View from the Pas de Morgins |
Day 1
SUNDAY › Bienvenue en France!
Our
trip starts at Geneva airport where our staff will be there
to welcome you before the transfer to our hotel in Chatel on the French/Swiss border.
After lunch and our orientation meeting we'll ride over the Pas de Morgins and descend into Switzerland. A short ride along the valley in Switzerland then we climb back up a beautiful single-track road to our hotel.
|
|
20 miles
|
2,750 ft elev. gain |
|
Today's Major Climbs |
|
Climb
|
Elev. Gain
|
Profile |
Length |
Av. Grade |
Category |
Pas de Morgins |
2,034ft |
|
7.1 miles |
5.9% |
Cat. 2 |
|
| |
Col de la Colombiere |
Day 2
MONDAY › Col de la Colombiere
Today's ride gives us our first real taste of Alpine climbs. From our hotel in Chatel we can enjoy a 12 mile descent before starting our first climb up the Cat. 2 Col du Corbier.
Next destination is Morzine where the road heads upwards again towards the famous Col de Joux Plane. Enjoy the spectacular views from the top of the Joux Plane before heading down the valley to Cluses and our final climb of the day, the hors-categorie Col de la Colombiere.
RIDE SUMMARY:
|
78 miles
|
9,700 ft elev. gain |
|
Today's Major Climbs |
|
Climb
|
Elev. Gain
|
Profile |
Length |
Av. Grade |
Category |
Col du Corbier |
1,335 ft |
|
3.5 miles |
7.1% |
Cat. 2 |
Col du Joux Plane |
2,333 ft |
|
6.8 miles |
6.5% |
Cat. 1 |
Col de la Colombiere |
3,635 ft |
|
10.1 miles |
6.8% |
HC |
|
| |
Cormet de Roselend |
Day 3
TUESDAY › The best of the Alps
Our ride from La Clusaz to Bourg St Maurice is one of the most beautiful rides in the Alps. We start with the Col des Aravis where we'll be met at the top by the ringing of cowbells from the many herds of cows that graze on these slopes. On a clear day enjoy the spectacular views of Mont Blanc to the south.
Next up is the Col des Saisies followed by the beautiful ride up to Cormet de Roselend. The 20km descent from Cormet de Roselend is one of the best in the Alps - ENJOY!
RIDE SUMMARY:
|
65 miles
|
9,000 ft elev. gain |
|
Today's Major Climbs |
|
Climb
|
Elev. Gain
|
Profile |
Length |
Av. Grade |
Category |
Col des Aravis |
2,841 ft |
|
11.7 miles |
4.6% |
Cat. 2 |
Col des Saisies |
2,451 ft |
|
9.2 miles |
5.0% |
Cat. 2 |
Cormet de Roselend |
4,026 ft |
|
12.6 miles |
6.0% |
HC |
|
| |
On top of the 2000m Col de la Madeleine
|
Day 4
WEDNESDAY › La Madeleine...
Our main challenge today is the mighty Col de la Madeleine. One of the all-time Grand Tour favorites, the Madeleine stretches for over 15 miles and by the time you reach the summit you'll have climbed over 5,000ft!
Our ride starts from the hotel in Bourg St Maurice where we head off the main road onto a spectacular single-track road high above the Isere valley. After a couple of 1,500ft climbs we arrive in the beautiful village of Hautecour before the long descent down to Moutiers and the start of the Madeleine.
RIDE SUMMARY:
|
71 miles
|
9,350 ft elev. gain |
|
Today's Major Climbs |
|
Climb
|
Elev. Gain
|
Profile |
Length |
Av. Grade |
Category |
Col de la Madeleine |
5,062ft |
|
15.2 miles |
6.3% |
HC |
|
| |
Climbing the Galibier |
Day 5
THURSDAY › Galibier and Izoard
Our 1st climb today is the massive Col du Galibier. Almost 22 miles in length and with a total elevation gain of over 6,300ft, the Galibier is one of the most challenging climbs in Europe.
The climb starts in St Michel de Maurienne and after 7.5 miles tops out at the Col de Telegraphe. A short descent into Valloire and then we're climbing again as we attack the final 11 miles to the Galibier summit at almost 9,000ft.
After a long descent into Briancon we face the Col d'Izoard, one of the most beautiful climbs in the Alps.
RIDE SUMMARY:
|
84 miles
|
11,100 ft elev. gain |
|
Today's Major Climbs |
|
Climb
|
Elev. Gain
|
Profile |
Length |
Av. Grade |
Category |
Col du Galibier |
6,312 ft |
|
21.7 miles |
5.5% |
HC |
Col d'Izoard |
3,743 ft |
|
12.4 miles |
5.7% |
Cat. 1 |
|
| |
Spectacular snow banks on the Col de la Bonette |
Day 6
FRIDAY › Col de la Bonette
One of the highlights of the week is the magnificent Col de la Bonette.
From our hotel in Guillestre we immediately start the climb to the Col de Vars followed by a fantastic downhill ride into Jausiers.
From Jausiers we start the climb to the Col de la Bonette, the highest paved through road in Europe, and one of our Top 5 favorite all-time climbs.
RIDE SUMMARY:
|
92 miles
|
12,850 ft elev. gain |
|
Today's Major Climbs |
|
Climb
|
Elev. Gain
|
Profile |
Length |
Av. Grade |
Category |
Col de Vars |
3,645 ft |
|
12.0 miles |
5.7% |
Cat. 1 |
Col de la Bonette |
5,213 ft |
|
14.9 miles |
6.6% |
HC |
Col de la Couillole |
3,832 ft |
|
10.0 miles |
7.3% |
Cat. 1 |
|
| |
The final ride down to the Mediterranean |
Day 7
SATURDAY › The Mediterranean
One final day of riding and we can enjoy the sweet satisfaction of having ridden our bikes across the entire French Alps.
There are still a few km to go before we catch our first view of the "Grand Bleu" from the top of the Col de Vence. We don't have any major climbs to day but the scenery is spectacular as we wind our way through the deep gorges and canyons that characterize the southern foothills of the Alps.
RIDE SUMMARY:
|
67 miles
|
4,950 ft elev. gain |
|
Today's Major Climbs |
|
Climb
|
Elev. Gain
|
Profile |
Length |
Av. Grade |
Category |
Col de St Raphael |
1,526 ft |
|
5.0 miles |
5.8% |
Cat. 3 |
|
| |
| |
|
Day 8
SUNDAY › Au revoir
End of our trip and final transfer to Nice
airport. |
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