This is Nicola’s favorite event of the year, because it combines cycling with a gourmet experience! And, it’s a unique gran fondo in several ways: you are only timed on select climbing portions of the course, and not the entire route, so you can ride hard when it counts, and enjoy yourself during the rest of the ride; the roads are completely closed to traffic, and…instead of bananas at the rest stops, we eat Shrimp Scampi and drink Prosecco!
Join over 2000 cyclists for one of the highlights of the Gran Fondo cycling scene in north-east Italy. This is a brilliant Italian Gran Fondo cycling event celebrating the end of season Prosecco harvest. The start line for the Prosecco Cycling Gran Fondo is in the centre of Valdobbiadene where you will be sent off to the sound of the Nessun Dorma Aria from Turandot, with waiters waving bottles of wine at the peloton. After this dramatic departure, it’s a short climb before setting off for a fast, winding descent through the hills and Prosecco vineyards of North-Eastern Italy. Very much an end of season celebration of riding and wine and food.
We initially attended this Granfondo in 2009, and it was a spectacular event. The Prosecco Cycling features a unique route that has been successfully tested over the last few years. Last year, the route was 96.4 kilometers and had a total altitude of 1550 meters.
Join us and participate in this marvelous experience!
This is a 7-night minimum stay package: we’ll stay 3 nights in Treviso, at the Villa Abbazia - RELAIS & CHATEAUX 5* Hotel, a hotel that emerges from an eighteenth century complex annexed to a Venetian villa and garden. Located in the historic center of the picturesque town of Follina in the province of Treviso, the hotel sits in the Venetian countryside along the famous wine and food itinerary known as La Strada del Prosecco.
And then…just book your stay in Lake Garda as you wish! You might want to stay with us before the Gran Fondo Prosecco to warm up. Or you might consider coming here after the Gran Fondo, to relax by riding along the lake, or through our beautiful vineyards. It’s totally up to you, we can personalize your holiday anyway you like!
This is a sample of the program:
September 22nd, Sunday
Arrive and check-in at Garda Bike Hotel in Peschiera del Garda.
Welcome drinks while our staff sets up your bike for your first ride. Easy ride in the afternoon as a warm up!
September 23rd, Monday
Our first ride will be the famous epic ride - “Tremosine, James Bond” ride. Defined by Winston Churchill as the eighth wonder of the world, we’ll ride the road of the Forra: it is a real jewel set in the mountains and background of a pursuit of the most famous agent in the world, James Bond.
September 24th, Tuesday
Easy ride in the Valpolicella area and lunch-stop for a wine and typical food tasting at the winery "Santa Maria Valverde.”
In the afternoon, a cooking class with Mama Elvira.
September 25th, Wednesday
Epic ride: Monte Baldo. This is the highest peak around Lake Garda. We will take you to the plateau of Lessini, over 10,000 hectares (25,000 acres) containing a surprising variety of natural species as well as historical and archaeological sites of inestimable value, at an an altitude of 1000m.
In the evening you will attend a special tasting at the winery “Corte Quaiara.”
September 26th, Thursday
This day will be dedicated to riding the Morenic Hills and Borghetto. We think of this area as “Little Tuscany”, an area that tends to be flatter, but also marked with rolling hills and winding roads.
After lunch (at about 2 pm) we will leave for Treviso. Once we arrive there, we will visit the Pinarello factory.
Check-in at the hotel in Valdobbiadene and dinner.
September 27th, Friday.
After breakfast, we’ll take a long ride along the Prosecco vineyards stopping along the way to do some tasting too! We will have a snack-lunch at the winery with the opportunity to taste some local wines.
In the evening we will have a group dinner in a typical restaurant in the area.
September 28th , Saturday.
Today we will join the Prosecco cycling VIP event: after breakfast we will leave to ride 70 km, in the direction of Possagno – Asolo. After the lunch in a fish restaurant, we will visit the "Villa Sandi" winery where you will taste some local wine. After the tasting you will ride to pick up your Gran Fondo welcome pack (the goodie bag and number) by the “Locanda Sandi” where you will also have a delicious dinner.
September 29th , Sunday – Prosecco Cycling Granfondo Day
This is the day of the Gran Fondo Ride!
Wake up to a super energy breakfast. Roll down to the start line and be ready to ride the event of your life.
You will benefit from the GOLD treatment: personalized race package, departure from the first line at the PC, access to the hospitality area where you will find a buffet-lunch with typical Italian products matched with the Prosecco "Villa Sandi". After completing the ride, enjoy the party and Prosecco while you share your ride anecdotes and experiences.
After the event we will transfer you back to Garda Bike Hotel
Note:
- this is only a sample program, some of the details above may be modified due to organizational reasons
- if you are landing in Italy on the 26th, you must arrive in Peschiera del Garda in the morning, in order to join the group transfer from Garda Bike Hotel to the Prosecco region
The hotel emerges from within an eighteenth century complex annexed to a Venetian villa and garden in the historic center of the picturesque town of Follina in the province of Treviso, and trails onto the Venetian countryside along the famous wine and food itinerary known as La Strada del Prosecco (The Prosecco Road).
The luxuriant lifestyle of the Venetian nobility whose summer exodus to this area provided them an escape from Venice’s smoldering heat, is echoed throughout the culture and art.
In Treviso:
Hotel Relais & Chateaux Villa Abbazia ***** in TREVISO District, in the middle of the Prosecco land
• 3 nights’ accommodation in double rooms
• Buffet breakfast every morning
• Dinner featuring the best local produce and cuisine,
• laundry service for your cycling kit
• Secure bike storage room
• Support of our Van and driver / mechanic who will look after your bike
• Our professional guides will ride with you
• GUARANTEED VIP ENTRY TO GRAN FONDO
• Late check out after the Granfondo
At Lake Garda
Minimum 4 nights of accommodation at our four star Garda Bike Hotel in Peschiera del Garda.
• Accommodation in our hotel rooms or apartments
• our "Bici Love - ALL INCLUSIVE cycling package" including:
• Full board (breakfast, post ride buffet, dinner a la carte)
• Daily guided group rides (7 days per week), with van support on long rides
• Daily laundry service (bike clothing)
• Transfers from/to Verona with prior arrangement
click here for more detailed information
• T-shirt special design Garda Bike Hotel by Alè mod. top quality PRR
• Group transfer from Peschiera del Garda to Treviso (26th September in the eary afternoon)
• Group transfer from Treviso to Peschiera del Garda (29th September in the afternoon)
We are an OFFICIAL PINARELLO RENTAL CENTRE with more than 50 bikes available in different sizes. In 2019, our top of the line bike rental is the new PINARELLO DOGMA F10 DISK with Di2 eletronic gear and disc brakes. The bike of the Team Sky and Chris Froome. The PINARELLO GREVIL is a true all day road bike that ticks all the boxes. From the super plush 30mm wide tyers, that will let you easily negotiate the cobblestones and medieval stone-paved streets of our surrounding villages, to the extra wide 50-34 // 12 – 34 gearing that will empower you to enjoy even our most feared climbs, complete with powerful Shimano hydraulic disc brakes and a more relaxed geometry for all-day comfort. The PINARELLO NYTRO is the first e-road bike that guarantees the maximum riding pleasure downhill and a seamless and effective support uphill. The new NYTRO offers four modes, to help you go for a ride wherever you want, with an electric assistance until 25km/h. As a new standard on the e-road bikes market, NYTRO uses the most advanced drive system in the market: EVATION from FAZUA. The PINARELLO PRINCE & GAN are our standard level bikes for beginner or casual riders and suits the needs of everybody.
The total price for this special offer starts from:
€ 2.999,00 per person, in double/twin room, per 7 nights (BIKE RENTAL INCLUDED)
€ 2.499,00 per person, in double/twin room, per 7 nights (BIKE RENTAL EXCLUDED)
Single room supplement: € 499,00 per 7 nights
Advance booking: 10% discount for reservations made by 31.03.19 (upon availability)
The PLUS for our returning guests is the FREE bike rental:
€ 2.499,00 per person, in double/twin room, per 7 nights (BIKE RENTAL INCLUDED)
Contact us for a custom offer, for individual cyclists as well as for teams and clubs.
The following services are available at an additional cost:
• Overnight in single room
• Airport transfers to Garda Bike Hotel from most major northern Italian airports by prior arrangement. (except the transfer Verona "Valerio Catullo" - Garda Bike Hotel or Garda Bike Hotel - Verona "Valerio Catullo" that is already included in the package)
The following will not be included in the quoted price of the package:
• Flights
• Insurance
• Personal expenses and purchases, such as alcoholic drinks unless specifically mentioned in the program above
The cycling tours from Nicola and the staff at Enjoy Bike Hotel are always fantastic and this year’s Gran Fondo Prosecco package was all top shelf. Hospitality at the Enjoy Bike Hotel is unparalleled, the passion for cycling is intense, and all the arrangements for our time in Valdobiaddene and nearby locales were carefully arranged and perfectly executed. We sampled fantastic Prosecco and cheese at local wineries, toured the Pinarello factory in Treviso, and stayed at the magnificent Ca’del Poggio hotel at the top of the toughest climb in the Gran Fondo. The Gran Fondo Prosecco ride through the wine country of northern Italy is absolutely gorgeous. And of course there are the new friends and camaraderie that quickly forms with the riding group who were all delightful people. Bravo Nicola and the gang for a superb Gran Fondo Prosecco 2018 package! I highly recommend the experience to all cycling enthusiasts and will definitely be back for more.
Our Prosecco packaged started with a trip to the Pinerello factory which, for any cycling enthusiast, is a mecca of all things fabulous! In the afternoon we were treated to a tour around a typical prosecco vineyard – seeing the whole process from grape through to packaging was really interesting & brought a deeper appreciation for the area & what was to come.The hotel we stayed at provided the most amazing views over the prosecco region & a preview into what we could expect during Sunday's Granfondo (spoiler alert: it's NOT flat..)Picking up a race pack ahead of any event is not usually a highlight but with lots of prosecco being served within the beautiful grounds of Villa Sandi vineyard this was by far the best "expo" I have ever been to!The Granfondo route took us through rolling hills & vineyards which might be typical for the region but provided a beautiful backdrop to the event itself. And of course, with a Prosecco feed stop, what is not to love?!The package was well thought out & very enjoyable. The thought, passion & detail that Nicola & team put into creating this package was exceptional – the result being we were treated to a fun, interesting & cultural experience which I would highly recommend. Just make sure you take a bag big enough to bring home the spoils of your labour
The Gran Fondo Prosecco was a marvelous experience. I arrived on the eve of the event, and everything was already organized for me, including my bicycle set up. We stayed in a designer hotel, Ca’del Poggio, which was super comfortable and had an accommodating staff. The next morning, we had a delicious breakfast before heading to the start line close by. Once the ride started we crossed over vineyard hills with lovely scenery, and a few good inclines from time to time, for incentive! Nicola organized this trip to perfection! He was extremely thoughtful and knowledgeable about the course, waited for me when I was getting tired and pulled strongly when I recovered. There were toasts of prosecco, which created a party atmosphere and the buffet that we had at the end of the ride (because we had a VIP package from Garda Bike Hotel) was a sophisticated mix of oysters, ceviche, gnocchi and more. The presentation was also lovely with sofas to sit on, flowers, fruit and many other delicious items, while being surrounded by wonderful people. It really was a party and an incomparable event that I can’t want to do again….and bring my friends.