Rapha Randonnée Appenini - May

The Randonnée Appennini gives you a unique chance to experience classic riding in the heart of cycling-obsessed Italy. This route is a very tough but beautiful journey through historical landscapes, from the rolling hills of Chianti to the bare rock faces of Abetone.

For the Randonnée Appennini Rapha have researched a new and exciting route, giving you a unique chance to experience the regions that constitute the heart of Italy. Our route is a very tough but incredibly scenic journey through historical landscapes, from the rolling hills of Chianti to the bare rock faces of Abetone. And in cycling obsessed Italy, it is only natural that the Apennines have come to host some of the great road racing events in the international calendar; the classic spring stage race Tirreno – Adriatico, the epic L’Eroica in Tuscany and of course the Giro d’Italia. A route which is soon to become a classic of its own on the Randonnée calendar.

View photos from last year's Randonnées

Key Climbs:
San Pellegrino, Monte Petrano, Monte Nerone, Monte Catria, Passo di Gualdo and Passo di Meta

    * Distance: 810km
    * Elevation: 16520m
    * Price: £2,600

What’s Included?

Seven nights accommodation (Single occupancy double room)
All breakfasts and evening meals at the hotels and restaurants
Airport transfers
Lunches on riding days
Experienced guide and dedicated support car on each ride
Complimentary energy drink, bars and gels
Appearances from special VIP guests
Specially prepared Rapha Randonnée Guide Book

What’s Not?

Flights
Travel Insurance
Alcoholic Drinks
Incidental Expenses
Tips / gratuitie

The Knowledge

Rapha Randonnée Appenini - May

Day 1: Lucca – Poretta Terme

    * Distance: 153km
    * Elevation: 3250m
    * Key Climbs: Foce di Trebbio, San Pelligrino in Alpe

The adventure starts in the Tuscan town of Lucca, encircled by city walls dating from the Renaissance. As we head northwards, the first major obstacle is the climb of San Pelligrino in Alpe, scene of many battles in the Giro including a famous head to head between Stefano Garzelli and Francesco Casagrande, where Casagrande conquered the 22% slopes to take the Maglia Rosa. The route continues through the heart of the Appennino Settentrionale to finish the day in the thermal spa resort of Poretta Terme.
La Fuga says:

    “Leaving the beautiful walled town of Lucca behind, you head into the hills as the terrain changes from olive groves into thicker wooded hillsides. The challenge which lies ahead has previously shaped the outcome of the Giro d’Italia. The steep slopes of the San Pelligrino in Alpe are impressive but the real beauty is to be found in the peaceful perfectly smooth rolling roads tracing the ridge into Sestola, offering spectacular views down into the lower throws of the north side of the Appennini. The hotel at Porretta Terme is one of my favourite architecturally and the natural spa waters will enable you to recharge after a tough first day”

Day 2: Poretta Terme – Poppi

    * Distance: 138km
    * Elevation: 2580m
    * Key Climbs: Passo di Futa, Valico Croce a Mori
    * Special Guest: Claudio Chiappucci

Day two takes us from Poretta Terme over two challenging climbs to Poppi, a town with Roman roots, founded on an economy of pastoral agriculture and local crafts. This stage is a hard but undulating glide through beautiful Tuscan scenery.

Claudio Chiappucci will join the Randonnée riders at the Porretta Terme accommodation on Sunday 2nd May, enjoying a few celebratory drinks after day one. He will then ride with the randonneurs on day two: Porretta Terme to Poppi.
La Fuga says:

    “The Passo della Futa opens out into my favourite style of rolling Tuscany countryside complete with beautiful cypress trees. Climbing into the Casentino valley is an absolute dream as we roll past olive groves on desolate roads before a dreamy descent into Poppi and one final push home and a hearty Tuscan meal and glass of Chianti.”

Day 3: Poppi – Urbino

    * Distance: 144km
    * Elevation: 2880m
    * Key Climbs: Valico di Spino, Monte Carpegna

    “é sul Carpegna che ho preparato tante mie vittorie – il Carpegna mi basta”
    “it’s on (Monte) Carpegna that I’ve prepared for all my victories – Carpegna is all I need”
    – Marco Pantani

Today’s stage from Poppi to Urbino is a chance to ride the same training roads as Marco Pantani. The climb of Monte Carpegna is a hidden gem in the Appenini; a military road closed to motor traffic, it was to Pantani what the Col de la Madone was to Armstrong, a climb on which to test the form and put in the groundwork for victories in the major tours. Before we tackle the seven kilometres of pain, half of which exceed that critical figure of ten percent where legs turn to jelly and breathing turns into erratic gasps for breath, we’ll stop at Andrea’s café in Carpegna and experience the legend of Pantani. The café is a shrine to the fallen champion, the walls plastered with Pantani memorabilia of all descriptions. His legend lives on through devoted fans like Andrea and his brother Matteo, organiser of the local “il Carpegna mi basta” granfondo. Not only will we be following in Pantani’s wheeltracks today but in those of other legends such as Merckx who tackled Carpegna on the way to his 1974 Giro victory and Alberto Contador, winner of the 2008 edition which tackled Carpegna on a stage from Urbania to Pantani’s home town of Cesenatico on the Adriatic Coast.
La Fuga says:

    “Monte Carpegna is the highlighted climb today; you really get a sense of how important this climb was to Marco Pantani and how important he was to the community who regularly greeted him training in the area. Once we have prised ourselves off the slopes of Carpegna, further visual delights await as we enter Urbino with the magnificent Palazzo Ducale.”

Day 4: Urbino - Gubbio

    * Distance: 115km
    * Elevation: 2610m
    * Key Climbs: Monte Petrano, Monte Nerone

Day four is set to be the toughest of the Randonnée taking in the fearsome climbs of Monte Petrano and Monte Nerone, which left many of the current stars of pro cycling on their knees after stage 16 of the 2009 Giro d’Italia. Michael Barry described the stage as "…the hardest, most uncomfortable day I have spent on a bicycle.". Resting place for the night is Gubbio, a town famed for its gothic architecture and annual palio.
La Fuga says:

    “This stage is magical; the queen stage of the Randonnée and no wonder as it was modelled on such a surprisingly difficult stage of the 2009 Giro d’Italia. I witnessed the desperation of the riders up close as they finished that Giro stage; they all underestimated the difficulty of the succession of climbs. Lance Armstrong commented immediately after the stage that it was the hardest he had ridden or any Grand Tour.”

Day 5: Gubbio – Castelraimondo

    * Distance: 124km
    * Elevation: 1850m
    * Key Climbs: Valico di Scheggia, Monte Catria

The route for the penultimate day provides somewhat of a recovery from the previous stage but will still test the resolve. The route skirts around the Roman Via Flaminia and climbs up to the hometown of 17th century baroque artist Sassoferrato, acclaimed for his devotional paintings. The riding continues to be tough but highly rewarding as we head over the Monte Catria and end the day in the town of Castelraimondo in the Provincia di Macerata.
La Fuga says:

    “The climb of Monte Catria today is one of my favourite as it snakes up the hillside with a perfectly smooth ribbon of tarmac that is barely a car wide. The tranquillity of the climb allows you to find a good rhythm and really enjoy the effort; a clear blue sky would make it perfect as you can look down the valley at the progress you have made.”

Day 6: Castelraimondo – Ascoli Piceno

    * Distance: 139km
    * Elevation: 3350m
    * Key Climbs: Passo di Gualdo, Forca di Presta

The final day crosses the Sibilini mountains to finish in the Roman town of Ascoli Piceno, taking in the Passo di Gualdo and Forca di Presta en route. Much of this final stage will traverse the area affected by an earthquake in 1997; and the Piano Grande, a picturesque limestone plain situated in the Monti Sibillini National Park. A truly beautiful finale to an incredible journey.
La Fuga says:

    “You’ll notice a real change in the landscape today as we climb onto the Piano Grande (great plain) as the terrain becomes more barren and isolated. Descending back towards the Mediterranean coast and our finish point, the vineyards and olive groves return. Rolling into such an architecturally and culturally rich town as Ascoli is a very fitting end. It reminds me of a smaller version of Rome, from the narrow cobbled streets to the magnificent piazzas and even the attitude of the inhabitants. This is a great town to celebrate the achievements of becoming a Randonneur!”

Rapha Randonnée Appenini - May