Sunday, 10th March 2019: our “Boutique Cycling Experience Collections” calendar starts off the year with a bang! and a new event that we are excited to share with you. This year we have become an official tour operator for Strade Bianche, which means we can offer you the best possible “white roads” experience. Not only will we guarantee your registration to this event, which sells out year after year, you will also have VIP status, up front at the start of this monumental race, and you’ll be treated like a VIP with the world class experience we have planned for you in historic Sienna, Italy.
The sportive edition has grown tremendously and in 2018 there were 5000 participants, one of whom was Nicola! He enjoyed the event so much that for 2019, he wanted to share this experience with you! Nicola has secured 20 VIP entries, which means you’ll be at the head of the Peloton, and will lead the way, positioned with the first 200 cyclists at the start line.
The Strade Bianche is a unique Gran Fondo, famous for its hilly, white (unpaved/gravel) roads, the same roads that make up the famous Strade Bianche Eroica Pro bike race. The white grave, common throughout the picturesque Tuscan countryside, provide the unique character of the race. These country lanes and farm tracks, called strade bianche or sterrati in Italian, twist through the hills and vineyards of the Chianti region. The unpaved sections are characterized by uneven road surfaces and white gravel, that give a unique feel to the ride, and will give you a memorable challenge. You’ll ride the event in top form with our brand new 2019 Pinarello Gravel bike – all the speed, style and performance of a Pinarello, but designed to ride gravel roads, like the Strade Bianche.
This is a 4-night minimum package, which includes:
• 4 nights in Siena, Tuscany, from Thursday 07th March to Monday 11th March 2019, with choice of two unique hotels
• optional stay at Lake Garda, before or after Tuscany, including transfer between hotels
• other optional trip customizations possible before or after Tuscany
07th March (Thursday)
We recommend that you arrive and stay at Garda Bike Hotel on 6 March, so that we can get an early start on 7 March for our trip to Tuscany. Otherwise, plan to meet us mid-day in Siena. For those already arrived at Garda Bike Hotel, we’ll have a hearty breakfast and then grab our bags and bikes and transfer by luxury van to Siena, with an approximate travel time of 3 hours.
Once we check in to our hotel (Palazzo Ravizza or The Grand Hotel) we’ll go for a short ride with our private guide, giving us the chance to test our bikes, and make any final adjustments. We’ll stop for lunch along the way.
We’ll get back early enough to get ready for an intimate dinner with The Bora Hans-Grohe team, the team of Peter Sagan. We’ll dine with the pros and get to learn a little bit about them before we watch them race.
08th March (Friday)
We’ll scout out the roads of the Gran Fondo, a twisty and undulating course, with no long climbs but with punchy hills, most significantly on the unpaved parts. We’ll ride at an easy pace to enjoy the beautiful short route with its hills and ancient buildings. We will stop for photos and get familiar with the challenging climbs. We will be supported by our local guide, van and our driver/mechanic. We’ll also stop for lunch long the way.
Late afternoon, we’ll head to Felsina, a beautiful wine estate in the hills of Castelnuovo Berardenga, where we’ll have a wine tasting of the classic Chianti and Sangiovese wines of this region, along with a true farm to table dinner, with products grown and produced on this estate.
09th March (Saturday)
In the morning, we’ll watch the PRO’s riding the Europe's most southern Northern Classic.
After breakfast, we’ll head down to the start line, and watch the excitement up close, as the pros’ warm up in front of their tour bus and sign in for the race.Once the pros have headed out of town, we’ll head out ourselves for a morning warm up ride.After lunch, we’ll head to the finish line, and watch as the excitement rolls into the Piazza del Campo in the heart of Siena.
This evening, we'll dine together and review our plans for the next day's Gran Fondo. At our briefing, we'll review the next day's itinerary, including meeting points for before and after the ride.
10th March (Sunday)
This is the day of our “Gran Fondo Strade Bianche.” Riders can choose between two routes – a long course of 139km, featuring 31.4km of gravel, or s shorter option at 86.6km with 21.6km of white roads. You will be up front leading the way for the Peloton, astride a brand new Pinarello gravel bike. After completing the Granfondo, we’ll enjoy a well-earned lunch at the Garda Bike Hotel booth, while you share your ride triumphs and experiences.
In the evening, we’ll get together for a fun pizza bash dinner to celebrate the end of our experience
11th March (Monday)
after breakfast, we’ll return to Garda Bike Hotel, and make any transfers.
It will be an unforgettable experience, not only because of the unique character of the roads, but because we’ll be bringing our “Dolce Vita” style to Tuscany. We’ll stay in medieval Siena, with its gothic archways, towers and the famous Piazza del Campo that is the focal point and heart of the city. You’ll have your choice of two special hotels, one a 19th century palazzo with a beautiful garden or a 5 star 17th century gem in the heart of the city. We’ll spend 4 days exploring both Siena, with its 17 contrades, or districts, as well as the amazing Tuscan hills, dotted with their cypress trees, giving that distinct Tuscan look. And because Tuscany is so well known for its Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and many other wine varieties, you can be sure we’ll taste the local wine. We’ll dine on Tuscan specialties, like Ribollita (a hearty Tuscan soup) and Bistecca alla Fiorentina (a mouthwatering steak, grilled to perfection). One night, we’ll even have some very special dinner guests.
You’ve heard about Tuscany and you’ve seen the pictures...now, you’ll spend 4 days immersed in the tastes, scents and beauty of Tuscany, as well as ride the Classic Strade Bianche.
• GUARANTEED ENTRY TO STRADE BIANCHE GRAN FONDO, with VIP entry at the front of the Peloton, in the first grid (numbers 1-200).
• VIP DINNER with the BORA HANSGROHE PROFESSIONAL TEAM.
• Bike Rental of our Pinarello Gravel (optional)
• Full Cycling Kit by Alè
• Collective transfer from Peschiera del Garda to Siena (07th March in the afternoon)
• Collective transfer from Siena to Peschiera del Garda (11th March in the morning)
(On request we might stop in Bologna or Florence)
IN TUSCANY
• Four nights’ accommodation at Palazzo Ravizza - 3*, a historical palazzo turned boutique hotel in Siena. You’ll love the character and charm of this palazzo, along with both its beautiful garden and views as well its prime location within the city
For a 5- star experience, you may also choose, with a supplement, The Grand Hotel Continental, the only 5-star boutique hotel in the historical center of Siena. The hotel is housed in a historic 17th century building, which has been restored to its 17th century splendor and is located on a central street in Siena’s, amid local shops, in the heart of the city. A perfect location to explore the city by foot. This beautiful noble palace reflects Renaissance style and is embellished with magnificent frescoes and rich decorations. Each of the 51 rooms and suites is a masterpiece.
Both hotels are ideally located in central Sienna, close to the ride start and within walking distance to explore Sienna on foot.
• Accommodation in double rooms
• Buffet breakfast every morning
• dinner in local restaurant, featuring the best local produce and cuisine
• Support of our Van and driver / mechanic who will look after your bike
• Our professional GBH guides will ride with you
OPTIONAL STAY AT LAKE GARDA
• Accommodation at our four star Garda Bike Hotel in Peschiera del Garda, 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
Palazzo Ravizza is enclosed by the city walls of Siena and preserved its original style dating back to XIX century, when it was restored to become a dwelling and, at a later time, a boarding house.
The refined design of the rooms and the period furniture wonderfully match with the mood of a private home.
We like to think to our hotel as a “shelter” from the outside world; the sitting rooms, the reading room, the bar, the lemon-house and a unique garden inside the city walls, all offer private spots where guests may spend time reading, chatting or relax while sipping an aperitif and looking at the sunset over the hills surrounding Siena.
The only 5-star luxury hotel in the heart of Siena
A luxury hotel in the atmosphere of a historic home
The Grand Hotel Continental in Siena is the only 5-star boutique hotel in the historical centre of Siena.
The Grand Hotel Continental enjoys a privileged location on the city’s main street, just a short walk from Piazza del Campo and the magnificent Duomo cathedral. The Palio is the most important event in Siena, taking place on July 2 and August 16 every year.
In the Palio, the various Sienese "contrade", or districts in which the city is divided, challenge each other in a passionate horserace in the heart of the city in the Piazza del Campo.
STAY AT HOTEL PALAZZO RAVIZZA - 3*
€ 2.099,00 per person in double room for 4 nights, Pinarello Gravel Bike Rental included.
€ 1.899,00 per person in double room, for 4 nights, without Bike Rental
€ 1.299,00 per person (NON CYCLIST COMPANION) in double room, for 4 nights
Single Supplement for double room, for 4 nights, € 400,00
STAY AT GRAND HOTEL CONTINENTAL - 5*
€ 2.599,00 per person in double room for 4 nights, Pinarello Gravel Bike Rental included.
€ 2.399,00 per person in double room, for 4 nights, without Bike Rental
€ 1.799,00 per person (NON CYCLIST COMPANION) in double room, for 4 nights
Single Supplement for double room, for 4 nights, € 500,00
• • •
10% discount for advance booking, limited time only, for the first 5 reservations
10% discount for returning guests
RATES ARE VALID UNTIL 30.11.2018
Contact Us for a custom offer, for individual cyclists as well as for teams and clubs.
• Overnight in single room
• Accommodation at Grand Hotel Continental – Starhotels, the only 5-star boutique hotel in the historical centre of Siena
• Customise your program with a ski trip in Bormio or extend your stay at Lake Garda
• Airport transfer (Milan, Venice...)
• Flights
• Insurances
• Personal expenses and purchases
• Alcoholic drinks unless mentioned in the programme above
Participating in the Granfondo Strade Bianche with GardaBikeHotel was a fantastic experience. We tested the course two days before the race at an easy pace and we enjoyed the beautiful route with its hills and ancient buildings. We were able to stop for photos and get familiar with the challenging climbs, somewhat covered with snow along with and the stones and gravel. Our bikes had appropriate tires that gave us the security to ride.
The following day was the Professional's Race and we watched the departure and arrival from the VIP area, so close to the riders I admire. It was like a dream!
The next day was our ride, and we departed from a nice hotel, perfectly located near the start line. We had an awesome group with riders from Brazil, Italy and Germany. We departed on the front of the VIP corral and had GardaBikeHotel assistence throughout the ride. Because of this, I was able to enjoy all of this awesome, incredible beautiful route with them. It was the most beautiful event of my life to date. Pedaling in this area transported me to the times of the Renaissance. There was so much beauty and history around me. Enjoying this all in a saddle is really special. Thank you so much for helping me to have such an amazing experience!