GUIDES NAME: Francesco Vittori

AGE:65
Experience - RACE - ACTIVITY COMPETITIVE PAST and PRESENT:
I began running with the bike in the year 1952, I was a beginner then after the military I took part in the UDACE championships up until 10 years ago. I have participated in at least 10 Granfondo: Milan san Remo, 10 colli di Bologna , Granfondo della Dolomite, Granfondo del Titan, Ciclotour dei due Mari (two times in France, two times at Riccione-Palermo, the run of the Sicilian, the run of Sardegna, Isola d’Elba, Isola del Giglio), Riccione - San Giovanni Rotondo, Monaco-Riccione. As well as this I am also an instructor licensed by the FCI.
LANGUAGES: German and Italian.
KM COVERED EACH YEAR: 13.000
TYPE OF GUIDE: RACE OR MTB? RACE

Dear Francesco before we begin I would like to thank you for your cooperation. What do you think of Riccione Bike Hotels?
Its a very good idea especially for those who want to see the nature. We are in a zone with many lovely land scapes between Tuscany, Romagna and the Marche there are many fabulous places: other well known places have nothing to envy.

We have noted a lot of interest for the web site Riccionebikehotels.it, the public have taken us by surprise mostly the younger people, don't you think that its a positive factor that the cyclists are interested in using internet?
The 60-70% of the cyclists that I have had the pleasure to accompany have booked their bike holidays using internet. I remember an American cyclist , Luciano, coming from Chicago. He travelled with his bike on the plane, a bike that costs about 12 thousand euros. Luciano found our hotel using internet. If a tourist arrives without a bike all I need are their personal measures and in a very short time I can find them a bike last generation for rent.

The Romagna, the best place for tourists on holiday with the bicycle (togeheter perhaps with Tuscany), the warm welcome, the routes, the fitness, the food and above all the possibility to be always aggiorned with what's going on in your world, these are the ingredients that make this place one the best tourist destinations, what do you think?
Of all the voyages that I have made here in Italy and in other countries I have noted that we have been well organized and united unfortunately there was very little contact with the native people. Instead here at Riccione one can find a very warm welcome that's well known in all Europe. The Romagna is the area with the greatest number of cyclists in Italy. Tuscany is the second region. For us its normal to see a group of cyclists on the road, we live peacefully with the cyclists, tourists and the native people.

Apart from the results obtained up until now, do you think that sympathy and wiliness have there place in your work?
Every friday, if the group feels a bit tired we do a short run of about 40-50km, then after our return at the hotel, I usually give them a ride by bus to visit some of the producers of our local wines, with some cake and ham we sit outside the cantina and pass the afternoon in company.
The next day we have a double breakfast one we eat straight away to help us start off the other we take away with us.

As a cyclist guide , what is your stile? Do you choose your routes with the guests? And deciding at the moment or following a timetable? Do you like to follow your natural rhythm or do you adapt yourself to the capacity of the other tourists who want to enjoy the Tuscany Appenines, the Romagna, and its land scapes?
The first day we do the usual run of 90km mostly flatlands, in this way I can judge the capacity of the cyclists. Then in the next few days we start to do some climbs staying united, in this way everyone is happy.

Would you like to tell us about an outing \ route ( in Tuscany, for example) that you like particularly ( that is not one of the usual ones)?
In my opinion the nicest route close to us is Urbino and Montegridolfo. Gradara is also a valid route.

In your opinion who are the cyclists that are better prepared\ trained? and also the friendliest ones?
Normally the austrians who go a lot in mountain bike are the best trained.

Have you any curious stories to tell in regards to the outing with the guests of the Hotel?
A interesting story is the one of a group of women : every day we do togehter about 90km bu bike, then we stop off at the restaurant to eat a nice plate of spaghetti. After eating we turn for home. I am always surprised by their strength. In my opinion woman are more dynamic by bike than the men.