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ABBRUZZO, ITALY
5th to 10th September 2024
Ciao
DAY 1
Upon arrival at Pescara airport, Nicola, our local guide and the TCS ride leads will welcome you, help with your kit and accompany on the transfer to your 1st nights’ accommodation is just 20 minutes by car in the Centre of Pescara.
You then have time for some R&R, to perhaps take a walk along the beach, stroll around the Piazza Salotto in the heart of the city, or take in a little culture at Casa d’Annuzio Gabrielle, the home of a larger-than-life figure who is sometimes thought of as the Italian Nietzche.
If you are hiring a bike, thinking of buying a new one, or just want to look at some works of cycling art, we will take you to the Di Luca shop, just a short walk from the Hotel. Each night, there will be a short briefing, to give you the ride information for the next day, ahead of dinner at 8’ish.
Pescara to Costa dei Trabocchi
DAY 2
The day starts with Breakfast and a briefing with Danilo at 9, with pedals starting to turn 30 minutes late, for the 80km ride through the rolling hills of Abruzzo and 850m of climbing.
We ride through Francavilla al mare, Miglianico Tollo (City of Wine) and Crecchio, where we stop at the foot of the castle for an espresso, cappuccino or what ever takes your fancy.
Around 1pm, we will arrive at Castel Frentano, for lunch in a wine cellar, before setting off towards Fossacesia and the Costa dei Trabocchi. We expect to arrive at the hotel in Ortona at 4pm but it doesn’t matter if we are a little earlier or later, so you can savor your time in the saddle in this beautiful area of Italy. The next view hours are yours until dinner, which we hope you will agree is a bit of a once in a lifetime experience on the Trabocco, over the sea.
Ortana to Maiella
DAY 3
After breakfast, it’s a 9am departure and we head off towards a UNESCO National Park. It’s a day where you can make a choice between route A and B.
Go higher and a little further (2000m and 91km); or
Not quite so high of far (1300 and 85km)
The first stop is a café in Guardiagrele, and an opportunity to try a local cake specialty. Next, it’s Pretoro, with an option to stop at the local craft brewery (at the foot of the climb). The first 10km averages 5% and after this, your choice comes into play.
Lunch is in a small mountain hut and then it’s a beautiful descent, swiftly down to the hotel, for another 4pm finish.
Dinner will be around 8pm. What you do in between is up to you.
Maiella to Santo Stefano di Sessanio
DAY 4
Once you have fueled up, at Breakfast for the ride ahead, it’s another 9am departure in the direction of Gran Sasso d’Italia. Don’t let the name of the big mountain make you nervous, this is a shorter day with a little less climbing (65km and 1400m upwards).
We will ride alongside Bussin Sul tirino (one of the cleanest rivers in Europe), pause for the usual 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 small lunch break. A leisurely descent and pedal on to our hotel in Santo Stefano di Sessaio, which is a testimony to Italy’s medieval heritage, located in the Gran Sasso National Park, the village, perched at an altitude of 1250 meters, is surrounded by the peaks of the Abruzzo region, offering a unique blend of history, architecture, and natural beauty. If you can tear yourselves away from the views and history, dinner is at 8.30.
Points of interest on the ride: Tirino river, Capodacqua, Rocca Calascio and the castle Santo Stefano Di Sessano.
Santo Stefano - Pescara
DAY 5
The last breakfast ahead of the longest distance (95km) but certainly not as challenging (1100km of climbing).
The pedals start turning at 9, as we ride through what the locals refer to as “little Tibet” and then it’s Lake Pietrnazoni. Lake Pietranzoni is a high-altitude mountain lake (1660 m) it lies in a panoramic position in the mid-plateau of Campo Imperatore and is also known as the "mirror of the Gran Sasso" as the lake reflect the iconic image, of the Como Grande, in its water.
Back in the saddle we cross a canyon that is famous in Italian western films. Yep, Italian western films! Cycling towards Farindola, we go through the village of Penne and arrive in Loreto Apruntio for lunch. Then it’s the final part, heading back to Pescara, the sea, beach, hotel, and an opportunity to relax in the late summer sun (hopefully).
At 9, it’s time for dinner, some reflections and laughs about the time in Abruzzo, before conversation turns to thoughts on the where to go next year. Slovenia, Montenegro, Germany, and the South of France are on our list of considerations. In addition to our Oslo, Norway and, ‘The Italian Lakes’ Bellagio.
Points of interest on this stage include; Lake Pietranzoni, Scoppaturo canyon, Mucciante refuge, Rigopiano, Loreto Apprutino (Oil Town).
Arrivederci
DAY 6
It's that time, you have ridden well, feel rested, relaxed and ready for home. After breakfast we will get your kit in the vehicle and get you to the airport in good time for your flight.
