The 2019 Strade Bianche – Our weekend at Europe’s most southern northern classic

Here at Sports Tours International we are mad about the one day classics and we couldn’t wait for the cycling season to get on the way again in 2019. We came straight from the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad in Belgium to Tuscany for what we consider to be one of the highlights of the entire year, the fabulous Strade Bianche.

2019 UCI World Tour review

Our Cycling Guides and Pro Mechanics Howard McAlpine and Ed Beckmann share their experience at the 2019 Strade Bianche

Friday 8th March 19’ – Arrival Day

As part of our service, we provide airport transfers from Pisa airport. Unfortunately as the week ahead of the event went on, it appeared that a national general strike was planned in Italy on 8 March which meant that air travel was disrupted. On the schedule today was a collection from Pisa airport and collect all our customers. We knew that today we’d be in a bit of bother as some of our customers were struggling to get their flights re-scheduled. Some quick thinking and liaising with our office meant that we re-routed our minibus and we collected 3 of our customers from Rome airport.

In the evening all of our group were in Siena and on arrival we distributed everyone’s entries plus we helped all our riders with getting their bikes ready and with fitting rental bikes that were available on arrival for those who had pre-booked them.

Saturday 9th March ’19 – The 2019 Strade Bianche

Julian Alaphilippe of Deceunick-Quick Step became the first Frenchman to win the Strade Bianche in 13 editions of the race partly contested on gravel roads in Tuscany. He outclassed his last breakaway companion Jakob Fuglsang from Astana Pro Team in the narrow, uphill San Caterina street before reaching the magnificent Piazza del Campo in Siena. Just like one year ago, cyclo-cross star Wout van Aert, now racing for Team Jumbo-Visma, took third place.

Dutch rider Annemiek van Vleuten (Mitchelton – Scott) went solo to win the fifth edition of Strade Bianche Women Elite NamedSport. The race, the first in the 2019  UCI Women’s WorldTour calendar, covered 136km from Siena (Fortezza Medicea) to Siena (Piazza del Campo). Van Vleuten crossed the finish line in the historic square ahead of Annika Langvad (Boels Dolmans Cycling Team) and Katarzyna Niewiadoma (Canyon // SRAM Racing).

Sunday 10th March ’19 – The 2019 Gran Fondo Strade Bianche

The Gran Fondo Starde Bianche allows amateur riders to ride the same roads as the riders of the Pro peloton the day before. The route of the long Gran Fondo is the exact same as the women’s route.

Monday 11th March ’19 – Departure day

The 2020 Strade Bianche

As the Gran Fondo Starde Bianche sells out quicker every year, we are now on sale early with an excellent travel package with lots of improvements. This weekend trip offers you the opportunity to ride your bike with us on the Saturday to watch the 2020 Strade Bianche and to then cycle the 2020 Gran Fondo Strade Bianche on the Sunday. We offer a hotel in Siena centre and we have guided rides and mechanic available. Also available are:

  • Bike rental
  • Overland bike transport from Ireland and from the UK
  • Now includes cross the finish experience on pro race day – we’re exclusive with this
  • Front pen entries available. These are not available to the general public
  • Hospitality available as an extra or as a stand alone option
  • Airport transfers from Pisa airport included

Strade Bianche

 

 

The post The 2019 Strade Bianche – Our weekend at Europe’s most southern northern classic appeared first on Sports Tours.



from Sports Tours https://ift.tt/2HYcOET
via IFTTT

Commentaires

Enregistrer un commentaire

تسعدنا زارتكم لمدونتنا

Posts les plus consultés de ce blog

Holidays Fit For Heroes – Results Announcement

Image
The search is over! It is now time to announce who has won the Sports Tours International, Holidays Fit for Heroes 2020 Christmas campaign! But, before we do, we want to take the time to thank each and every person who nominated either themselves, or their loved ones into the competition. We have been absolutely blown away by the responses, and humbled reading each of your stories. We know there will still be a lot of unsung heroes out there, but hope that, with our campaign, we have gone some way to say THANKS. To all the Key Workers, Volunteers, Health Workers and NHS staff; you are amazing. Thank you so much for all you have done throughout 2020 NOW, WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, IT’S TIME TO ANNOUNCE OUR WINNERS. Up first, the Volunteer Category. SOPHIE. Sophie volunteered for local charities and the NHS during lock-down. Now, on top of a full-time day job, she is still making sure food and other items get to those in need, and spending time with those who have no-one and nothing w
Lire la suite

Reykjavik Marathon – An Odyssey

Image
Iceland is an island of unique and breath-taking landscapes, rich in culture and history, and phenomenal volcanic geology. Home to the world’s oldest parliament (the Alþingi), stunning National Parks and a unique music and art scene (celebrated the same weekend  as the Reykjavik Marathon ) there is something to entertain anyone in Iceland. What better way to discover any destination is there than running the streets of the city in a marathon? In summer 2021, the Icelandic capital can offer you the Reykjavik Marathon , Half Marathon, or 10 km. Held the same weekend as Reykjavik Culture Night, and with optional extras such as the incredible  Golden Circle Tour (4 night package only), experience the Icelandic Capital in all its glory, with the Reykjavik Marathon and Sports Tours International. Our friend, and founder of our sister company Sports Travel International, Martin Joyce, discovered Reykjavik for himself in 2019. He had no idea what to expect when he travelled to the Icelandic
Lire la suite