Friuli & Slovenia. Wheels and wines in a little-seen corner of Europe FRIULI & SLOVENIA 2018 ITINERARY OUTLINE CLASSICO. Trip Essence / Page 2

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1 Friuli & Slovenia Wheels and wines in a little-seen corner of Europe Welcome to Italy s wine-rich Friuli region! In this little-visited locale, tucked between Slovenia and Austria, you ll find the cultural imprints of both countries not to mention some of the most rewarding roads you ll ever pedal. Over the years, this region was occupied by various European powers and it developed a unique language and culture. While it is unlikely that the Friulano language will survive the next century, the customs and traditions of the land live on. Don t miss this exciting opportunity to experience an amazing mixture of Venetian Italian and Austrian/Slavic cultures. It will be a trip of a lifetime! ITINERARY OUTLINE Trip Essence / Page 2 Daily Itinerary / Page 3-5 Arrival & Departure / Page 6 Bike Information / Page 6 Terms & Conditions / Page 7 Reserve Your Space! / Page 7 Ciclismo Classico info@ciclismoclassico.com 1

2 TRIP ESSENCE Be among the first of your friends to ride this beautiful region Pedal through lands that inspired Joyce, Hemingway, Freud, and Rilke Enjoy a striking variety of cultures: Italian, Austrian, and Slovenian Bike through the lush vineyards of Friuli s burgeoning wine country (and sample the local vintages, of course) Spin along roads less traveled in Italy and Slovenia Discover the towns of Gorizia and Cividale in Italy and Bled in Slovenia End in the romantic and charming Ljubljana, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and capital of Slovenia WHAT S INCLUDED Bike rental (see page 6 for details) Service of local, professional guides throughout the program Ciclismo jersey and water bottle TRIP DETAILS 2018 Trip Dates Jun 9 - Jun 16 Jun 30 - July 7 Aug 4 - Aug 11 Sep 1 - Sep 8 Ability Level Athletic Beginner Summary of Daily Distances Day 1: 10/13 miles Day 2: 35/43 miles Day 3: 30/41 miles Day 4: 32/41 miles Day 5: 23 mile optional loop Day 6: 28/44 miles Day 7: 40 miles Day 8: Nasvidenje! Optional extra loops available Trip Price $4,895 Single Supplement: $900 All accommodations 5 dinners, 2 lunches & all breakfasts Wine tasting Cycling clinics & one-on-one coaching Guided visits of Gorizia and Cividale World War I museum visit in Kobarid Group shuttle during and at the end of the tour Open air activities in Bovec (rafting and/or hiking or cycling) Every experience - food, wine, tours, routes, was beyond any expectation. It was mind-numbing to see how the bar kept elevating. Each experience topped the last one! - John R. Pittsford, NY Ciclismo Classico info@ciclismoclassico.com 2

3 DAY 1 GORIZIA Daily Mileage - 10/13 miles Riding Terrain - Flat and one climb (3 miles) on extra loop Hotel - Grand Hotel Entourage Location: Gorizia Duration: 2 Nights eng/index1.asp DAY 2 GORIZIA AND THE CARSO Daily Mileage - 35/43 miles Riding Terrain - Rolling and a few hills on main road and extra loop We meet at 12:30 pm in the lobby of our hotel for lunch and greetings, followed by a bike fitting and a spin near the border. We begin our tour in Gorizia, which has a central European flavor and is split into two sides, with the Slovenian side called Nova Gorica. Find out why it was a favorite spot of the Hapsburg nobility in the 19th century, when you experience the mild climate, green parks, and brilliant social life. The 4-star Grand Hotel Entourage was once home to the Court of King Charles X. It has been completely restored and retains all of its majestic features, incorporating them with modern facilities. Each guest room and suite is elegantly decorated, some with antiques. They overlook the square, the rose garden, the grounds, or the castle. Free Wi-Fi access is available throughout the hotel. Pedal towards east and cross the border, discovering a unique and natural environment called Carso. According to linguists, the name Carso comes from the root karra, a pre-indo-european word for stone and stone is the very essence of Carso. The vast limestone outcrops, grottoes, and underground rivers are results of slow water erosion; they constitute an astonishing and unforgettable environment. Today we cross the Italian/ Slovenian border multiple times at the abandoned border crossing posts. Hotel - See Day 1 DAY 3 COLLIO, COLLI ORIENTALI, AND CIVIDALE DEL FRIULI Daily Mileage - 30/41 miles Riding Terrain - Flat and rolling hills; one solid climb (5 miles) on extra loop Hotel - Locanda del Castello Location: Cividale del Friuli Duration: 1 Night The area of Collio and Colli Orientali del Friuli covers part of the province of Udine and stretches across the hills bordering Slovenia. Today we ride to Colli and explore it in greater depth, wheeling between gentle slopes awash in grapevines. Thanks to the region s succession of hills and plentiful southward-facing slopes, the area named Collio provides the perfect environment for premium quality winemaking- especially white wines with over 200 makers! Naturally, you ll have ample opportunities to sample superb wines. Cividale del Friuli was the ancient capital of the Lombard dukedom and the style of the time is still well represented by the typical architecture. Boasting a modern spa and a restaurant, the 4-star Locanda al Castello Wellness Resort offers nine rooms individually decorated in an exclusive and refined manner with individual antique pieces and tasteful décor. Ciclismo Classico info@ciclismoclassico.com 3

4 DAY 4 SLOVENIA: BOVEC AND THE SOCA VALLEY Daily Mileage - 32/41 miles Riding Terrain - Rolling and flat; one short and steep climb (1 mile) on extra loop Hotel - Dobra Vila Bovec Location: Bovec Duration: 2 Nights DAY 5 ACTIVITY DAY IN BOVEC Daily Mileage - 23 miles (optional) Riding Terrain - One climb (2 miles), then gentle rolling Hotel - See Day 1 DAY 6 BLED Daily Mileage - 28/44 miles Riding Terrain - Flat and rolling then one climb (2 miles) on main route, more hills on extra loop Hotel - Hotel Triglav Location: Bled Duration: 1 Night Today we ll cross the border into Slovenia and explore the Soca Valley (Isonzo Valley in Italian). Note how quickly the sights and environment change! The clear, alpine waters of the Soca River, called the Emerald beauty by locals due to the crystal quality of the water, the shadowy routes, and fresh breezes from the nearby Mount Triglav will refresh your senses. This area experienced a lot of military action during World War I, including playing host to 12 different battles between May 1915 and November We spin along the valley visiting the Slavic town of Kobarid and its famous WWI museum, nestled between the Alps and the Adriatic before arriving in Bovec for the evening. Housed in a historic telephone central office surrounded by green sceneries, the 4-star Hotel Dobra Vila features a wine boutique and airconditioned rooms. This is a day dedicated to enjoying the region. On the Isonzo river you can choose to experience a easy rafting descent, one of the several water sports that Bovec is known for. A local company will provide us with all the equipment necessary to enjoy this experience: wetsuit, boots, life jacket and helmet. In the afternoon you may also choose to hike on the foothills of Mt Canin or simply relax at the hotel. We will also have the opportunity to enjoy an optional loop ride available in the afternoon, which is highly recommended to those of you who wish to further explore the valley of Soca river. The morning begins with a 1 hour shuttle to avoid the climb to the Predil Pass. Our bike ride begins from Kranjska Gora, initially on a beautiful bike path and then, at times, riding through the countryside en route to Bled. This is another beautiful opportunity to enjoy the Triglav National Park and to savor the enchanting atmosphere of one of the most famous and frequently visited places in Slovenia. We finish our day in the charming town of Bled, famous for its lake and tranquil atmosphere. The 4-star Hotel Triglav has exquisite charm arising from its elegant interiors and pleasant location on the lake. All guest rooms have lake views. An indoor pool, Finnish sauna and relaxation and reading room are available to guests, free of charge. Ciclismo Classico info@ciclismoclassico.com 4

5 DAY 7 LJUBLJANA Daily Mileage - 40 miles Riding Terrain - Rolling Hotel - Grand Hotel Union Executive Location: Ljubljana Duration: 1 Night grand-hotel-union/ DAY 8 ARRIVEDERCI AND NASVIDENJE! Today on out last ride we reach the enchanting Ljubljana, ancient capital of the historical region of Carniola, and currently a UNESCO World Heritage Site and capital of Slovenia. This charming town has been influenced for centuries by its geographic position, at the crossroads of the Slavic, Germanic and Latin cultures. Allow some time before dinner to take a stroll in the old part of town and maybe also visit the castle located in the center and just a few minutes away from our hotel. This is the perfect location to end our fantastic tour across two countries in the middle of Europe, which were once part of the Roman Empire. Nestled in the heart of the city center near the historic quarter, the charming 4-star Grand Hotel offers spacious and comfortable rooms housed in a historic Art Nouveau building. An indoor pool and Finnish sauna are available to use. Today we say goodbye. After breakfast, around 9 am, there will be one group shuttle to the Ljubljana Brnik airport (30 minute shuttle ride) to make your next connection. Perhaps you ll consider staying another day in this fantastic city or catching a train (5 minute taxi ride) to reach other destinations in Slovenia or Italy. Ciclismo Classico info@ciclismoclassico.com 5

6 ARRIVAL & DEPARTURE GETTING TO GORIZIA Option 1: Fly to Trieste Ronchi dei Legionari Airport (TRS). From here you can take a 30 minute taxi to the first hotel. Option 2: Fly to Venice M. Polo airport (VCE) through Rome, Milan, Genoa, Torino or Munich, Germany. Take a taxi to Mestre train station (15 minutes) then a train ( to Gorizia Centrale (2 hours). The hotel is about a 5 minute taxi ride from the station. DEPARTING FROM LJUBLJANA After breakfast, around 9 am, we offer a 30 minute group shuttle to Ljubljana Brnik airport (LJU) to make your next connection. Perhaps you ll consider staying another day in this fantastic city or catching a train (5 minute taxi ride) to reach other destinations in Slovenia or Italy. BIKE INFORMATION Bianchi Via Nirone 7 Bianchi carbon fork, Shimano 105 triple groupset, an adjustable stem, and a wheel set laced with 32 spokes and 25mm tires. Included on all tours. Aluminum Hybrid More relaxed riding at a look-around-you pace, this is our custom-built, highperformance aluminum hybrid bicycles with straight handlebars. We also have a woman-specific frame. Included on all tours. Bianchi Intenso and Vertigo The carbon frame guarantees maximum performance with minimum stress for the riders, thanks to Bianchi s special C2C (Coast to Coast) frame design/ geometry and different material combination. Carbon bikes are equipped with compact crank and 11/32 cassette. Available for $250. Bianchi Intenso or Vertigo with Shimano included on all intermediate and advanced tours at no extra charge. Tandems Cannondale road or hybrid: racing posture with 700c wheels, or a more straight up position and 26 inch wheels. Available for $400. Co-motion Periscope: accommodates smaller team or even children. Available for $400. Honey tandem: light and responsive and perfect for experienced tandem riders. Available for $400. ebikes Available on all easy and athletic beginner tours, some intermediate and advanced tours. Please contact us for more information. Available for $400. OTHER INFORMATION For Flight Reservations Valerie Wilson Travel Call: or ciclismoair@vwti.com Travel Insurance MH Ross Call: Transportaion Rome2rio ON THE BIKE Included Ciclismo Classico water bottle Two water bottle holders Map holder on handlebars and Garmin Edge GPS Handlebar bag Tire pump Combination bike lock Gel-padded saddle Choice of pedals Card with your tour leaders mobile phone numbers Garmin Edge GPS Included on all bikes Pedal Options Flat pedals Half-toe pedals (without straps) Toe cage pedals Things to Bring Helmet Optional: clipless pedals with shoes Optional: your own saddle Bike type outside of Europe may vary, please contact us at for more information. Ciclismo Classico info@ciclismoclassico.com 6

7 INSURANCE, TERMS & CONDITIONS Insurance Ciclismo Classico will not assume responsibility or liability for any loss or damage of personal effects or for any injury or loss during the duration of the tour. Therefore, we highly recommend that you obtain travel insurance. Information on travel insurance will be sent to you via once trip deposit is received. We recommend MH Ross, but travelers may choose the insurance carrier of their choice. Cancellations and Refunds All requests for refunds must be submitted in writing as soon as possible to Ciclismo Classico. Exceptions to their cancellation policy cannot be made for any reason, including weather or personal emergencies. There is no refund for unexpectedly leaving a trip early or arriving late. The purchase of short-term travel insurance policy is strongly recommended. Cancellation fees are determined as follows: Days before departure Cancellation fee 121+ days - 50% of the deposit* days - 100% of the deposit* days - 30% of the trip price days - 60% of the trip price 0-30 days - 100% of the trip price *You may transfer your trip deposit to another departure in the same tour season up to 90 days before your original departure with payment of a $100 per person transfer fee. Prices quoted are subject to adjustment without prior notification. OR your deposit (currently $600) may be carried forward to the following year as a credit toward the final balance of a tour. At the time of booking, we will ask for another $600 deposit to secure your spot. Carried-forward credits expire at the end of the year to which they are applied. Alterations to the tour itinerary Sometimes modifications may be made to the itinerary. We will notify you of any changes that may affect your arrival, departure or lodging. Any changes to the program are made in the best interest and safety of the group. To review our policies, please visit RESERVE YOUR SPACE! To reserve a space, call Ciclismo Classico at Or, mail your deposit and contact information to: Ciclismo Classico attn: Rosa 30 Marathon St Arlington, MA At the time of registration, a deposit of $600 per person is due, payable by Visa, MasterCard, American Express or check, made payable to Ciclismo Classico, along with your full name, mailing address, phone number(s) and address. We cannot confirm reservations without a deposit. Final payment is due 90 days before departure payable by check, credit card, wire transfer or money order. All travelers must review and sign a terms and conditions statement and a waiver form. Ciclismo Classico info@ciclismoclassico.com 7