You’re halfway up a big climb, legs burning, counting down the miles, and then — whoosh — someone passes you like you’re parked. Sleek kit, effortless cadence, legs of steel. That’s not just a strong rider. That’s a pro. You know it the moment he/she flies by.
Same Roads, Different Speeds
One of the things we love most about cycling is that it’s democratic. There are no golden boxes, velvet ropes, or VIP passes here. Just you, the road, and maybe, if you’re lucky, a World Tour rider in full stealth mode, training for the upcoming races.
Every summer and early fall, the Alps and Dolomites become the training ground for some of the best riders on Earth. Teams like Ineos, UAE, Bora, Jumbo, and Cofidis come to test their legs on the same great climbs we include in our tours. It happens every year and you can spot them on an easy spin or feel the full blur as they fly up a climb you’ve been dancing with for the past hour.
What Makes Cycling So Special
You don’t need a race number or a special badge to ride where the legends ride.
You don’t need to be a pro to feel like one. In what other sport can you step into the same arena as the best athlet of the world, with nothing between you and the challenge except your own willpower?
Most likely we will not be able to play a set at Wimbledon or shoot hoops at Madison Square Garden. But we can ride the same road where Pogacar launched an attack, where Van Vleuten grinded through the mist, where legends are made and remade every single season. That’s cycling.
A Culture Unlike Any Other
Cycling isn’t just a sport. It’s a culture. It’s roadside picnics, shared fatigue, cheering for another rider you meet on the road and shared espresso stops.
And when a pro rider flashes a “ciao” as they pass you on a climb, it’s not just cool. It’s a reminder that this sport, at its best, connects everyone, no matter the watts.
Just ride and share the road.
Lunch with an Unexpected Guest
I (Mattia) was out on an e-MTB ride with a friend, scouting a new route in Val Viola for an upcoming trip. We stopped for lunch at a mountain rifugio when a guy in full UAE Team kit approached and asked if we could lend him a charger for his e-bike so he could make it back to Livigno.
Sure, no problem. Judging by his bike and outfit, we figured he was just a superfan of Tadej. Nothing unusual up here.
As he was alone, we invited him to share the table with us and got to chatting.
“I run a bike tour company,” I said.
“I’m an engineer,” said my friend Marco.
“And you? What do you do?”
He pointed casually at his kit.
“I ride with them.”
Our jaws dropped. Turns out we were having lunch with Alessandro Covi, the Italian pro who won the queen stage of the 2022 Giro d’Italia on Passo Fedaia.
Super low-key guy. No big talk. Just someone who loves cycling so much that he goes exploring on an e-bike during his rest day of an altitude training camp.
Needless to say, we’ve been big fans ever since that unforgettable lunch.
Ready to share the road with the pros?
You might not hold their wheel for more than ten seconds (none of us can), but you’ll ride the same epic roads, breathe the same mountain air, and earn your pizza and beer just like the champions.
Check out our Alps & Dolomites Bike Tours — and who knows, maybe your next espresso stop will be shared with a few WorldTour riders.
