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ABBRUZZO, ITALY
2026
Ciao
DAY 1
Upon exiting Arrivals at Pescara airport, Nicola, our local guide and the TCS ride leads will welcome you to Abruzzo. Once your kit is in the support vehicle (that will be with us every day), its just a 30 minute drive to the hotel.
After some refreshing welcome drinks you will have time for some R&R and perhaps a walk along the beach.
If you are hiring a bike, it will be at the hotel waiting for you and we are happy to help setting it up for the days ahead.
Each evening there will be a short briefing, so you know what you have to look forward to the days ahead.
Francavilla to Costa dei Trabocchi
DAY 2
115KM, 1539M CLIMBING
Today we head away from the coast and into the province of Chieti, before heading back to the coast and a memorable location for dinner. With the option to have Giro d'Italia winner Danilo Di Luca join us on the morning leg.
We will ride to Chieti and stop for one of those proper Italian coffees, before heading off to the medieval town of Crecchio where will take lunch. The days final leg takes us back towards the Adriatic and our accommodated for the night, is perched high above the sea on the Costa dei Trabocchi.
We aim to arrive by 4pm, to give you some time to yourself before Dinner in a unique Trabocco restaurant over the sea.
Costa dei Trabocchi to Maiella
DAY 3
TO BLOCKHAUS OR NOT TO BLOCKHAUS?
On this day that includes a UNESCO National Park, you have a route choice to make, will you take on the famous Giro d'Italia climb 'Blockhaus', or stay a little lower in the Appenine mountains? Route A is Blockhaus at 2000m and 91km, Route B is 1300m and 85km.
The first stop is a café and an opportunity to try some local cake specialties. When we get to the first 10km of the main climb at a 5% gradient your choice of whether to continue up, at a steeper gradient comes into play.
Lunch is in a small mountain hut and then it’s a beautiful descent, down to the hotel.
Maiella to Castel del Monte
DAY 4
83KM, 2,034M CLIMBING
Once you have fueled up, it’s another 9am departure, this time in the direction of Gran Sasso. We ride alongside Bussin Sul Tirino (one of the cleanest rivers in Europe), pause for the pre-climb café stop, before taking the wonderful climb up to Calascio and Rocca di Calascio.
At the top, there is an opportunity to visit a beautiful ancient castle (one of the highest in Europe). It’s a “wow” place, where we will also take a deserved lunch break. Then it's the main reward for the days climbing, a long enjoyable descent.
Castel del Monte - Francavilla al Mare
DAY 5
120KM, 1470M CLIMBING
This is a morning to make sure you have a good breakfast, it's our longest distance and the last riding day. The pedals start turning at 9, as we ride through what the locals refer to as “little Tibet” and then it’s Lake Pietrnazoni, a high-altitude mountain lake with a panoramic position in the mid-plateau of Campo Imperatore (it is also known as the "mirror of the Gran Sasso" as the lake reflects the iconic image, of the Como Grande, in its water). You will want to take a pic or two!
Back in the saddle we cross a canyon that is famous in Italian western films. Yep, spaghetti westerns! After the tumble weed we head towards Forca di Penne for lunch, the its Cepagatii and our destination Francavilla and an opportunity to relax in the late summer sun (hopefully).
Arrivederci
DAY 6
After a leisurely breakfast we will head to the captial of the Abruzzo region, Pescara, for lunch on the seafront and the option of a stroll to the Di Luca bike shop (with some great offers for TCS customers).
After lunch, it's that time, you have ridden well, feel rested, relaxed and are ready for home. We will get you to the airport in good time for your flight and look forward to seeing you on another TCS Experience next year.
