Do you know what we love? Going to Italy and riding bikes in the sunshine, that’s what. We love it so much that we do it every year, and every year we like to invite you, our lovely readers along too. And here we go again: road.cc Italy Week will once again be basing itself at the Hotel Belvedere in Riccione. The dates for 2017 are Saturday 1 April to Saturday 8 April, and there’s a five-night option too, from Sunday 2 April to Friday 5 April.
Why come to road.cc Italy Week?
Why come? Because it’s great. If you want to have a week of superb riding whilst being pampered and eating your own bodyweight in fantastic home cooked food in between trips to the sauna, this is the trip for you.
Your base: The Hotel Belvedere, Riccione
The Hotel Belvedere is one of the best hotels in Europe. Don’t take our word for it: it’s currently number 3 in Italy on Tripadvisor and in the 2016 Tripadvisor Traveller’s Choice awards was 14th overall in Europe. In the awards for service, it came in at number 16 in the whole wide world. They know how to look after you, alright. Out of 1,600 reviews, 1,500 are five-star. Seriously: it’s great.
It’s not just a great hotel, though: it’s a great cycling hotel. For a start, there’s a huge fleet of hire bikes, so you don’t have to take your own. Although obviously you can if you want to. And good bikes too: High-spec De Rosas that are very well looked after by the in-house mecahnic. There’s a secure bike shed and a workshop on site.
In the cycling season the whole hotel is set up for riding. There’s as many as five guided rides a day to suit all abilities, which leave after breakfast and are all back by about 1pm. You get a packed lunch to take with you, and there’s a huge buffet every day when you return, which is better than the evening buffet you’ll get in most hotels. Afternoons you can spend in the extensive Spa, or by the pool with a beer, or you can wander in to town, or the beach, or even head out on your bike again if you fancy. In the evening there’s a fantastic three-course meal with loads of options, and house wine included. Remember to chuck your cycling kit in the basket when you get back and it’ll be freshly laundered and ready for you to wear again by the time you head up for bed.
The riding: beautiful vistas, challenging terrain
There’s lots of fantastic riding within reach of the Belvedere. Each of the hilltop towns – Montescudo, Gemmano, San Leo, Verruchio… the list is almost endless – is a gem, usually discovered at the end of a testing climb and with a cafe serving cakes for a euro a piece. The university city of Urbino and the republic of San Marino are both within reach, as is the 1,250m Giro d’Italia summit finish at Eremo: remember that you’re starting from sea level, too.
There’s the imposing Furlo gorge with its sinuous road trapped between high limestone cliffs. There’s the beautiful Panoramico along the cliffs to the south of Riccione, overlooking the Adriatic. Usually there’s a ride out to hotel owner Marina’s house in the hills for a barbecue, followed by a waddle home full of pasta and sausages. And all the time you’re in the company of guides who know the area intimately, so there’s no getting lost or stopping to check your bearings. Plus you’re allowed to sit behind them and suck their wheels when there’s a headwind. You’re paying, after all.
As well as all the guided riding there’s also the opportunity on the Sunday to experience an Italian Gran Fondo. The Granfondo Selle Italia Via del Sale rolls out from Cervia, not far north of Riccione, on 2 April with course options from 40km to 150km. The Hotel Belvedere can organise entry and transport.
How much does it cost? How can I book?
Interested? Here are the room costs for road.cc Italy week. All of these prices are based on two people sharing.
- Basic room: €134 per person per night
- Small Glamour room: €144 per person per night
- Medium Glamour room: €154 per person per night
- Top Glamour room: €174 per person per night
- Suite: €214 per person per night
If you want to enquire or book, you need to contact the hotel directly by email, at bike@belvederericcione.com. Tell them that you want to be part of the road.cc week and they’ll sort you out. And we’ll see you there!
How to get there
The best place to fly to is Bologna, with several operators offering a full service from the UK. Transfers to and from the hotel can be arranged, but it’s easy and cheap on the train too.
