Giro d'Italia 2024 - Getaway

Leaving the hometown of Pinarello, an optional stop just outside of town allows a visit to the headquarters of this superbike brand. The destination for the day is the historic Renaissance city of Bassano del Grappa, but there are a couple of options to get there.

The shorter option skirts the edge of a small hill called the Montello which is a playground for local cyclists. The longer option takes a deeper dive into the Montello, joining a section of the route that was used in the 1985 World Championships (won by a 40-year-old Joop Zoetemelk with Lemond in second).

Both routes then pass through Montebelluna before climbing up to picturesque Asolo. A last push in the shadow of the Monte Grappa brings you into Bassano in time for an evening walk in this beautiful town nestled along the Brenta River.

Bassano is a great base for cycling, as it offers a lot of riding options. A wonderful loop that takes in Marostica and the climbs of San Luca and La Rosina can be done on its own or combined with another loop ride that passes through picturesque Asolo and Possagno.

Make sure to leave enough time and energy to explore Bassano with its multitude of bars, restaurants, and boutique shops.

This is likely to be THE big day of the Giro as the race climbs the Monte Grappa not once but twice. It is also a big day to test yourself on the Monte Grappa, a deceptively challenging climb, even when only tackled once. 

If you didn't get to ride the Possagno loop the prior day, you can either combine your Grappa ascent with this ride or simply head straight for the Monte Grappa, as the ride out of Bassano provides adequate warm-up before the ascent begins. Choose your Giro viewing point on the mountain itself or climb it first then head for the finish to watch on the big screen and see the finish live. Either way, it's going to be meravigliosa!

After a last breakfast, it’s time for the transfer back to Venice for your trip home or further explorations in the area.