Roma-Ghisallo 2018 Recap

Ready to go, our departure from the Vatican.

by Dan Merlino (guest blogger)  © 2019 Bike It! Bellagio
At first, I wasn’t sure I wanted to go. The previous year we had done a tremendous tour with TriLakeComo around Como and then over to the Italian Alps to ride up the iconic Stelvio and Gavia passes--great guides, wonderful food, fantastic routes! But Rome to the Ghisallo was a 6-day pilgrimage from Rome to Como, over 500 miles with lots of climbing. Daunting! However, I love Casey and Luca and their team, so I put my faith in them. That was the right call.
           The trip was spectacular. The ride started with a blessing by a priest at the Vatican and ended with a peal of bells and a welcome blessing at the bike chapel on top of Il Ghisallo! How can anything go wrong when you have divine intervention! The trip went so smoothly, perhaps because it was so well planned, with top-of-the-line Bianchi bikes, great scenery, wonderful hotels, and excellent food! All we had to do was train.

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Group shot climbing through Tuscany along stage 2!

Riding through Tuscany, beauty all around

          The route was epic. Bellisima! The beautiful walled city of Siena was magical. Pisa’s Leaning Tower automatically made you tilt your head. Only in Italy! And then a very backdoor, intimate ride into the Cinque Terre. We even stopped at the Bianchi factory for a visit along the final stage to see their incredible attention to quality in production.
 
Trip Highlights

• Our guardian angel, Casey, staying out in front of all the logistics, trading out parts, confirming reservations, calling ahead to get anything requested by the riders along the way.
• Luca always riding up front, no matter the weather, with “Super Mario” pulling anybody (and sometimes everybody) from the back.
• Farmlands on the way to Siena--looked like a painting!
• Climbing above and then descending into the iconic Cinque Terre. Not so much climbing out.
• The food! Especially the dinners, and especially, especially the meal at the restaurant in Monterosso. Deliziosa!
• Luca and Casey’s friends creating a ride stop, complete with food, snacks, and beer (beer!), just before our last long climb up Il Ghisallo.
• The ringing of the bells from the bike chapel at the top of Il Ghisallo.
• A party afterward in Bellagio that included the whole team, Luca’s family, and all of their friends.  By the end we felt like family.

          This was one of the great trips of my life. I would do it again, and again. Thank you so much, Casey, Luca, Super Mario, Roberto, and Andrea!

We made it to the seaside! On our way to Cinque Terre

Voted the best photo of the trip, Susanne serving Super Mario espresso

Luca on top of our longest climb of the trip: Passo Cento Croci

Cycling paradise was found

Cinque Terre here we come! Just before that steep section...

A memorable moment, arriving at the Madonna del Ghisallo just after dark, with the bells ringing for us

Recovery gelato after stage 4

Climbing out of Monterosso

Incredible views, incredible weather

We all signed one of our trip jerseys, it was put on display by the altar of the Chapel.

Join us this year: 2019 Roma-Ghisallo Trip Itinerary