Route des Grandes Alps 2010
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Dates: 20 June - 5 July 2010 Gateway airports:
Geneve, Switzerland –arrival 20 June
Nice, France – departure 5 July
Rating: Hors Category - Very Challenging Price: 2750 Euro (double occupancy per person)
Single supplement 500 Euro (limited) |
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Itinerary Summary (tentative)
Day 1 – Arrival
Geneve, Switzerland
Day 2 – Areches
Day 3 – Albertville
Day 4 – Albertville loop
Day 5 -- Albertville loop Day 6 – Val d’Isere
Day 7 – St Jean Mauriene
Day 8 -- St Jean Mauriene loop Day 9 – Bourg d’Oisans
Day 10 -- Bourg d'Oisans loop Day 11 – Guillestre
Day 12 – Barcelonnette
Day 13 -- Barcelonnette Day 14 – Valberg
Day 15 – Menton (Nice)
Day 16 – Departure -
Nice,France |
Cycle over the famous climbs of Tour d'France fame. This is a tour for anyone looking for an unforgettable cycling adventure. The Route des Grandes Alpes traverses the high Alps separating France and Italy. This is the ultimate Ski-to-Sea cyclists dream; to bag 25 named climbs in 10 days of riding.
First time riders in France will be amazed at the courtesy of drivers; often pulling over to the side of the road to allow us to pass on the exhilarating descents. You will hear shouts of encouragement from people on the side of the road near the top of nearly every climb. And you will wonder why you waited so long to ride in France where cycling is the national passion (or is that obsession).
The designation of the route occurred during the early years of the automobile as a way to promote tourism. Today it is one of the premier tourist routes in the world. Each summer every village and town along the route rolls out the welcome mat with festivals and local products prominently displayed.
Beginning on the shores of Lac Leman (Lake Geneva) in Switzerland the route includes all of the passes made famous to cycling fans by the Tour de France on the journey southward to the Mediterranean Sea. Our itinerary includes the names of nearly every pass that are perhaps household words to cyclists around the world.
Riding thru the Haut Savoie region of the Rhone-Alpes we are treated to visual and culinary delights, where cheese is offered as a delicacy almost above the delightful desserts. You will savor Tome de Savoie, Beaufort, Camebert, Rebloucon and Chevre cheeses in salads, sandwiches and sauces. The wines are light, but just right to enhance the less complex flavors of mountain meals.
This IS the epic-center of spectacular mountain pass riding. We will climb more cols (French for pass) than the riders of the Tour de France climb each July. We will likely spend three times as much time climbing as descending. And we will be grinning from ear-to-ear at the end of an epic ride from the mountains to the Mediterranean Sea.
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Col de la Joux-Plane
(1712m)
Col de Romme
(1297m)
Col de Colombiere
(1613m)
Col de Croix-Fry
(1469m)
Col des Aravis
(1486m)
Col de les Saisses
(1650m)
Col du Meraillet
(1605m)
Col du Pre
(1703m)
Col de la Madeleinne
(1993m)
Col de Tamie
(907m)
Cormet de Roselend
(1967m)
Col d’Iseran
(2764m)
Col du Telegraphe
(1566m)
Col du Galibier
(2646m)
Alpe d’Huez
(1495m)
Col de Sarrene
(1999m)
Col du Lauteret
(2058m)
Col d’Izoard
(2360m)
Col du Vars
(2109m)
Col de la Bonnet
(2802m)
Col du Cayolle
(2326m)
Col de la Couilloie
(1678m)
Col de St Martin
(1500m)
Col du Turini
(1604m)
Col de Castillon
(707m)
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Accommodations:
2-3 Star French inns and hotels; always clean, always well situated for post-ride relaxation
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Included:
15 nights lodging, 15 breakfasts, 12 dinners, 2 grand picnic, ride snacks and drinks, luggage transfers, van support (sag wagon), ride guides, detailed route maps and descriptions, gateway airport transfer on designated arrival/departure days |
Excluded:
Lunches, 2 dinners, tips and gratuities, airfare |