8 Day tour with Grand Tours Project in 2026.
If you love riding your bike and watching bike racing, then participating in a bike tour is definitely something you should do at least once in your life. I’m lucky enough to have now participated in two of these trips. The first was in 2018 where I spent 5 days following the Tour de France (with Mummu Cycling). I had a great time and cherish the memories from that trip. Some 8 years later in 2026, I decided to do it all again, but for the Giro d’Italia and chose Grand Tours Project (GTP) for the trip.
I had a great time on this trip and want to share my experiences. Maybe this article will help you to decide if this is the kind of trip that interests you. Please remember however that every trip is different as the race route, terrain, weather, restaurants, accommodation, participants and staff etc. change. I paid for this trip myself and have no affiliation with GTP.
Why use a Tour Operator?
Whilst the general public can ride sections of the Giro race route (on race day), travelling with a premium tour operator also allows you to enjoy special experiences that are not available to the general public. They also organise the itinerary including accommodation, meals & transport, so you can just enjoy riding a bike and watching the race. You will also be in the company of cycling enthusiasts, so you can talk cycling all day long without boring your partner, friends or family etc.
Selecting a Tour Operator
Once you start researching these types of trips, you will soon realise that they are not cheap and typically require full payment well in advance of meeting anyone in person, so there is a lot of faith required on your part. Unfortunately, we live in a world full of online scams. So, you should research the tour operator before handing over thousands of your hard-earned cash. Also, you should carefully read the refund / cancellation policy. Here are some things you can do to vet a prospective tour company;
- Visit the website of the official race organiser eg. Giro d’Italia to view a list of official tour operators. Grand Tours Project was listed on the website so that was inspiring.
- Look at Google Reviews for the tour operator. Reviews posted on the tour operator website should only be trusted once you are sure they are genuine. Any scammer can post fake reviews on their own website or other websites including review websites.
- Make contact with the tour operator. If they are genuine, they should be able to provide you with detailed itineries and information about the trips they offer.
- Check which country the tour operator is based. Grand Tours Project is based in Switzerland which is more legit than some other countries around the world.
- Is the tour company pressuring you to instantly send money to secure your spot even though the trip may still be many months away? Do they want the money sent to a bank account in a dodgy country or deposited to an unusual account name or paid in bitcoin or anything else that may be a red flag?
- Do you know other people that have used the tour company before?
Selecting the Right Tour Itinerary
The Giro d’Italia is a 3 week cycling stage race, so each tour company will typically offer different itineraries, one for each week of the race. You need to pick an itinerary that suits your travel dates, the regions you would like to visit and the type of terrain you want to ride. If you only like riding on flat roads, then don’t choose a trip that features loads of climbing, like the one I did. Having said that, there may be the possibility of renting an e-bike. Or join the Giro-E which is run by the Giro d’Italia and very popular.
I personally prefer to be riding in the mountains on these trips because the climbs, descents and scenery are totally epic! I ended up going with the Grand Tours Project, week 3 Giro experience which featured 5 days of riding in the mountains and 2 days of riding on flat roads. I was not disappointed; the riding and scenery was truly amazing. There is plenty of beautiful scenery in Italy.
Cost of My Tour
The price of a trip can vary considerably between tour operators and depends on many factors such as number of days, the number of inclusions (like VIP experiences), paying a single hotel room supplement, using a rental bike, included meals etc. I chose to rent a bike from GTP and pay a single room supplement. I’m not keen on dragging my bike around on holiday (as we travelled in Europe for a further 3 weeks after the trip ended) and it is a nice luxury to have the hotel room on your own. All the participants on our trip rented GTP’s bikes. Here are the costs for this trip;
- Trip Price: EUR 5,940.00
- Single Room Supplement: EUR 740.00
- Premium bike rental: EUR 450.00 (the bike was brand new).
Booking a Tour
The Giro race organisers were very slow to release the race route for 2026, so this trip was only listed on the GTP website approx. 3 months before the race started in May. I booked it straight away. Note that these trips are typically advertised much earlier and the popular ones can sell out many months before the event.
Booking my place on the trip required a EUR 500 non-refundable deposit which I paid in February 2026. Payment of the full balance was requested in March 2026. I commenced the tour late May 2026.
All my email correspondence with GTP was prompt and courteous. They were happy to answer any queries, resolve any issues and provided lots of information. Details are important when planning these trips.
What Happens Before the Trip?
- You receive an online questionnaire to provide more information about yourself including bike fit details, emergency contact, cycling clothing sizing etc.
- You receive a detailed handbook (pdf) that includes lots of information about the ride options offered on each day of the trip (a short or long option) with route maps, total distance and elevation as well as profiles for each of the main climbs, time schedule and details about the Giro race stage for the day. There is also a small introduction to each member of the GTP team that will be on your tour as well as a list of things to pack. It is a very informative document and was essential in planning my training for the rides I wanted to do on the trip.
- You also receive the GPS files for all the ride routes, so you can study the route in more detail (on various websites) and upload it to your bike computer for route navigation on the day.
Meeting up on the First Day of the Trip
GTP advised that it would be collecting participants from Milan Malpensa airport. I highly recommend arriving in the country at least one day before meeting the group. When travelling, things do not always go to plan. The trip is too expensive to be missing days due to a travel problem. I arrived in Milan 1 day earlier and was able to watch the conclusion of Giro Stage 15 in Milan. Nice way to get into the spirit of things.
As I was staying in Milan, GTP offered to either pick me up from my accommodation (in Milan) or at the Milan airport. I decided to take a train and meet them at the airport. From there they were able to transfer me to our first hotel in Switzerland a bit earlier which was great. I was travelling with a large suitcase and a backpack which was no problem (storing in the vans) during the trip.
GTP Rental Bike
In my early email correspondence with the office, GTP advised the rental bike was a brand new Bianchi Specialissima Pro, which is Bianchi’s do-it-all bike, designed to be light and aero. I appreciated the idea of riding a premium Italian bike in Italy for the Giro experience.
The bike features Shimano Ultegra di2, 12 speed drive train with hydraulic disc brakes, carbon frame, 50mm deep carbon wheels, one piece carbon bar & stem and quality 28mm tyres. Bianchi supply the bike with 52/36t chainrings and an 11-30t cassette. I was familiar with this groupset and gearing as I have the same setup on my Cannondale Super Six Evo Gen 4.
Frame size is always important as the bike needs to fit you. GTP accurately assessed the correct frame size, but when I looked at the geometry chart, I soon realised that this frame has a more aggressive (race) geometry than my Cannondale Super Six Evo Gen 4. Also the standard 52/36t chainrings and 11-30t cassette are great for me on flat rides and short climbs, but our itinerary included many days of long alpine climbs with 10km or more at 8% average. On day 5 of the trip, our third climb of the day was 5km at 10%.
So, I raised my concerns about the bike with the team at GTP and they kindly offered to provide a Bianchi Infinito which is Bianchi’s endurance bike with less aggressive geometry, compact 50-34t chainrings and 11-34t cassette which I agreed was better suited for me on this terrain.
Surprisingly, when I arrived on day 1 of the trip, a Specialissima Pro was there waiting for me. I decided not to mention this oversight to the team and instead try the Specialissima. Whilst I could feel there was more reach and drop than my Cannondale, ultimately everything turned out fine. Thankfully my lower back, arms and neck made it through the trip without any issues even though we rode many hours each day. I attribute that to a few things;
- We were riding many hours uphill, so I was able to use the tops of the bars, which provided a more upright position with less reach. That is the position I typically ride long climbs so it was no issue.
- We had good breaks between climbs. Thankfully descending was no problem even though it was a lower position on the drops.
My Specialissima featured 52/36t chainrings and an 11-34t cassette, but I was able to ride up all the climbs with this gear ratio. However, a smaller 34t chainring would have been handy to increase cadence on steeper sections. One of my fellow tour participants had an 11-30t cassette on his rental bike which he promptly requested be changed to an 11-34t cassette after our introductory ride in Locarno. GTP organised that without issue for the next day.
Unfortunately, modern bikes don’t allow much customisation as they are often supplied with a one piece bar/stem and all the brake cables are internally routed in the bars. When supplying rental bikes, it is difficult to cater for everyone’s individual requirements and abilities. The bikes we were supplied were a premium level and brand new which is a first in my experience. However, the gearing and bike fit did not affect my riding or enjoyment of the trip. It was nice to ride a new bike, but after returning home, I had no need to upgrade my Cannondale Super Six Evo.
Presentation of the GTP Cycling Kit
On the first day of the trip, every rider is presented with the following items;
- Santini Cycling clothing with Grand Tours Project branding; Bib Shorts, Short Sleeve Jersey, Socks, Cycling Cap.
- 2 x 550ml GTP bidons with pull nozzle.
- 1 x GTP branded cotton t-shirt.
- 1 x Scion bike clothing bag personalised with your name and national flag.
- 1 x Mesh laundry bag.
- 1 x Official Giro Race handbook (as used by the teams).
The Santini clothing is good quality and the fit was on the (normal) relaxed side. I own a few Santini garments so was able to select correct sizing, however you never really know when ordering as sizing varies between garments, even from the same manufacturer. The jersey featured lycra sleeves which made for a comfortable fit around the arms. Unfortunately my GTP t-shirt was one size too large. Our guide kindly offered to give me one of his t-shirts he had used, but washed, but I never got around to swapping it and maybe it will shrink in the dryer (or I get bigger)!
Note: You need to estimate your sizing prior to the trip. The clothing is made to order, there were no spares in different sizes which is something to keep in mind when ordering, don’t order too small.
I really like the personalised Scion bag. It had plenty of compartments which were labelled for the gear you would put in them. We used the bag throughout the trip to carry essentials required for the day. Receiving the official race book was also nice. Whilst I still haven’t had a chance to look through it yet, it is a nice memento, but it is pretty heavy, so I had to make sure my suitcases and hand luggage were strategically packed to avoid excess weight charges from Ryan airlines. I kept the GTP bidons, but didn’t use them. I brought my Camelbak bottles on the trip which are larger capacity and have a Jet Flow nozzle that I prefer.
Cycling Clothing Discussed
As mentioned earlier, GTP provide an extensive list of things you need to bring on the trip. That includes cycling clothing. You need to bring a complete kit of cycling gear which includes clothing to cover any weather condition. This is important if you are riding in the mountains.
I brought along a plethora of clothing for all conditions and thankfully we were greeted with warm conditions and perfect sunshine every day (except one deluge of rain that thankfully occurred near the end of our ride). I only used a jacket for the long descents and also at the top of climbs, to block out the wind when taking a rest break to refuel.
As mentioned GTP provide you with cycling kit and ask if you would wear it on a few specific days. I was happy to oblige. I liked the colours and graphics on the kit. The jersey and socks were comfortable, the bib shorts were a bit high-waisted in the front for my preference. They were higher than other knicks I own (including knicks made by Santini). The extra material in the front is good for cooler weather, but we were riding in warm weather. It also made it a bit harder to take a nature break without removing your jersey and bib straps. I spoke to a few other participants, but the higher waist didn’t bother them.
From memory, we were only requested to wear the GTP kit on 2 days. I chose to wear my own cycling clothing and the GTP kit on alternating days.
Washing your cycling kit is your own responsibility. There are no washing machines or dryers on the trip. However, GTP offered to wash our cycling kit once about half-way through the trip. I didn’t use that service and just washed my own gear at the end of each day. Having your own room helps with that. I brought laundry detergent with me on the trip and found a heavy duty plastic bag. I could wash and rinse the clothing in that bag whilst resting it in the bathroom sink. Then I would wring the water out of the clothes, press each item dry inside a towel on the floor and finally use the hairdryer to partially dry the garment. I brought along some clothes hangers and pegs to hang to clothes so they could fully dry overnight. This washing process took about 30-40mins per day, but it’s better than damp or smelly clothes.
Technology is a wonderful tool when you need to co-ordinate a lot of different people on a bike trip. GTP used WhatsApp to broadcast information about daily itineraries including timing, what to wear, where to be meet etc. They also requested we enable the Live Tracking feature during rides, so the team leaders could see where every rider was located on the route. The app also gives you the ability to message or call anyone in the group. It worked very well with the GTP tour leaders providing clear and detailed instructions via the app, so everyone knew what to do. The tour ran like a Swiss watch.
Group Size
When I participated in a Tour De France trip in 2016 with Mummu cycling, our group was fairly large (over 20 participants). Whilst it is fun getting to know everyone, a large group can slow everything down. It takes longer to pack the cars, get all the bikes loaded / unloaded /setup and for everyone to be ready on time.
When you are participating in an experience like this, timing is super important. You need to be riding by a certain time to make sure you complete the ride before the road is closed or arrive at a particular location on time to enjoy one of the included experiences ie. riding across the finish line or getting a photo on the podium etc.
It is up to the tour leader to carefully plan each day to ensure everyone can complete the chosen ride and not miss out on something. It is also up to the participants to be ready on time. A small number of participants on the tour gives you the best chance of success. It may also give you a little more space in the vans. Our GTP trip only had 9 riders. Everyone was punctual and the itinerary ran perfectly thanks to the GTP team.
Ride Pacing
Typically there were 2 GTP guides riding with the group. Our chief ride leader (Balt) set a comfortable pace on the front of the group when riding on flat roads, typically from the hotel to the first climb of the day. If some of the riders were slow, our other ride leader (Angela) would ride with them. Sometimes we stopped for a short break to allow everyone to re-group. Once we reached the climbs, everyone could ride at their own pace to the top. The ride leaders would typically ride sections of the climb with different members of the group. The GTP vans would drive past to check in with you at various times or stop to provide water, food, clothing, bike repairs etc. if required. This type of on-road support is definitely a luxury.
We would re-group at the top of each climb and then descend again at our own pace. Balt typically led the group down most of the descents. I found the pace exciting, but not risky. Other people were happy to descend at a slower pace. Whilst we were often riding on closed roads of the Giro race route, there were still cars and motorbikes (police & officials) passing us on both sides of the road, plus spectators and other cyclists. So we could not experience the same closed road descending that the Pro’s would have during the race.
Post-Ride Shower
Our tour leader went to a lot of effort to arrange for a shower and changing area to be made available to the group so we could shower and change post-ride before a lunch or VIP hospitality experience. This was a nice inclusion on the trip. There was only one day where he was unable to organise it. No problems, I brought along some body wipes for that purpose when required.
Ride Routes
One most days we were offered 2 ride options, however our guides were open to alterations depending on your physical ability on the day. The van was not allowed to drive on the Giro race route for the final climb of the day, but we always had 2 guides riding on the course and you could always just turn around and ride back downhill if your legs gave up on that climb. On other sections the van was always around for support.
During the rides, I could tell that GTP team had put some thought into the route selections. Avoiding busy public roads where possible and utilising bike trails that provided amazing scenery. The highlight for me was riding the Sella Ronda loop in the Dolomites. Whilst we didn’t follow the race route of the Giro that day, it was totally epic with incredible scenery. We also didn’t have to adhere to a rigid time schedule like other days that followed the Giro.
I enjoyed the fantastic climbing (& descending) itinerary of this trip;
Day 1. Meet the group in Milan. Drive to hotel in Locarno Switzerland for a welcome ride around the lake.
One ride option: 35km | 504m.
Day 2. Ride from the hotel to the Giro race route (stage 16) and climb to finish line at Cari for a photo on the podium and descend back to the base of the climb to watch the race pass from VIP Hospitality.
Two ride options: 31 km | 1,335 m or 64 km | 1,659 m
Day 3. Ride from hotel up a local climb then onto a bike path through some Italian vineyards and beside a large gorge. Join the Giro race route (stage 17) and ride to the finish line in Andalo. Descend back to a local restaurant at Lake Molveno to watch the race pass.
Two ride options: 43 km | 1,145 m or 72 km | 2,033 m
Day 4. Day off from watching the Giro. Ride from the hotel to do the Selle Ronda loop in the Dolomites, climbing 4 main climbs; Passo Sella, Passo Gardena, Passo Campolongo, Passo Pordoi then descend 33km back to the hotel.
Two ride options: 39 km | 1268 m or 105 km | 2,378 m
Day 5. Ride from hotel to Giro race route for the queen stage (stage 19) to ride the last 3 climbs; Passo Giau, Passo Falzarego, descend 30km back to Alleghe before the final climb of the day; Piani di Pezze. Descend 4km back to the hotel in Alleghe to watch the race pass after lunch.
Two ride options: 41 km | 1,083 m or 69 km | 2,363 m
Day 6. Ride from hotel to Giro race route (stage 20) to climb the Piancavallo and then descend 16km back to town for lunch. Fast train to Rome.
Two ride options: 33 km | 384 m or 65 km | 1,532 m
Day 7. Ride around some historical monuments in Rome then on a local bike path by the river. Watch the race from VIP Hospitality right at the finish line.
One ride option: 42 km | 139 m
GTP Tour Staff
To look after the 9 riders and 2 spectators on our trip, GTP provided 4 staff members;
- Daniele – Tour leader and ex-professional cyclist (winner of a stage in the Vuelta).
- Balt – Ride leader and very experienced fit cyclist.
- Angela – Ride leader and ex-professional female cyclist.
- Luca – Driver, mechanic and roadside support.
I didn’t have a lot of interaction with Daniele or Angela during the trip, but they were always courteous and pleasant. I spent quite a bit of time riding with Balt and he is a super nice guy, always pleasant and the perfect guy for the job. I also had a lot of laughs with Luca. He was always on hand to help you with anything, did a great job driving and loading and unloading the vans etc. I was a bit disappointed he was not able to ride with us on one of the days as I heard he is also a good cyclist.
Transport
We were transported in 2 comfortable vans which featured air conditioning and plenty of space to store your gear. Our trip also included the finale in Rome (stage 21) as standard. GTP organised tickets on the fast train to Rome to avoid us having to spend hours driving on the road and arrive late at night to the hotel. The Rome stage was a fantastic inclusion.
Accommodation
We only stayed one night in each hotel, with the exception of the final stage in Rome where we stayed 2 nights. There is a bit of moving around because you are following the Giro and the race is always on the move. All the hotels were clean and comfortable. Some were more premium than others, but were always well positioned in relation to the race and our rides. It is important to remember that on this trip we were riding Giro stages in the mountains, so we often stayed in small towns or villages. There is little opportunity for sight-seeing in any of the locations.
Meals and Drinks
The tour included all meals. Buffet breakfast was provided by the hotel, then we ate a many different local restaurants for lunch and dinner. You never went hungry. If I hadn’t been riding up all those mountains, I probably would have gained weight on this trip. The restaurants were all good with plenty of Italian cuisine and often other options.
One very important point to note is that you could order anything from the regular restaurant menu. There was no set menu or reduced menu. Entree, mains, dessert, it was up to you. You could also order non-alcoholic drinks. This was all included in the tour package and I think a luxurious inclusion.
You only had to bring out your credit card to pay for any alcoholic drinks that you ordered. I was happy eating basic foods like pizza, pasta etc. but if you wanted a steak or fish, no problems. I paid for a few Aperol Spritz and Peroni’s along the way, but didn’t need to pay for anything else on the trip (except one Giro cap).
GTP also supplied plenty of gels, energy bars, bananas, carbohydrate and electrolyte drinks before and during each of the rides. I tried a wide variety of options, but my favourite was the Powerbar Energize Advanced – Orange flavoured bars, though that flavour ran out, I think a few other participants were enjoying them as well.
Special Experiences at the Giro
As mentioned earlier, one of the reasons you travel with a Premium Operator is to enjoy special experiences;
- Receiving a copy of the official Giro Race Route Handbook.
- Riding across the finish line on Giro stage 16 with your name announced on the speaker.
- Standing on the winner’s podium for a group photo with a big bottle of Prosseco (but not to drink).
- VIP hospitality on the race route (we enjoyed this twice on our trip) as discussed below.
- Ride on sections of the race route that are closed to the general public. I was able to do this on multiple days. Sometimes riding through 2 or 3 police checkpoints right up to the finish line when the general public was re-directed off the course. In Rome a small group of us rode through the finish line for Stage 21 which was closed to the general public, it’s quite a special thing.
In the 2018 Tour de France trip, Mummu Cycling took us to a stage start and we were able to wander amongst the riders as they were preparing at the team bus and riding back and forth to the sign-in. I enjoyed this experience back in 2018. We didn’t attend a race start on this trip. I’m not sure if the Giro (race organisers) provide special access for this. It would have been fun attending the start of the Rome stage (with special access), but I wouldn’t have changed the itinerary for any of our other days on the trip.
VIP Hospitality Experience
A VIP Hospitality inclusion is very nice (we had 2 on this trip). The VIP trucks are typically setup somewhere on the race route and are multi-story in design. Inside they have TV’s so you can watch the race coverage and feature air conditioning for a bit more comfort. When the race is approaching you can watch from one of the upper viewing decks or spectate roadside with the general public or in areas reserved for VIP guests.
VIP hospitality also provide a variety of savoury & sweet snacks, drinks (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic eg. cans of Red Bull), as well as other things like chocolate bars. You can eat and drink as much as you like. Having said that, we usually had a big lunch before going to the VIP hospitality.
The second VIP Hospitality suite we attended was situated right on the finish line in Rome, in prime position to watch the riders pass on multiple laps and then see the winner of Stage 21, and Jonas and the VISMA team celebrate their GC victory riding past arm in arm. I also saw Vincenzo Nibali in amongst the VIP guests, it was an amazing spot.
Return Transport to the Airport
GTP can arrange to take you from the last hotel to the airport. Based on the flight schedules of the guests on our tour, we were offered 2 transfer times being 5.30am or 8.30am. However, we didn’t need to be at the airport until 12.30pm, so we preferred to spend time sightseeing in Rome before booking an Uber to the airport at our own cost.
Trip Summary
I have loved both of my Grand Tour experiences. When compared, I found GTP’s tour was better organised. The smaller group meant I didn’t miss any included experiences and wasn’t hanging around as much. Additionally, GTP’s tour offered the option of more challenging rides each day and included a high quality rental bike.
On both of these tours, I had amazing experiences on and off the bike and got to ride incredible climbs with like-minded cycling enthusiasts. Whilst these trips are not cheap, they were definitely worth it.
Throughout this trip I was blessed with a fantastic group of riders and staff, not to mention the amazing weather and locations. If I were to do another trip in the future, I would definitely travel with GTP again. If you’re a cycling enthusiast like me, I recommend you do one at least one ‘Grand Tour’ cycling trip in your lifetime.
About Me.
I have been riding and working on my own bikes for many years now. I wanted to share my experiences, knowledge and research with others. My aim is to inspire people to get involved in all aspects of this amazing sport. Cheers.
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