For the last few years we rode through Arenberg
forest with the Quick Step team and we also met Lotto and CSC during
the ride. Last year we also met the teams training over the Paris
Roubaix course.
Saturday 11th
April:
Excursion to Compiegne for the Paris Roubaix team presentation. Here you will
get to meet all the riders taking part in Sundays Queen of the Classics.
Sunday
12th April: PARIS - ROUBAIX
You will be taken to the start in Compiegne, after which using our expert knowledge
of the race route you will see a number of pave sections including the forest
of Arenberg and the finish on the Velodrome at Roubaix.
Monday 13th
April:
Return travel to the UK and overseas clients will be taken to Brussells airport.
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| PRICES... | |
| COST: DEPOSIT: |
£1430 £330 |
| SINGLE ROOM SUPPLEMENT: | £550 |
| TRAVEL INSURANCE: We recommend having adequate travel insurance for your cycling holiday. Click Here for more details. | |
| GRAHAM
BAXTER SPORTING TOURS CYCLING KIT OFFER: |
£70 |
Click
Here for Graham's report and photos
from the 2002 Spring Classics Week.
Friday 16th October:
Clients will be collected from Milan Malpensa and Bergamo airports
during the day on a rota basis. Clients should aim to arrive in
the morning to facilitate timely transfers from all three airports
and
transfer to our 4 star hotel in Como.
Saturday 17th October:
Today we have the opportunity to watch the professionals in THE
Giro di Lombardia. Starting in Varese (some 20 miles away,
we get the
chance to watch any early breakaways as they head up the west
side of the
lake for the first serious climb at Intelvia, or, have time to
ride to the Madonna del Ghisallo, on the east side, and watch
them on
the short (8.5km) climb, and see how they tackle the 14% sections
(and
think what it is going to be like the following day as we attempt
to emulate these riders). Alternatively, a leisurely ride around
the lake
allows us to watch the race in the early stages and get back
for the finish. (The teams are usually quite relaxed about
access at
this stage,
and collecting photos and autographs is no problem).
Sunday 18th October:
Race Day, early breakfast and the GRAN FONDO GIRO DI LOMBARDIA.
147km on the east side of Lake Como, covering Colma di Sormano
(1117m),
Colle Brianza (559m), Madonna del Ghisallo (753m) and the Civiglio
(613m).
Not a massive challenge, compared to some Gran Fondos, but
a good way to end the year, or a nice one for beginners. (For
those
absolute
beginners,
there is also the Medio Fondo at 108km and covering all but
the Colle Brianza.
Monday 19th October:
Transfers back to the relevant airport, again on a rota basis.
Clients should aim for afternoon or evening flights where
possible.
All packages include airport transfers to/from all Milan airports, Bed and Breakfast in a 3/4 star hotel in central Como, a short distance from the lake and the bars and cafes, and Entry to the event.
| PRICES... |
COST: Four Day/Three Night Package (Friday to Monday): Single
Room to Share: £649 Race Entry Fee: Included |
