French Alps Epic bike tour - Dauphine and Tour de France

Difficulty

Location:

Distance: 1000 km (142 km/day)

Type: guided

Interest:

Type of Biking: Road Bike

Duration: 8 days / 7 nights

French Alps Epic - Legends of the Tour de France

Overview
Itinerary & Map
Bikes & Services
Accommodations & Dates

About your bike tour

Want to ride like a pro bike racer through some of the most challenging road biking stages in Europe?

This fully guided epic bike tour through the French Alps and the Dauphine region has it all - We’ll cover 100 years of Tour de France history in 7 classic stages, guided by two support vehicles, food, drinks mechanical services and expert guides. Use one of our high quality aluminum road bikes with gears made for the hills (triple ring in front) or bring your own bike.

As a bonus, we’ll watch a stage of the Tour de France live from the top of one of the classic alpine climbs!

All in all, we’ll climb 24,500 meters over 1,000 kilometers of riding from the shores of the French Riviera up to Lake Geneva. The combination of a fantastic landscape and a passion for great cycling makes will make this bike trip an incredible experience.

After each ride, we'll stay in carefully chosen 3 star or better hotels and enjoy fine local French cuisine and wine.

Note: This tour is extremely challenging and requires a top level of fitness. But even though we may get pushed to our limits, we’ll feel good knowing we’ve got all the support we’ll need, including a support vehicle and experienced cycling guides. And most of all our goal is to have fun! It’s not a race, nobody gets dropped and our philosophy is the slower you go, the more you enjoy the scenery!

What we love

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What to know

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Photos of this bike tour

Travel destinations on the map

— Day 1: Vence (Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur)

Arrive in Vence (Nice).

Meet our guides and fellow riders, fit the bikes and enjoy a nice welcome dinner in our hotel.

150 km Day 2: Barcelonnette (Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur)

On our first stage we immediately take on the second highest mountain pass in Europe - the Col de la Bonette at 2,715 meters. Then we added an extra loop over the Crime de la Bonnet to 2,802 meters.

Vence » Gattiers » Carros » Saint-Sauveur-sur-Tinee » Isola » Saint-Etinne-de-Tinee » Col de la Bonette(2802m) » Jausiers » Barcelonnette

Dinner with the team and overnight in Barcelonnette.

150 km Day 3: Barcelonnette (Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur)

The second day of spectacular cycling takes us over the Col de la Cayolle, Col des Champs
and the Col d'Allos peaks.

Barcelonnette » Saint-Laurent » Col de la Cayolle(2326m) » Entraunes » Col des Champes(2087m) » Colmars » Allos » Col d'Allos(2247m) » Uvermet-Fours » Barcellonette

Dinner with the team and overnight in Barcelonnette.

145 km Day 4: Villar-d'Arêne (Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur)

On the cards for the third stage are the Col d'Vars,

Col d'Izoard and the Col du Lautaret into the high mountains of Daupine province at the foot of the glacial giant, Col du Galibier.

Barcelonnette » Jausiers » Gleizolles » Col de Vars(2109m) » Guillestre » Col d'Izoard(2360m) » Briancon » Col du Lautaret(2058m) » Villar d'Arene

Dinner with the team and overnight in Villar d'Arene

150 km Day 5: Alpe d'Huez (Rhône-Alpes)

The King of the Mountains stage today features biggest classic of all - Alpe d'Huez!

The first part of the stage includes climbs up the Col du Lautaret, Col du Galibier and Col de Telegraphe, followed by the brutal Col de la Croix de Fer with its 32 km climb to 2067 meters. Then we end the day heading up the legendary 21 hairpin turns to a mountaintop finish up Alpe d'Huez.

Villar d'Arene » Col du Lautaret(2058m) » Col du Galibier(2645m) » Col du Telegraphe(1566m) » Valloire » Saint-Michel-de-Mayrienne » Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne » Col de la Croix de Fer(2067m) » Lac de Grand Maison » Rochetaillee » Le Bourge-d-Oisans » L'Alpe d'Huez(1860m)

Dinner with the team and overnight up on Alpe d'Huez

145 km Day 6: Bourg-Saint-Maurice (Rhône-Alpes)

Today we view the Tour de France and watch the world's top pros from the top of the Col de Madaleine!

The Col du Glandon and Col de la Madaleine are up next on Stage 5 to Bourg-St-Maurice. The climbing altitude of these climbs is over 1,900 meters and the peaks offer us stunning views of Mont Blanc.

L'Alpe d'Huez » Rochetaillee » Allemond » Col du Glandon(1924m) » La Chambre » Col de la Madaleine(1984m) » Bonneval » Bourg-Saint-Maurice

Dinner with the team and overnight in Bourg-Saint-Maurice

150 km Day 7: Morzine (Rhône-Alpes)

On stage six we’re in for a super tough climb up the Cormet de Roseland, followed by the Col de Saisis, Col des Aravis, Col de la Columbiere and Col des Gets to the region around Lake Geneva and the town of Morzine.

Bourg-Saint-Maurice » Cormet de Roseland(1968m) » Col de Meraillet(1605m) » Beaufort » Hauteluce » Col des Saisies(1650m) » Flumet » Col des Aravis(1486m) » La Clusaz » Le Grand-Bornand » Col de la Colombiere(1618m) » Clues » Taninges » Col des Gets(1172m) » Morzine

Dinner with the team and overnight in Morzine.

125 km Day 8: Montreux (Canton de Vaud)

On the last stage to Lake Geneva ride over the Col I'Encrenaz and Col de la Ramaz, two relatively simple peaks to make the last day a bit easier on you.

Morzine » Col I' Encrenaz(1433m) » Le Praz-de-Lys » Col de la Ramaz(1559m) » Messy » Megevette » Vailly» Vacherresse » Chatel » Monthey » Pas de Morgins (1369m) » Montreux

Dinner and a victory celebration and overnight in Montreux, Switzerland, on the banks of Lake Geneva.

— Day 9: Montreux (Canton de Vaud)

After a last breakfast, our epic journey is complete and the tour comes to an end!

Arrival Info

arrival in Nice, we'll pick you up from the train station or airport and shuttle you to the hotel.

Departure Info

departure from Montreux, Switzerland
one hour train ride to airport in Geneva, Switzerland

Koga road bike

included in tour price

Focus road bike

included in tour price

Koga Road Bike

Focus Road Bike

Included

8 nights accommodation in a French category 3 and4 star hotels, double occupancy (single rooms available upon request)
8 breakfasts
8 dinners
7 fully supported bike tour stages from Vence to Montreux, France
Focus or Koga high quality aluminum road bike rental included in price
shuttle from airport, support vehicle, luggage transport
support staff in vehicle, including expert mechanical support
catering during the stages, at least one catered rest stop each day
custom cycling jersey