Thursday 16 July 2009

Italian Clarion Tours

Deposits for Giro di Lombardia weekend (Fri 16th to Mon 19th Oct) needed by 6th September 2009 - see below for details

Italian Clarion Tours based in Turin offers cycling holidays through the striking Italian Piedmont countryside.

Torino, on the river Po, is on the flat plains at the foot of the Alps, hence the region's name ‘Piedmont’. With the help of your experienced English & Italian speaking guide you will enjoy the breathtaking scenery while cycling, you’ll be amazed.

What is special about Italian Clarion Tours is the unique food and accommodation experiences ensuring you have a memorable holiday. For example, one evening enjoy a feast prepared at an agriturismo with wines from a neighboring vineyard, and on another stay in a basilica with unrivalled views across Torino.

Itineraries include:

  • ‘The Italian Job’ – visiting each location used in the famous film, including riding up col del Gran san Bernarde and around the test track on top of the old FIAT factory.
  • ‘The Sportive’ – taking in a Gran Fondo cycle event like the ‘Tour of Lombardy’.
  • ‘Track Day’ – racing on the track & seeing the Torino 6 day (held in summer).
  • ‘Coppi – il campionissimo’ – seeing all things Coppi; velodromo; museum; house; famous rides.
  • ‘Giro d’Italia’ – seeing a stage or 2, the Giro starts in Torino in 2011, also ride some of the famous stages.
  • ……not forgetting the wine tasting, the fine foods etc
Yeah right, heard it all before. This type of thing costs you & me money to host, which the kind of cyclists I like, don't like spending.
Anyhow, I think these are the things we'd all like to do
We are doing the Giro di Lombardia again this year, why not join us, I reckon if we got a group of 8 (or further groups of 8 thereafter) we could look at a 3 night stay in or near Como including transportation for passengers & bikes to & from airport (Malpensa is best, but Bergamo not too far). 150 euros pp, food & flights on top, entry for race is about 30 euros plus 10 euros for chip timing hire or 20 euros for purchase.
Brief itinerary:
Friday 16th October 2009:
collection from airport & travel to Como, change & shower at accommodation
mix with pre race atmosphere of stars & teams in Como Friday night
Saturday 17th October 2009:
watch the closing season classic 'Giro di Lombardia' won by Damiano Cunego last year. Suss out some of the circuit (on bikes) while spectating.
see the museum / church to cycling & cyclists on madonna del ghisallo
Sunday 18th October 2009:
Ride the gran fondo 145km, last part of the pros race. The winner of last years gran fondo did it in 3hrs 47'.
Monday 19th October 2009:
Transport to airport.
If you like that, you'll love Milano - san remo weekend, 19th to 22nd March 2010.
http://www.gazzetta.it/granfondodelmito/mi-sa_planimetria.shtml similar itinerary to giro di lombardia weekend, but fly to & from Nice.
Interested? Let me know italianclarion@hotmail.co.uk & send deposit payment of £100 per person to my paypal account:






I will need this before September 6th 2009 with a legible copy of your BC racing license to enable registration to the gran fondo or medio fondo as you prefer. You can email me a photo of both sides of your BC licence please.
BOOTS !
Jules