Difficulty - Medium / Hard International Tours 2025 05 29 - Italian Classics 2025

We pick up our tour group at Marco Polo Airport and commence on our Italian adventure. We have a few hours to get to know each other as we head to the medieval town of Bormio in the North Italian Alps. On our journey north, the amazing mountains will draw you in and excite you for what is to come. As we journey toward Bormio, we will stop at some beautiful little towns along the way and witness some stunning views.

Bormio is the heart of some of the biggest climbs in Europe.  Rest the legs as they have much to conquer on the tour ahead. This region is known as a skiing destination in the northern winter, and we will no doubt catch views of snow-capped mountains all around us. 

A short shakeout ride to ensure not only our bikes are ready, but our bodies have started moving again. We have some big climbs to do here so a good check will do us well.

A welcome dinner tonight will be held at our accommodation.

While today is not the highest or farthest ride planned, we have a real surprise in store for you today. 

Our first ride on the programme will be to the Lago di Cancano. This climb is one of the most beautiful and under rated rides in the region. After a short warm up we will reach the town of Premadio, which sits at the doorway to our climb.

Our climb is 9kms long and over the course of 21 switchbacks, rises some 750 - 800m in elevation.  Once we reach halfway, look up and to our right to catch a glimpse of the fort that was used to protect the valley from invading armies of centuries gone by.

Once we reach the fort we have a short ride to the lake for a coffee/lunch break before we return for some relaxation.

Today we climb the Mighty Stelvio. Passo Stelvio has been pivotal in so many issues of the Giro. Often the Cima Coppi, signifying the highest climb of the Giro d’Italia, is also our highest summit on tour. We have a big day ahead so make sure you eat well at the amazing buffet breakfast. We roll out of Bormio and immediately, we commence this climb. Look forward to 21kms of tunnels, switchbacks, snow and possibly even marmots frolicking in the snow. We will pass through an Italian War Memorial which is worth stopping for a look. As we head on a little further we get very close to the border with Switzerland, which can be reached via the Umbrial Pass, approximately 3km from the Stelvio Summit. If it has been a particularly late snow season expect snow walls approaching 3m high. Don’t forget to grab a photo on the podium at the summit.
If the weather is fine today, we may have the option to make it a Doppio Stelvio day. For the strong (and some would say foolhardy), we have the option to descend to the town of Prato, stop for lunch before tackling Stelvio again from the second side. This side includes some 48 switchbacks to the top. On this side the early kilometres do not have the views of the otherside of Stelvio, however in the last 5kms the views are incredible as the road ahead zig zags up what seems like a cliff. This would become a 100km and 3000m+ day out.

Today’s ride is pretty challenging by anyone’s estimation. Passo Mortirolo is often a bridging climb for the likes of Passo Gavia. Although the mighty Gavia, reaches much further toward the sky, Mortirolo is one many pro’s do not enjoy. We leave Bormio and roll down the Valtellina valley. We will pass through many small towns that dot the valley road, before we reach our starting town for the climb. We turn off in Mazzo di Valtellina and the gradient’s come in to play straight away. The summit is some 1300m above us and with an average above 10% for the next 12 kilometres. The climb will have a few very pinchy ramps that approach 18%, but don’t worry these are only short efforts before it returns to more reasonable gradients.
We offer two options today, one that is reasonable challenging and one that is a bit harder! The harder option is the usual route utilised in the Giro d’Italia, and has a nice little memorial to Marco Pantani. The enigmatic Pantani attacked in Stage 15 at the base of the Mortirolo before ging solo to victory in the town of Aprica. The legend of Pantani was born. Our second option covers a few more kilometres and so the average gradient is lower than the harder ascent. Don’t worry it is still a challenge, plus you are rewarded with some beautiful views of the lower Valtellina valley. We still have a little bit of climbing as we head back to Bormio and our coffee stop will be in one of the towns on our return trip.

Our final climb of this region is an absolute adventure to cherish. Passo Gavia is one of the mightiest climbs used in the Giro d’Italia. As the summit at 2651m above sea leave is quite remote it is never used as a summit finish, but it is often where drama will unfold. Who can forget the images of a snow covered Andy Hampsten in 1988, as he solo’d to victory for the stage. Or the day Cadel’s gears almost froze in the blizzard like conditions they endured that day. However, don’t worry when we have reached the top the conditions have been fine. It is a 26km climb and climbs some 1400m averaging 5.5%. You might think it is not that steep but after 2-3 hrs of unrelenting climbing…. Well, we will ask you again. Our climb commences straight out of our base in Bormio. We make our way up the valley, passing through cute small towns, with cobbled streets and small water fountains. Eventually we reach the town of Santa Caterina, where the environment changes to one of more wilderness. This is where the gradient begins to rise a little more. The roadside is heavily forested as the road snakes its way up the mountainside. Often we will experience snow or ice on the roadside, before we reach the gate that is used to stop vehicles in the more heavily snowed winter months. We will push on as we are more than two-thirds of the way to the summit. The roads above are heavily impacted by the winter months and while they are often damaged, this is still very rideable. Finally we will reach the summit and Rifugio Berni , where we can get a warm coffee into us before our long descent. Be wary on the descent as the amazing views can be a little distracting.

We pack our bags and say goodbye to our friends in Bormio as we make our east for La Villa in the Alta Badia valley. 

Today will be an easier day, with the legs accepting a welcome rest. Our transfer will take a few hours, however we will be stopping several times to stretch the legs, grab a coffee or a spot of lunch.

Once we reach La Villa we will prepare the bikes and a short ride before dinner to keep the legs primed for more int he days to come.

Today is what can best be described as a classic Dolomites day.

Our ride today tackles four summits; Passo Gardena, Passo Sella, Passo Pordoi & finally Passo Campalongo. Our ride day may only be 65km, but pack four climbs in there for the day and you will sleep very well tonight.

The Dolomites region has often been used in the Giro d’Italia. The close proximity of the alpine climbs allows for breakaways to drive up the road and GC contenders to stamp their authority on the Giro. While we are not racing today, we can get that same feeling. 

Did we mention Strudel? Oh yes we did. Our coffee stop today is in the town of Arabba. While most coffee rides involve a muffin, we are in the South Tyrol and we thoroughly recommend the Strudel.

Today is one of our longest days on tour. While yesterday saw four summits, we have four quite different climbs, including a HC climb today. Today we tackle another of our famous local loops in the region, known as the Marmolada.

After a sumptuous breakfast we will roll out in the mid-morning sunshine for the town of Corvara. Corvara is a beautiful little town, that is the gateway to Passo Campalongo. From switchbacks that slither up the mountain like a snake to long sweeping roads to the summit of Campalongo. We will then descend to the town of Arabba, before we turn for an exhilarating ride overlooking a valley far below.

Next we head for the town of Caprile and the base of our HC climb today, Passo Fedaia. It was on the Fedaia that Marco Pantani set up his 1996 victory. This climb can be a bit of a brute. Its tough in sectors, but count down the kilometres to the top.

After the descent our coffee stop will be in Canazei. Yes Strudel is good here too!

Most of the hard work is out of the way but we still have a couple of climbs to go. We tackle the Cat 1 Passo Sella (other direction from yesterday). This is such a beautiful alpine climb. The legs might be a little sore by now, but we have one short climb to go. Once we get over Passo Gardena, we have a long descent and roll back to our accommodation. Make sure you have a big dinner to refuel for tomorrow.

After a couple of solid days on the bike, we known they will appreciate a break from all the climbing. Its a coffee run kind of day were we will head out through the Alta Badia valley and make for one of the beautiful little towns that dot this valley for a coffee and a bit of cake.

Don't be fooled though. We are still in an Alpine Region and so expect a little bit of elevation on our way home.

An extra credit ride is Passo Erbe for those that still have some good legs.

Day three of full day riding in the Dolomites fills our dance card today. After yesterday’s epic ride, we recommend you take the time to warm up today. Fuel up at breakfast. Our hosts absolute love looking after us and everything is made on site. Try everything – you won’t be disappointed.

We roll out of La Villa in search of our first climb of the day, Passo Valparola. Being a long climb, expect some real changes to the landscape up this climb. We start out travelling through a series of small towns that dot the road. Don’t forget to say “Ciao” on the way through. As we climb, the surroundings move to Alpine forested roadsides. 

The higher we climb; snow has usually accumulated at the roadside. We crest the top and take the right-hand descent of Passo Falzarego. We descend and take the road to Passo Giau. Passo Giau is our HC Climb for today. This climb does not have the harsh gradients of yesterday’s Passo Fedaia but it is still not to be trifled with by any means. Keep an ear out for cuckoos on this long climb to the summit.

Our coffee stop is at the summit. We have a long 8km descent, often starting with snow as we make for our turn at Pocol. We head back up Passo Falzarego, where we arrived earlier in the day. We turn for the last kilometre back up to the Valparola before a descent of switchbacks and sweeping roads back to our base in La Villa.

Sadly all great experiences must come to an end. Today is our final breakfast and often the group discuss all the amazing things they have seen and done.

You will have ridden some of the best roads and climbs in the world. You will have had some of the most wonderful food and witnessed some amazing landscapes. All memories to savour.

Once we are fed, and our bags packed and, we will transport our group back to Marco Polo Airport for the next stage of their journeys. Some will be heading home, while others take the opportunity to visit other cities or regions of this beautiful country.

We hope you have enjoyed your Italian Classics Tour and hope you will join us again on another of our amazing tours.