GBI Sicilia 2019

Do you like some warming sun, while autumnal cold prevails at home? And you can combine it with enjoying typical sicilian hospitality, exploring picturesque villages and refreshing in the Mediterranean Sea. The Etna is always in sight and finally you will climb the vulcano and cycle through its moon-like lava areas. This (and much more) is on your schedule at this GBI cycling tour through eastern Sicily.

Benvenuti in Sicilia!

October 3^rd - 7^th, 2019

Check out our tour pics

General information

Tour highlights:
- Enjoy Sicilian hospitality & cuisine
- Refresh yourself with a plunge into the Mediterranean Sea
- Explore the picturesque Piazza Armerina
- Sleep at the base of a volcano
- Get enchanted by the unique lava area
- Pedal through extensive orange & lemon plantations
- Enjoy the sunset at Cefalù
- Climb the Etna on two wheels

As most of Sicily is very hilly, you should be aware of frequent ups and down. We have designed the route in order to touch as many 'must sees' as possible, but also to give you an impression of the beauty of the islands countryside. We will enjoy good food and wine and sleep in exciting locations.

All kinds of bikes are welcome, whether you have a road bike, mountainbike, city bike or even pedelecs. Depending on the number of participants we will cycle in several (at least two) teams with different speed levels.

The Global Biking Initiative (GBI) wants to show you the most interesting places in Europe the sportive way. We are proud of our international participants, that makes it easy for everybody to make new friends from other countries. Our main goal is the continuous support of charity projects worldwide. We achieve this by engaging the participants to raise funds that support charity projects in their home countries.

More information needed?

There might some things missing on our event page or you have some specific questions?

Feel free to contact us.

Oliver Harzen

Tour organisation

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Charity

As the GBI is a charity ride, you have to register for a GBI country (typically your home country) and raise funds in addition to the participation fee for the local supported charity in this country. The minimum donation for this event is 50 €. Each participant is kindly requested to raise more than the minimum donations to support our charity projects.

No clue how to raise funds?
Uncertain how and who to ask for donations?
Check out our tipps for your fund raising activities!

More information

Tour description

Itinerary

Day 1: Nicolosi - Enna
From our hotel at the base of the Etna we are starting the tour. After some meters we pass a monticule that shows us the recent activities of the volcano. We roll some hundred height meters down to the flatland of Catania. Later that day the route ascends with many hills while we pass Raddusa and Valguarnera Caropepe. Our destination, the hilltop village of Enna, is requesting a challenging climb at the end of the day, but we will be rewarded by a phantastic lookout.
Track 2 leaves the regular route at Raddusa and visits the village Aidone on top of a hill, before heading to Enna.

Day 2: Enna - Cefalù
From the island's interior today we are heading to the north coast of Sicily. Before we reach the sea at the end of the day we can expect a day ahead that has it all. Constant ups and downs from the beginning, and after leaving the village of Alimena both tracks split. Through the beautiful mountain scenery of Sicily we reach Castelbuono and after a long descent there is the ocean in front of us. On a panoramic coastal route we will bypass the rock of Cefalu and visit the nice city at the foot of the rock.
Track 2 will detour in the challenging mountain area before reaching Castelbuono and descending to Cefalu.

Day 3: Cefalù - Santa Domenica Vittoria
Most of the day we will pedal relaxed and without many climbs along the north coast from Cefalù to Rocca di Capri Leone. As we cycle usually close to the beaches, there are always opportunities for a swim stop. After leaving the coast we immediately start to climb to the mountainous hinterland. For 40 km the road now meanders up to more than 1200 meter height. A beautiful descent overlooking the volcanic cone of Etna follows until we reach our idyllic location for the night.

Day 4: Santa Domenica Vittoria - Nicolosi
This day is all about the volcano. In the morning we will easily descent to Randazzo and follow the river Alcantara. The gorgeous Gole Alcantara with its canyons and bizarre rocks at the river invite us for a stop before we reach the coast. For almost 20 km we will cycle close to beautiful beaches. At Riposto we will leave the coast and start for the last climb of the tour. At the mountain side of the Etna we will climb 1100 m within the unique lava area and later descend to Nicolosi.
Track 2 will climb much more and after 1900 (!) m ascend we are on the highest point accessible by road at the volcano.

Day 5: Nicolosi
We wake up with a glance to the volcano before we go back home after some beautiful sicilian cycling days.

Stage overview

Day	Route	Track	Distance	Climb
Day 1 - October 3rd, 2019	Nicolosi - Enna	1 2	103 km 117 km	1900 m 2200 m
Day 2 - October 4th, 2019	Enna - Cefalù	1 2	113 km 126 km	1790 m 2230 m
Day 3 - October 5th, 2019	Cefalù - Santa Domenica Vittoria	1 2	128 km	2310 m
Day 4 - October 6th, 2019	Santa Domenica Vittoria - Nicolosi	1 2	87 km 103 km	1490 m 2190 m

The tracks of the different stages differ in general regarding their length and the climb as well as the surface.
A detailed description can be found here:

Track 1

Recommended for all kinds of bikes including road bikes. Only paved roads on the track. Shorter and less challenging than track 2.

Track 2

Recommended in particular for road bikes, the distance is longer and more climb than on track 1.

Venues

Day 1 - Tour start

Nicolosi

B&B Sotto il vulcano & B&B Etna House & Villa nel Monte

The tour will start from the cozy B&B Sotto il Vulcano in Nicolosi at the base of Mount Etna.

The two other accommodations are in direct neighborhood.

Day 1

Enna

Hotel Bristol ***

We are accommodated in a familiy run hotel in the city.

Day 2

Cefalù

Hotel Baia del Capitano ****

We stay in a convenient hotel close to the beach.

Day 3

Santa Domenica Vittoria

Agri Hotel Da Marianna***

We stay in a family run rural hotel with included dinner.

Day 4 (Tour finish)

Nicolosi

B&B Sotto il vulcano & B&B Etna House & Villa nel Monte

The tour ends at the cozy B&B in Nicolosi at the base of Mount Etna.

Teams

Each GBI participant cycles in a team, guided by an experienced teamleader. Teamsize is limited to ten riders maximum because of legal requirements.

You can choose a team, which fits best to your experience, your objectives and your preferred track.

Find your team

TEAM Dolce Vita

Oliver Harzen

Teamnumber 1

22 km/h

Languages: German, English

The main focus is to have fun, see a lot of the lovely nature and cycle with an appropriate speed on each stage.

TEAM Mare e monti

David Calpin

Teamnumber 2

23 km/h

Languages: English

The main focus is to have fun, see a lot of the lovely nature and cycle with an appropriate speed on each stage.

TEAM Etna

Hardy Schmidt

Teamnumber 3

25 km/h

Languages: German, English

The main focus is to have fun, see a lot of the lovely nature and cycle with an appropriate speed on each stage.

TEAM GBI-Support

Teamnumber 10

0 km/h

Registration for GBI Staff only!

There is no appropriate team for you?

You can set up your own team and define, which track you want to cycle, the average speed as well as an appropriate team name.

Write an e-mail to support@gbi-event.org.