Discover Friuli Venezia Giulia
Dates: July 6, 2009 to July 13, 2009
Terrain: Moderate to Rolling Hills, Occasionally Steep | Daily Miles: 40 - 70
Difficulty Level: 4
8 Days - $2,400 - Single Supplement $600
Friuli Venezia Giulia is yet another cyclist's paradise that is perfect for La Corsa's high standards for bike vacations. The riding is outstanding as the roads are smooth and well paved and the climbs range from gentle and manageable to challenging. Our Friuli tour will be run out of our base hotel, the beautiful 4 star Grand Hotel President in Spilimbergo. From there, it's a short, traffic-free ride into the spectacular countryside where every ride has, not one, but dozens of interesting destinations. We'll ride through beautiful forests to pre-historic caves and grottos, pass lakes with the greenest water you've ever seen, and through tiny stone towns perched up in the mountains. There are romanesque churches, castles, fortresses and piazzas that will blow you away. We'll even ride to the town of San Danielle for lunch and eat the famous prosciutto that is known around the world.
They say it is 100 kms from everywhere - Venice, Austria, Slovenia, the Alps, the Sea. It's located in the northeastern corner of Italy and was once part of the Austrian Empire. It streches from the Adriatic Sea to the Giulian Alps so the riding is very varied. The food is definately Italian as is the local culture and fantastic wine. (Try the pinot franc).
Our primary leader on this tour will be Tomaso Tome, manager of the Grand Hotel President (with Howie as his co-leader!). Tomaso is an Italian who speaks fluent English and German, is an outstanding cyclist and knows the area inside and out. He'll even take us to his family's village. Our week-long itinerary of loop rides will include all breakfasts and dinners. A great addition to our La Corsa catalog of challenging bike vacations.
Deluxe Tour also includes the following:
Breakfast, Dinner and energy drinks
Laundry Service
Road bike tours with detailed maps and English speaking guide
Post-ride refreshments
Cycling maintenance/repair room
Free access to hotel Spa, Sauna and Gym
The Carnia Classic Gran Fondo
The highlight of the tour will be our participation in the Carnia Classic, a new Gran Fondo featuring the famed Monte Zoncolan (also referred to as "the Monster") which is considered one of the five most difficult climbs in Europe, perhaps the hardest. The Zoncolan is a 6 mile climb that averages 12% and hits a max of 22%. There will be a short course of 107 km (66 miles) and a 140 km long course (87 miles).
This tour promises to be an outstanding adventure. You won't want to miss this one!
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