178 Felix Lowe

If an all-inclusive trip to Israel and Italy doesn’t appeal, then Felix Lowe weighs up some other tourist destinations for riders this May

Our columnist looks at this month’s array of alternatives to the Giro for pros at a loose end

Greece, France, Netherlands, Belgium, Netherlands, Denmark, Northern Ireland, Netherlands, Israel. No, it’s not the previous nine winners of Eurovision (everyone knows the Dutch can’t sing). Rather, it’s all the foreign starts of the Giro d’italia in the past 22 years – a sequence that, this May, sees the first ever Grand Tour start outside Europe.

La Corsa Rosa is heading to Jerusalem for the grande partenza none of us thought we’d see. It’s still uncertain whether Chris Froome will be there, but by all accounts his presence in the Holy City would be about as popular as Jeremy Corbyn turning up.

For other riders, if the attractions of Temple Mount and the Wailing Wall don’t appeal, there are plenty of other travel opportunities for the globetrotting pro cyclist in the coming weeks. May is a busy month on the race calendar, so I have put together a handy travel brochure for any riders who still can’t decide where to go…

Option 1: Israel to Italy

This 2,546km Pink Tour starts with three days sampling the best Israeli hot spots, including capital Jerusalem, the seaside metropolis of Tel Aviv and the Red Sea resort of Eilat. After a 1,900km flight to Catania, phase two of the trip involves three days on the Mediterranean island of Sicily before a final leg offers a greatest hits of Italy’s mainland.

Eight days in the mountains means participants must have a good head for heights. Special guests include Tom Dumoulin, Fabio Aru and Chris Froome*.

Terms and conditions: Guests are left to their own devices on day one, with a timed self-guided tour of West Jerusalem. The entire trip includes 8,000km of transfers and three free days when guests are at their own leisure. (*subject to availability)

Option 2: Yorkshire

The Up Hill And Down Dale package is a tour of God’s Own Country that has been increased from three to four days this year. Once again, it is French-themed, with more côtes than your average charity shop and a quaint use of the preposition ‘ de’.

Organiser, Monsieur Le Chevalier Garée Vérité, has put on a programme that showcases Yorkshire’s arts, culture, heritage, hills and market towns via the medium of bunting, sheep and local support.

Terms and conditions: Management takes no responsibility for loss of property in Barnsley.

Option 3: California

The Golden State package is a seven-day, 1,038km road-trip around California including day excursions to Long Beach, Lake Tahoe, the Laguna Seca motor-racing circuit and new-world vineyards aplenty.

Yorkshire customers can combine the two trips with a discounted flight to Los Angeles from Leeds Bradford International.

Terms and conditions: Guests may not mention Lance Armstrong to media. Priority goes to clients not selected for the oversubscribed Israel and Italy tour.

Option 4: Norway

Savour the fjords and breathtaking coastline of southern Norway and brush shoulders with the world’s best* on a five-day Tour of Norway taking in the environs of Oslo and concluding at the ski resort of Lillehammer.

Don’t forget to tip our experienced local guides Alexander Kristoff and Edvald Boasson Hagen – but keep an eye on outsider Dylan Groenewegen picking their pockets.

Guests can cap their Norway trip with our newly franchised Hammer event, including sprints and climbs around Stavanger, plus a group orienteering event for which the regulations are still a bit sketchy. To enter, please tick the box marked Velon.

Terms and conditions: The Hammer add-on is closed for those on Israel and Italy package. (*not strictly true) Three weeks in Italy is Felix’s choice