Brochure La Bella Italia 2015

Transcription

1 Brochure La Bella Italia 2015

2 Introduction Italy doesn't need an introduction. The country has everything : a wealth of culture, idyllic villages and historical cities. An impressive coast line, slumbering volcanoes and the landscapes of La Dolce Vita. Except the impressive history of the Greeks, Etrusks, Romans and other peoples, Italy has also a very rich cycling past with famous names like Bartali, Coppi and Pantani. They competed on the climbs of the Apennines, the majestic Dolomites and on the flanks of the Stelvio. Bike Dreams combines all attractive sides of Italy; on the one hand an extraordinary varied bicycle journey with rolling hills, scenic roads and challenging climbs. On the other hand rest days in the neighbourhood of historical attractions such as Pompeii, Rome, Florence and Venice. Besides these places the route passes several other less known cities, villages and regions, which certainly deserve a visit. The 7 th edition of La Bella Italia starts Saturday May 2 nd, 2015 near Palermo. After five days in Sicily you cross the Strait of Messina and continue slowly north in the boot with daily averages of 105 kilometres. The stages alternate regularly between the coast line and the hilly country side, but you don t loose sight of the cultural places of interest. The finish lies after 35 days and 3,000 kilometres at the shores of Lake Como. The whole route follows well paved roads, which are relatively quiet. The course varies from flat winding roads along the Italian coast line to steep hills in the inland, and from long straight roads on the Padan Plain to the mythical climb of the Passo dello Stelvio with its 48 hairpins. The major part of Italy has a mediterranean climate with ideal bicycle conditions in spring, although rain can always play a part. The north of Italy is mountainous and is unsettled all year round. The circumstances can become heroic if you reach altitudes over metres. Sufficient time remains to visit the highlights of Italy and to enjoy a cappuccino, a gelati or a glass of vino. The tour is open for cyclists from all around the world to create an exceptional atmosphere, during as well as after the bike ride. La Bella Italia is a physical challenge in a wonderful country. You'll get the feeling that you cycle continuously in an open-air museum. Italy is a country to dream away. Certainly on a bike. The credo of Bike Dreams is: Life is not the dreams you have, but the dreams you realise. 2

3 The Route The whole route has been divided into 28 cycling stages and 7 rest days in Taormina, Sibari, Pompeii, Rome (2), Florence and Venice. The cycling days have mostly the same schedule : a start early in the morning and cycle the distance at own speed to the next place. You can choose to cover the distance in a more or less relaxing way with visits to villages or towns, photo stops at every chosen moment, or a well deserved break at a terrace. Alternatively, you can try to cover the distance as fast you can. The stages have an average length of 105 kilometres, depending on the profile and the locations of campsites and hotels. The rest days give you the possibility to visit the most interesting cities of Italy. At the start in Palermo you get an extensive tour guide with background information about the route. Next to that gets each participant daily a detailed description and map of the stage. 3

4 Sicily Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean. An island with a rich history of years. Greeks, Romans, Carthaginians and Moors preceded you and left behind their tracks. Sicily accommodates also the largest active volcano of Europe. Due to the very rich, volcanic ground around the Etna you can find an impressive and unique flora on the island. Although the island is in the spell of the mafia, you will not notice this if you cycle on the island. The population is pleasantly and welcoming. The start is at the waters of the Mediterranean Sea in a hotel near Palermo. You leave in a southern direction through the Sicilian hills, passes the quiet town of Corleone, and arrive in Agrigento. The city at the southern coast of Sicily is wellknown for its Greek remains. The coastal scenery changes quickly for the rustic innerlands where the snow-capped Mount Etna towers above the rolling landscape. You cycle over the flanks of the rumbling volcano before you arrive in Taormina with its ancient Greek-Roman theater. A rest day is well deserved in this picturesque place. Half a day of cycling and a ferry across the Street of Messina brings you to the mainland of Italy. Calabria You arrive in the toe of the boot, Calabria, the most untouched and unspoiled region of Italy. This is not astonishing, because it is a dry land, rough region with the last embranchments of the Apennine Mountains. The largest source of income comes from the sale of olive oil and the exploitation of the extended jasmine fields. From Villa San Giovanni you cycle along the north side of the toe in northern direction. The coastal road keeps on fascinating with its clear, blue marine water of the Tyrrhenian Sea and the view of the volcano island Stromboli. The natural inner lands of Calabria with its centuries old villages are crossed in two days in the direction of the Ionian Sea. Campania Campania is one of the most interesting and most varied regions of Italy. You cycle mainly along the coast line of the Tyrrhenian Sea. Picturesque bays and steep rocks alternate each other at the Bay of Sorrento, the Amalfi Coast and the Bay of Salerno. A landscape of terraces has been created with vine- and lemon yards. The villages lie stuck against the hills. One stage finishes in the historical town of Paestum with its Tempio di Poseidone, one of the best kept Greek temples outside Greece. The setting is unforgettable between the cypresses, oleanders and blooming rose shrubs, mountains on the one hand and the sea on the other hand. A rest day has been planned in the well known village of Pompeii with the impressive silhouette of the Vesuvius at the background. The place accommodates a unique archaeological site of the Roman Empire at the beginning of the era. Lazio Lazio lays halfway Italy. It stretches itself from of the Tyrrhenian Sea to the Apennine Mountains and it is the cradle of Roman civilization. You cycle in three stages from Pompeii via the undulating inlands of Lazio to the capital Rome. Thé treasury of Italy. It is one large open-air museum with its uncountable number of sights of the Roman Empire. The middle ages have also left behind their traces and unique churches, arts and fountains. 4

5 Vatican City with its impressive St. Peter, the largest catholic building in the world, is of course one of the places you don t want to miss. It will not surprise you that we have planned two rest days to explore the eternal city on one's own.two days will not be sufficient to let sink in all impressions. Rest is probably not on its place before you continue the journey northward along Lago di Braccano, Lago di Vico and Lago di Balsena. Tuscany Except the superb landscapes offers Tuscany an enormous cultural inheritance and countless art treasures. Almost each city or village is worth a visit because of a beautiful cathedral or church, the picturesque alleys, the pleasant squares and the stately palaces. You cycle through the Chianti region, the best known area of Tuscany with its sloping vineyards and characteristic upright cypresses which mark the farm yards and small winding roads. One of the stage places is Siena that still has a medieval atmosphere. A city on the top of a hill, dominated by the silhouette of the Duomo, where one can stroll around narrow alleys. The journey continues through the landscape of La Dolce Vita to Florence. The Tuscan capital is a jewel of a city, one large living art work and age-long embellished by artists. A must for a rest day. Emilia-Romagna You cross Emilia-Romagna in two stages before you arrive at the Adriatic Coast. The first stage you cycle through the foothills of the Apennines, but the hills change soon into the Padan Plain. The plain is characterized by wide views over large farms and cultivated fields. The flat, straight roads will be experienced probably as a relief and form a big contrast to the other regions in Italy. Veneto Venice, once the largest harbour city in the world, lies on 120 islands between 150 canals which are spanned by 400 bridges. The setting, the innumerable art treasures and the special way of life makes a unique city of Venice. The city deserves of course a rest day, even though you definitely won t be the only tourist. You don't reach Venice by the normal roadway, but by a number of ferries between the islands which separates the sea from the lagoon. You take the ferry in the lively village of Chioggia at the lower part of the lagoon. This small fishing village deserves already a visit itself with its canals and bridges. Via the 11 kilometres long Pellestrina and the 12 kilometres long Lido di Venezia you arrive eventually in the Doge's city. After the rest day you head further north and the plain make place for the Dolomites. Trentino Trentino are formed for a large part by the majestic Dolomites. According to many people the most beautiful region in the Alps with its impressive precipices. You pass Bolzano, a medieval city with a mixture of northern and mediterranean architecture, before you follow the Adige Valley. The daily distances have been reduced to the mountainous area, including the Passo dello Stelvio. The 48 hairpins bring you to an altitude of metres. The fabulous climb and highest asphalted mountain pass in Italy has been many times the setting for memorable Giro stages. It may definitely not be missed in La Bella Italia. 5

6 Lombardy Lombardy starts for you with a long downhill of the Stelvio in the direction of Bormio and Tirano. Parallel to the river the Adda you end up at the Lago di Como. You follow the banks of the lake along lovely villages until Varenna. A ferry brings you to Bellagio, in the middle of the Lago di Como. From here it is another 30 kilometers to the final destination in the centre of Como. Support The journey is supported by two vehicles. One vehicle brings the luggage and kitchen equipment to the next place, so you don t have to carry luggage on your bike. The other vehicle gives support on the road and provides a lunch half way the stage. We provide on cycling days an extensive breakfast ( bread, cereals, fruit ) and halfway the stage a tasty lunch is waiting for you. In addition, we will take care that you can recover with an extra meal ( soup, bread, fruit ) after finishing the stage and that you always have sufficient water and sport drinks. The cook of Bike-Dreams prepares in campsites a dinner full of carbohydrates and all nutrients your body needs. There is of course a spot at the dinner table for a few bottles of Italian wine to relax the tired muscles. We do not serve food at the rest days and if we stay in a hotel we don t serve dinner. This gives you the opportunity to explore and sample the local cuisine. Suitable accommodation has been organised throughout the tour. The vast majority you stay at well equipped campsites. In totality, you'll also stay 10 nights in a hotel, this includes the first night in Palermo and the last night in Como. At 50 percent of the campsites you have the possibility to rent a bungalow or site caravan at own expense. Participants The number of participants is limited due to organizational reasons. For people from all over the world it is possible to sign up for the tour. The cyclists who cannot ride, or cannot finish the stage, have always the possibility to take a seat in one of the support vehicles. We will take care that everyone arrives at the campsite before the evening. The tour is open for men and women with an age between 18 and 67. Everyone with a good health and passion for cycling can finish the journey in a normal way. It s also possible for a non-cyclist to experience the journey. You can always assist the other staff with their daily activities like providing the meals, visit local markets, etcetera. 6

7 Entry Fee Firstly, the journey is intended to be completed entirely from Palermo to Como. We also offer you the possibility to cycle only the Northern or Southern part. This gives you the opportunity to complete La Bella Italia in two years. Start Finish Dates Days Entry Fee Regions Full Tour Palermo Como ,- Southern Italy Palermo Rome ,- Northern Italy Rome Como ,- We offer a discount for participants who register and pay the down payment before January 31 st, You'll pay an Entry Fee of 3.495,- in stead of 3.695,-. This discount is only given for the full tour. The entry fee includes : Accommodation based on camping 10 hotel nights, this includes the night before the start in Palermo and the night after the finish in Como Breakfast, lunch and meal at arrival ( during cycling days ) Fruit, water, sport drinks and energy bars ( during cycling days ) Dinner during cycling days if we are camping Transportation of luggage Organization of the journey Ferry crossing between Sicily and the mainland of Italy, 2-days ferry pass for Venice, ferry across Lake Como Support by bike mechanic La Bella Italia cycling jersey Detailed description of the route Tour guide with background information of the route DVD with compilation of the best pictures The entry fee excludes : Transfer to the start and from the finish of the journey Food and drinks on rest days Dinner at days with hotel accommodation Personal health- and travel-insurance Entry fees of tourist sites 7

8 Charity The Kids' Cancer Project is the official charity partner of Bike- Dreams in Australia and New Zealand. Three children die from cancer every week in Australia. The Kids' Cancer Project is an Australian charity dedicated to changing this shocking statistic by finding cures for childhood cancers with the lowest survival rates. Half of children with these cancers will not survive. Ultimately, finding a cure is about saving children s lives and ending the heartbreak childhood cancer brings to so many families. Bike-Dreams participants have raised a fantastic Australian $300,000 for The Kids' Cancer Project through their association over the last five years. La Bella Italia is one of the charity challenges in Bike Dreams suggests that the riders from Australia and New Zealand participate in fundraising for The Kids' Cancer Project. Many have done so in the past and found it very rewarding. Riders from other countries are of course free to start their own fundraising for charity purposes. Childhood cancer has no territorial boundaries, it impacts children across the world. Together we can make a difference. All efforts are highly appreciated. If we work together, a cure is within reach. 8

9 The Route La Bella Italia Day Date Stage Start Finish Distance Climbing 1 Saturday 2 May 1 Palermo Santo Stéfano Quisquina Sunday 3 May 2 Santo Stéfano Quisquina Agrigento Monday 4 May 3 Agrigento Gerace Tuesday 5 May 4 Gerace Nicolosi Wednesday 6 May 5 Nicolosi Taormina / Letojanni Thursday 7 May Rest day Taormina 7 Friday 8 May 6 Taormina / Letojanni Palmi Saturday 9 May 7 Palmi Pizzo Sunday 10 May 8 Pizzo Villagio Mancuso Monday 11 May 9 Villagio Mancuso Sibari Tuesday 12 May Rest day Sibari 12 Wednesday 13 May 10 Sibari Sapri Thursday 14 May 11 Sapri Paestum Friday 15 May 12 Paestum Pompei Saturday 16 May Rest day Pompei 16 Sunday 17 May 13 Pompei Cassino Monday 18 May 14 Cassino Tagliacozzo Tuesday 19 May 15 Tagliacozzo Roma Wednesday 20 May Rest day Roma 20 Thursday 21 May Rest day Roma 21 Friday 22 May 16 Roma Capodimonte Saturday 23 May 17 Capodimonte Castel del Piano Sunday 24 May 18 Castel del Piano Siena Monday 25 May 19 Siena Firenze Tuesday 26 May Rest day Firenze 26 Wednesday 27 May 20 Firenze Castel San Pietro Terme Thursday 28 May 21 Castel San Pietro Terme Chioggia Friday 29 May 22 Chioggia Venezia Saturday 30 May Rest day Venezia 30 Sunday 31 May 23 Venezia Tramonti di Sotto Monday 1 June 24 Tramonti di Sotto Cortina d'ampezzo Tuesday 2 June 25 Cortina d'ampezzo Canazei Wednesday 3 June 26 Canazei Latsch Thursday 4 June 27 Latsch Grosio Friday 5 June 28 Grosio Como

10 Bike Dreams B.V. Marktstraat EN Roermond THE NETHERLANDS Telephone : +31 (0) info@bike-dreams.com Website : Bike Dreams B.V. is registered at the Dutch Chamber of Commerce in Roermond under number