Tour code: itbg4165

Activity: Road bike
Duration: 1 week

Typology: Spotlight tour
Version: Self-guided/Guided group
Lenght: 7 days, 6 nights
Min. n. partecipants: 2/6
Departure: Riolo Terme, Italy
Arrival: Riolo Terme, Italy

Tour description: A daisy tour that follows in the footsteps of the UCI World Championship professionals in Romagna and retraces the magnificent circuit of the 2020 UCI World Championship up to the Imola racetrack. There is also the possibility to customize the daily itineraries on more or less demanding routes at the request of the group.

Medium level
Average daily distance: 97 km
Total distance: 490 km
Average daily gain: +1398 m
Total gain: +6988 m 

Route information: Low-traffic asphalted roads with the least number of transfers on main roads, are the playground that will test us with important gradients and challenging distances in a few days but still accessible to many.

Daily itinerary

Day 1

Individual arrival in Riolo Terme, the link between Emilia and Romagna. Surrounded by rolling hills, this land has given birth to great Italian cycling champions such as Cassani, Fontanelli, Conti and many others. ACCOMODATION: Grand Hotel Terme di Riolo or similar.

Day 2

ACROSS THE APENNINES FROM RIOLO TERME TO FLORENCE | 104 km | +1755 m | Medium | We start with a great classic climb that takes us across the Apennines to Florence. We first pass through Palazzuolo sul Senio, the gateway to Tuscany and the “city of organic food”: apples, pears and chestnuts are produced without pesticides, there is a dairy with excellent cheeses and much more. Then you will have to push to reach the Passo della Colla di Casaglia for over 1000 meters of uphill altitude. However, we will be rewarded with one of the most scenic itineraries in this area of the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines. From here, a long descent takes us to Borgo San Lorenzo, where we continue to climb up to Vetta le Croci. Already you can see Fiesole and Florence just beyond. Return by transfer or train to Riolo Terme. Dinner OYO. ACCOMODATION: Grand Hotel Terme di Riolo or similar. 

Day 3

RIDE DOZZA AND IMOLA | 118 km | +1667 m | Difficult | The long ascent of the Paretaio pass (7.8 kilometers at 5.7%) and the one excavated among the gypsum that leads to Monte della Pieve (8.3 kilometers at 5.7%) make a day already full of ups and downs extremely challenging, from the relevant mileage. We stop at Castel del Rio for a substantial snack and a view of the Ponte degli Alidosi, a particular arch bridge that crosses the Santerno river. Dinner together in the center of Riolo at Cantine Antica Grotta, an ancient place in the structure but modern in the conception of food and well drinking. ACCOMODATION: Grand Hotel Terme di Riolo or similar. 

Day 4

RIDE THE VALLEYS OF COMACCHIO | 146 km | +887 m | Easy | Cool-down Day, a ride in the Italian Camargue, in a place that is one of the least known portions of the country, physically more inaccessible than the map suggests. Visit to Comacchio which, due to the many bridges and canals that cross it, is also called the little Venice before returning to Riolo Terme. Before dinner, we recommend that you go by transfer or car to the Agriturismo Il Gualdo di Sotto, for a visit to their cellar with wine tasting that will also accompany you throughout the dinner at the same structure. ACCOMODATION: Grand Hotel Terme di Riolo or similar. 

Day 5

RIDE MONTE BUSCA AND MONTE TREBBIO | 114 km | +2142 m | Difficult | For all Romagna people it is «the volcano of Monte Busca». The burning fountain at the origin of the eternal flames that burn on the top of the relief placed between Tredozio and Portico is one of the peculiarities of the Romagna Apennines, an iconic place where anyone born between Imola and Gabicce goes at least once in their life. Monte Busca - which can be reached after crossing Modigliana and Tredozio - is only the second major roughness of the day. After passing Portico and Rocca San Casciano, the road climbs in the direction of Monte Trebbio. Rejuvenating afternoon at the salsobromoiodic pool at the Terme di Riolo. Dinner OYO. ACCOMODATION: Grand Hotel Terme di Riolo or similar.

Day 6

WORLD ROUTE | 27 km | +537 m | Easy | The iconic day arrives, twenty-seven kilometers between vineyards and cellars that are a succession of climbs and descents in the highest expression of the bicycle - the cycling world championships - but also a hymn to the desire to live of humanity that on 27 September 2020 gathered on colli di Riolo Terme to watch the world championship won by the predestined Frenchman Julian Alaphilippe, triumphant after the breathtaking chase that the Flemish Wout Van Aert forced him to take. The world championship included a ring to be covered 6-9 times. Within this circuit there are two climbs, Mazzolano 2.7 km long with an average gradient of 6.1 and Cima Galisterna 2.7 km long with an average gradient of 6.4%. The second climb has a stretch of about 1.5 km at 10.6% and a stretch at 14%. During the day it will be possible to stop and visit the Imola Checco Costa Autodrome Multimedia Museum, an exhibition space dedicated to engines located in the evocative setting of the Autodrome. Celebrate with a typical Romagna dinner at the Trattoria Da Giovanna in the center of Riolo Terme. ACCOMODATION: Grand Hotel Terme di Riolo or similar.

Day 7

After breakfast, end of services. For those who still want to climb it is possible to extend their stay and explore the numerous routes offered in the area independently.