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If you’ve never been on an inGamba trip before, you may be wondering what the day looks like.

Sure, you can scope out the day-by-day ride descriptions on each trip, and you know that everything is taken care of for you, from the bikes to your food to the post-ride massage. But if you’re an organized soul, you might be wondering what the timeline really looks like. While every trip varies depending on location, if you’re joining us in the Tuscany region and staying at the Borgolecchi bed-and-breakfast, here’s an inside peak at what you can expect on a regular day of the Chianti Classico ride.

7:00 AM: Wake up! Laundry with fresh, clean cycling kit is in a basket in the wardrobe, so no need to worry about what to wear on the ride. Just enough time to step outside, take in the lush views of the valley behind the B&B and do a bit of light stretching with the yoga mat that was thoughtfully tucked into the wardrobe. It’s not exactly a chore to do a few sun salutations as the sun actually is coming up over the olive groves at the base of the old stone building.

7:30 AM: Breakfast! Inside the main living space in the B&B, a big wooden dining table that easily seats 12 is set for breakfast time. And the buffet of options laid out in the cozy kitchen are incredible: The usual spread of European-style buffet breakfast with fresh sliced bread, meat and cheese, but also fresh croissants, yogurt, granola, hard-boiled eggs, and often some of last night’s leftover dessert. Prefer some scrambled eggs or an omelette? Someone is there to whip one up on request—after they make the coffee of your choosing. (Cappuccino, anyone?) Over croissants and coffee, it’s easy to make casual conversation with the rest of the group, talking over the ride plan for the day, or maybe just chatting about a book or documentary or—if Jon’s at the table—which Star Wars movie is the best.

9:00 AM: It’s ride time! Just 100 meters down the road is the inGamba service course, the building that houses all of the bikes. Your cubby in the main room of the building holds your helmet, and you drop your bag holding all of your bad weather gear (just in case) into the cubby so it can be transferred to the van that will follow you on your ride. As long as you’re wearing your cycling kit and shoes, you’re ready to ride: Everything else is taken care of. After you drop your bag and put on your helmet, you can walk out and grab your bike, the best Pinarello on the market. It’s been freshly washed, the chain has been freshly lubed, and the route is loaded onto the Garmin and it’s ready to record.

9:01 AM: And we’re off! Get ready for yet another gorgeous day of adventuring, exploring the best roads and the best views in the area. Expect a coffee stop mid-ride with espressos or cappuccinos and some special pastries or local delicacies, plus the chance to add any snacks from the follow car (try the sandwiches!) to your pockets as you get your bottles refilled with water or Enervit’s sports drink mix by the soigneurs. Want to race up the climb? Giorgio will do his best to chase you down and give you a challenge. Dropped your chain? Joachim Sampio, one of the soigneurs, will literally jump out of the van, instantly get your chain back on, then give you a push to get you started that will make you go from 0 to 20 KPH in seconds. (His pushes have the starting horsepower of a high-end Porsche.)

1:00 PM: After a few hours on the road, inevitably, it has to come to an end, and you roll back to the service course, where you’re handed a recovery drink and your bike is wheeled away to be washed and checked over so it’s ready for the next day. Hang out in the service course and chat with the guides and mechanics and other riders for a few minutes, or head back to the B&B to get showered and maybe sneak in a nap or an extra stretch session before lunch.

1:45 PM: Lunch is served—and it is not to be missed. In Borgolecchi, chef Tommi Morgade serves up both lunch and dinner, and every meal is different and spectacular. Expect a pasta dish of some type for the first course (when the elephant ear pasta with sausage comes out, eat every single bite!). But don’t be fooled: There’s a second course on the way, usually featuring more of a protein, chicken, beef, fish, or maybe even octopus. A light, typically white, wine is poured for those in the mood to indulge, or there’s chilled beer in the fridge if that’s what you’re feeling. Sparkling water from a small Italian company is always on the table, as is the olive oil from the local winery that also presses their olives.

3:00 PM: The moment you’ve waited for all day, your post-ride sports massage. Two soigneurs smooth out all the tiny kinks and niggles that you may have developed after a long day on the bike. The first day, it feels like heaven and you may drift off into a blissful dream state. By the last day, if you’re feeling a little tired on the bike, the massage is going to feel a little less blissful, but you’ll feel instantly better afterward.

4:00 PM: Time to relax ahead of dinner. Want to chat with other guests? There’s a cozy living room in the base of Borgolecchi and open access to the kitchen if you need a cold Coke or a beer. Often, at least a couple of the guests will meander into this room and relax on the couches, reading books, working on laptops, or just chatting. But you can also stay tucked away in your room to hop on FaceTime with the family, take a walk through the narrow streets of the tiny town where the B&B is nestled, or simply indulge yourself in a long post-massage nap.

6:30 PM: Time for a pre-dinner apperitivo! Often, the whole gang meets up in the living room to open a bottle of wine—likely something sparkling, but whatever you’re in the mood for, they’ll find the perfect beverage—and sip while enjoying a few nibbles. Pate, hummus, meat, and cheese with crackers are the norm, but occasionally, Tommi mixes it up. Some nights at Borgolecchi will include a trip to a nearby winery, Ama, for a tour of their incredible art installations and some wine tasting—and many of the inGamba trips in other locales will involve more restaurant-hopping to the best places in the area. But the beauty of Borgolecchi is this family-style familiarity. By the end of Day 1, you’ve become friends with your entire group, so much so that mealtime feels reminiscent of family dinners at home.

7:00 PM: Tommi announces that dinner is served, and you head to the table for another wonderful, flavorful, fresh meal—one that he’s been working on since lunch was finished. Like lunch, there are two courses, often pasta followed by protein. Dinner isn’t rushed: Wine is flowing freely, chosen specifically to match the meal, and if you want seconds, Tommi is happy to provide. Feel free to take your time, because everyone else is. Conversations cover any and all topics, though, of course, bikes remain the most common topic of conversation, whether discussing the ride that day, past inGamba trip recollections, or the latest in WorldTour gossip.

9:00 PM: After the final course—Tommi’s desserts are not to be missed—and perhaps a decaf cappuccino or espresso, conversations tend to wrap up, or maybe move to the living room and the cozy couches, as the work from the day’s ride starts to sink in and everyone starts to get a bit tired. Often, the group drifts apart by 9 or 10, though a couple of people may stay up talking late into the night.

10:00 PM: A quiet bedtime routine before slipping under the cozy covers and drifting off to sleep, dreaming of rolling roads, olive trees, and white gravel as far as the eye can see.

LET’S TALK TRAVEL!

Would you like to find out more about what our different destinations can offer? Book a call with our team now and get some personal advice on the best inGamba adventure for you.

Molly Hurford

Molly is the author of Fuel Your Ride, and a Precision Nutrition-certified coach. Her writing has appeared in many leading publications, including Bicycling Magazine and Outside. When she's not writing or coaching, she loves ultra-running and racing on trails, riding bikes, or hiking with her mini-dachshund DW.