1. When does my Giro d'Italia vacation begin?
Your vacation will begin on May 25 when we meet you at the "Arrivo" section of the Leonardo da Vinci International Airport in Rome, Italy. Please note that you will need to be ready to go with your bike case by 1:00 pm. It is highly recommended that you arrive a day early on May 24th so you can rest up, wait for any delayed baggage, and get organized.

AAA Travel Desk: To reserve hotel rooms in Rome, purchase transatlantic flight tickets, train tickets, or a personal rental car, please contact our AAA Travel Rep , Shelley Lulow , at slulow@aaane.com or by calling 1.800.854.5044 ext. 272 on Monday - Thursday from 12 noon - 6 pm CST. Grazie!

2. What kind of bike should I bring and what gears should I plan on using?
It's simple - if you are not a Category 1 pro, have your bike fitted with a compact crank or triple crank with a minimum of a 27-28 cog on the rear! The reason for this is that our program includes riding up such fabled Giro climbs as the Block Haus and the roads of the Amalfi Coast. You will want all the gearing you can get as these climbs are quite challenging and it's still relatively early in the year for climbing mountains. As a final note, please leave your pride on the shelf when it comes to selecting your gears. Your legs will thank you later and you'll enjoy the trip a lot more!

3. How many meals are included?
All breakfasts, 3 dinners and Welcome Cocktail.

4. Do you provide full sag support on the vacation?
Yes, we will provide full sag support during your entire vacation. Our vans will be stationed at key turns on the cycling routes and are stocked with bottled water, pastries, fruit, and cookies. Each day's itinerary and the location of the sag support vans will be discussed each prior evening during a brief group meeting before dinner. It is highly recommended, however, that you please bring your own drink powders with you. The reason for this is that everyone has different tastes, sensitivities, and responses to various sports drinks. Thus, you should bring what works best for you. Thanks!

5. What kind of weather should we expect?
Normally, May days in the south of Italy are beautiful with temperatures in the 60's - 80's. However, the weather in the Apennines can still change pretty quickly and one can have everything from rain to sun. Thus, you will want to bring your rain gear with you and a winter riding jacket with gloves, base layers, hat, booties, tights, arm warmers and leg warmers. The evenings are quite pleasant and a bit cooler so you will want to make sure you have a pullover, sweater or fleece jacket with you so you don't get a chill.

6. What is the group size for this program?
The group size will be 24 riders maximum. We are keeping the group level small to insure that everyone gets the needed attention during their vacation.

7. How should I train for this vacation?
The best training is to get out and ride! You should be comfortable riding 2-5 hours per day over rolling and mountainous terrain for this vacation. The climbs in the Apennines are hard and rugged so be prepared for some challenging days. In addition, the vans will always be close by so, if you've had enough riding for the day, we will be more than happy to give you a lift to the hotel. It's your vacation and we want you to enjoy it on your own terms!

8. What is included in the price of my Giro d'Italia vacation?

• 3-star and 4-star accommodations for 7 nights.
• All breakfasts and 3 dinners.
• Welcome Cocktail with wine.
• All gratuities, taxes, and fees for all hotels, meals, and porter services.
• Daily guided challenging cycling through the heart of the Apennines, Amalfi Coast and Rome.
• All daily transfers, luggage transfers, and on-road sag support in either our autobus or our Thule-equipped vans.
• All daily prepared routes with maps and cue sheets detailing each days route with each turn and its corresponding mileage. This is all outlined for you in advance.
• Professional mechanics who will build your bike up for you, do the daily maintenance if needed, and repack your bicycle for you when the tour is finished.
• Professional staff with a ratio of 1:6 so everyone gets the needed attention during the tour.
• Professional Velo Echappe Cycling Jersey.
• Daily supply of bottled water, fruit, cookies and other goodies to keep you fueled on the road!
• Cell phone communications
• Pre-Tour Information Packet that will be sent out to you in advance detailing each day's program, hotel info, sponsor info, what to bring, how to pack, etc. so you're fully prepared before you leave home.

9. What documents do I need to have with me when I arrive into Italy?
You will need to have a valid U.S. Passport with you when you arrive. We also highly recommend that you make 2 copies of your Passport, visa, and identification materials before you leave. Please leave one copy with your loved ones before you leave and bring one copy with you but keep it separate from your baggage. The reason for doing this is to have backup copies in case your belongings and identification papers are stolen. To obtain a new passport, or replace an outdated, lost, or stolen passport, please contact the U. S. State Department

10. What is not included in the price of my vacation?
Airfare to and from Italy, lunches, lodging before and after the vacation, 4 dinners, any gratuities for Velo Echappe' staff, and any incidentals.

11. When does my Giro d'Italia vacation end?
Your vacation will end when we transfer you to Rome's Leonardo da Vinci International Airport on the morning of June 1.

12. How do I transport my bike on my flight?
We recommend the Bike Pro Travel Case and the Thule Bicycle Airline Travel Case. You can visit Bike Pro USA online and view their entire selection. After you have found the case that you want, please call us at 402.345.7445 for special discounted pricing.

13. What should I bring on the vacation?
Off the bike, Velo Echappe's programs are casual. Informal polo shirts, one sweater, pullover, jeans, khakis, shorts, and slacks are all very appropriate. You do not need to bring coats and ties, dresses, etc. In addition, you should also bring a swimsuit.

For your cycling, you should bring your bike, cycling shoes, plenty of cycling socks, extra cleats, padded cycling shorts or bibs, cycling jerseys, arm and leg warmers, rain jacket, cycling gloves, enclosed gloves in case it rains, 1 long sleeve cycling jersey, poly-pro under garments for layering, waterproof booties in case it rains, cool weather jacket, fleece pullover, 3-4 bike tubes, sunglasses, waterbottles, drink mix, preferred gels and energy bars, and sunscreen. Note: Since we will be in the mountains for an entire week, you should bring gear and clothing for all seasons - warm, cold, and rain.