With the Giro D’Italia already over and the Tour de France less than a month away, the Grand Tour season is officially underway. For cycling enthusiasts who want to do more than just cheer on their favorite athletes from the sidelines, Saddle Skedaddle has created three cycling adventures bringing travelers along the same routes of the Giro D’Italia, the Tour de France, and the Vuelta a Espana.
In Italy, Saddle Skedaddle guests can follow in the path of Giro d’Italia challengers who tackled the Italian Alps and Dolomites before concluding in Verona. The 8-day Italian Alps Guided Road Cycling itinerary includes some of the country’s toughest mountain road climbs such as the Passo della Presolana, Passo Vivione, and Mortirolo. For those who would prefer a less strenuous alternative, the Lakes of Lombardia guided tour follows the Giro’s path solely through Italy’s scenic Northern Lake District. This 8-day tour includes stops in several lakeside towns such as Bellagio, Sarnico, and Riva del Garda. The Italian Alps itinerary departs on July 6, 2019 with prices starting from $2,160 pp. The Lakes of Lombardic tour departs June 22, July 13 and Aug. 8, 2019 with prices starting from $2,240 pp.
While riders in the Tour de France spend nearly a month weaving through the mountain passes of the French Alps and Pyrenees before ending the race in Paris, Saddle Skedaddle cyclists can spend eight days riding through some of the Tour’s most famous stretches, including Cime de la Bonnet—the highest road in Europe—on the 8-day Raid Alpine guided road cycling trip. For those who would prefer to simply take in the views and wine of southern France on a more tranquil route, the company also offers the 8-day Haute Dordogne itinerary. The Raid Alpine journey will depart on July 21 with prices starting from $2,280 pp, while the Haute Dordogne trip has departures scheduled for June 29 and Aug. 3, priced from $2,360 pp.
Cyclists who book any of the Italian or French tours by June 30 will receive a 5 percent discount using promo code GTFIVE or a free bike rental using promo code GTBIKE.
The Grand Finale
The Vuelta a Espana, the finale of the Grand Tour season, takes place over three weeks in August and September as cyclists tackle the Pyrenees bordering between Spain and France before ending in Madrid. On the 8-day Vuelta Classics itinerary, Saddle Skedaddle’s longest-running road cycling route, guests can follow some of the race’s most iconic routes, including the wilderness areas of Somiedo (a UNESCO World Heritage site), Fuentes Carriones, and the Picos de Europa National. On the other hand, the new Road to Santiago guided cycling tour offers guests the chance to soak up the seafood, cider, and views along the Cantabrian coast. The Vuelta Classics tour departs on June 16 and July 28, with prices starting at $1,970, while the Road to Santiago itinerary departs on July 7 and Sept. 15, with prices starting at $2,535 pp.
For more information, visit skedaddle.com. To learn about other new cycling routes hitting the road this year, click here.
