Our 2011 Italy Camp daily reports can be read here.
April 20-May 1, 2011
Warren Cycling, in cooperation with Chicago Velo Campus, is offering the trip of a lifetime. This trip is a 10-day adventure focused around a 7-day stage race on the famed island of Sardinia. The stage race features one Individual Time Trial and one Team Time Trial, one climbing stage and several flat to rolling stages.
There are only 4 spots available for the unbelievable experience.
Participants in this trip will race for the Max Lelli team if full Max Lelli team kit (kit and skinsuit included in the cost of the camp with the option to purchase an additional kit) along side of Max Lelli himself.
Max Lelli is an ex-professional Italian born in Manciano (near Grosseto, in Tuscany). He participated in 14 Tours de France, cycling alongside such legends as Argentin, Cipollini, Fondriest, Bartoli, and Casagrande. He won a team time trial at the Tour de France with the team Ceramiche Arriostea. At the Giro d’Italia his best finish was 3rd overall in 1991 (and 4th in 1993), winning the Monviso and Selva d Valgardena stages as well as the white jersey as best young rider of the Giro. He participated in three world championships, won on two occasions the Giro di Toscana, and became the Italian time trial champion. In 1996 he became the first Italian to win the Tour of Portugal. In 1997 Max won the most important race in the USA: the Core States championship in Philadelphia.
Your trip hosts, Max Lelli and Randy Warren
After being greeted at the Rome airport, you will spend two days at Max Lelli’s Tuscan estate. During this time you will be fitted for your Max Lelli bike (rental included in the cost of the trip), enjoy some famed Tuscan riding and rest up from your travels.
After an overnight ferry to Sardinia, we check into our host hotel for the Giro Di Sardegna. You will stay at the same 4-star hotel for the entire stage race with only one day having a remote start.
The Stage Race will have overall clasifications as well as age group classification with awards held each night for the day’s racing. Most days have an option for a longer (GranGiro) and shorter (MedioGiro) version of the course with separate starts. You must indicate on your application if you are entering the longer or shorter route.
Age groups for men are as follows:
- A up to 34
- B from 35 to 39
- C from 40 to 44
- D from 45 to 49
- E from 50 to 54
- F from 55 to 59
- G 60 end above
Age groups for women are:
- W 1 up to 39
- W 2 40 and above
Each day will have an awards presentation where the leader’s jerseys will be awarded as well as raffle prizes for all in attendance. Overall Giro prizes will be awarded to the top three in each age group at the end of the stage race.
While we provide a recommended flight arrival time in and out of Rome, transportation to and from Italy is on your own.
Total Distance for the Stage Race:
GranGiro – 554 Kilometers (344 miles) 5369 meters (17614 feet) of climbing
MedioGiro-446 Kilometers (277 miles) with 3960 meters (12992 feet) of climbing
Riders enjoying a post granfondo meal.
Sunday 24 (Easter) – individual TT. Single course 24k/no climbing (14 miles)
Monday 25 – granfondo sardegna not difficult but lovely race in “wild” countryside: Arborea, Marceddì, Guspini and Montevecchio, then descent to the coast where the routes divide – the medio towards Marceddì then Arborea; the gran giro to the Costa Verde then climbs back up to the old mining village of Ingurtosu then to Uras and back to Montevecchio, before descending to the Costa Verde once again and then to Marceddì and Arborea (we really will be “in another world”- near to the Dune di Piscinas there’ll be 5 km of unmade [unpaved] road and two fords [water crossings] where we’ll make a crossing!). Medio-92k w/652m of climbing (57miles/2139ft), Gran-145k w/1509m (90miles/4950ft)
Tuesday 26 – from Arborea to Ales and Mogorella (up-and-down, but mostly flat). Medio-94k w/670m of climbing (58miles/2198ft of climbing), Gran-106k w/860m of climbing (65miles/2821ft of climbing)
Wednesday 27 – from Arborea to and Lago Omodeo – the odd little climb but pretty fast. Medio-100k w/730m of climbing (62miles/2395ft), Gran-114k w/1092m of climbing (70miles/3582ft)
Thursday 28 – Team time trial. 30k w/90 meters of climbing (18miles/295ft)
Friday 29 – from Arbus to Fluminimaggiore, Iglesias, Nebida coast, Buggerru, Arbus – tough mountain stage with the same course for the Medio and Gran Giro along a beautiful coastline. This will be the only stage where you will need to travel from the hotel to the start, about 50 km. Single course 96K w/1688m of climbing (59miles/5538ft)
Saturday 30 – from Arborea a 40 km flattish stage probably by age categories (Like at Alghero 2009). Single course 40K w/130m of climbing (24 miles/426ft)
Details, including maps and course profiles, of each stage can be found here.
Emanuele Bianchi with Randy Warren. Emanuele, one of our teammates for the Giro di Sardinia, is a Sardinian native who will provide translation support for the team.
Pricing: $3499 (excluding flight). Extra Max Lelli team kits: $210 (kit includes 2 short sleeve jerseys and 2 bib shorts). Extra Max Lelli socks and gloves are also available for purchase at $34 each. A portion of each trip fee goes to support the Chicago Velo Campus www.ChicagoVeloCampus.com
Price includes:
- Max Lelli team kit (includes jersey, bib shorts, gloves and socks)
- Max Lelli skinsuit
- Airport transfers
- Ferry to/from Sardinia
- All lodging
- All breakfasts and dinners
- Most lunches
- Max Lelli rental bike
- All race entries
- Opportunity to ride with Max Lelli, 14-time Tour de France racer
Extras:
- For an additional $210 you can purchase a set of 2 additional bib shorts and 2 additional jerseys
- For an additional $34 each, you can purchase additional socks and gloves
- While Max Lelli bikes are provided for this trip, you will need to bring your own aero clip-on bars and, if you desire, aero helmet and TT wheels for the TT and TTT events.
To apply for this trip a completed application and resume are required. If accepted, a $750 deposit will be due by February 25, 2011 with the remaining balance due by April 1, 2011. All application materials should be sent to randy@warrencycling.com.
For detailed trip itinerary click here.
About Randy Warren and Warren Cycling:
Randy, a USA Cycling level 1 coach, has been coaching cyclists and cycling teams since 1987. A former Masters National Champion, Randy has also raced in the Masters World Championships in Russia including winning one race and placing 4th overall. Randy has been leading cycling camps since 2002 helping cyclists to experience great riding, training and racing all over America and, more recently, in Tuscany, Italy.
About Emanuele Bianchi and Chicago Velo Campus:
Emanuele is an Italian (Sardinian) native who is the President of the Chicago Velo Campus.
The Chicago Velo Campus will create a vibrant district of sport and health facilities focused on the spirit of cycling and athletic facilities. The Velodrome for downtown Chicago…
The facility is designed to appeal to all types of athletes with a special emphasis on cyclists. The anchor of the facility will be an indoor world class, 250 meter velodrome that will serve as a setting for a variety of programs from junior development to elite and Olympic development. The VeloCampus will also be home to a BMX park and a dirt loop for cyclocross and mountain bike skills practice.
For more information visit www.ChicagoVeloCampus.com
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