Davide Cassani Master Experience
French Pyrenees, 8/12 July 2019
Daily Program
Monday, July 8, 2019
Independent arrival in Lourdes in the French Pyrenees and accommodation at the Grand Hotel Belfry located in the city center.
In his room each runner will find a custom-made suit by Castelli of the Italian National Team signed by Davide Cassani (custom size for each guest).
Aperitif and meeting with Davide Cassani and Marco Velo.
Dinner at the hotel restaurant.
After dinner Davide Cassani will present the program of activities for the three days of Master Experience on the routes of the Tour de France that will be passing right there in the following week.
Tuesday, July 9, 2019
The day will begin with a healthy stretching / gymnastic and mental activity with yoga or meditation for those who wish it.
After a hearty breakfast, each cyclist will take his own bicycle set up by our mechanic, who will arrange also for their transportation from Italy.
On the first day of the Master Experience Davide Cassani and Marco Velo will guide the participants on to the the legendary Col Tourmalet (100 km), one of the legendary mountain passes of the Tour de France.
The routes of the Pyrenees that may seem unpredictable and rough at the edges are often considered as a mental test as well as a physical one. Rhythm and ground continually change, often cutting through a dense forest on deserted roads before rising majestically towards rocky and dramatic peaks. It is the perfect ground for a cyclist who wants to get away from everything and take the road less traveled in a captivating landscape that must be experienced firsthand to be truly appreciated.
Stop on the way for a snack.
Return to the hotel in the early afternoon (3.00 p.m. / 3.30 p.m.) where a light lunch will be served.
Relax and muscular sports massage of about 20 min.
Late in the afternoon participants will take a walk to discover the Castle of Lourdes with its beautiful view of the city of Lourdes, the Sanctuary and the Pyrenees.
Dinner at a renowned restaurant in the city.
Tuesday, July 10, 2019
The day will begin with a healthy stretching / gymnastic and mental activity with yoga or meditation for those who wish it.
On the second day of the Master Experience by bike a tour of the Aubisque Hill (110 km) will take place.
That hill is located on the northern slopes of the Pic de Ger (2,613 m) and connects the towns of Laruns, in the valley of Ossau to the west and Argelès-Gazost, in the Lavedan valley, passing through the Col du Soulor.
That road is closed from December to May due to the snow.
The Col d’Aubisque is the second most used climb of the Tour de France. A true legend, Col d’Aubisque is a must for anyone who wishes to call himself a cyclist.
Break for a light lunch at the coffee shop on top of the hill: a genuine place and a popular destination for cyclists’ lunch.
Return to the hotel in the early afternoon (3.00 p.m. / 3.30 p.m.) where a light lunch will be served.
Relax and muscular sports massage for about 20 min.
In the late afternoon you will reach the old funicular to climb to Pic du Jer at 1000 m with a spectacular view of the Pyrenees.
You will visit the highest caves of France, in the underground gallery of the Pic du Jer, through a 360 m long way, which is easily accessible and open to the public since 1958. It is a gallery created more than 20,000 years ago, when the glaciers melted, water found its way and dug the Pic du Jer to its summit. The rocky debris settled and clogged the bottom of the abyss as well as the natural opening at the beginning of the visit, so that only a few meters large passage was left.
Continuation of the trip to Beaucens for a typical dinner in a restaurant converted from an old barn. The local specialty consists in grilled meat cooked on a wood fire brazier.
Wednesday, July 11, 2019
The day will begin with a healthy stretching / gymnastic and mental activity with yoga or meditation for those who wish it.
During the third bike ride of the Master Experience with Davide Cassani in the Pyrenees you will ride along the ascent to Hautacam, where Nibali won in 2014. Total distance 60 km.
Hautacam is a very difficult climb (even Contador said so): it frequently sways making it difficult to maintain a rhythm, there are ramps up to 16% and long sections up to 15%. The most difficult part is 6 km after the village of Artalens. The climb comes off for the last 2 km before Hautacam.
Stop on the way for a snack.
Return to the hotel in the early afternoon (3.00 p.m.) where a light lunch will be served
Relax and muscular sports massage for about 20 min
In the late afternoon you will reach the picturesque, medieval town of Pau in about 45 minutes.
You will admire the Castle of Henry IV, the historic center with its beautiful gardens and views of the Pyrenees.
Thereafter you will enjoy a special experience at Francis Miot’s jam laboratory: he was three times world champion thanks to the quality and uniqueness of his products.
Afterwards you will enjoy a taste experience by means of a “walking dinner” along which you will discover specialties and places of the city: an aperitif accompanied by tapas, then the two main courses at a gourmet restaurant and finally dessert and digestive in a trendy place of the town.
Thursday, July 12, 2019
In the morning you will enjoy a new experience in the legendary 2V French car, in order to discover landscapes and vineyards from Jurancon to Oloron Sainte Marie along the Barétous Valley.
During the journey a wine tasting will be organized at a wine producer’s, then you will visit the village of Monein.
Closing lunch of this beautiful experience in the Pyrenees will be served in an typical local restaurant.
After lunch participants will return to their hotel in Lourdes for baggage collection.
(Take-off of the direct flight to Bergamo is scheduled in the afternoon).
Price per person in a single room at Grand Hotel Belfry € 4.500
French Pyrenees, 8/12 July 2019
The journey will only be confirmed upon reaching a minimum of 10 people
Admissions will be accepted until March 29, 2019
The individual participation fee includes:
– Presence of Davide Cassani and Marco Velo during the entire Master Experience program.
– Four nights in a single room at the Grand Hotel Belfry
– Lunches and dinners with drinks included as per program (from the dinner on the first day to the lunch on the last one)
– Transport of the bicycle with collection / delivery by appointment at a place indicated by the participant (service is included for Milan and its province) a few days before departure and at the end of the Master Experience. The bike will be taken over by our trusted mechanic, who will clean it and put it in excellent condition for use in the Pyrenees.
– Mechanic with technical support van during the three days of itinerary, cleaning and daily arrangement of bicycles. During the journey our mechanic will always be along the route and will deliver water-bottles with supplements along the way.
– 20-minute daily massage at the end of the cycling experience (three massages)
– Cleaning of sportswear for the first two days of activity
– A custom-made cyclist suit of the Italian National Team by Castelli (dungarees, shirt and dustcoat) signed by Davide Cassani
– Visits and excursions as included in the program
– Presence of Graziano Mascheri (Founder and Experience Designer of Experientiae) during the Master Experience
– Medical assistance and baggage insurance
The individual participation fee does not include:
– Possible extra drinks
– Travel to Lourdes (our agency can organize the flight to Tarbes-Lourdes-Pyrenees airport with direct flights from Bergamo Orio al Serio)
– Insurance cover against cancellation of the trip before departure (this should be stipulated when signing the “experience” package)
Technical Organization of M.S.T. Srl | Via Giotto, 26 – 20145 Milan
