On booking the Great Italian Alps Cycling Challenge, you’ll receive all the exciting trip info via our free mobile travel app. You’ll have access to your itinerary, training guide, countdowns, live updates, contact info, weather forecasts, kit lists and much more at the touch of a button 24/7 via your mobile phone. No more unnecessary use of reams of paper and the need of carrying around documents with you. The app is free to download and all info is customary to your cycling trip ahead. A’ppy days.

With being a small family business we pride ourselves with providing personal, professional and friendly service for your Great Italian Alps Cycling Challenge. We’re here to help you every step of the way from the moment you join the team all the way through to completing the challenge and beyond. Your Cycling Leader, Gerwyn Roberts, is conducting a reconnaisance of this trip in March 2023, in order for us to provide you with the best pre-trip information and support.

Flight recommendations
 
Please find below the suggested flights for your upcoming Team McKeown Great Italian Alps Cycling Challenge.

Departure on Friday 15 September from Edinburgh to Milan (the day prior to the start of the challenge)

Please note, the flight timings on 15 September are better options than the following day. If you chose to fly out the day earlier, you will be responsible for your own accommodation arrangements.

Bergamo Airport is the closest airport to your hotel accommodation on Saturday 16 September: Hotel NH Bergamo, Via Paleocapa 1/G, 24122 Bergamo.

However, if you wish to depart on Saturday 16 September (day 1 of your challenge), the only direct flights available are below.

Please note, Milan Malpensa Airport is approx. a 2-hour journey from the airport to your hotel.

Return on Saturday 23 September from Milan to Edinburgh

Please note, Milan Malpensa Airport is closer to your final night’s accommodation at Hilton Lake Como, Via Borgo Vico 241, Como, 22100.

Transfers to and from the airports in Milan
You will be responsible for making your own travel arrangements to and from the airports in Milan. Adventurous Ewe will provide travel recommendations if needed.

Travel Insurance

Travel Insurance is an important part of any booking. It is compulsory that everyone who travels with us has taken out adequate travel insurance which includes, among other things, cover for the full value of your trip, medical (emergency, evacuation and repatriation) arrangements, personal liability, cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage and personal effects and COVID-19 travel cover.

For UK residents we have partnered with Campbell & Irvine Direct to provide you with a travel insurance. If you would like to obtain cover for your trip please feel free to contact specialist Insurance Brokers, Campbell Irvine Direct for a quote.

Bicycle Insurance

We strongly recommend that you obtain suitable bicycle insurance to cover your bike and equipment during transportation and on the cycling challenge itself. Please feel free to shop around or obtain a direct quote from Cycle Guard or Bikmo. 

All nationalities require a full passport. Your passport should be valid for the proposed duration of your stay. For the latest info, please visit the F&CO website.

British nationals do not require a visa to enter Italy for the purpose of tourism for up to 90 days.

For the latest entry requirements, please visit the F&CO website and also check Brexit advice for travelling to Europe.

Adventurous Ewe puts the safety and well-being of you, our leaders & crew and the communities we visit at the centre of all our operations, always. Your safety and well-being is our top priority. The Great Italian Alps Cycling Challenge is designed to take you out of your every-day comfort zone and achieve something great with undertaking this self-powered journey. Rest assured we have a thorough Safety Management System, indepth risk assessments and risk management systems in place. Your crew will be equipped with communication devices (eg phones and radios) and medical kit. 

Here are a couple of important points for your consideration:

• Be prepared. The terrain on the challenge is often undulating, with some big hill climbs, so please be prepared for some long and tough days consecutively in the saddle.
• Pack for all weather. The weather during the challenge can be unpredictable so we would recommend checking the weather forecast beforehand and pack the appropriate clothing.
• Be aware of the Italian Highway Code and the rules for cycling in Italy before you go. Please note there is a requirement to wear a high-visibility gilet if riding in a tunnel or outside town/city centres between dawn and dusk.
• Debris on the roads. The roads in the high mountains take an absolute battering. They’re covered with snow for much of the year and the freeze-thaw process takes it toll. Rain washes gravel into the roads. Rockfalls mean you can come across large chunks of rock in the road! Remember this and do take care, especially on the downhills. Better to go a touch slower and not end up in hospital!
• Review the route. You’ll receive a GPX file of your cycling route prior to your departure. Spend some time getting to know the route. It’s important to know what to expect before you set out. Consider how long each climb should take, where you plan to refuel (outside of any dedicated water-stops) and take note of any important sections. You never know what’s going to happen out on the road, so it’s good to be self-reliant. 
• Lights, phone, ID and money/cards. Keep a small rear light fitted to your bike in case you come across a tunnel or get caught in bad weather. You may want a front light too for added safety. And make sure you have money/cards, ID and your phone on you at all times! 
• Remember it’s a marathon not a sprint! At the beginning of a day/week of cycling, it can be easy to spin off quickly at a pace you can’t sustain. Italy’s mountains are some of the toughest cycling climbs in the world – take it easy and try and remember it’s a team challenge so look out for one another!
• Long days in the saddle. 8+hours of cycling each day is long time to spend in the saddle, so please ensure your prepare accordingly and that you fuel your body correctly at the water stops and during breakfast and lunch. 
• Greetings. If you overtake another cyclist, it’s polite to say ciao, salve (which means hello) or buongiorno (good day).
• Coffee. Lastly, but most importantly, know your coffee etiquette. No milky coffee after midday (unless you’re happy to be looked at with a perplexed expression) and before midday, don’t ask for a latte (you may end up with just that, i.e. milk)! Ask for caffe latte or latte macchiato instead. Also, at a mid ride cafe, it’s usual to pay after you’ve drunk your coffee – so expect to order, drink, then pay. And cash is king in the mountains!

Vaccinations
There are currently no mandatory vaccination requirements. Recommended vaccinations include: Tetanus. For the most up to date info on vaccinations, please consult with your GP or travel healthcare practitioner 8 weeks in advance of travel. For more info, visit the Fit For Travel website.

Please note, it is your responsibility to comply and fulfil any necessary travel requirements and documentation to comply with entry and exit laws into Italy and the UK in relation to COVID-19 or other pandemics. 

Severe allergies
If you have a severe allergy please inform us at the time of booking. We will do all we can to help, but unfortunately we are unable to guarantee an allergy free environment on this trip. You will need to carry your own treatment for the allergy with you, as ‘adrenaline auto-injectors’ are not carried as standard by AE leaders and crew. Whilst your leader is aware of our trekkers medical history, please also inform your leader on arrival of your allergy, and let them know where you keep your adrenaline pen.

You will be accompanied by certified Adventurous Ewe Cycling Leader/s, Bike Mechanics and Crew. Our Leaders are first aid qualified and have extensive experience in leading cycling trips. They will be ultimately responsible for the running of the itinerary and the safety of your group.

Leaders and Crew will carrying full safety equipment and first aid kits with larger first aid kits located in the support vehicle. Please note, these kits are for emergencies only so please come prepared with your own personal first aid items. The Leaders and Crew will also be in constant radio communication with the vehicle drivers throughout your adventure.

The crew will be looking after every aspect of your trip with transporting your luggage, helping you with GPX route files, a friendly & supportive face at checkpoints and sorting out any mechanical problems. Support vehicle will be at the checkpoints and there will be two cycling leaders accompanying the team during the ride. 

The Great Italian Alps Cycling Challenge is a team adventure and not designed to be an individual competitive race. The route will be supplied as a GPX file and therefore there will be no route marking by way of directional arrows (helping us to reduce our carbon footprint). 

There will be two Cycling Leaders accompanying the group. There will be a support vehicle available which you will see at each checkpoiint and lunch stop plus it is available for any emergencies. We encourage team spirit and support of each other to ensure everyone has the best opportunity to complete the challenge and enjoy the journey along the way too.

All luggage and bike spares will be carried in the support vehicle. Please ensure you carry your own puncture repair kit and spare inner tubes.  

The Great Italian Alps Cycling Challenge is graded as Tough. It is a strenuous challenge which will allow people to push themselves out of their comfort zone with considerable hill climbs and descents and long days in the saddle.

For logistical and safety reasons we sometimes need to re-group, so the front-cyclists may find themselves waiting for the slower ones. Please relax, and remember that this is a team effort that enables people to achieve their personal goals.

We highly recommend that all participants on this trip are able to meet the following:

• Cycle at least 100miles per day at an average pace of 20km per hour, over an undulating route. Failure to do so may result in receiving significantly less support from the Cycling Leaders
• Completed previous multi-day cycle trips
• Confidently and efficiently fix a puncture by replacing the inner tube 
• Confidently navigate whilst riding using a Garmin or mobile phone app
• Ridden a Category 1 or HC (Hors catégorie) climb before and have the right gear set up for this – note, this may mean having a climbing cassette fitted to your bike
• Must be able to carry adequate clothing to cope with mountainous weather – jacket, arm and leg warmers, gloves and under hat, water, electrolytes and nutritional fuel
• Must be able to confidently descend using drop handlebars or have your bike set up with secondary brakes.

A full kit list will be provided when you join the team for the Great Italian Alps Cycling Challenge. Good kit can make the difference between a fantastic two-wheeled and an uncomfortable one.

We strongly recommend that the bike is serviced the week before your challenge to ensure that the brake and gear cables along with brake pads haven’t been to worn out during your pre-challenge training.

Whilst we plan our trips around the optimal weather conditions, you could still be exposed to wet & windy or hot & humind weather at any time. It is important that you are prepared for all conditions.

The Team McKeown support van, courtesy of Stuart, will be transporting all the bikes to and from Italy. A Carnet will need to be completed and purchased for the transport of your bikes into Europe, therefore we will be asking for the specific detials of each bike for this paperwork. Bikes can be packed into a bike box if you wish, but please notify us beforehand so that we can ensure there is enough room for the box in the support vehicle. You will be expected to have the necessary tools with you to construct and deconstruct your bike. Once you have completed the challenge the Team McKeown support van will transport your bikes back to Glasgow so that you can collect them on your return.

Despite this trip being held at the start of Autumn, the weather can change rapidly in the mountains so it is essential that you are prepared for all conditions including rain, wind and heat. In the week leading up to your trip we recommend monitoring the weather forecast and you will also receive weather updates via our mobile travel app, Vamoos.

Pack for all weather. At any time of year, take a jacket on your ride. It might feel over-cautious when it’s sunny and warm as you set out, but you’ll be grateful at the top of the pass. Snow on Stelvio is not unusual.

If the forecast suggests poor weather, you’ll need to pack kit in addition to a jacket: arm and leg warmers and long-fingered gloves, possibly overshoes too.  

Heatstroke. Use sun cream and drink plenty of water. One great thing about riding in Italy is that there are generally a fair few water fountains around. However it’s still important to carry plenty of water and remember to drink it. Heatstroke can strike quickly and is very unpleasant and can be very serious. Try to rest in the shade wherever possible.

Cramp. This is a common complaint and is often due to the fact you’re sweating and not replacing the electrolytes. Ensure you take electrolyte tablets for your water bottle and use them to help stave off cramps.

Please note, the Leader/s reserve the right to change the itinerary at any time should the conditions require it as your safety and wellbeing is our top priority at all times. In these circumstances we will make the best alternative arrangements possible that maintain the integrity of the original itinerary.

We have aimed to stay in 3* star hotels or above on this challenge. Standards may vary between the hotels but they are generally comfortable and convenient for your route. Most night’s accommodation is on a half board basis (dinner, bed & breakfast included).

Rooms will be used on a twin share basis & all rooms will have their own bathroom.

For the final two nights of your challenge your accommodation has been upgraded to a 5* hotel at Lake Como. 

All meals are included apart from lunch & dinner on Days 6 & 7 of your itinerary. The majority of your accommodaiton is on a half board basis, whereby the hotel will provide breakfast and dinner. The last 2 nights accommodation is only on a bed & breakfast basis.

Lunches will primarily be a picnic style and dinners are usually eaten at the hotel or a nearby restaurant. 

Water and snacks will be provided during your cycle journey at checkpoints enroute. Please do make sure you eat enough to give you the energy for your exertions. We strongly recommend bringing some of your own high energy and nutritional snacks and electrolytes which your body is used to digesting to ensure you are sufficiently fuelled fo this tough challenge. 

If you have any dietary requirements or allergies, please let us know via the booking process or via the link we will send you.