Program for week 27, 2012: The program for week 27 is challenging but not extreme. From a beauty point-of-view, this trip has it all! For instance, we will do the Four Passes (Sella, Gardena, Campolongo e Pordoi), probably the most popular ride in Italy, but also passes like Jaufenpas, Passo di Giau, Passo dello Stelvio and Passo di Gavia belong to the most beautiful passes of all!

All together, we will do 13 mountain passes (eight above 2.000 meters). The most challenging will be Passo dello Stelvio with its 2.758 meters (the second highest mountain pass in Europe!) It is hard but not impossible! The gradient is constant around 8-9%, so everybody can succeed in their own speed. Stelvio offers by far the greatest biking experience in Italia! Forty eight hairpin bends, thin air, 26 kilometers and 1.800 height meters with no rest, unless of course you get off the bike! Amazing looks to snow-covered Monte Ortler (3.905 m) the highest mountain in the Eastern Italian Alps.

We will also take on legendary Passo di Gavia 2.620 m which has the impressive Giro d'Italia history and the greatest descent of all! Passo Giau is a bit nasty from Selva di Cadore (9% in average) but it is very constant around 8-10% and only 10 km, so definitely possible to do! It will be possible to skip Passo di Giau and do Passo di Falzarego instead.

1st ride: Ronzone (1.100 m)- Passo delle Mendola (1.363 m) - Bolzano - Passo Pinei (1.442 m) - Ortisei - Passo di Gardena (2.121 m). Accommodation Val Badia. 118 km, 2.430 hm.

2nd ride: Val Badia - Passo di Gardena (2.121 m) - Passo di Sella (2.244 m) - Passo Pordoi (2.239 m) - Passo di Campolongo (1.875 m).  Accommodation Val Badia. 89 km, 2.197 hm.

3rd ride: Val Badia - Campolongo (1.875 m) -Arabba - Passo di Giau (2.233 m) - Pocol - Passo di Falzarego (2.117 m). Accommodation Val Badia. 111 km, 2.395 hm.

4th ride: Val Badia - Vipiteno - Passo di Monte Giovo (Jaufenpass, 2.089 m) - San Leonardo.  Accommodation Merano. 119 km, 2.112 hm.

5th ride: Merano - Prato - Passo dello Stelvio (2.758 m) - Santa Catarina. Accommodation Santa Catarina. 105 km, 2.860 hm

6th ride: Santa Catarina - Passo di Gavia (2.620 m) - Passo di Tonale (1.883 m) - Val di Sole - Ronzone. Accommodation Ronzone (1.100 m). 125 km, 2.655 hm.

Totals: 665 km, ca. 14.000 height-meters.

Source: www.salite.ch

Prices:

Single room surcharge: 25 Euros per night.

The price includes: Airport transfer, 7 nights (three star hotels) with half board (excl. drinks), luggage transportation, follow car with minibar and guide.

Not included in the price: Air fare from the States, lunches, drinks, activities, insurance and spare parts.

Last day: Last day for signing up (and paying deposit) is the 1st of June, 2012.

Balance: Once we have received your booking form (mail) and deposit, we will confirm your booking via e-mail and inform you about your remaining balance. The remaining balance is due a month before departure and should be wired to the same bank account. Note: Your bank may charge a fee for a wire transfer. Please ensure Bike Italien receives full payment!

Cancelation policy: In case of cancelation, Bike Italien will charge a fee of 40 Euros. In case of cancelation later than one month before departure, the deposit will not be returned. In case of cancelation less that two weeks before departure, payment will not be returned. Make sure that you have a travel insurance that covers your payment in case of sickness a.o. immediately prior to departure.

Signing up: Send a mail to Joachim Jerichow (joachim.jerichow@bikeitalien.com) with the following information:

Name, address, home phone, mobile phone, email-address, single room/double room? special diet?

Then send a deposit in dollars equivalent to 300 Euros using the following coordinates:

Corresponding bank: Bank of New York. SWIFT: IRVT US 3N

Account: 8900560614

Receiving bank: IWBank. SWIFT: IWBKITMM

Johan Joachim Jerichow

Account: 11477820

IBAN: IT51B0316501600000011477820

Contact: Bike Italien/Joachim Jerichowjoachim.jerichow@bikeitalien.com Telephone: 0039-0457580515 or mobile: 0039-3496576683