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The roads are succulent and bountiful, and the food and wine leave you breathless. The Pinarello bikes are to the highest standard of the purest gourmand. The personalities are rich and bold, yet full of subtle surprises. All is to be savored—and devoured.

Bill StricklandBicycling Magazine
8 Sep 2024
14 Sep 2024

Piedmont

$8,950
Lead Guide:

Manuel Cardoso

Dominated by the Alps and riven by deep valleys, Piedmont — meaning ‘at the foot of the mountains’— is renowned for its fine wines and as a champion of the Slow Food movement. Our team has explored this corner of northwest Italy, fanning out from Turin to visit its wine villages and seek out the best places to stay.

Piedmont stretches northeast to the shores of Lake Maggiore and southwest to Provence in France, its hills dotted with medieval villages and family-run vineyards. Although Piedmont isn’t as well known a wine region as Tuscany, it produces some of Italy’s finest labels, such as Barolo and Barbaresco. Regional cuisine is also a highlight. Raw meats, cheese fondues and rabbit feature on local menus, while the smell of hazelnuts and chocolate wafts through the chocolate-producing town of Alba. Piedmont isn’t all rustic allure, though. At its heart is the city of Turin, the first capital of the unified Italy. Renaissance and Baroque architecture, museums and galleries, and gourmet restaurants grace its boulevards and piazzas, while giants of industry ensure that Piedmont remains one of Italy’s most affluent regions.

Included With Trip:

  • All lodging*
  • All food and beverages**
  • Pinarello Dogma F Disk with SRAM RED eTap AXS
  • Daily Bike Wash
  • Custom Castelli × inGamba cycling kit
  • Daily post-ride massage from a professional soigneur
  • Laundry service for cycling clothing

*Pre/post-trip lodging is not included

**Beverages ordered by guests beyond normal amounts and away from group activities will incur additional charges

MEET THE GUIDES

MANUEL CARDOSO

The Quiet Crusher

Manuel Cardoso is no longer sitting on the front of the pack, pulling everyone along at what some would describe as a “brisk” pace and what others are unable to describe at all, because they’re too busy gasping for breath and holding onto the wheel in front of them for dear life. Manuel is now sitting just slightly off the back of the pack. As I look back, I realize he has that look on his face. The look which struck fear in the hearts of the Pro Peleton for many years. The look which is part grin, part mischievous child and all business. He is about to start some shenanigans. Sure enough, just a few kilometers later and Manuel has picked one lucky contestant out of the pack and they are sitting-in, waiting, like predators, for the perfect moment. For Manuel, just like when he raced pro, this is when the road turns slightly up, a spot in the road where it gets tough for everyone. And he accelerates with his breakaway “partner” in tow. It is something to see. He ramps it up to a speed with which no one can latch onto the back and with such precision you have to question whether or not you actually want to try and close the gap he has created. And you can’t see it, but you just know, he is grinning from ear-to-ear.

Rui Vinhas

Rui Vinhas

Born in the North of Portugal, Rui has been riding his bike since he was 10. In 2011, he became a professional cyclist and just five years later he won the Tour of Portugal. The following year, in 2017, he was the runner-up in the Portuguese Cycling Championship. His talent and incredible bike skills will be by your side during our trips.

THE TRIP AT A GLANCE

START LOCATION:

Turin

FINISH LOCATION:

Turin

TOTAL ELEVATION:

10,459m

TOTAL DISTANCE:

483km

DAYS RIDING:

6

GROUP SIZE:

8-14

LONGEST DAY:

Day 6
Fauniera. 130km

BIGGEST CLIMBING DAY:

Day 6
Fauniera. 2,782m

View Bike Options

DAY BY DAY BREAKDOWN

1

Monforte Test Ride

Sunday | 34.2km & 662m

Our first ride is a scenic route through the Piedmont countryside, starting with an easy spin to Pedaggera before returning to the hotel.

2

LE LANGHE

Monday | 65km & 1,519m
Today’s ride will take you north toward the area of Le Langhe where the rolling Piedmontese clay-colored views of postcards will be in full effect. This is the neighbouring wine zone of Barolo and Barbaresco, which make up the Langhe wine area famous not only for its wine, but also cheeses and white truffles. The Langhe was inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage list in 2014.
3

BAROLO AND BARBARESCO

Tuesday | 90km & 1,673m
Today we ride along the vineyards of Barolo and Barbaresco. The Barbaresco wine region is ranked as one of the greatest in Italy. Along with Barolo, Barbaresco produces world class wines from the Nebbiolo grape in the Piedmont region. But don’t expect this to be an easy ride: today the ride will be up and down until we come back to our home in Monforte D’Alba.
4

Monforte — Limone

Wednesday | 108km & 2,122m

This route takes us south towards Limone, our major climb of the day. You can expect plenty of picturesque medieval towns and some stunning panoramic views along the way, but there’ll be some testing terrain too so this is much more than just a sightseeing loop.

5

Palanfré e Fortini Tenda

Thursday | 55km & 1702m
Today’s ride is a challenging U-shaped route that demands careful effort management. Our journey begins in Limone and takes us up the beautiful Val Grande to Palanfrè, a charming hamlet located on the edge of the Alpi Marittime Natural Park. But that’s just the beginning. We’ll then tackle Col di Tenda, a thrilling climb that features a long series of tight hairpin turns (which, thankfully, get less tight as we climb higher).
6

Fauniera Epic Ride

Friday | 130km & 2,782m
On our last ride, we are going to experience an epic journey up the Colle Fauniera, also known as Colle Pantani. This high mountain pass stands tall at an elevation of 2,485 meters. It is believed to be one of the most captivating and unspoiled passes in the Alps. At the peak of the pass, there is a magnificent statue commemorating the legendary cyclist Marco Pantani, in honor of his remarkable climb during the Giro d’Italia ’99 through the steep climbs of the pass.
7

DEPARTURE

Saturday
This is our final morning together and after a leisurely breakfast, it will be time to say goodbye, or at least arrivederci, until we meet again. Transfers to the airport will be arranged by our hard-working crew but if you’re planning on staying a few extra days, let us know if we can help with reservations or a few recommendations.

STAYING LONGER?

Adventure Continues…
Do you plan to come a few days early, or stay on after your inGamba adventure has ended? Our concierge can help you plan with a carefully curated selection of hotels, restaurants, bars, and guides. All of our recommendations have been hand-picked by a team of local experts, so you can spend more time enjoying all that this destination has to offer.

Seven of the last 11 Tours de France have been conquered on a DOGMA, and the latest generation is now ready to continue that legacy of success. Whatever the road throws at you, the DOGMA F is always the right bike.

WHEELSET:

Zipp 303 S Carbon Tubeless

FRAMESET:

Pinarello Dogma F

COCKPIT:

ZIPP Service Course SL

TIRES:

Vittoria Corsa N.Ext

GRUPPO:

SRAM RED eTap AXS

BOTTLE CAGES:

Elite Custom Race

PEDALS:

Speedplay

BIDON:

Elite Corsa Team

SADDLE:

Prologo

COMPUTER:

Garmin Edge 1030

COLOUR:

InGamba Red

The NYTRO GRAVEL has a pure road racer DNA which upon launch marked an era in the E-BIKE/GRAVEL world. Featuring an iconic design, the Nytro Gravel is perfect for anyone looking for a road bike with powerful support for the toughest climbs.

WHEELSET:

Zipp 303 S Carbon Tubeless

FRAMESET:

Nytro Gravel E-Bike
(available for an additional fee)

COCKPIT:

ZIPP Service Course SL

TIRES:

Vittoria Corsa N.Ext

GRUPPO:

SRAM RED eTap AXS

BOTTLE CAGES:

Elite Custom Race

PEDALS:

Speedplay

BIDON:

Elite Corsa Team

SADDLE:

Prologo

COMPUTER:

Garmin Edge 1030

COLOUR:

Saturn Silver