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Home , Limoges, Modane

Rome To Dublin & Of Man TT

2016 Outward leg 15th May - 2nd June Return leg 9th June - 27th June

19 days 4000km Daily distances average: 250km’s Riding difficulty: easy/intermediate

Highlights: - Tuscany, Florence, , Millau, Provence, Kerry, Isle Of Man TT races.

This tour has it all - amazing Italian scenery, wonderful French cuisine, twisting Alpine roads, the wonderful scenery of Ireland and the adrenalin of the TT races. We ride through stunning Tuscany and visit the renaissance city of Florence and then some of the best Alpine roads in . Riding into we pass through beautiful Provence, cross the stunning Millau bridge and then head through central France to take the ferry for the wonderful landscape and hospitality of Southern Ireland. Depending on which direction you choose, the tour starts or ends with the ‘Greatest Show On Earth’ - The Isle Of Man TT Road Races. (optional) The pace of this tour is relaxed, with the accent on fine food and wine, great scenery and superb riding. We spend two nights in some locations leaving ample time to visit and experience everywhere on the route. Choose from either leg - Rome to the TT races or the reverse.

Click for map Itinerary

Day 1 Rome - Orvieto 173 km Welcome dinner, departure from and head into the beautiful countryside of Tuscany. We visit the exquisite town of Orvieto with one of the most beauti- ful cathedrals in Italy before stopping for the night in a typical Tuscan country- side hotel. Click Link

Day 2 Orvieto - Florence 169 km Continuing through Tuscany, we ride the ‘Strada de’l vino’ through the Chianti wine groves, visit a vineyard and arrive in a typical Agriturismo countryside accommodation for 2 nights.

Day 3 Florence - 150 km Opportunity for a day in amazing renaissance Florence - dubbed as one of the most beautiful cities in the world or riding the beautiful local roads around the Chianti wine region. Click Link

Day 4 Florence - Rapallo 209 km Heading northwest, we ride into the mountains of National Park Appennino Tosco. Lakes, streams, waterfalls and a summit of 2,000 metres.

Day 5 Rapallo - 300 km Today we head past and start to climb into the Rhone-Alps region tak- ing the trans-alpine road crossing into France. This is some of the best biking in Europe through Susa, Lanslebourg and onto Modan for the night. We stay 2 nights here.

Day 6 Modane - Modane 254 km A chance to ride some of the best passes in Europe, in a large Alpine loop taking in Val-d’Isere, and Aime. Optional day off.

Day 7 Modane - 150 km We continue through this incredible Alpine region to enjoy the best mountain passes with mile after mile of twisties and beautiful Alpine scenery. This is heralded as one the world’s best biking roads and is a stage on the . Click Link

Day 8 Grenoble - 221 km Enjoying still more of the alpine roads, we stay on scenic mountain roads as we descend towards the medieval city of Avignon with a chance to visit the former Papal residence - Palais Des Papes and the famous Rocher des Doms. This is another stage of the Tour De France. (“Sur le Pont d’Avignon” is a French song about the Pont d’Avignon that dates back to the 15th century.) Click Link

Day 9 Avignon - Millau 220 km Today we ride through some of the most beautiful villages in , stopping at the monastery Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert, Brassac and The Devils Gorge. We end the day in Millau and the spectacle of the most beauti- ful engineering project of the 20th Century - The Millau Viaduct. Click Link

Day 10 Millau - Limoges 317 km We take the excellent scenic road north, riding through two national parks - Des Cavennes and Volcans d’Auverge and some of the prettiest villages of the region. We spend the night in Limoges - world famous for it’s ceramics and the ancient quarter - Quartier de la Boucherie. Click Link

Day 11 Limoges - 340 km Another wonderful national park ride - de la Brenne, the most charming French villages and wonderful wine and cuisine. We spend the evening in the infamous Le Mans, known for it’s 24 hour racing spectacle. Day 12 Le Mans - Chebourg/Roscoff 365 km Today we ride the scenic route through two national parks to arrive in time for the overnight ferry to Rosslare in Ireland. Accommodation is provided on board the ferry.

Day 13 Rosslare - Cork 193 km Disembarking the ferry, we head along the coastal route to enjoy the diversity of scenery, culture and great biking that Ireland has to offer. The wonderful Irish Sea coastline is dotted with small hamlets, fishing ports, restaurants and pubs with a stop at Blarney Castle. Click Link

Day 14 Cork - Killarney 140 km After a hearty Irish breakfast we set off to explore some of the most - ied and spectacular scenery of this region, often claimed to be the best in the country. Rugged mountain terrain, crystal clear lakes and mean- dering rivers. We stay 2 nights in Killarney, world-famous because of it’s exquisite location beside lakes and mountains.

Day 15 Killarney 150 km Affectionately know as ‘Heaven’s Reflex’ we explore this region with places such as Port Magee and Dingle and we ride the ‘Ring Of Kerry’ - a 150km round tour that takes in some of the best of this beautiful coun- try. Breathtaking mountains, cliffs and beaches. Click Link

Day 16 Killarney - Galway 250 km Doolin, Galway and Connemara. The best of the wild Atlantic coast. Defined as the longest coastal route in the world. Incredible scenery, Irish music, great food and wonderful hospitality.

Day 17 Galway 150 km A chance to explore more of this incredible region or take time off the bike for a relaxing day or a hill walk.

Day 18 Galway - Dublin 220 km We ride west through the classic Irish scenery to arrive in Dublin in time for the evening Ferry over to the Isle Of Man. Riders have the option of ending the tour in Dublin.

Day 19 Isle Of Man 30 km ‘THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH’ The Isle Of Man Tourist Trophy road races. Dubbed the most prestigious and yet ‘most dangerous’ mo- torcycle race in the world, where riders compete at speeds up to 320km/ hr over 60 kilometres over the Island’s standard roads This is officially the last day of the tour but you may stay as long as you like at the races. Click Link

Note: reverse leg is exactly the same routing but starting at the TT races or in Dublin

This itinerary is intended as a guide and is subject to change de- pending on hotel and ferry availability.

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