Over the last decade, Britain has become a nation of cycling enthusiasts, spurred on to take to two wheels for environmental reasons, and the success of Brits at the Olympics and in the Tour de France. Our love of the bike has led to a huge surge in cycling holidays, which can offer an opportunity to unearth hidden corners of our chosen destination, a chance to meet others (as cycling is so often a group activity) and an excuse to drag the kids away from their iPads.
Recognising this trend, Adler Spa Resorts – a group of four, family-owned hotels in Italy – make sure they have plenty of biking options for their guests, providing access to road bikes, mountain bikes and e-bikes, which means that they can cater to all ages and abilities of cyclist. With three hotels in the Dolomites and one in Tuscany, Adler Spa Resorts also offers the chance for serious cyclists to train at altitude, pushing themselves up steep mountain roads, while others might prefer the gentler slopes of the Tuscan hills.
Adler Dolomiti has a particularly strong cycling focus. Situated in the heart of Ortisei, it's the perfect base from which to explore the 30 attractive and well-signposted trails for all abilities, at altitudes between 700 and 2,450 metres, which are to be found in Val Gardena/Alpe di Siusi. The longest of these trails is the 1,000 kilometre, world-famous Sellaronda, which has always been well-known by skiers, but only recently opened as a summer circuit for mountain biking.
Apart from the physical challenge, this region offers mountain bikers a unique experience in terms of natural scenery: nowhere in the Alps does the scenery compare with that of the Dolomites. In addition, riders will find cosy mountain lodges at which to stop and enjoy gourmet pleasures to renew their energies for their onward journey or simply relax after a long hard ride. Adler Dolomiti has its own mountain biking guide, Verena, who helps guests explore the region – one day it might be “Bike & Hike” (when the group bikes as far up the mountain as the bike will take them, before hiking to the top), the next a downhill evening tour with an “aperitivo” afterwards. These daily tours are offered on a complimentary basis to all Adler Dolomiti guests.
