Let’s go, let’s go…. Called The deep melodic Italiano voice of Paulo, our guide.
Only 4k climb, we meet at round-about at top. 99k and 1400 meters of climbing today. A cappuccino and pastry await at the walled and cobblestoned town of Urbino.

Drafting behind Guiseppe, all 139 pounds and seven- time Giro de Italia racer, for the final 10k back to Riccione was like lemoncello after a wonderful Italian meal, smooth and easy.

What’s not to like about cycling in Italy! The vistas of rolling hills speckled with olive groves and uniformly lined grapevines. San Marino, ……….in the distance with its Castillo reaching majestically for the clouds. The flavors of homemade pasta, tomatoes, peppers, olives, breads, fresh catch from the sea, pecorino, proscuto, fungi and the olive oil…oh the olive oil! And then there’s the wine; bianco, rosa and my favorite proseco.

Our companions from Canada, New Zealand, the UK, Norway, and of course Tucson made for an engaging and gregarious week and we gained moto Nuevo Amicis. The Whistler contingency lead the partying, dancing and just all around good time FUN!

Marina and her Belvedere staff embraced us and we molted into one big Italiano family by weeks end.