Rapha Randonnée Appennini - September

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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 past Randonnées

Read a report of the 2011 Randonnée Appennini

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

    * Distance: 810km
    * Elevation: 16520m

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
Drinks with evening meals
Incidental Expenses
Tips / gratuities

The Knowledge

• Group Size: 12 riders max.
• Airport: Pisa Gal Galilei (in) / Rome Fiumicino(out)
• Accommodation: 7 nights at hotels selected by La Fuga
• Price: £2600 (single occupancy)

Rapha Randonnée Appennini - September

Day 1: Lucca to Poretta Terme

If you were looking for a gentle start to the Randonnée Appennini, you’re not going to get it! Make the most of the opening kilomteres out of Lucca as pretty soon the climbing begins. Day one features the Cima Coppi of the route – the highest point – the summit of San Pelligrino in Alpe at 1621m. This major obstacle on today’s profile is a tough 16.7km ascent that takes us out of Tuscany and into Emilia Romagna at an average grade of 7.5% but with a real sting in the tail in the form of 2.5km over 12%, enough to forget any ill effects of travelling!

The climb of San Pelligrino marks a transition from the Tuscan landscape of olive groves and vineyards to the wooded hillsides of Emilia Romagna, home to cinghiale (wild boar), stracotto (pheasant) and coniglio (rabbit) that make Bologna such a renowned gastronomic centre. The summit of San Pelligrino is also a perfect point to pause, look out south along the Appennini ridge and survey the challenge that the rest of the week presents. Andiamo!

Day 2: Poretta 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 to Urbino

“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 training roads of Marco Pantani. The climb of Monte Carpegna is a hidden gem in the Appennini; 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 are to greet us as we enter Urbino with the magnificent Palazzo Ducale.”

Day 4: Urbino to Gubbio

Dancing on the pedals, the turquoise and yellow of Astana temporarily muted by the cool-imparting shadows cast by the narrow streets, he pushes onwards and upwards. Sole survivor of the day’s stage-long breakaway, the brute of Monte Petrano is the only thing standing between him and victory. As the cool streets of the Cagli melt away the road pitches up and seriously tests the stamina one final time, already 225km scorching kilometres in the legs. Under the 10km banner and still a four minute advantage over a charging peloton. Perhaps, perhaps.

The chase is on behind, the favourites smell blood and pick up the pace. Four thousand metres to go: a steep pitch reduces his pace to walking speed, pedals barely turning. Still ahead though, still in with a chance. Slowly though and almost imperceptively at first, from behind, the sound of motorbikes and the cheers of the crowd, not for him but another rider, chasing him up the hill. With only two and a half kilometres remaining the dream is over. Sastre flies past on route to a decisive victory, the other favourites follow in quick succession; Menchov, Di Luca, Basso. Almost instantly, what remaining power was left drains away, that extra ability to suffer that the chance of victory brings, evaporated like a spectator’s offer of water on the hot tarmac. Finally the finish banner, eighteenth place, meagre reward for over seven long hours in the saddle.

Yaroslav Popovych animated stage 16 of the 2009 Giro, a 237km epic from Pergola to Monte Petrano. “Hard, hard, hard” was Lance Armstrong’s assessment; a stage he rated the most difficult day of racing he had ever experienced. Stage 4 of the Rapha Randonnée Appenini gives you the chance to take on the climbs of Monte Nirone and Monte Petrano that on the stage and  that decimated the 2009 Giro. What will be your verdict?

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 as they finished that Giro stage up close; they all underestimated the difficult of the succession of climbs. Lance Armstrong commented immediately after the stage that it was the hardest he had ridden in any grand tour.”

Day 5: Gubbio to Castelraimondo

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 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 progress you have made.”

Day 6: Castelraimondo to Ascoli Piceno

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 cobbles 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 Appennini - September