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Giro d'Italia Big Start

Sardinia set to host start of 2017 Giro d'Italia

The 100th edition of the Giro d'Italia in 2017 will start with 3 stages in spectacular Sardinia, famed for its beaches and challenging scenery, probably followed by a stop on Vincenzo Nibali’s island of Sicily. Then it heads over to the heel of the Italian boot in Puglia. The 100h edition stays within 's borders and features as many of the race's classic climbs as possible. It will pay respect to the host country's spectacular scenery but also the cities that hosted the first Giro in 1909: Naples, Chieti, Rome, Florence, Bologna, Genoa, Turin and Milan. Join Go4Cycling on this tour honoring sporting history. The 1909 Giro d'Italia winner, Luigi Ganna, used his prize money to open a bicycle factory and while we can't promise you will do the same, we can guarantee memories that will last a lifetime.

• Unique and exclusive cycling experience with access on the Official Course • Cross the finish line and take pictures on the Official Podium • Enjoy the VIP-treatment at the VIP-zone at the finish.

Wednesday, May 3rd: Meeting point at Airport (Aeroporto di Olbia-Costa Smeralda) • 11 am: meeting @ Olbia airport. • Transfer to our hotel at Olbia. • Olbia, known as “Olbia the Happy” to the Ancient Greeks, is noted primarily as the gateway to the glamorous Costa Smeralda, “the Emerald Coast,” beloved by the jet set and anyone seeking a beach holiday in a beautiful setting. The city, which dates back to the Nuragic inhabitants of the island c. 1800 B.C. , has a population of 58,000 and features the medieval San Simplicio basilica. It is known for cafes dotting central squares like Piazza Matteotti. On the palm- lined waterfront to the east, the Museo Archeologico di Olbia has exhibits ranging from Bronze Age artifacts to Roman warships. The hilltop Nuraghe Riu Mulinu is an archaeological complex with views of the Gulf of Olbia. • After the check-in we will start with the fitting of our world-class rental bikes. For those bringing their own bikes, our staff can assist with the assembly of your bike. • 3pm: Short ride for bike fitting. • Welcome dinner: The itinerary and program for the following days will be explained.

Thursday, May 4th: Team presentation day • After breakfast we will head out with the bikes for a ride towards . We will make a stop for lunch at , a distance of around 50 kms. This town of 14,000 was settled by the Romans although there are traces remaining of earlier Nuragic occupants. Its scenic location, with green rocky landscapes, offers a contrast to its austere grey granite architecture. From there we can drive to Alghero, but those who want can continue their ride, a challenging route of more than 100 kms through the interior to the western coast of the island. • In the afternoon we will witness the team presentation of the Giro d’Italia in Alghero. • Tonight we will overnight in Alghero. Considered one of Sardinia's most beautiful medieval cities, it is a tourism centre today and is particularly popular in July and August. In spite of the impulses of tourism, the city retains its character, honed over centuries of different rulers, beginning with its Genoese founders in the 12th Century, later conquered by the Kingdom of Aragon, the Hapsburgs and the Savoyards. Curiously, it retains a significant minority of Catalan speakers, the only such group in Italy. • The centro storico, one of the best preserved in Sardinia, is an attractive place to while away the evening, with its cobbled lanes, cafés and palaces overlooking the yacht-filled harbour.

Friday, May 5th: Start of the 100th Giro d’Italia! Stage 1 Alghero - Olbia • At this stage we can watch the riders at the start in the Michelangelo VIP Hospitality zone. • An expo type village is created at the start of each one of the stages. It is usually here that everyone who is linked in any way to the Giro including sponsors, media and celebrities from the cycling world will show themselves. Also local companies will be keen to show off their wares. Your VIP passes will give you access to one of the Hospitality Areas located close to the stage where the riders will sign on for the days stage. • MEET THE RIDERS IN THIS ELECTRIC ATMOSPHERE! • You will receive a day pass which gives you access to your Hospitality Area with snack/coffee bar service available. After signing in for today's stage, the riders will typically head to the hospitality areas where you will have chance to get up close to them and experience the exciting pre-race atmosphere. • If you are into collecting autographs, this is the best place for it! • A highlight: your VIP accreditation also gives you access to the riders' start area so you can mingle with the racers and team directors, and other people close to the inner world of pro cycling. Many people really enjoy the start village access due to the fact that you get very close to professional riders and have personal insight into the inner workings of the 2017 Giro d'Italia. • After the start we will travel by minibus back towards Olbia. We will stop on the way to let you disembark and ride, choosing either the final 100km (from , Sardinia's sprawling second city, rich in art and history) or 60km (from Oschiri, a charming town of 3,000) by bike. Our planning should allow us to watch the riders in the final kilometers of the stage in Olbia. • Tonight we will overnight in Olbia.

Saturday, May 6th: Giro Stage 2 Olbia – Tortoli • What a memorable day it will be! We will ride the final part of the stage to Tortoli and cross the actual finish line like the pros. • There will be pictures on the podium and access to the Leonardo VIP-zone at the finish. • After breakfast we leave the hotel with by minibus and intercept the course of today's stage at Ponte Marreri, roughly halfway to Tortoli. From here we have 2 riding options: 100km including the 2 climbs (Nuoro – 549m & Genna Silana – 1002m) or 60km including the final climb (Genna Silana – 1002m). Starting at 4 m above sea level, the Passo Genna Silana climbs 28.2 kms, averaging 3.5% gradient. • We will arrive at the finish a little before the cyclists and will have access to the exclusive area reserved for the top stars and located in the privileged area Leonardo, near the finish line. The truck will offer snack/coffee bar service and TV screens will broadcast the final kilometres of the race until the riders come into view. And you will be there for the big sprint finish! • Tonight we will overnight in Tortoli. • Tortoli (pop. 10,000) sits on the east coast of Sardinia. It too has a long history and was occupied at various times by the Carthaginians, Romans, Vandals, Byzantines and Spanish.

Sunday, May 7th: Giro Stage 3 Tortoli – • Another memorable day! We will ride the stage to Cagliari and cross again the actual finish line like the pros. • There will be pictures on the podium and VIP-access at the finish. • Today we have the option to ride the complete course from Tortoli to Cagliari. Those who prefer to have a shorter ride will be dropped of by the minibus on the course at any distance from the finish they like. Today's stage takes us along the eastern coast of Sardinia to the island's capital, Cagliari. • We will regroup at 5km from the finish. In group we will cross the finish a little before the pro cyclists and will have access to the Hospitality area known as 'Dante'. 'Dante' is located on the finishing straight, and will give access to a hospitality tent, where snacks/ coffee will be served, plus you will have access to a fenced off viewing area to watch as the riders come down the home straight after to finish the days stage. You will receive a daily access pass that will allow you in and out of the hospitality zone, so you can visit the various stands that are set up by the sponsors of the caravan, but then be in place to watch the final scramble to the line! • Tonight we will overnight in Cagliari. • Considered the greenest of Italian cities, Cagliari has a history that goes back to Phoenician settlement in the 8th Century BC, with remants of that city, known as Karalis, still visible. There are traces of subsequent inhabitants, including a Roman amphitheatre and a 13th Century cathedral. It offers a fortified quarter, the Castello district, and a fine party venue, the Poetto beach. The city of 150,000 is spread out over seven limestone hills overlooking the Gulf of Cagliari.

Monday , May 8th: All too soon, our Giro concludes after breakfast. Time to pack the bags and start savouring the good times and the memories. We will assist you with your connection to the Cagliari Airport. Then it is “Arrivederci!” from Go4Cycling until the next trip.

Go4Cycling is all about flexibility: Contact us to combine Giro d'Italia packages or start your tour on a date that suits your travel and holiday plans. This gives you fabulous flexibility to get the cheapest flights, start the day you fly in or perhaps tag a city break onto the start of end of your tour.

What’s included in this package • Giro stages 1, 2 and 3 • Unique and exclusive cycling experience on the official course • Cross the finish line and take pictures on the official podium • 1 x VIP-access Michelangelo at the start • 2 x VIP-access Leonardo at the finish • 6 days / 5 nights at 4-star hotels, based on double occupancy incl. breakfast, upgrade single room available • Airport transfers and all other scheduled transfers • All our accommodations are selectively chosen to ensure that the transfers between the stages are at a minimum • 3 x three course dinners*, inclusive water and 2 glases of wine per person • Drinks, fruits and nutrition’s during all rides • Assistance to assemble and disassemble your bike • Detailed road book with interesting statistics of the climbs • Go4Cycling jersey + bibs • Professional support vehicle with spare parts and your spare clothing • Professional bilingual bike guides

NOTE: Our trips are suitable for everyone. Go4Cycling is known to adapt the services to accommodate the different levels of their customers' capabilities. All distances are approximate and subject to change.

What’s not included • Airfare • Travel insurance • Hotel incidentals (room service, phone, laundry, etc) • Optional VIP-access (Hospitality packages) • Lunch

Price per person € 2 585 (twin share) Option single room: € 400

Go4Cycling BVBA Hendrik Prijslaan 14, 3800 Sint-Truiden (Belgium) E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.go4cycling.com Tel: +32(0)11912374 - Gsm: +32(0)496404289 BTW BE0840.688.805 KBC Bank 731 020488 189 - IBAN BE45 7310 2048 8189 - BIC KREDBEBB