Ride to the shores of Lake Como and follow its shoreline to the spectacular village of Bellagio and climb to Italy’s famous climbs to Madonna del Ghisallo.
Our first ride in Italy will be something special, we’ll ride to the shores of Lake Como and follow its shoreline to the spectacular village of Bellagio and climb to Italy’s famous climbs to Madonna del Ghisallo.
Welcome to Italy
Our trip starts with your guides meeting you at the Milan Malpensa Airport at 10 am. Milan is a diverse city and it’s location on the Po Plain makes it the headquarters for many of the famous Italian brands. Designers, artists and photographers are also drawn to the city, all of the Italian designers have retail outlets in Milan. Culturally, there are many interesting buildings, palazzos and art galleries. Arrive a day or two earlier, adjust to the time zone and enjoy the fashion capital, the city of glamour.
After a short transfer to Lecco, we will assemble our bikes and head out on a short warm-up ride. Our first ride in Italy will be something special, we’ll ride to the shores of Lake Como and follow its shoreline to the spectacular village of Bellagio. Boutique shops, delicious “pasticeri” sweet biscuits, gelati and of course coffee, we’ll make a stop and wander through the stone pedestrian alleys.
We leave Bellagio and ascend another of Italy’s famous climbs to Madonna del Ghisallo, a small chapel which holds the shrine to cyclists. Only in Italy could anything like this be found! The Beata Vergine Maria Del Ghisallo was made the patron saint of Italian cyclists by Pope Pious XII in 1949 and her chapel is a shrine to cycling’s past and present greats. Within the chapel is the bike Fausto Coppi rode to victory in the 1949 Giro Italia and the machine used by Moser for the hour record in 1984. Also, in a separate building, there is a large modern cycling museum dedicated to the bikes and the people that have made the sport famous.
After visiting the cycling museum we will descend down to the Lake Como’s shoreline and back to our hotel. Tonight we will enjoy a welcome dinner so you can meet your guide for the trip. Most importantly, have your questions answered by your helpful staff.