Inspired Italy

The Italian Cycling Federation (FCI) membership has over 2,500 registered clubs.

The history and culture of the sport run very deep in the peninsular with its popularity reaching its peak in the 1940s and ’50s, following the remarkable achievements of Fausto Coppi and Gino Bartali.

And the country is home to the world’s oldest bicycle manufacturing company.  Bianchi is still very much in existence and producing world-class bikes. The company, founded in 1885, pioneered the use of equal-sized wheels with pneumatic rubber tyres. 

From the coastline of Emilia Romagna with its expansive coastal flats, through the climbs of the Apennine Mountains in Umbria, and the endless rolling hills of Tuscany – these Italian regions are made for cyclists.

Choose a guided or the daily guided option and regardless of the cycling experience you are seeking Tuscany, Umbria, and Emilia Romagna offer everything that you look for from a top cycling week under the sun.

Without a doubt, the most famous Italian region and the dream destination for world travellers.

But what you may not be aware of is Tuscany’s cycling prowess. The Chianti hills are filled with enthusiastic cyclists from the holidaymaker to hardened professional, such as Mark Cavendish who has a training base and second home here.

Tuscany’s beautiful relief is dominated by hilly country and iconic hilltop towns. Hills make up nearly two-thirds (66.5%) of the region’s total area and mountains (the highest are the Apennines), a further 25%.

Your cycling holiday in Tuscany suddenly looks a little more serious with each journey being 92% climbs and descents! 46% of your saddle time is up!

The quiet rural roads of Umbria pulsate with cyclists, particularly on a weekend.

Umbria is a region of central Italy, bordered by Tuscany, and is known as “the green heart of Italy”. The terrain is mainly hilly and mountainous, with a number of river basins including the Val Tiberina. It is home to Lake Trasimeno and Piediluco but its character is marked by green, low hills, with towns and villages of different sizes, having a long, rich history and a predominately Mediaeval look.

In 2021 the Giro d’Italia stage 11, known as the Wine Stage started in Umbria. Earlier in the year the Tirreno–Adriatico flew through the Niccone valley and across the north of the region.

Cycling is in the blood in this wonderful part of the world. 

Not only is it the birthplace of one of the cycling greats, Marco ‘The Pirate’ Pantani, but it is also home to the very first Gran Fondo, the Nove Colli.

There is an astounding 8,000 kilometres of dedicated cycling routes on roads, cycle paths and off-road tracks in Emilia Romagna. They cover a wide variety of terrain from the hilly and mountainous landscapes of the Apennines to the salt lakes of the Po delta.

And the enthusiasm runs much deeper. 

In 2020 Emilia Romagna Cycling welcomed the national Grand Tour, the Giro d’Italia hosting 3 stages in Rimini, Cesenatico and Cervia. And between 24 and 27 September, 2020 in Imola the region played host to the 93rd edition of the UCI Road World Championships.

Your guide knows every turn, twist, and how to ride the fast descents of this Tuscany route.

Along the way, you’ll hear facts, anecdotes, and detailed pre-ride briefings before each stage. Where and when necessary, your guide may elect to change the route to better suit the riders, weather, and conditions.

Go Guided: You get more from the experience.

“I will never forget it. We were hurtling along the road, the sun beating down, warm breeze penetrating the helmet vents when Tim at the head of the group raised his hand indicating a stop. We pulled into a small village cafe bar, typical welcoming rustic style. They made their own ice cream. We sat there on a bench in the sun for 5 or 10 mins in pure silence, scanning the Tuscany countryside before us, whilst savouring a piece of ice cream heaven. Having a local guide added so much to my cycling experience, it’s impossible to qualify but it is a far more than just a bike ride.” 

Calvin Booker. September 2020. Inspired ITALY GIROe Grand Tour of Tuscany

The regions are serviced by a number of regional, national and intercontinental airports. Wherever your journey starts there are a number of possibilities to consider as your destination.

Transfer time by private taxi to Cortona 200km and takes around 2h 20m.

Alternatively take the People Mover from the airport to Pisa Centrale train station, change at Florence to get the train to Cortona-Terontola which takes around 3h and costs around €25. Trains run regularly from Pisa airport to Cortona-Terontola where the hotel shuttle or a taxi can collect you.

✈️ Closest Regional Airport – Perugia or consider Florence airport.

Rome airports are a good option too.

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🚄 TRAINS in ITALY

Train travel is simple and very inexpensive. We are always happy to help arrange transfers by train or private taxi where they are not included.

Transfer time by private taxi to Cesenatico 130km c1h 20m

Alternatively, Bologna Centrale train station is a 15 min journey by taxi or bus. Trains run regularly from Bologna to Cesena where the hotel shuttle or a taxi can collect you.

✈️ Venice Marco Polo Airport – Good for Emilia Romagna. Around 2h 30m by taxi. Train transfer available.

✈️ Closest Regional Airport – Rimini or consider Ancona or Forli airports.

🚴‍♂️ Ineos Grenadiers won the highest prize money at the 2020 Giro d’Italia €430,693. 

🚴‍♂️ Team Sunweb recorded the second-highest winnings with a total of €278,093.

🚴‍♂️ Tao Geoghegan Hart, the individual winner of the 2020 Giro d’Italia took away €265,668. The second and third places’ prizes were worth €133,412 and €68,801 respectively.

🚴‍♂️ The 2020 Giro d’Italia route is estimated to be 3,496.8 kilometres. 

🚴‍♂️ Each ride covered an average distance of 166.5 kilometres per day. 

🚴‍♂️ In the 100th edition of the Giro d’Italia cycling race, held in 2017, the cyclists covered a total of 3,615.4 kilometres.

🚴‍♂️ The Giro-E 2020, the only road stage event in the world dedicated to electrically-assisted bikes. It is an e-bike experience that’s ridden on the same roads and on the same days as the Giro d’Italia.

🚴‍♂️ The main theme colour of the Giro d’Italia is pink because the La Gazzetta newspaper is pink.