We're going to be in the "flat" area of Italy--about 100km north of Rome. We'll cross the country through Umbria and Marche. For Italy, that area is flat; for people like me who live in glacier-flattened terrain, it will be very hilly. We've only been biking for a couple of years--I figure I'll keep gradually increasing the elevation on our cycling vacations.

We were in the Piedmont area last year (?is that where you will be?), but not by bicycle. Lovely country. Big hills. To bike that and in a race to boot...wow, I stand in awe.