Day 1

SUN May 19 › Welcome to Italy!

Our trip starts at Venice Marco Polo airport where our staff will be there to welcome you before the transfer to our hotel in Alleghe.

After lunch, we'll have our orientation meeting, build up the bikes then a short warm-up ride to loosen the legs before tomorrows big ride around the Sella Ronde.

Today's Major Climbs:

Day 2

MON May 20 › Sella Ronde

The classic loop around the Gruppo di Sella mountain range has to be one of the most spectacular bike rides in Europe.

From our hotel in Alleghe, we'll head over the Passo Pordoi, Passo Sella and Passo Gardena to Corvara. In Corvara there are 2 options - take the long road over the Passo Valparola or the shorter and less-challenging option over the Passo Campolongo. The distances and elevation gain shown here reflect the longer route over the Valparola.

Today's Major Climbs:

Day 3

TUE May 21 › Passo Fedaia

Today's ride takes us out of the Dolomites as we head over towards the Italian Alps for Saturday's penultimate stage on the Stelvio.

Our route out of the Dolomites takes us over the Passo Fedaia, one of the most beautiful and challenging climbs in the Dolomites. From the Fedaia we have a long drop down to Vigo di Fassa where we start the short climb up to the Passo Costalunga. A 25km descent takes us to Bolzano then we can enjoy a rare stretch of riding on the flat as we take the valley road to our hotel in Merano.

Today's Major Climbs:

Day 4

WED May 22 › Passo Stelvio

Today's ride features the 48 switchbacks up the northern approach of the Passo Stelvio. Here at Thomson Bike Tours the Stelvio definitely stands out as one of our all-time favourite climbs.

From Merano we have a 40km warm-up ride through the apple orchards that line the Venosta valley before reaching Prato allo Stelvio and the start of the climb. The summit, at over 9000 ft, lies just 26km up the road....enjoy!

Today's Major Climbs:

Day 5

THU May 23 › The Mortirolo & the Gavia...!!!

Today's ride includes two more legendary Giro d'Italia climbs.

The Mortirolo is considered the "Alpe d'Huez" of the Giro d'Italia...except it's significantly more challenging than it's French counterpart! With an average of 10.5% over 8 miles this is one of the toughest climbs in Europe.

After conquering the Mortirolo we head up the valley to Ponte di Legno where we start the climb to the Passo Gavia, always remembered for Andy Hampsten's epic ride through a snowstorm to win the 1988 Giro.

Today's Major Climbs:

Day 6

FRI May 24 › GIRO d'ITALIA: Stelvio to Martello!

The penultimate mountain stage of the 2013 Giro features the legendary climbs of the Passo Gavia and Passo Stelvio before continuing on to the uphill finish in Val Martello.

Our hotel is perfectly situated in Bormio, at the bottom of the Passo Stelvio. We'll ride up the Passo Stelvio then descend the 48 switchbacks that we climbed on Wednesday. From Prato it's a short ride along the valley to Coldrano where we join the crowds of tifosi on the final climb to Val Martello.

Today's Major Climbs:

Day 7

SAT May 25 › GIRO d'ITALIA: Tre Cime!

With an average of 12% over the last 4km, the final mountain stage of the 2013 Giro features a return to Tre Cime di Lavaredo, one of the toughest uphill finishes in the history of the Giro!

From our hotel in Alleghe, we'll follow the race route over the Passo Giau and the Passo Tre Croci to Misurina. In Misurina, just after the lake, a small road heads off to the right - this signals the start of the incredibly steep climb to the famous 3 peaks of Lavaredo!

Our race-viewing hospitality area will be set up close to the summit so we can witness the best of the action on the final climb of the 2013 Giro.

Today's Major Climbs:

Day 8

SUN May 26 › Arrivederci

End of our trip and final transfer to Venice Marco Polo Airport.