The 95th GIRO D’ITALIA 2012 The Final Week - Includes The Dolomites and Crucial final Time Trial With or without bikes

18th to 28th May 2012

The 95th Giro d’Italia will produce one of the most exciting and spectacular finales in recent years.
Packed into the final week of the 2012 Giro d’Italia are no less than 4 mountain stages and an Individual Time Trial for the final stage in the city of Milan.
It is the beautiful Dolomite Mountains where the 2012 Giro d’Italia will be decided and there are no less than 3 mountain stages, 2 of them summit finishes (Alpe di Pampeago & Passo Stelvio).

But it is the final weekend when the Giro will produce the biggest spectacle. Friday´s stage sees the riders tackle the climb to Alpe Pampeago twice as well as the Passo Manghen. Saturday’s penultimate stage is a beast, 218km and sees the riders tackle the Passo Tonale and Mortirolo before finishing atop the mythical mountain of the Passo Stelvio (2,757mts). The following days final stage is a 31.5km Individual Time trial around the city of Milan.

Apart from seeing all these fantastic stages of the Giro, you will have the opportunity to visit the famous Maddonna del Ghissalo (Chapel & Museum dedicated to cycling) situated at the top of the Ghissalo climb that is also a major feature in the Tour of Lombardy.
On this cycling holiday you will see the very best the 2012 Giro d'Italia has to offer and get to ride the famous climbs of Cervinia, Ghissalo,

We have selected quality 4* Hotels in beautiful locations. You will spend 3 nights on the side of beautiful Lake Como at the 4* Palace Hotel, 3 nights in the beautiful Dolomite town of Dobbiacio at the excellent Hotel Santer followed by 2 nights in the ski resort of Ponte di Legno at the excellent 4* Hotel Mirella, before our final night in Milan at the 4* Hotel Manin.

For detailed info & stage profiles on the 95th Giro d'Italia visit the Official Giro website.

Friday 18th May:
Arrange your own flight to Milan Malpensa airport, where you will be met by our reps, and transport will be provided to our hotel in Milan centre. We shall spend the night in the city of Milan at the 4* Hotel Manin and there will be a welcome evening meal, which will give you the opportunity to meet and get to know your fellow travellers. We shall also leave the empty bike boxes at the Hotel Manin as the bikes will be transported in a special bike carrying trailer.

Saturday 19th May:
Today is the 1st Big Mountain Stage of the Giro d’Italia that departs from the flatlands south of Turin and finishes in the Italian Alps at the 2000mt ski station of Cervinia, under the shaddows of the famous swiss mountain, The Matterhorn...Prior to the difficult 30km climb to Cervinia the riders face the Col de Joux.

After breakfast we shall load the bikes onto the trailer and we shall depart from Milan and head to the Italian Alps and the town of St Vincent (foot of the climb to Cervinia), from where those with bikes will be able to ride up the final climb to the ski station of Cervinia whilst those without bikes will be able to walk onto the lower slopes.

After seeing the stage we shall travel to the beautiful lakeside town of Como where we shall spend the next 3 nights on half board basis (bed, breakfast, evening meal) at the excellent 4* Palace Hotel.

Sunday 20th May:
After yesterday’s mountain top finish to Cervinia, the riders face another mountainous stage through the Lombardy region that finishes on the difficult climb to Pian dei Resinelli above Lake Lecco. Those with bikes will be able to ride from the hotel in Como to Lecco (see the stage pass by) and then ride to the final climb to Pian dei Resinelli. Those without bikes will be taken to the town of Ballabio from where they will be able to walk onto the final climb to Pian dei Risinelli. After seeing the stage we shall return to our hotel in Como, and those with bikes may want to ride back to the hotel. Alternatively you can return on the bus.

Monday 21st May:
After yesterday’s difficult stage to Lecco, the Giro d’Italia spends its 2nd Rest Day with a short transfer to Lake Garda. The Giro’s rest day gives those with bikes the opportunity to ride around the beautiful Lake Como and climb the famous Ghissalo climb (featured in the Tour of Lombardy) and visit the impressive Maddonna del Ghissalo (chapel & museum dedicated to cycling). Those without bikes will be taken there by bus.
Afterwards we shall return to Como, where we shall spend our final night.

Tuesday 22nd May:
After a well deserved rest day, today´s stage is a transitional stage of 174km from Limone sul Garda to the the Italian Dolomites and the town of Falzes where there is a hill top finish. After breakfast we shall leave Lake Como and travel to Falzes to see the stage finish. Those with bikes will be dropped off on the final part of the stage route from where they will be able to ride to the finish in Falzes, whilst those without bikes will be taken by the bus to Falzes for the stage finish.

After seeing the stage finish in Falzes we shall travel the short distance to Dobbiaco where we shall spend the next 3 nights at the excellent Hotel Santer. Our location in Dobbiaco offers excellent access to all the Dolomite mountain stages.

Wednesday 23rd May:
The first mountain stage in the Dolomites is a brute, 187km from Falzes to Cortina d’Ampezzo that features 4 very difficult climbs (Passo Valparola, Passo Durran, Passo Forcella Staulanza and the super steep Passo Giau).

Our location in Dobbiaco is excellent for accessing the stage, and those with bikes will have numerous options of seeing the stage, the start in Falzes, the finish in Cortina or the final climb of the stage (Passo Giau). Those without bikes will be taken to Cortina where they will have the morning at leisure and in the afternoon see the stage finish. After seeing the stage we shall return to Dobbiaco and the Hotel Santer.

Thursday 24th May:
Today sees the return of the sprinters on this short 139km flat stage from San Vito di Cadore to Vedelago. The stage start in San Vito di Cadore is only 43km from our hotel in Dobbiaco and there will be the option of riding to the start or travelling on the bus. Alternatively you may want to spend a day off from the Giro and relax in the town of Dobbiaco.

Friday 25th May:
As the 2012 Giro d’Italia enters its final weekend, the mountains bite back with a difficult mountain stages that finishes at the ski station of Alpe Pampeago. The stage takes in the legendary Passo Manghen, Alpe Pampeago (1st time), Passo Lavaze before finishing at the ski town of Alpe Pampeago (2nd time).

After breakfast we shall leave Dobbiaco and the Hotel Santer and travel on the bus to the village of Tesero (foot of the climb to Alpe Pampeago). From here those without bikes will be able to walk onto the climb and see the stage as it climbs twice to the ski station of Alpe Pampeago. Those with bikes will be able to ride part of the stage route (Alpe Pampeago, Passo Lavaze and back to Alpe Pampeago) in front of the Giro riders, and then see the riders on the final assent to Alpe Pampeago.

After seeing the stage we shall travel to the mountain ski resort of Ponte di Legno (foot of the Passo Tonale & Gavia), where we shall spend the next 2 nights on half board basis (Dinner, Bed & Breakfast) at the 4* Hotel Mirella. Our location in Ponte di Legno offers excellent access to the final mountain stages of the 2012 Giro d’Italia.

Saturday 26th May:
The biggest mountain stage of the 2012 Giro d’Italia is saved for the penultimate day, with an absolute classic route that takes in 4 mountains (Tonale, Aprica, Mortirolo before finishing at the top of the mythical Passo Stelvio the 2,757mt This is sure to provide a fantastic finale. Our location in Ponte di Legno could not be better, as we are situated on the stage route. Those with bikes will have the choice of seeing the stage on either the Passo Tonale, Mortirolo or the climb to the Stelvio. After seeing the stage we shall return to the Hotel Mirella in Ponte di Legno.

Sunday 27th May:
If the last two days stages weren’t enough, the winner of the 95th Giro d’Italia will surely emerge from today’s 31.5km final stage time trial around the beautiful city of Milan. After an early breakfast we shall leave Ponte di Legno and travel directly to the city of Milan, where we hope to be able to check in to our hotel, 4* Hotel Manin before going to see the Time Trial. After seeing the stage we shall have a farewell group dinner at the hotel.

Monday 28th May:
Our coach will leave Milan at 07.30hrs and will take you back to Milan Malpensa airport for your return flight.

Cost: £1999 per person based on two people sharing a twin room. Single supplement: £975. INCLUDES: 10 Nights Bed & Buffet Breakfast in 4* Hotels based on 2 persons per room 10 Evening meals Air conditioned coach transport throughout Special Bike trailer for the safe carriage of your bike Maps showing all Giro stages and bike routes Detailed itinerary with helpful Giro info Services of our guides

HOW TO BOOK: Click on the green button below. Adults 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 At time of booking we require a non-refundable deposit per person. The balance of your travel package must be paid, at the latest, 12 weeks before departure to avoid the cancellation of your trip. IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Visas are not required to enter Italy. You need a passport or a National Identity Card (see the website of the Identity and Passport Service (IPS)) to enter Italy. As a British passport holder or National Identity Card holder you may stay as a visitor for three months. For links to important websites, click here. All other non-UK passport holders must check their own country's entry requirements for France. For details of insurance for our travel packages, please visit our insurance page. There is additional information about our other Concierge Services on our special web page.

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