GOURMET PIEDMONT with PUNTOTOURS
29 April - 8 May, 2015
Terrain: UndulatingDaily Distance: Approx 60km - 37mi
Total Distance: Main 430km - 267mi; Long 620km - 385mi
Total Ascent: Approx 4,500m - 14,765ft
Highlights:
It will seem as if you are riding through a painting, along very quiet roads through verdant hills and vineyards, with spectacular views to the Alps that separate Italy from Switzerland and France. This tour is for the cyclist after an experience to delight the heart and tastebuds.
Famous throughout the world for its wine and gastronomic riches, such as the Barolo wine and white truffles of Alba, Piedmont offers superb cycling with easy or challenging climbing through its abundant vineyards and wineries, sweet hills and picturesque towns.
This tour departs from the beautiful town of Alba, passes through the ancient roman bath city of Acqui Terme and finishes near the birthplace of Italy’s cycling greats Fausto Coppi and Giradegno, Novi Ligure.
This is a gastronomic tour de force with cycling thrown in to make sure you’ve worked up an appetite.
Buon Appetito!!
Day One – Alba Warm Up Ride to Pollenzo
Distance: 30km Total Ascent: 200m
Towns: Roddi Polenzo, Cinzano, San Vittoria d’Alba - Long Course: Cornelliano, Piobesi
Activities: Guided Tour of Alba, dinner in town tasting some of the local specialties
Day Two – Alba Loop to Barolo
Distance: 40km Total Ascent: 600m
Towns: Grinzane Cavour, La Morra, Barolo, Verduno, Roddi - Long Course: Cornelliano, Piobesi
Activities: Truffle hunting demonstration and Truffle Dinner.
Day Three – Alba Loop to Barbaresco
Distance: 40km Total Ascent: 500m
Towns: Guarene, Priocca, Costigliole d’Asti, Neive, Barbaresco - Long Course: Govone, Isola d’Asti, Montegrosso
Activities: Visit to the “Cantina dei Produttori” winery and Hazelnut Cake tasting in the evening
Day Four – Alba to Acqui Terme
Distance: 46km Total Ascent: 600m
Towns: Neive, Agliano Terme, Nizza Monferrato - Long Course: Mombaruzzo, Cassine
Activities: Thermal baths and fresh pasta making demonstration
Day Five – Acqui loop to Nizza Monferrato
Activities: Family lunch and wine tasting with local wine producer Chiappone.
Day Six – Acqui Terme Rest Day
Enjoy the spa, relax, go shopping before an evening of wine tasting at an "enoteca regionale" and a delicious dinner with live music.
Day Seven - Acqui Terme to Gavi
Total Ascent: 1,000m Time: 4 hours
A beautiful ride on gentle rolling hills through the towns of Ovada and Novi Ligure, arriving in our final destination, Gavi.
Day Eight – Gavi Loop to Nove Ligure
Distance: 40km Total Ascent: 600m
Towns: Gavi, San Cristofero, Tassarolo, Novi - Long Course: Parodi Ligure, Capriata, Tassarolo
Activities: Visit to the Cycling Museum and tasting the fmaous Italian chocolate of Novi
Day Nine – Gavi Loop to Castellania
Distance: 40km Total Ascent: 700m
Towns: Serravalle, Albarasca, Castellania, Podigliano, Gavazzana - Long Course: Olva, Carezzano
Activities: Visit home town of Fausto Coppi, taste the Barbera made by his nephew
Day Ten – Arrivederci!
Head to Milan for a few days to experience the Universal Expo 2015!
