"EXTREME" Trip

2011 Advance Reservations Now OPEN Click here to make your advance reservation! Full details of our 2011 trip will be available November 15th. What is an advance reservation? click here to find out! And don't forget to reserve your Orbea Rental Bike (limited supply)

In recent years our "King of the Mountains" series of trips have continuously set the standard as the premiere performance trips to the Grand Tours. Our 2010 "Extreme" trip to the French Alps continues in the same tradition but is specifically designed to cater for those riders looking for an even tougher cycling challenge!

We've put together an exciting mix of LIVE viewing and challenging rides specifically designed for our strongest riders!

Our itinerary includes TWO of the key days in the Alps; the climb to Morzine-Avoriaz on July 11 and the Col de La Madeleine on July 13.

And of course, being an "Extreme" trip, you'll have plenty of opportunities to test your climbing legs on the most challenging climbs in the Alps. Galibier....Alpe d'Huez....Croix de Fer....Telegraphe....Colombiere....Croix Fry....are just some of the climbs you'll ride on this 7-day journey through the Alps!

Click here to view the complete list of famous climbs on this trip.

As always you can relax and enjoy the rides knowing that you have the best support team in the business behind you.

So join us in the French Alps for a thrilling week of LIVE action and challenging rides over the toughest and most spectacular cols in the French Alps!

LIVE VIEWING

Our vantage points will be present on the following climbs:

• July 11 - on the climb to Morzine-Avoriaz
• July 13 - on the Col de la Madeleine

OTHER TRIP HIGHLIGHTS

• Alpe d'Huez: ride the legendary 21 switchbacks!
• La Marmotte "Deathride": ride one of the toughest routes in the Alps - Croix de Fer, Telegraphe, Galibier, Alpe d'Huez - 120 miles and over 16,000ft!
• Col de Sarenne: much overlooked, but spectacular alternative access to Alpe d'Huez.
• 5-Col Ride: ride one of the most scenic rides in the Alps over 5 cols - the Col des Aravis, Col des Saisies, Col de Tamie, Col de la Forclaz and Col de le Croix Fry

YOUR DAILY RIDES

CLIMB THESE FAMOUS COLS

In just 1 week climb many of the legendary cols in the Alps! Here's the complete list of cols included in our itinerary (sorted by difficulty index):

Climb	Elev. Gain	Average Grade	Length (miles)	Profile (m/km)	Difficulty Index
Col du Galibier (& Telegraphe)	6,312 ft	5.5%	21.7 miles		184
Col de la Madeleine	5,062 ft	6.3%	15.2 miles		152
Col de la Croix de Fer	4,239 ft	4.7%	17.1 miles		144
Col de Sarenne	3,514 ft	5.5%	12.1 miles		138
Alpe d'Huez	3,579 ft	7.7%	8.8 miles		125
Col de la Forclaz	2,149 ft	8.0%	5.1 miles		108
Col du Telegraphe	2,808 ft	7.3%	7.3 miles		93
Col de la Croix Fry	2,762 ft	6.6%	8.0 miles		91
Morzine-Avoriaz	2,756 ft	6.0%	8.7 miles		89
Col de Tamie	1,870 ft	4.9%	7.3 miles		85
Col des Saisies	2,451 ft	5.0%	9.2 miles		82
Col de la Colombiere	2,264 ft	5.9%	7.3 miles		68
Col des Aravis	1,463 ft	5.9%	4.7 miles		50

 

OUR VANTAGE POINTS

Enjoy your afternoon on the mountain-side in the comfort and safety of our elaborate vantage points:

• Large marquis tents provided by our partner Orbea
• LIVE Satellite TV in English
• Large "changing-room" tent allowing you to change out of your cycling clothes into dry, warm clothes (spare set of clothes is transported to the vantage point several days in advance by our support team).
• Full picnic lunch and refridgerator stocked with cool drinks
• Prime viewing spots - our vantage teams are in place several days before the race ensuring that we secure prime viewing spots

OUR SUPPORT

Quite simply, we provide the best support in the industry - guaranteed!

• Staff to client ratio of 1:4
• 3 ride groups of approximately 10 riders in each group - allows us to manage riders of varying ability levels
• 1 TBT experienced ride leader and 1 SAG van per ride group of approximately 10 riders
• Full-time Mechanic
• Top-of-the-line rental bikes available through our partner Orbea
  

NON-RIDERS

Space for non-riders will be limited in 2010. Please call Paul Rogen on 1-888-446-5502 or e-mail Peter ( ) for full details.

WHAT's INCLUDED

• 7 days / 6 nights fully accompanied trip
  
• SUPERIOR accommodations (3-star hotels)
• All breakfasts
• All but 1 dinner
  
• 3 lunches
• Pick-up at Lyon St Exupery Airport
• Drop-off at Lyon St Exupery Airport
• All ground transportation
• All luggage transfer
• Services of our expert guides
• Experienced mechanic
• Support vehicles
• Thomson Bike Tours maps, cue sheets and elevation profiles

WHAT's NOT INCLUDED

• Airfare
• Travel and personal insurance
• Additional hotel expenses i.e. phone charges, mini-bar, gratuities

 

The Thomson Bike Tours Difference Your trip to Europe may be a once-in-a-lifetime experience and you deserve the best! Performance cyclists now rate Thomson Bike Tours as the premiere provider of performance trips to Europe. Here are a few details that set our King of the Mountains trips aside from the rest: LIVE Satellite TV coverage in English: our strategically placed mountain-top picnic spots have become the reference for the industry and the envy of the mountain! No-one else has LIVE Satellite TV coverage in English! LESS VAN - MORE BIKE: Minimum Van Transfers between your hotels and the start/finish of the bike rides. Unfortunately we can't avoid a couple of short van transfers after viewing the race on July 11 and 13 but those are the only transfers during the entire trip. On every other day we ride from and back to the hotel. Our local knowledge, extensive planning and vast experience mean that you spend less time in a van and more time on the bike! THE THOMSON RIDES: over the years we've also gained a reputation for providing the best (and most challenging) rides. 25 years experience riding in the Alps counts! Best-in-class Support & ride leaders: another key to our success! Sag van and ride leader for every 10 riders.