The camps we run are small, up to 4 people with breakfast and lunch included, led rides on beautiful, smooth, quiet roads and we promise to give you the real Italy, something that all our guests have really enjoyed, the chance to ride and live with the locals.

No one gets dropped and we work around you on distance and routes so you get the most out of your trip.

We came here because of Italy, Italian cycling, the roads, the racing, the people, the food, the culture and a whole host of little nuances that are Italy… In short, we love it!

Within the camps we try to bring this to you, to give you the Italian experience by staying in a beautiful old village, using the local shops, the café and the restaurant.  Passing through local towns and villages on the road, catching up with local riders, taking in local fondos and of course, the cakes…

There are some awesome new dates for September 2012, we have already started taking bookings for 2013 with 2 weeks fully booked already and things are going well, la dolce vita..

Things have been very busy here at Il Sasso but we’ve not forgotten about the blog!

After the last fondo the weather turned a wee bit and unfortunately I can’t say for the better, we even had a wee flurry of snow and heads certainly went down but luckily it didn’t stay around.  The sun soon came back out and each day has been that bit warmer and were now loving 20 degrees plus!

The calendar is booking up quite nicely but a few really great camps are still sitting empty, check out the 2012 page for their details, take a chance and get booking!

We’ve been able to catch up with the Tirreno Adriatico but couldn’t get past the Polizia municipale to get into Offida to check out the finish so had to settle down at a wee petrol station and watch the short laps fly by…

A break got away with about 2 mins at one point but were dragged back on the last lap for a bust up on the final climb..

The next day we struck lucky in San Bennedetto, easy parking, easy TT stage and the sun was shining.  I can’t really comment on the race as I spent the day at the Garmin bus talking to a mate of mine who is their physio, at least that is until Matt Woods turned out for a pizza and all was well again in the world!

Since then the temps have gone up and up and up, the tans have been topped up a treat and the K’s have gone up, you really can’t complain!

A prossima..

Well that’s the first Fondo of the year done and dusted!…

We didn’t have far to travel for this one, in fact we don’t for most of them but an hours ride first thing up the road and we’re in Villa Musone for round 1 of the Marche Marathon.

As it’s still early doors and with all the snow that hit here and the cold and ice back home I wasn’t feeling very well prepared so took the 80k option, as did most of the group I was with.  We split with 55k in and there was only one option really as the pace just kept rising all the way through, which was a good thing as I needed a good old burn up to get the legs going!

The course was great, a lot of steady climbs – mostly done in the big ring :-/ – some great descending and when the roads are closed it makes it that much better!

One of things I really look forward too at the Fondo’s is the pasty party and this was no different, so once I was over the Iine I headed back to the car, grabbed my bag and straight in the shower.  Luckily we were pretty early finishing and got straight in, changed and hit the sports ground!

When I got there it wasn’t open yet, so I had a quick look around a few of the temporary bike shops outside, some seriously tempting bargains… Salice sunglasses €45!!!…

Finally it opened, straight in the queue for the tre piatti… and not bad either!  Washed down with a bit of vino – which you also got a bottle of when you got your number – and followed up with a few pieces of cakes, life is good and ready for the Gran Fondo Conero Cinelli next sunday!

Oh, and the prize for most stickers on a van went to this guy…

A prossima amici!

It’s been a busy few weeks here in Italy and our season is well under way!

The first group of 2012 has just left sunny Le Marche heading back to the UK leaving us with a few days rest until the next group hit from California.

Up until early last week we were worried about the snow and was it going to clear, could we ride, would more fall?.. I don’t know what we were worried about, as out came the sun, the temps started to rise and the snow is a distant memory! Well, until you look out of Casa Liozzi toward the mountains that is, but you don’t mind that as it’s a great view!

We’ve been slowly building up the miles, reacquainting ourselves with the local coffee & cake stops and fine tuning the bikes, it’s been great!

Our first Fondo is on sunday, the Valle dei Esino, which is a nice rolling route skirting the Conero cliffs and the perfect leg warmer for whats to come…

Why not get involved?

Well well, the worst snowfall in 50 years and what a time to get it!!

We have the first camp kicking off in a little over 2 weeks and Italy is buried under a LOT of snow!!… What can you do?!

However, help is at hand with what looks like a rise in temperatures coming in the next few days and then a little rain which will hopefully was it all away!

Lets keep our fingers crossed as I know it’s going to be a great year here at Il Sasso and very exciting it is too!

Now while you’re here, why not check out some of our camps!

2012 Tirreno Adriatico route was announced today with 5 weeks to go before the event, but this is pretty normal stuff for the race, they sure do like to keep you waiting!

It looks a good route, fair and balanced but being selfish, for us it’s not great!  For the last few years the route has skirted the house, with some great stages in the later half of the race being held walking distance from the house, sadly the run has come to an end and we will have a nice ride down to cath the race instead.. So it’s not all bad!

Stage 5, Martinsicuro to Prati di Tivo has 2 great kicks in the tail and should really shake up the GC.  Starting out at the coast and snaking its way into the hinterland of Adriatic near Teramo, home of many famous stages of the Giro.

However, we won’t be watching this one!  Why not?  The Gran Fondo Conero Cinelli awaits for us!

Stage 6, Offida to Offida will be one we will certainly be watching, a nice long route in the rolling hills, passing through the hill-top towns before closing in on 6 laps of a smaller circuit which should make for some great racing in the finale!

This years addition finishes off with a 9.3km time trial around the glitz resort of San Bennedetto del Tronto and it could be the decider as it’s usually a close one!…

We shall see as we will be there watching, can’t wait!…

We still have one twin room available for this week, interested?… Get in touch now..

Will you be climbing Sassotetto this year?….

I’m really looking forward to some great days on the mountain this year, both racing and riding Gran Fondo’ and riding with the groups staying with us here at Il Sasso too.

This year, a number of Gran Fondo routes will be taking in the mountain and hopefully the Tirreno Adriatico too.  The route for this years race has not as yet been announced but we are hoping it will add it in once again!  The Giro will be skirting the bottom slopes on it way through the village of Sarnano on stage 7 of this years race.

They might be passing over, but the next day after watching stage 7, we will be riding the Gran Fondo Terre dei Varano and we will be riding over it on route to the finish at Camerino.  There are still places left on this camp so you could be riding with us!  Check out the camp here.

This is not the only Gran Fondo which has opted for the 2000m climb, the GF Monti Sibillini is also adding the route, this time in heat of July.  The exact details of the route for 2012 have not yet been announced, but as soon as they are released we shall be updating you, so do keep checking back!

After a fairly decent week on the bike with some great weather here on the north-east coast, I thought I’d take a few days off the bike over the weekend as we were off to Edinburgh to stay at the other halves parents.  I was thinking about taking the bike but knew we’d be spending a fair bit of time in the Auld reekie, so left the steed in the garage and thought I’d get out for a quick run around the farm, for the craic..

Awoke to a lovely sunny morning and thought I’d get straight out, and this is where the trouble all started.. Not half a mile into it, I bumped into a fella on his way home from night shift and thought I’d tag along for a mile before turning back into the fields and up to the house.  A fair few miles later I seemed to be getting a wee bit distracted questioning the newly found ultra marathon runner about training, racing and all things endurance..

It’s amazing when you don’t run very often how good it feels first time out, and thinking you’ll be fine later in the day, week……..

Back to the farm, showered, fed, dogs walked and on way to Edinburgh, all feels fine….

OOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!…………..

Sundays are supposed to be a relaxing steady away day, not this one… Nor the next one either, the next one being monday and just as painful as the previous.  It’s sheet ice outside and not a great chance of me dashing out on the bici to get the legs turned over so turbo it is…..

Seemed a good idea at the time…..

It’s arrived, well a week or so back at least but it’s worth waiting for!  I had been looking for a musette for a good month or so and I was surprised at how difficult it was to find one and then even more surprised at how hard it was to try to get them made up!

Then I remembered bumping into a guy at the 2011 Leazes criteriums back in June, a mate of a mate who had gone into making musettes.  Thought I’d get in touch and se what he could do for me and it could not have been easier and once the sample dropped through the door, bang.. hooked!.. Think I’ll be going for a few more but as the camps are swiftly approaching time seems to be disappearing!….

Check out Dene’s site http://www.ilsoigneur.co.uk/

This man can make a bag…

Michele Scarponi has begun his winter training and while doing so rides the course of the Fondo Terre dei Varano

http://www.ruoteamatoriali.it/strada/2830-michele-scarponi-ha-pedalato-sul-percorso-della-fondo-terre-dei-varano.html