World Bicycle Relief (WBR) has partnered with Tourissimo to offer an eight-day mountain biking tour over the Italian Divide in the Apennine Mountains. Funds raised through this trip will provide bikes to students, healthcare workers, and entrepreneurs in rural Zambia. Tourissimo is donating two Buffalo bikes per guest, and additionally, each rider will be responsible for raising $2,000 USD for WBR. The trip is being led by Rebecca Rusch, an American endurance athlete whose career has spanned numerous sports including climbing, adventure racing, and mountain biking. The tour is scheduled for July 28-August 4, 2018, and the cost per person in double occupancy is $2,495, which includes accommodations, all meals, and luggage transfer.
This area of Italy is known for its art, history, culture, and of course, the food and wine. Participants will be treated to some of the best biking in the heart of Italy, passing by fortresses and through the beautiful landscape of the region. Enjoy this incredible trip while also supporting students in rural Africa through the Power of Bicycles.
“I have biked around the world, and one of the most beautiful places I’ve ridden a mountain bike is in the Apennine Mountains of Italy,” said Rusch. “This gorgeous terrain has everything from stunning vineyards, rich history, friendly locals to world-class mountain bike trails. The opportunity to ride in this special place in support of World Bicycle Relief is a trip I would never pass up.”
The Tour
You will ride ancient routes between fortresses, medieval hamlets leading through valleys, lakes, and ancient forests. And of course, at the end of the rides we get to enjoy magnificent food and the lively Italian atmosphere.
To Italians, Emilia Romagna is known as the “home-cooking capital of Italy.” To others, it is known as the birthplace of many of the foods that lie at the heart of Italian cooking- lasagna, tortellini, prosciutto di Parma, balsamic vinegar, and “The King of Cheeses,” Parmigiano-Reggiano, to name a few. Additional local products include chestnuts and spelt, honey, mushrooms succulent cold cuts, berries and black truffles. The signature dishes of the Apennines are tortelli (fresh pasta filled with cheese and vegetables), polenta served with mushrooms or wild game, and tigelle and piadina (flatbread served with local cold cuts). Hey, we need to fuel those rides!
Joining Rebecca and WBR’s staff on this social vacation is a unique chance to ride new, exotic trails and to support the mission of World Bicycle Relief to mobilize more individuals through the Power of Bicycles.
The funds raised through this trip will help empower students, healthcare workers, and entrepreneurs in rural Zambia and give them access to reliable transportation and a brighter future.
Tourissimo is donating two Buffalo bikes per rider and each rider will be responsible for raising enough for 14 bikes ($ 2,000).
So what do you say? Are you up for an adventure?