UWCT 2013
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This tour is a chance to ride some of the famous climbs of the TDF and the Giro whilst enjoying the food and culture of the two countries.
Experience the thrill and excitement of World’s in one of Italy’s most beautiful cities.
The Piedmont region of Italy is .....................
Ahh, Tuscany. Just the mere mention of Italy’s most famous region conjures up images of spectacular coastlines and countryside reaching out to snow capped mountains, romantic cities, crystal clear lakes and rivers…the list goes on, and the bonus this year is that it plays host to the 2013 UCI Elite World Championships. With its abundance of natural treasures, difficult slopes, uphill stretches and long sprints on challenging flatlands: the area cannot fail to satisfy any cyclist, especially the world's best.
Experience the thrill and excitement of World’s in one of Italy’s most beautiful cities.
The Piedmont region of Italy is .....................
Ahh, Tuscany. Just the mere mention of Italy’s most famous region conjures up images of spectacular coastlines and countryside reaching out to snow capped mountains, romantic cities, crystal clear lakes and rivers…the list goes on, and the bonus this year is that it plays host to the 2013 UCI Elite World Championships. With its abundance of natural treasures, difficult slopes, uphill stretches and long sprints on challenging flatlands: the area cannot fail to satisfy any cyclist, especially the world's best.
Tuesday September 24 – Florence
Morning: Junior Men’s Individual TT (La Cascine)
Afternoon: Elite Women’s Individual TT (La Cascine)
Optional group ride in the morning at 9.00, finishing for lunch.
La Cascine is the largest park in Florence, and this is the site of the Junior Men’s and Elite Women’s Time Trial. It’s a little off the usual tourist trail, so it’s a great place to go if you want to sink into typical Florentine way of life away from the bustle of the big city and see your first bit of racing at this level. Tuesday is also market day, so you have a great opportunity to immerse yourself in the local culture and perhaps pick up something to take home with you. If you’d rather jump straight into some sightseeing, then throw on some comfortable walking shoes, grab some water and head straight into the city.
Wednesday September 25 - Montecatini Terme
Afternoon: Elite Men’s Individual TT
Optional group ride in the morning at 9.00, finishing for lunch.
Montecatini Terme is Italy’s biggest Spa town, so if you’ve any remaining fatigue from all the efforts of last week in Trento, this is the ideal spot to while away a couple of hours.
Thursday September 26 – Excursion to Siena
There’s no racing today, so we’ll take a rest day too but head to Siena for some sight-seeing.
Like many Tuscan hill towns, Siena was settled a good few hundred years before the Romans showed up and started out as an Etruscan hill fort, built on three hills and with well-preserved walls. These folks were pretty adept at changing the face of the landscape to enable crops to grow and the region remains green and fertile to this day – you’ll see the dense olive groves and vineyards forming part of the amazing views from the city.
Friday September 27 - Montecatini Terme
Morning: Junior Men’s Road Race
Afternoon: Elite Women’s Road Race
Optional group ride in the morning at 9.00, finishing for lunch. Do as you please in the afternoon.
Saturday September 28 – Florence/Montecatini Terme
Morning: Junior Women’s Road Race (Nelson Mandela Forum, Florence)
Afternoon: U23 Road Race (Montecatini Terme)
Optional group ride in the morning at 9.00, finishing for lunch. Do as you please in the afternoon.
Sunday September 29 - Elite Men’s Road Race
10:00 – Elite Men’s Road Race, Lucca
This is the big one, and so we’re hedging our bets that you’ll want to head down to Lucca for the race at some stage. The race in its entirety is almost 280km, so there is a lot of down time to do some exploring if you want to mix things up a bit throughout the day
Lucca is well worth a visit if you want to catch the start of the race and maybe grab an autograph or two (disclaimer: we don’t recommend this on the climb!) and play paparazzi for a couple of hours. Like Siena, it is another walled hill town, except the entire city walls are intact, with a different tree species planted along each length. With churches and towers abound, it’s another place you’ll want to wear comfortable shoes. If you’re planning on taking olive oil back home, here is the place to do it as Lucca produces some of the finest oil in the world.
The finish is back in Florence, so if it’s a sprint (which it may come down to), then you’ll need to hotfoot it back to the Nelson Mandela Forum for around 4.00pm.
Tomorrow is the last day, so we’ll plan a dinner to reminisce on our fabulous trip.
Monday September 30 – final day
Unfortunately, it’s time to head home. You will be transferred to Malpensa airport for your flight back to Melbourne.
Arrivederci, grazie e buon viaggio!
This tour is an optional add-on for the UCI World Tour package
7 nights – just $1499
Inclusions:
For bookings or information contact: Annie Morrison - 0403 489 560
amorrison@mtatravel.com.au or info@discoverytours.com.au
Full info package here
Booking form here
Morning: Junior Men’s Individual TT (La Cascine)
Afternoon: Elite Women’s Individual TT (La Cascine)
Optional group ride in the morning at 9.00, finishing for lunch.
La Cascine is the largest park in Florence, and this is the site of the Junior Men’s and Elite Women’s Time Trial. It’s a little off the usual tourist trail, so it’s a great place to go if you want to sink into typical Florentine way of life away from the bustle of the big city and see your first bit of racing at this level. Tuesday is also market day, so you have a great opportunity to immerse yourself in the local culture and perhaps pick up something to take home with you. If you’d rather jump straight into some sightseeing, then throw on some comfortable walking shoes, grab some water and head straight into the city.
Wednesday September 25 - Montecatini Terme
Afternoon: Elite Men’s Individual TT
Optional group ride in the morning at 9.00, finishing for lunch.
Montecatini Terme is Italy’s biggest Spa town, so if you’ve any remaining fatigue from all the efforts of last week in Trento, this is the ideal spot to while away a couple of hours.
Thursday September 26 – Excursion to Siena
There’s no racing today, so we’ll take a rest day too but head to Siena for some sight-seeing.
Like many Tuscan hill towns, Siena was settled a good few hundred years before the Romans showed up and started out as an Etruscan hill fort, built on three hills and with well-preserved walls. These folks were pretty adept at changing the face of the landscape to enable crops to grow and the region remains green and fertile to this day – you’ll see the dense olive groves and vineyards forming part of the amazing views from the city.
Friday September 27 - Montecatini Terme
Morning: Junior Men’s Road Race
Afternoon: Elite Women’s Road Race
Optional group ride in the morning at 9.00, finishing for lunch. Do as you please in the afternoon.
Saturday September 28 – Florence/Montecatini Terme
Morning: Junior Women’s Road Race (Nelson Mandela Forum, Florence)
Afternoon: U23 Road Race (Montecatini Terme)
Optional group ride in the morning at 9.00, finishing for lunch. Do as you please in the afternoon.
Sunday September 29 - Elite Men’s Road Race
10:00 – Elite Men’s Road Race, Lucca
This is the big one, and so we’re hedging our bets that you’ll want to head down to Lucca for the race at some stage. The race in its entirety is almost 280km, so there is a lot of down time to do some exploring if you want to mix things up a bit throughout the day
Lucca is well worth a visit if you want to catch the start of the race and maybe grab an autograph or two (disclaimer: we don’t recommend this on the climb!) and play paparazzi for a couple of hours. Like Siena, it is another walled hill town, except the entire city walls are intact, with a different tree species planted along each length. With churches and towers abound, it’s another place you’ll want to wear comfortable shoes. If you’re planning on taking olive oil back home, here is the place to do it as Lucca produces some of the finest oil in the world.
The finish is back in Florence, so if it’s a sprint (which it may come down to), then you’ll need to hotfoot it back to the Nelson Mandela Forum for around 4.00pm.
Tomorrow is the last day, so we’ll plan a dinner to reminisce on our fabulous trip.
Monday September 30 – final day
Unfortunately, it’s time to head home. You will be transferred to Malpensa airport for your flight back to Melbourne.
Arrivederci, grazie e buon viaggio!
This tour is an optional add-on for the UCI World Tour package
7 nights – just $1499
Inclusions:
- All transfers to Florence accommodation and to Melpensa airport for departure
- Centrally located hotel just 10 minutes from the deciding climb on the road race! Standard room based on twin share (single supplements available on request)
- Scheduled group rides around the region
- Detailed maps of Florence area for cycling and walking to help you find your way around
- The option of an excursion to Siena or Lucca
For bookings or information contact: Annie Morrison - 0403 489 560
amorrison@mtatravel.com.au or info@discoverytours.com.au
Full info package here
Booking form here
