In keeping with the inaugural Tour du Tour Cycle Challenge four years ago this year’s August challenge to Italy and Giro di Giro represents a formidable challenge. Sean Kelly will lead this group of club and elite leisure cyclists from Montecatina in Tuscany to San Zeno di Montagna on Lago di Garda.

The route and stage details released exclusively on IrishCycling.com show two major mountain stages on Tuesday, 28th The Grand Giro Del’Abetone in the Dolomites mountain range.

Tour Leader Sean Kelly with Roger Rabbit and Paul Devenney

The second tough and demanding stage on Thursday 30th sees the Grand Premio Del’ Monte Baldo in the southern face of the Haute Alps.

There are 6 stages in total with a total of 785km averaging 131.05km per day, which is down on the annual average by 20km per day, which is interesting!!

New to this year’s Giro di Giro Challenge is the team use 3 hotel locations in total. This means three nights are spent at the Grand Hotel Montecatina, one night at the Classic Hotel in Reggio Emilla and three nights at the Park Royal Jolanda Hotel in San Zeno di Montagna on Lake Garda. This is turn means less daily movements for the participants, a better variety and choice of former Giro di Giro Italia routes and finally a better route and stage safety plan at a very busy end of season time in Italy. 

Eamon Duffy Tour Director NBCI Blazing Saddles says “All in all this is the perfect opening salvo in Italy for Sean Kelly and the gang. The weather and the scenery will be top class and the stages/routes are on good paved secondary roads off the beaten track in the main. It is challenging but with the right amount of training it is very achievable by our regular team and who ever new joins us. The 3 base formats will only add to the enjoyment allowing us better scope of choice and for health and safety reasons. Everyone is welcome to join your Treasury Holdings sponsored Giro di Giro Challenge for the week Saturday, August 25th to Saturday, September 1st”

Seb Coulet, our route co-ordinator (from France pro tour team Cofidis) says “I believe this is a more spectacular route than any we have done in my home country in France in the last 4 years. This is not easy to say from a French man, however, it is overall very challenging. The distances are not as big as normal; the climbs are short, snappy and steep on our two big days. It is all very achievable”

As interest is always high in this unique annual challenge, we advise you to contact Eleanor Kirwan, the project administrator at email: eleanor.kirwan@ncbi.ie or phone 1850 33 43 53 to sign up as soon as you can make up your mind. Give Eleanor or Eamon a call for a chat if you need to know more information.

The full and professional support team of NCBI Blazing Saddles will be on hand in Italy to guide and help you along including motor bike marshals, catering, mechanical, logistical and medical support teams all in place and at your beck and call daily.

Stages and Distances: