2025 VIP Trans Apennines

A magnificent ride today through the Val d’Orcia, considered the most scenic region of Tuscany. Included in the ride is the highest mountain in Southern Tuscany, Monte Amiata, which comes at the 60km mark and climbs for 20km to an elevation of almost 1,700m. Amiata is up there with Alpine climbs, so pace yourself on this one. It’s closely followed with a “tough wee bump” to the hilltop town of Radicofani before the final run-in to the hotel, and a well-earned dip in the natural springs!

The journey eastwards across the Apennines starts today with a scenic ride across Umbria towards the historic town of Spoleto. No huge climbs to contend with, but a series of short inclines make for a challenging day in the saddle. You’ll ride through the medieval towns of Orvieto and Todi, with a final climb high above Spoleto to your hotel for the night – the Relais Borgo Campello, a unique destination based in an ancient convent and castle in the medieval village of Campello Alto.

Highlight of today’s ride is the spectacular climb over the Passo Sella di Leonessa to Monte Terminillo.

Leaving the hotel in Scheggino, for the first 40km you’ll be following the route of Stage 11 of the 2024 Giro d’Italia over the Forca Capistrella to Leonessa. From Leonessa the Giro went east towards Prati di Tivo where Tadej Pogačar sealed another stage win, you’ll continue south towards Lazio and the long climb to Terminillo. From the summit, enjoy a 25km descent to your next hotel in the town of Rieti, the centre – or navel – of Italy!

Your journey continues through rural Lazio and the Monte Navegna & Monte Cervia Nature Reserve. From the hotel in Rieti you’ll be straight into climbing mode as you tackle a couple of short climbs to get you out of the town and into the nature reserve. From there enjoy a magnificent ride along the shores of Lago del Salto before starting the main challenge of the day, the 22km climb to La Forca di Castiglione. From the summit, the next 40km are “mostly” downhill to your next hotel in L’Aquila.

A stunningly beautiful ride today, high up in the Parco Nazionale del Gran Sasso, featuring some of the most dramatic peaks in the Apennines. After a relatively flat first 12km, it’s essentially all uphill for the next 36km as you climb through the national park to the incredible Campo Imperatore at an elevation of over 2,100m. The ride continues through the national park, over the Valico di Capo de Serra and then pretty much all downhill for the next 40km to Popoli and the final flat run-in to the hotel in Sulmona.

Your trip ends with a magnificent ride through another national park, the Parco Nazionale della Maiella. It features one of the most challenging climbs in Italy – ranked 6th overall in a list of toughest climbs in the whole country. The climb is Blockhaus, referring to a stone house at the top of the climb and thought to have got its name from an Austrian commander stationed there during the unification of Italy in the 1860s. it has featured several times in the Giro d’Italia, with the great Eddy Merckx winning there in 1967. The last winner was Aussie Jai Hindley in 2022. It’s a spectacularly brutal climb, over 20km, 1700m elevation gain and an average grade of around 8%. But well worth the effort!

From Blockhaus you’ll ride further into the national park, over the much more gentle Passo San Leonardo, before the final 20km descent to your hotel in Sulmona – and the end of a magnificent journey across the backbone of Italy, the Thomson version of Tirreno-Adriatico!

Tip: Don’t worry, there’s a shorter ride option including the climb to Blockhaus – or if you’ve had enough climbing for the week and would rather skip Blockhaus, there’s an even shorter ride avoiding this monster climb.

Unfortunately, your trip across the Apennines has come to an end.

Our shuttle will drop you off at Rome Fiumicino Airport.