French Alps - Classic Climbs Bike Tour
Perhaps no other region in Europe ignites the cyclist’s imagination like the French Alps. Home to some of the most famous road biking ascents on the planet, the Alps are a “must see” for every cyclist. Legendary “cols” (mountain passes) scale these often snow capped summits, inviting us to try our skills against these precipitous mountains. Our reward: twisty, winding and exhilarating descents into alpine meadows that can extend for over 25 miles.
Trip Profile
We choose to visit the Alps in June, once the passes are free from snow, the temperature is still moderate and the tourist crowds have yet to descend on the region. It’s one of the best times to visit. Unlike many other In Situ Trips, we’ll split our week between two different lodgings. Due to the geography (the long, steep climbs), this gives us greater access to even more of the famous mountain passes.
We’ll start our week near the former Winter Olympic town of Albertville and later in the week, work our way south to the base of the infamous Alpe d’Huez.
Trip Details & Map
Location: Albertville, France & Les Sables, France
Trip Length: 7 days / 6 nights
Trip Type: Road Biking
Famous Climbs: Alpe d’Huez, Col de la Madeleine, Col du Télégraphe, Col du Galibier, Col du Lautaret, Col de la Croix de Fer
Col du Glandon
Price*: US$2,840 per person, double occupancy
* Prices subject to change. Once you book your trip, the price is guaranteed.
2012 dates: June to December
Daily Rides: 30 - 100 miles
Accommodations:
- La Ferme de Noémie
- Hotel Edelweiss
(click to learn more)
Notes: Due to the location and terrain of this trip, it is not recommended for non-bike riding guests
Daily Ride Overview
Day 1: After we meet in Grenoble, we’ll shuttle north to Albertville. There will be time to assemble your bikes, have a light lunch and discuss the week ahead, before we head out for a light spin in the surrounding hills. Today’s ride is a chance to loosen up the legs, meet your fellow travelers and make sure your bike is ready for the week ahead. This evening, we’ll have a group dinner with authentic alpine fare.
Ride: approximately 40 km (24 miles).
Day 2: There’s no time like the present to start into the famous cols. Today’s ride will take us on a loop up and over the Col de la Madeleine. Its stats are impressive: almost 25 km (15.5 miles) long and climbing up to it’s peak at an even 2000 meters (6561 feet), it’s average gradient is 6.3%. From the top, we’ll descend into another valley to the south, then return towards Albertville for the evening. Tonight’s meal will be in town, together as a group. Ride: 125km (78 miles) with 2240 m (7349 ft) of climbing
Day 3: An epic day lies ahead. We’ll cover part of a route that has been used by the pro peleton during the Tour several times in the past. Heading out of Albertville towards the southeast, we’ll ride through the Maurienne valley before crossing 3 famous cols. Staring in St. Michel de Maurienne, the first will be the Col du Télégraphe (11.8 km / 7.3 miles, 1566m / 5,137 feet high, average grade 7.3%). And before we even fully descend off of the Télégraphe, we’ll begin our assault on the Col du Galibier (18.1km / 11.2 miles, 2645m / 8677 feet high, average grade 6.9%). Fortunately for our legs, the last col is the Col du Lautauret, which is minor from this direction, on our descent off the Galibier. Dinner tonight will be at our inn, together as a group. Ride: 165km (102 miles) with 2709 m (8888 feet) of climbing.
Day 4: After yesterday’s phenomenal effort, you’ll have a chance to recuperate today. You may choose to take the day completely off and explore the surroundings, visit nearby villages or take an easy spin at the floor of the valley. But for those of you who’d like a moderate and scenic ride, we suggest biking to the village of La Bérarde.
Ride: 70km (43 miles) with 1075m (3527ft) of climbing.
Day 5: Alpe d’Huez awaits! Today is the day to test your legs against the infamous climb. You may be surprised however at how you fare against this mythical ascent. With an average gradient of 7.9% and 13.5 km (8.3 miles), you’ve already conquered longer climbs this week. But the Alpe is never to be taken lightly. It’s 21 switchbacks are relentless. The record was set in 1997 at 37m 35s, so you can compare your time against it. Once at the top, you can celebrate with your fellow cyclists and soak in the glory of making it to the top. We’ll descend on a smaller, alpine road with incredible vistas of the valley floor below. For those of you who want more climbing in your day, you can add on Les Deux Alpes, a category 1 climb just across from Alpe d’Huez. Dinner tonight will be on your own in the town of le Bourg-d’Oisans.
Ride: 60km (36 miles) with 1073m (3520 feet) of climbing; with Les Deux Alpes option: 80km (48 miles) with 1681m (5515 feet) of climbing.
Day 6: Are you ready for some more climbing? While not the longest ride of the week, it will be the day with our most climbing. Today we have a gorgeous ride and tackle 2 famous climbs: the Col du Glandon and the Croix du Fer. With a combined ascent of over 10,000 feet, we’ll ride valley to valley and back again traversing the mountain pass on each respective climb. Our route will be punctuated with alpine lakes, mountain refuges, and unforgettable vistas. Tonight, we’ll gather for one last dinner as a group and reminisce about the week’s accomplishments. Ride: 123km (76 miles) with 3054 m (10,020 feet) of climbing.
Day 7: We enjoy one last early morning spin in the valley before packing up our bikes, saying “au revoir” to the mountains and shuttling back to Grenoble to say goodbye.
WHAT’S INCLUDED
1. All breakfasts, 3 lunches and 5 dinners
2. Transfer to/from Grenoble train station at trip start/end
3. GPS bike units for each guest to use during trip
4. Accompanied route support every day with van support
5. Snacks (energy bars, fruit, etc.) and drinks (hydration mixes, water, etc.) provided every day
6. 2 experienced English speaking tour leaders
7. Secure bike storage
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