Forgot.
You can take along as much support as you wish, but will either need to arrange your own accomodation or pay for each extra person. What you carry for spares is solely up to each individual. An arrangement for bike return is recommendable, the 6 days can be quite gruelling and travelling back on the bike might be just that little too much. A return to Milano by train is quite relaxing, but rental cars are widely available.
I took along just a very basic tool kit, stuff that I wouldn't be able to beg, borrow or steal from others, an inner tube as well as new drive and primary chains. My personal, extra long tyre levers, a headlight bulb, 0.5l HD50W and a couple of rags and work gloves. I enjoyed the luxury of being able to fall back on the services of the Fratelli Rasanti support vehicle, this carried my box of tools and spares. Thankfully, I didn't need any of it, other than to attach the handlebar bracket of the Garmin bike GPS upon return in Milano. If the bike is well-prepared, no great amount of spares should be needed! The distance this year was a little over 1700km, easily covered with fresh tyres. Might be different if you turn up with 35 year-old rubber... I fitted new chains before the event but carried a set "just in case". Same for cables, made and fitted a complete set before leaving and carried the old ones as spares. No need for bodging around with screw nipples and the like, a simple swap is a lot quicker and lots more reliable. The event service vehicle can help with simple quick repairs, but it is often more advisable to have the bike loaded and taken to the next stop, or even the end of the days ride. Once you let it pass, you're on your own, they will not turn back!
Unloading at the Hotel Al Verde
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