Italy by bike? Easy! The Tour de France starts in Emilia-Romagna next month - we road test the first stage (with a bit of electric assistance)
Most years, the cycling event starts in a country other than France. This time, it's Italy's turn. Mark Porter sets off on the first legHe travels 260 miles from Florence through the Tuscan countrysideHe took his Pinarello Nytro electric racing bike to cycle through towns and villagesREAD MORE: The world's longest underground slide hidden in a mountain
The sun is setting behind the Apennines and I still have 24 kilometers of difficult cycling before reaching the Roman spa town of Bagno di Romagna. My legs are as flat as my bike battery but there's a bar across the street from the church where I can have a few beers while man and machine feed.
I'm in Emilia-Romagna to ride the first two stages of this year's Tour de France, which starts at the end of June. Most years, the world's biggest cycling event starts in a country other than France. And this time it's Italy's turn.
I'm leaving for the 260-mile journey from Florence, start of the first stage, and I roam the rolling hills. Tuscan countryside before heading up, up and away into the mountains of Emilia-Romagna. My e-bike, a Pinarello Nytro racer, offers moderate assistance, but you still have to give it a fair bit of beating on severe inclines.
Tired and very relieved, I am at Thermae Santa Agnese 90 minutes later. It's an old spa hotel and soon I'm plunging my tired butt into the hot thermal pool.
The sun is setting behind the Apennines and I still have 24 kilometers of difficult cycling before reaching the Roman spa town of Bagno di Romagna. My legs are as flat as my bike battery but there's a bar across the street from the church where I can have a few beers while man and machine feed.
I'm in Emilia-Romagna to ride the first two stages of this year's Tour de France, which starts at the end of June. Most years, the world's biggest cycling event starts in a country other than France. And this time it's Italy's turn.
I'm leaving for the 260-mile journey from Florence, start of the first stage, and I roam the rolling hills. Tuscan countryside before heading up, up and away into the mountains of Emilia-Romagna. My e-bike, a Pinarello Nytro racer, offers moderate assistance, but you still have to give it a fair bit of beating on severe inclines.
Tired and very relieved, I am at Thermae Santa Agnese 90 minutes later. It's an old spa hotel and soon I'm plunging my tired butt into the hot thermal pool.
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