Annecy-Ventoux by the Alpe d’Huez

We leave Annecy, riding along the lake before reaching the first climb, the Col de Bluffy. Enjoy the beautiful view of the château de Menton with the lake as a backdrop before heading across the Aravis mountain range. Depending on your fitness and appetite for climbs we can tailor your day:

Active: 75km with 1770m+ (Bluffy 630m, Croix Fry 1467m, Aravis 1486m)
Pro: 100km with 2770m+  (+Col des Saisies 1633m)
Inferno: 140km with 4150m+ (+ Cormet de Roselend 1968m)

Night in Albertville

We start the day with a classic Tour de France climb – the Col de la Madeleine and its 25km ascent. Enjoy the sublime descent before hitting the 11km Col du Telegraph, gateway to the legendary Galibier. Before getting to the Telegraph you have the option of tackling the equally famous Glandon and Croix de Fer.

Pro: 105km with 3200m+; 2220m- (Madeleine 1993m, Télégraphe 1566m)
Inferno: 150km with 5200m+, 4090m- (+ Glandon 1924m, Croix de Fer 2064m)

Night in Valloire

Today we tackle two of the most iconic climbs of the Tour de France  : the mighty Col du Galibier and the 21 hairpin bends of the Alpe d’Huez ! See if you can break the hour. Marco Pantani’s record on the Alpe d’Huez 37 mins and 40 secs set in 1997 still stands.

Pro: 75km with 2800m+; 2500m- (Galibier 2642m, Lautaret 2057m, Alpe d’Huez 1815m)

Night in Alpe d’Huez, where your cycling legends have been made and told.

Today will offer a major change of scenery as you leave the Alps and enter the spectacular Vercors region. After 3 difficult stages today offers a chance for some recovery. We will access the Vercors region by riding along the balcony road of Gorges de la Bourne, which offers breathtaking over the canyon.

Pro: 115km with 1900m+; 3400m- (Gorges de la Bourne)

Night in the heart of the Vercors

Two options:
-Recover and Relax by the hotel’s pool
-Loop ride. We start with the ascent to the Col de la Bataille followed by a spectacular ride along the Gorges des Grands Goulets, another balcony road the road carved into the  cliff face. It is very impressive !

Pro: 85km with 2020m+ (Bataille 1313m, Gorges des Grands Goulets)
Inferno: 140km with 3800m+ (+ Gorges du Nan)
Second Night in the heart of the Vercors

We start the day by climbing the sublime Combe Laval, probably the most beautiful and renowned road in the Vercors region. A true feat of engineering. We then turn south and head for Provence via the Col de Rousset.

Pro: 100km with 2300m+; 2700m- (Combe Laval, Rousse 1254m)

Night in a small village, in Southern Vercors

We head towards the sun with one objective in mind : to catch our first glimpse of the giant of Provence and the final great challenge of this tour. Only two small cols but a lumpy road to the foot of Mont Ventoux where we will spend the night. Try to save some legs for tomorrow.

Pro: 90km with 2400m+ ; 2200m- (Roustans 1208m, Soubeyrand 994m)

Night in Sault

A truly epic final curtain: Mont Ventoux. 25km (1500m+ and 4,5% average gradient). Don’t be fooled by the rather gentle start!  After the legendary Chalet Reynard you enter a lunar landscape and things get properly tough! Reaching the top of Ventoux fills every cyclist with an incredible sense of elation! A monster has been conquered and the 360° panoramic view is quite unique. The sea, the Alps, and Provence,…(almost) everything is visible from the top of Mont Ventoux. The tour ends with a flying descent down to Malaucène, pure joy !

Active: 46km with 1460m+ (Mont Ventoux 1912m)
Pro: 73km with 2340m+; 2750m- (+ Gorges de la Nesque + ascent from the tougher Bédoin side 22km at 7,15%)

End of stage in the early afternoon in Malaucène then transfer to Annecy (3¼ hours).
Celebratory dinner in a wine cellar, which is a well kept secret that only a few locals know!

Night in Annecy

Transfer to Geneva airport after breakfast. We guarantee that you will be full of great memories and a huge sense of achievement.