Month: September 2019

Day 10. Siena to San Casciano del Bagni

61 miles 1444 metres climbed.

Sunny and warm again after the rain of the last two days.

Crossing the Crete Senesi there were wave-like folds in the landscape.

 

After the town of Asciano we entered dramatic open country with a line of Italian cypresses on the horizon.

A steady climb brought a different view of the same line of trees.

Lunch came at 34 miles in the beautiful court yard of Ristorante Fonte Alle Vena in San Quirico D’Orcia with its statue of the great racing driver Tazio Nuvolari.

Our destination, San Casciano del Bagni. A good day’s ride.

A toughish day with fabulous scenery.

Day 11. San Casciano del Bagni to near Vitrella

78 miles and 1701 metres climbed.

A day of undulations, some of which were 12% and more dramatic scenery. We entered the area of  workable Tufa rock. Our first big town was Sorano where we saw the first signs of dwellings carved into the rock.

Lunch was taken at the hilltop town of Pitigliano with dramatic views of the road in.

Jeff and John on the way down.

Possibly the toughest day of the tour for me with the long distance and the amount of climbing.

 

Day 12 – the final day – Vitrella to Rome

81 miles and 1445 metres climbed.

Some short sharp climbs, at least one measuring 17%, on poor road surfaces contributed to another tough day.

There was a very steep descent to the shores of Lake Bracciano where we had a picnic lunch. More climbing after lunch then,  a long descent to the last brew stop of the tour. Suitably fortified, with some birthday cake (Colin’s) which Jeremy had managed to rustle up, it was on to the rendezvous point about 5 miles out from the Centre of Rome.

Alberto guided the blue peloton into the centre where we enjoyed the customary Prosecco and group photos.

We then had a pleasant couple of miles along the Tibre cycle path to our hotel.