Cycling France Alpine climbs

Trip Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival – Milan Malpensa airport – transfer to Cuneo
Welcome by Vincent at Milan Malpensa airport and transfer to Cuneo (approx 1,5 hours time). For the night you will stay in a 2 star hotel in Cuneo, 2 people sharing.
Cuneo is a provincial capital in western Italy. Its Renaissance style arcaded main street lined with shops and cafés gives it an elegant appearance and its old town centre dates from the 12th century when it was a fortified town. Cuneo was a start town of the tour de France stage Cuneo – Jausiers in 2008.
Welcome meeting to check the bikes and do the last adjustments.
Dinner not incl.

Day 2: Cuneo (548 m) to Isola (1147 m).
To acclimatize and gently start cycling in the morning you will cycle along the valley Stura. You will cycle to the village of Pratolungo, perfect to warm up for the legs, and then you will start the climb to the Col de la Lombarde (21,3 km, 6,8% in average). The col de la Lombarde is a Hors Category col, at 2351 m high, located at the French / Italian border. It was climbed in 2008 for the 16th stage of the tour de France and the German rider Stefan Schumcher came first at the col. Then you will enjoy a downhill ride to Isola.
Distance: 79 km Ascent: 2390 m Descent: 1486 m
Stay in a 2 star hotel for the night.
Breakfast incl. Picnic lunch & dinner not incl.

Day 3: Isola to Jausiers (1213 m).
In the morning you will cycle the North part of the Tinée valley, narrow and very alpine, with some superb water falls. You will take up the climb to the col de la Bonnette, the highest col of Europe (2802 m, 26 km of climb at 6,5% in average from Saint Etienne de Tinée, Hors Category), official col of the tour de France in 1962, 1964, 1993 and 2008.
Option to climb to Super Sauze or Praloup from Jausiers in the afternoon.
Distance: 67 km Ascent: 1820 m Descent: 1746 m
Stay in a 2 star hotel in Jausiers.
Breakfast incl. Picnic lunch and Dinner not incl.

Day 4: Jausiers (1213 m) to Guillestre (1002 m).
In the morning cycle up to Jausiers and then you will climb the Col de Vars climbed 20 times since 1947 in the Tour de France. Hors Category (2108 m altitude, 15km of climb at 5,5% from the junction Col de Vars / Col de Larch). You will then enter the Hautes Alpes and can only be charmed by the beautiful mountains as you cycle down to Guillestre at the border of the Queyras regional Park.
Enjoy a short day for your third day, or cycle in the afternoon to Embrun (nice loop ride not too hilly), or climb to the ski resort of Risoul (more challenging).
Distance: 59km Ascent: 1070 m Descent: 1050 m
Stay in a 2 star hotel for the night in Guillestre.
Breakfast incl. Picnic lunch and Dinner not incl.

Day 5: Guillestre (1002 m) to Briançon (1211 m).
Difficult to consider a cycling trip in the Alps without the Col d’Izoard!
The Col d’Izoard (2360m) is a unique place to cycle and one of the great Cols of the French Alps (Hors category, climbed 23 times on the tour de France since 1947!!). From the green wooded mountainsides above Briançon, to the sandy coloured, eroded cliffs above the the Casse Deserte and the Col, the scenery is beautiful. From Guillestre it is 32km of climb at 4,5% in average. Once in Briancon possibility to continue and discover the Clarée valley (relatively flat ride) or climb the Montgenevre pass (up and back).
Distance: 58km Ascent: 1520 m Descent: 1250 m
Stay in a 2 star hotel for the night in Briançon.
Breakfast incl. Picnic lunch and Dinner not incl.

Day 6: Briançon (1211 m) to St Jean de Maurienne (542 m).
From Briancon, a giant of the Alps is waiting for you namely the Col du Galibier (2645m). A monument in homage to Henri Desgranges, the founder of the tour sits at the top of the Galibier col. This col (Hors category, 37km from Briancon 3,7% in average and the last 21km kilometers at 6%) was climbed 32 times by the tour de France since 1947. From Valloire you will cycle down to the Maurienne valley down to Saint Jean de Maurienne. Possibility to extend the cycle from Saint de Maurienne, nice loop ride to Bonvillard (700 m climb).
Distance: 75 km Ascent: 1750 m Descent: 2419 m
Stay in a 2 star hotel for the night in Saint Jean de Maurienne.
Breakfast incl. Picnic lunch and Dinner not incl.

Day 7: St Jean de Maur. (542 m) to Alpe d’Huez (1800 m).
For your last day two challenges are on the menu! The col de la Croix de Fer and the Alpe d’Huez climb. The col de la croix de fer (2067 m, Hors category, climbed 15 times in the Tour de France since 1947, offers 30 km of climb at 5 % in average since Saint Jean de Maurienne. To finish the trip, you will climb the legendary 21 hairpins, 14 km from Bourg d’Oisans at 8% in average, climbed 27 times in the Tour since 1952.
Once at l’Alpe d’Huez and after a soft drink to celebrate this mythic climb ! cycle down to le Bourg d’Oisans.
Distance: 74 km Ascent: 2599 m Descent: 1394 m
Stay in a 2 star hotel for the night in le Bourg d’Oisans.
Breakfast incl. Picnic lunch and Dinner not incl.

Day 8: Transfer to Lyon airport
Spend the morning in le Bourg d’Oisans at your own pace before a transfer to Lyon airport.
Breakfast incl. Picnic lunch not incl.