Matese Cycling Camp
Tackle some of the Giro d'Italia's iconic climbs in a glorious training week! Because of the global coronavirus pandemic, the 2020 edition is cancelled but we expect a great camp in 2021!
What You'll Get
-7 days including accommodation and airport transfer (from Naples);
-6 days of some of the best cycling training in the world;
-7th day includes free entry to the Gran Fondo dei Borbone or other local Gran Fondo;
-Breakfast and fantastic, home-cooked traditional Italian post-ride meals;
-Coaching sessions;
-Mechanical support available;
-Our goal is to make this a quality, fun, yet affordable experience! Check out our Price list
Where?
The Matese mountains are in the southern Appenines, straddling two regions - Campania and Molise, and four provinces - Campobasso, Caserta, Isernia and Benevento;
-It is a beautiful region with some of Europe's best cycling;
-Some of the climbs we will be tackling are the Bocca di Selva and the Roccaraso - both featured in Stage 6 of the 2016 Giro
Explore the Matese Regional Park here
I'm interested! What now?
-We are planning what will be an incredible camp.
-If you are a road cyclist, sign up below and we'll be in touch.
-We want to get it right and give participants a great experience - so space is limited and entries close Aug 9 2019 for this incredible camp!
-Feel free to contact us about anything you'd like to know and once you have decided to join us we will send you the booking form!
Matese Bike Camp want you to enjoy your holiday and will do everything we can to ensure the rides are safe but cycling can be a dangerous hobby so please take time to read our terms and conditions.
By booking your Matese Bike Camp through payment and completion of a booking form, you confirm you have read and agree to these terms and conditions.
Acknowledgment of Risk, Responsibility and Insurance
1. I acknowledge that I will be participating in an organised group cycling with Matese Bike Camp which will involve strenuous physical activity. I confirm that I am sufficiently fit for, and am not suffering from any health problems which will be exacerbated by such activity. I have been advised by Matese Bike Camp to seek advice from a qualified medical practitioner if I have any doubts or concerns about my health or fitness.
2. In the case of a booking being made by an individual person on behalf of another person or group of persons then the person who is making the booking must have the authority of all the other people to accept these terms and conditions on the groups behalf.
3. I recognise that cycling on public roads, particularly in mountainous areas, is an activity with a danger of personal injury and even death. I confirm that I am aware of and accept such risk and will be responsible for my own actions and involvement in this activity.
4. I also acknowledge that I have been advised by Matese Bike Camp to take out insurance against the costs of medical treatment, evacuation, loss of earnings and/or cost of care in the event that I suffer injury or illness during the rides and while traveling; against loss of or damage to my property (including my bicycle); against liability I might incur to third parties; and against costs I might incur in the event of cancellation or curtailment of the holiday or my participation in it. I confirm that I will arrange adequate insurance against such risks. The following cover should be a minimum level. We can accept no responsibility for any costs that may be incurred due to insufficient insurance cover.
The following cover should be a minimum level:
• Cancellation or curtailment – £3000
• Medical emergency, repatriation and associated expenses – £2 million
• Personal accident – £15,000
• Missed departure – £500 (Europe) £1000 (outside Europe)
• Departure delay – £60 (abandonment – £3000)
• Baggage and personal effects – £2000
• Personal money – £500
• Personal liability (third party cover) – £2 million
• Legal expenses – £25,000
• When taking out a policy you are advised to check that such policy provides cover in the country/area where your chosen bike camp is to take place.
• You should also ensure that cover is provided whilst cycling on or off-road and that your cycle will be repatriated following a medical emergency.
• Some insurance companies require helmets to be worn when cover is provided.
• Also check whether the policy covers damage to your cycle. Most policies do not provide this cover, and thus extra cover may be needed through a separate policy.
• Non UK residents should also ensure that any travel policy commences on the day they leave their normal residence. It is unlikely that participants not resident in the UK will be able to obtain cover once they arrive in the UK.
Payment
a) You must pay a deposit within 7 days of completing a booking form. This deposit is detailed on the booking form, and is usually £100 per person.
b) ) You must pay the balance or interim payments on the date detailed on your deposit receipt which is usually at least twelve weeks before the start of your holiday. If you book your holiday within twelve weeks of commencement of the holiday you must pay the full cost at the time of booking. If for any reason the final payment is not received by this time you will be deemed to have cancelled your tour and cancellation charges will be applied. Reminders will not necessarily be sent.
Our price policy
Once you have paid your deposit and the booking has been confirmed by email, we guarantee that we will not increase the price of your holiday, except for any surcharge that may be imposed.
Surcharges
We reserve the right to impose a surcharge up to 30 days prior to commencement of the tour if our costs increase due to unfavourable changes in exchange rates, increases in transportation costs, including cost of fuel, or if government action should require us to do so. Even in this case we will absorb an amount equivalent to 2% of the holiday price. Only amounts in excess of this 2% will be payable by you. Should a surcharge exceed 10% of the holiday price you will be entitled to cancel your holiday and receive a refund of all monies paid. Should you decide to cancel because of this you must exercise your right to do this as soon as possible from the issue date of the revised invoice.
Matese Bike Camp is not responsible for any local/tourist taxes or fines if breaking Italian laws
Cancelations
If you cancel your booking
• Cancellations will only be accepted in writing from the person who booked the holiday. We can accept no responsibility for cancellation charges arising from correspondence delayed or lost in the post.
• Should you be prevented from traveling on the holiday booked by circumstances which do not permit a claim on a normal insurance cancellation policy, you may transfer your booking to another person provided that person meets all the requirements relating to the holiday and your request is received by us at least ten weeks prior to departure. Both the person taking over and the person leaving the booking will be responsible for paying any additional costs arising from the transfer.
If we cancel your booking
Provided all monies have been paid we will not cancel your tour unless we are forced to do so:
• Due to unusual and unforeseeable circumstances beyond our control which could not be avoided even with all due care having been exercised, or what is usually known as ‘force majeure’
or
• because the minimum number of bookings needed to operate the holiday has not been reached. In this case participants will be notified of the cancellation no later than ten weeks prior to the tour commencement date. If the holiday is cancelled we will, if possible, offer an alternative but if this is not acceptable all monies paid to us will be refunded without interest. We will NOT pay any compensation or be liable to reimburse you for any incidental expenses that you may have incurred as a result of your booking such as visas, vaccinations, non-refundable connecting flights, travel insurance, etc.
If we change your booking
Circumstances may require some changes to be made at any time to the particulars of any holiday (e.g. itineraries, overnight locations, meals or routes). Any such changes will be communicated to you as soon as possible and will be held to be of a minor nature. We will not materially change the value of the holiday, and the original theme will be retained.
Financial Protection
Where you book a non-air inclusive holiday, and we act as the principal, your money is financially protected by our bonding arrangement held independently by our UK bank.
For pricing, deposit and payment terms and conditions please refer to our pricing section for the holiday you are booking.
Marketing
Photographs, likenesses or images of participants secured or taken on any of our holidays may be used by the company without remuneration in all media for bona fide promotional or marketing purposes.
General
I hereby agree that, except in respect of death or personal injury caused by the negligence of Matese Bike Camp, neither Matese Bike Camp nor its employees or agents will have any liability (whether in contract or in tort, including negligence) for any loss, damage, injury or death which I may suffer in connection with this holiday nor for any failure by me to take out adequate insurance.
I agree that the contract between Matese Bike Camp and me will be governed by English law and that any matter or dispute in connection with this contract will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts.
Country Village Il Baglio has a peaceful countryside location in Baia Latina, a small village 12km from the stunning Matese Regional Park in the southern Apennines.
The single and double rooms are located in individual small wooden chalets with view, which are scattered around the site. Each accommodation has private bathroom and shower, is air- conditioned and comes with free Wi-Fi, fridge and flat-screen TV.
The restaurant offers both local and international dishes and delicious pizzas.
Bar and Games are available onsite for evening entertainment such as Pool Table and Table Football (Calcetto). Shops and restaurants are only a short 10 mins walk from Baglio.
Il Baglio organises visits to its wine cellar, as well as horse riding excursions on its own 30 horses. It features a small wellness area with sauna, solarium and massage rooms.
The area includes jogging paths, picnic tables and areas for campers. Free parking is provided and you are a short drive from the A1 motorway which means 25km from Caserta and only 50km from Naples.
WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE PRICE?
Training camp & group leaders (5 rides plus GF on last day)Accommodation for 7 nightsHalf Board (breakfast and dinner)Wi-fiEntry and Transfers to GF dei Borbone incl. event JerseyMechanical SupportAirport transfers (incl. bike)̊ Safe Bike storage
̊ Airport transfers will be provided only at specified times - We can also provide advice on public transport options
WHAT TO BRING
• Your bike – bike hire isn’t very prominent in the region (yet, but see below). Your bike should be a decent road bike and make sure to have it good condition and serviced prior to the camp. Mechanics will be available to deal with most issues. Note – if you are new to travelling with your bike, mark your saddle height and set back as well as bar positions with some tape so that you can put them in the right position when you assemble your bike on arrival (we can help you with this as well);
• Spare rear mech hanger – Frustratingly, frames come with many types of different rear mech hangers. While mechanics will be available, there is no guarantee that they will have a rear mech hanger compatible with your frame in the rare event that a crash or fall damages it (manufacturers tend to make the mech hanger less sturdy so that it takes the blunt of any impact to protect the frame – and it tends to come off worse for wear with any impacts). Having a spare on hand might is a good insurance policy to have for the camp;
• Spare spokes for your wheels, particularly if you have a special make of wheel and want to use them in case of any issues;
• Helmet – goes without saying!
• Spare tubes, mini pump or CO2 inflator, mini tool, tyre levers – We assume that you will be competent enough to change a puncture while on the road even though you will be riding in a group throughout the camp;
• Nutrition products – Super markets and local bike shops will have ride-friendly food available, there will be cafés and restaurants on the routes, and the Gran Fondo will have feed stations. However, if you rely on a specific brand of nutrition product, we recommend taking enough of it with you to last the week and for each ride;
• Eyewear for cycling – bonus points for style!
• Cycling gloves;
• Cycling shoes;
• Basic kit to last the week, at a minimum:
o 4 jerseys (the gran fondo will provide you with a jersey but this may be given at the end of the event).
o 4 bib shorts
o Base layers
o Arm warmers
o 4-6 pairs of cycling socks
o Cycling cap
o Rain jacket
There will be options available for laundry and at a minimum, you can do a basic wash in the hotel.
• Lights – We won’t be riding at night but we may be riding through a small number of tunnels in the mountains. A red rear light you can clip onto your seat post is recommend at a minimum for safety purposes;
• Cycling kit for cold and inclement weather. We will be riding in mountains where the weather conditions can vary and even in September, turn cold and wet. We will be checking the weather forecast daily. Please be prepared for inclement weather by bringing:
o Waterproof and windproof long finger glovers;
o Long sleeve jacket or jersey;
o Water proof overshoes;
o Wind gilet;
o Leg warmers and/or long cycling tights
o Warm base layer
o Skull cap or cycling cap
• Sub block / sun cream;
• Casual clothes for the evenings – we recommend taking both short sleeves and shorts as well as casual trousers and possibly a light jacket or sweater for the evenings;
• Some optional things to consider:
o Saddle bag
o Chamois cream;
o Compression clothing for recovery;
o Regular sunglasses;
o Go Pro / camera;
o Garmin/Wahoo or other cycling computer or watch – Or this might be essential for you (if it’s not on Strava….)! We will be sharing GPX files of the planned daily routes prior to the camp.
* EHIC card
• Your phone
NOTE: if you do not wish to travel with your bike there are some limited bike hire options in the area. Please mention this when contacting MBC specifying your bike size.
| 2019 Autumn Camp prices (Sept 9th - 15th) | |
|---|---|
| Double Room (single occupancy) | £585 |
| Double Room (twin - shared) | £505 each |
Note: a £100 deposit will be required upon booking in order to secure your place. See our T&Cs for more information.
| Day | Time | Ride | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | afternoon | Arrivals/Optional warm-up ride | |
| Tuesday | 09:00 | Monte Valle - Letino - Gallo - Prata 95km | 1500mt |
| Wednesday | 09:00 | Monte Porro - Pietraroja - Bocca della Selva 126km | 2000mt |
| Thursday | 09:00 | Mandragone and Baia Domizia 120km | 600mt |
| Friday | 09:00 | Roccamonfina Regional Park 80km | 800mt |
| Saturday | 10:00 | Torcino - Recovery ride 60km | 450mt |
| Sunday | 07:30 | Gran Fondo dei Borbone 95-135km | 1400-2900mt |
Note: Routes and times are subject to change and we will do our best to communicate any change in advance
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Do I have to ride every day?No. You are totally free to take a day off the bike to do sight seeing or just relax.
What if I am not fit enough?At the time of booking you will be asked for you experience. We shall be able to advise on whether the camp is suitable for you once we receive your booking form.
I would like to share accommodation but am travelling aloneIf you would like to share your accommodation but are travelling alone we can try and pair you up with another guest who also wants to share. However, this is by no means guaranteed.
Do you provide transfers?Airport transfers are included in the price and we will send you more details once you have returned a booking form to us. Most flights from UK arrive at Naples airport between 9 and noon and we will do our best to collect everyone arriving around those times. You will be asked for your flight details. Transport back to Naples airport will also be provided early in the morning on departure day Sept 16th. Transport to and from from the Gran Fondo will also be provided.
Do I have to ride the Gran Fondo?No. Perhaps You may want to use the last day to relax or do some shopping and sightseeing in Naples before heading back home.
Do we have café stops?Of course, you are in Italy!
Are there Bike Rental options?If you are not keen on travelling with your bike there are some limited bike hire options in the area. At the time of booking, you will be asked for your bike size and we will present you with the available options.
What is the best airline to use?Easy Jet, BA and Ryan Air all offer direct flights from London. Direct flights to Naples are also available from Liverpool, Bristol, Manchester, Birmingham and Edimburgh.
How many groups and how big are the groups?Depending on people's fitness, we will have one or two groups each day. Groups will have 5 to 10 riders.
Can I make my own way from the Airport to the camp?You certainly can. If you are arriving at a time much different from other participants please let us know and we will send you instructions on how to get to destination by public transport.
MEET THE TEAM
Alfio Itri
Alfio is an Italian born and bred in the Matese mountains who moved to London in 2013. Most of his cycling nowadays takes place in Kent and Surrey. Member of two cycling clubs Dulwich Paragon CC and Matese Bike Team can boast a very good knowledge of all the routes around the Matese Regional Park.He has taken part in countless Granfondos in Italy and recently become a father.
He has a passion for bike maintenance, bike & wheel building. Also enjoys travelling with his family and his inseparable bike.
Boxing is another favourite passtime of his and you can find him every Monday night at Miguel’s Boxing Club in Brixton.
Ben Cattaneo
Ben is a Canadian based in London and on weekends can be found cycling in the hills of Kent or Surrey, or doing fast (ok, not always fast) laps of Richmond Park. He is a veteran of the Haute Route Alps 2017, a member of London Dynamo Cycling Club and has cycled in the Matese mountains, amongst other things. Ben has also competed in ultra duathlons and triathlons (shhh - in violation of Velominati’s rule #42).
Off the bike, Ben works in London in risk management, is the host of the highly-acclaimed All Things Risk podcast, and is a martial artist in hapkido. Ben loves to combine sports with travel and is fan of good coffee, neapolitan pizza and red wine – all of which come together at the Matese Bike Camp! You can find Ben on Strava, LinkedIn and Instagram.
Fabio Giacoppo
Fabio is an Italian cyclist with the passion for track bikes and Velodromes. He races regularly in the London League and likes to train in the Kent hills on Sunday.
He rides for Velo Club Londres and has been to numerous cycling camps around Europe but his favourite climb is the Etna volcano in his native island.
When he is not riding or fixing one of his bikes, Fabio works in the City of London as a Market Data consultant, trains down the gym or goes to see live music around London.
He also has a keen interest in training techniques and nutrition.
