"EXTREME" Trip

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 2009 "Extreme" trip to the French Alps continues in the same tradition but is specifically designed to cater for those riders looking for an exceptional riding 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 Col de Petit St Bernard on July 21 and Mont Ventoux on July 25.

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....Ventoux (both sides).... Croix de Fer....Telegraphe....Glandon....Iseran....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 21 - on the Col de Petit St Bernard
• July 25 - on Mont Ventoux

OTHER TRIP HIGHLIGHTS

• Alpe d'Huez: ride the legendary 21 switchbacks!
• Col du Galibier: ride one of the toughest climbs in the Alps - at 2,645m the Galibier is a daunting climb!
• Col de L'Iseran: the highest paved mountain pass in the Alps!
• Col de Sarenne: much overlooked alternative access to Alpe d'Huez.
• Mont Ventoux: ride the legendary Giant of Provence from both sides (from Bedoin and from Malaucene)
• Gorges de la Nesque: spectacular Provencal ride through deep canyons and gorges.

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 (feet)	Average Grade	Length (miles)	Profile (m/km)	Difficulty Index
Col du Galibier (& Telegraphe)	6312	5.5%	21.67		184
Mont Ventoux (from Malaucene)	5036	7.2%	13.17		166
Mont Ventoux (from Bedoin)	5322	7.1%	14.10		164
Col du Glandon	4829	6.9%	13.23		146
Col de la Croix de Fer	4239	4.7%	17.10		144
Col de Sarenne	3514	5.5%	12.11		138
Col de L'Iseran	6414	4.1%	29.81		132
Alpe d'Huez	3579	7.7%	8.82		125
Alpe d'Huez (from North)	3622	4.9%	14.03		102
Col du Petit St Bernard	4423	5.1%	16.46		96
Col de Telegraphe	2808	7.3%	7.33		93
Col de Notre Dame des Abeilles	1050	2.7%	7.30		45
Col de la Madeleine (from Bedoin)	499	2.2%	4.22		25

 

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
• Several 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

CHAMPS-ELYSEES OPTION

We don't like to pass up on the opportunity to ride our bikes so we've planned a great ride over Ventoux from the Malaucene side on Sunday July 26. We'll start the ride early morning so we can be back at the hotel to watch the Champs-Elysees finale on TV.

However, we know that some guests may prefer to be in Paris on the 26th so we've included this as an alternative option. We'll provide a shuttle service to Avignon railway station and tickets on the TGV high-speed train to Paris on the Sunday morning (July 26). Travel time from Avignon to Paris is just under 3 hours.

If you prefer this option please select the "Depart from Avignon Option" on the booking form.

NON-RIDERS

Space for non-riders will be limited in 2009. Please call Paul Rogen on 1-888-446-5502 or e-mail Peter ( ) for full details.

WHAT's INCLUDED

• 8 days / 7 nights fully accompanied trip
  
• STANDARD accommodations (2-star and 3-star hotels)
• All breakfasts
• All but 2 dinners
  
• 3 lunches
• Pick-up at Lyon St Exupery Airport
• Drop-off at Marseille Airport
• All ground transportation
• All luggage transfer
• Services of our expert guides
• 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 us 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 the van transfer down to Mont Ventoux but that is the only transfer during the entire trip. Each 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.