Neil drove myself and some bikes to Paul and Paula’s home in Feletto Umberto near Udine in northern Italy. The rest of the bunch arrived by plane and we proceeded to get on each others nerves, I mean, shared some lovely and challenging cycling together, for a week. We scaled the “hardest climb in the UCI Pro Tour” Monte Zoncolan as well as riding into Slovenia, riding to the coastal towns of Grado and Duino and watching some of the Giro (Cycling Tour of Italy) fly through Spilimbergo.
The weather was fantastic. The hosts fantastic. The terrain was fantastic. The company fantastic. It was a great trip and I HIGHLY recommend getting yourself to the area if you like cycling, or wine, or coffee or food or lovely scenery or.. you get the idea. Also of note was the city of Strasbourg where Neil and I stayed on the way back. ‘Shambles’-like buildings plus some impressive cathedrals and very ‘old town’ feel as well as some Belgian beer bars = full of win!