This year was the 10th anniversary of our annual club cycling trip to Riccione a quieter town on the eastern coast of Italy, south of the popular resort of Rimini.

Our accommodation is a dedicated ‘bike hotel’  during the early and late summer season and our visit is normally late April/May.
The hotel provide bike storage (including boxes etc) in the basement, which is equipped with essentials such as water, track pump, bike tools and shoe racks. It reverts to a ‘normal’ hotel in summer.
It is by the sea – the back gate leads onto the beach and  is not too far from 2 bike shops!
The welcome and care we receive there are always outstanding, but this year was exceptional – to celebrate our 10th year.

We pay for ‘half board’ (buffet for both breakfast and evening meal – salad and starters bar and as many main courses as you can eat – and that is worth watching for a group of cyclists – but lunch always magically arrives as the cyclists return.

There are three Italian guides each day just for the hotel residents, to lead the rides to cater for all abilities – and find the coffee stop . Naturally the routes for the fast groups are longer.
The coastal plain provides a bit of a warm up??? then we head for the hills which are really beautiful. (Not to mention challenging)
The scenery is glorious and dare I say it, the weather warm and generally kind!

This year we were fortunate enough to coincide with the Giro, and travelled to the start by train to see the riders warming up, then racing.
Fantastic.

The hard work of the day is rewarded by socially meeting in the bar around 6 30,  a buffet evening meal with a good choice of dishes and salad – and or course wine on the table as required.

Don’t forget to have a look at this years pictures in the gallery.

Roll on next year!

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