Only on Donkey Week could 276 kilometres over two days count as taking it easy, but after our mammoth stage five, the final two days of this season’s opening trip were comparatively easy. Read More

inGamba’s Donkey Week had a surprise mid-trip treat from our friends at Giordana, who sent over their new elite collection, the FR-C: FormaRed-Carbon, for all of our guests to put to the test. Read More

Stage five was definitely not for the faint-hearted. It was an onerous 208 kilometres from Estremoz to Alvito, in the heart of Portugal’s rugged, sparsely populated and hauntingly beautiful interior. The elements were changeable, but the pace was as consistent as it was unforgiving. It was one of those days when you just have to knuckle down and hammer the pedals. It was the Day of the Donkey. Read More

He was never supposed to win. Especially not on the Tour de France’s most venerated mountain. Sure, he was prized as Mario Cipollini’s sprint lead-out man, but as a climber? Forget it. He weighed more without a bike than most of his competitors did with one, and towered above them all at 1.94 metres tall. He’d had a stellar amateur career, but turned pro late, aged 28. He was an excellent domestique, but not a doyen. No, Mont Ventoux wasn’t meant for him. Read More

Stages three and four of inGamba’s Donkey Week were ostensibly the calm before the storm – stage five is a 208km monster – but ended up being two monumental, heroic and outrageously fun days in the saddle. Read More

You might be wondering what exactly this Donkey Week business is about. It’s inGamba, but cranked up to 11. More miles, more speed, more wine and a whole lot more trash talk. It’s probably not your average tourist’s idea of a cycling holiday. Donkeys need a strong liver, a thick skin and a good sense of humour. And if you’ve taken it easy over the winter and you haven’t got the legs, you better hope you’ve got a strong arm, because you’ll need to hang onto the side of the car pretty tight if you want to be pulled up to the group. Read More