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A spectacular cycling route through the Italian and French Alps
Cuneo is a provincial capital in western Italy whose old town centre dates from the 12th Century when it was a fortified town. The Renaissance style arcaded main street is lined with shops and cafés giving it an elegant appearance. Cuneo was made famous in the cycling world in 1949 when the legendary Fausto Coppi dominated the stage there to win the Giro d'Italia. More recently it was a start town for the Tour de France stage to Jausiers in 2008. In the evening there will be a welcome meeting and a chance to check bikes and make any final adjustments. *Standard Hotel*
In the morning we enjoy a nice gentle warm up cycling along the Stura Valley to the village of Pratolungo. From here we start the Hors Category climb of the Col de la Lombarde (21.3 km, avg. 6.8%), located on the French/Italian border at 2351m. The climb was last used during stage 16 of the 2008 Tour. From here we are rewarded with a long downhill to the ski resort of Isola 2000. We then descend further down to to the village of Isola where we spend the night. *Standard Hotel*
Distance in Km: 79
Distance in Miles: 49
Altitude Gain: 2390
Altitude Loss: 1486
After breakfast we descend to Isola (862m) where we reach the Tinée Valley. The valley is very narrow and typically alpine, with superb views and some attractive waterfalls. A relatively gentle climb brings us to Saint Etienne from where we tackle the infamous Col de la Bonnette (26km, avg. 6.5%), one of the highest paved cols in Europe (2802 m). This climb has only been used a few times during the Tour (in 1962, 1964, 1993, 2008 and 2016) but really is one of the highlights of the trip. After catching our breath we descend to Jausiers, where there'll be the option to climb to either Super Sauze or Praloup. *Standard Hotel* * *
Distance in Km: 67
Distance in Miles: 42
Altitude Gain: 1820
Altitude Loss: 1746
Today's ride is a little shorter but still very challenging! In the morning we ride up to Jausiers and then climb the beautiful Hors Category Col de Vars, climbed 20 times since 1947 in the Tour de France. (2108m, 15km, avg. 5.5%). Here we enter the spectacular Hautes Alpes and enjoy some great mountain views on the ride down to Guillestre on the border of the Queyras Regional Park. If you'd like to do a few more miles then in the afternoon there's the option of a nice steady loop to Embrun or the more challenging climb to the ski resort of Risoul. *Standard Hotel*
Distance in Km: 59
Distance in Miles: 37
Altitude Gain: 1070
Altitude Loss: 1050
The Hors Category Col d'Izoard (2360m) is a unique place to cycle and one of the greatest cols of the French Alps (32km, avg. 4.5%). The Tour organisers clearly agree as it has been included 23 times in the race since 1947! The scenery here is beautiful, from the sandy coloured eroded cliffs above the 'Casse Deserte' near the summit to the green wooded mountainsides above Briançon where we stay. From Briançon you have the option to continue on a relatively flat ride along the Clarée valley, or to climb the Montgenevre pass on the Italian border. *Standard Hotel*
Distance in Km: 58
Distance in Miles: 36
Altitude Gain: 1520
Altitude Loss: 1250
This morning the 'Giant of the Alps' awaits us, namely the Hors Category Col du Galibier (2645m). It is a mammoth 37km of climbing from Briançon, but it is the final 21km where the effort really kicks in at an average gradient of 6%. In 2011 the summit saw a solo stage win for Andy Schleck, but the real drama was a little further down the mountain as Thomas Voeckler heroically retained the yellow jersey with a mere 15 seconds to spare. A monument in homage to Henri Desgranges, the founder of the Tour, sits at the top of the Galibier. A seemingly endless descent brings us to Valloire where we have a short 4km uphill section to the Col du Telegraphe (1566m). We can stop here for an Orangina and take in the spectacular view over the valley below. From here we still have about 11km of descending down to the Maurienne valley and Saint Jean de Maurienne, where we spend the night. It is possible to extend the ride with a nice circular route to Bonvillard, or we can cycle up the Lacets de Montvernier, a spectacular climb which featured in the 2015 Tour de France. *Standard Hotel*
Distance in Km: 75
Distance in Miles: 46
Altitude Gain: 1750
Altitude Loss: 2419
For our final days ride, two superb challenges are on the menu! We warm up on the Hors Category Col de la Croix de Fer (2067m, 30km, avg. 5%). This is a lovely peaceful climb that has featured 15 times in the Tour since 1947. But no cycling trip to the Alps is complete without tackling the legendary 21 hairpin bends on the iconic climb of Alpe d'Huez (1845m, 14km, avg. 8%). From Bourg d'Oisans the road immediately ramps up with some of the steepest sections and is often the scene for the first attacks. 'The Alpe' has been climbed 29 times in the Tour since 1952 and the names of many of the winners are marked on plaques on the hairpins. The late Marco Pantani's record of 37 minutes 35 seconds in 1997 is quite humbling! Tonight we celebrate the weeks achievements in Bourg d'Oisans at the foot of Alpe d'Huez. *Standard Hotel*
Distance in Km: 74
Distance in Miles: 46
Altitude Gain: 2599
Altitude Loss: 1394
* 6 days cycling with partial vehicle support (limited seats)
* 100% tarmac roads
* Climbs are long and steady (average 7%)
* Group normally 6 to 16 plus leader in support vehicle
* 7 nights hotels
All breakfasts are included.
For breakfast you can expect a continental style buffet with cold meat,
cheeses, bread, eggs, jams and pastries as well as tea and coffee.
Throughout the trip you can expect really good food with strong influences
from Spain and France. Lunches and dinners are not included in the trip price
to allow you to take advantage of the local restaurants and cafes along the
route and give you freedom over what you eat. Our guide will be able to
recommend the best local restaurants and will have planned some stops at good
coffee shops to break up the days rides.
* 6 days cycling with partial vehicle support (limited seats)
* 100% tarmac roads
* Climbs are long and steady (average 7%)
* Group normally 6 to 16 plus leader in support vehicle
* 7 nights hotels
This trip is classified Drop Bars
Activity Level: 6 (Challenging/Tough)
6 days cycling with partial vehicle support (limited seats)
Average daily distance of 72km a day (45 miles) with an average elevation
gain of 1900m a day.
The riding on this trip can be accomplished by any fit cyclist, but it is as
much a state of mind as your fitness that will see you up and over the cols.
The secret to making it up the mountains is to plug away at a steady pace and
stop whenever you feel tired. We cover the same routes as the Tour de France
but this trip is definitely not a race!
On all our drop bar trips the guide does not cycle with the group but leads
from the support vehicle. This enables them to carry any spare parts, snacks
and drinks whilst also being able to filter through the group on long climbs
and react quicker in the case of an emergency.
The roads are good quality - they just aren't flat! Although the gradients do
not get much steeper than 10%, they can be long (up to 26km). Daily distances
are realistic and there are plenty of opportunities for stronger riders to
add more kilometres if they wish. The support vehicle is always available for
riders who have achieved their personal goal and require a lift up or down
any of the hills.
*Please note*: Exodus drop bar cycling holidays are not run in a training
camp style, all our daily rides are group rides and we aim to cycle as a
group wherever possible. The days are broken up with food and coffee stops so
it is likely that we will be outside for the majority of the day (sometimes
between 9am – 5pm). It is common for the group to split on the longer
climbs, please keep in mind that if you are looking to push yourself on the
climbs you might have a wait at the top for other members of the group,
however the support vehicle will be there to offer warm clothes and snacks.
Hotels
We stay in traditional alpine 2-star hotels throughout the trip; all are
ideally located along the route and most have private facilities. Rooms are
allocated on a twin and sometimes triple share basis, single rooms are
available on request.
On Day 2 twin accommodation will be in rooms with bunk beds (2 people per
room) and with shared bathrooms. The bathrooms are on the same floor: 2
shower rooms with 4 showers; and 4 toilets. The floor will be exclusive to
our group and bathrooms will be shared only between members of the group.
Single rooms will be en-suite.
Between 4 and 16 plus leader.
All breakfasts are included.
For breakfast you can expect a continental style buffet with cold meat,
cheeses, bread, eggs, jams and pastries as well as tea and coffee.
Throughout the trip you can expect really good food with strong influences
from Spain and France. Lunches and dinners are not included in the trip price
to allow you to take advantage of the local restaurants and cafes along the
route and give you freedom over what you eat. Our guide will be able to
recommend the best local restaurants and will have planned some stops at good
coffee shops to break up the days rides.
For airport transfers we use a bus. The rides are supported by a van; there
is limited space for clients and bikes in the support vehicle. The vehicle
will sweep through the group during the day offering encouragement, water and
access to your snacks. A comprehensive tool kit and first aid kit is carried
and the leader is a qualified first-aider. Lifts up or down the hills are
naturally offered, if this is your desire.
*Travelling flight inclusive from London: 8 days*
The group flight from London is a daytime flight departing on Day 1 of the
itinerary.
We normally use the scheduled services of British Airways (depending on
availability). As flight timings and schedules change regularly we recommend
you call one of our specialist sales staff or your agent to confirm
up‐to‐date timings. Please note timings may change at a later date and
cannot be confirmed
until approximately two weeks before departure.
*UK Regional Flights*
The Flight Inclusive price is based on a London departure, but we are happy
to tailor this to your local or regional airport. Please visit
www.exodus.co.uk/regionaldepartures [1] for a useful overview of the options
available, and contact our sales team for expert advice.
If booking regional flights other than with Exodus, you must allow a minimum
connecting time (in addition to the international check in time) of 1 hour
at Gatwick, and 1½ hours at Heathrow; this is longer than the official
minimum, but baggage handling is known to be subject to delays.
*Travelling land only: 8 days starting in Cuneo and ending in Bourg d'Oisans*
Your trip normally starts at our accommodation in Cuneo in the afternoon of
Day 1 of the itinerary. Details of how to reach the start point are provided
in the Final Joining Instructions ‐ sent approximately two weeks before
departure.
Full joining instructions including local emergency numbers will be sent to
you as part of our Final Joining Instructions. If you do not receive these at
least a week before departure, or require them earlier please contact our
office or your travel agent.
[1] http://www.exodus.co.uk/regionaldepartures
Airport transfers are included for those on the group flights. Please note
that transfers are not included for clients arriving on any other flight,
even if Exodus has booked it.
If you require airport transfers, you may (by prior arrangement only) be able
to join the group transfer. Transfers are arranged to coincide with the
arrival time of the group flight ‐ please check the group flight details 2
weeks before departure. If you do not take this transfer, or miss it, you
must make your own way to the joining point at your own expense.
This part of the Alps can get rain throughout the summer, although mostly at
night time and afternoon thunderstorms. Maximum temperatures can be up to
30ºC, but this will vary with altitude. If we are riding through low cloud
it can get very chilly on the descents, but these should be short spells
only. There is of course the possibility of wet weather so you should come
prepared for this.
You will need to bring the following equipment with you:
Normal daily clothes
Cycle helmet (compulsory on this tour)
Sunglasses/eye protection
Base layers
Short and long sleeved jerseys
Windproof Gillet
Lightweight waterproof jacket
The best quality padded cycling shorts you can afford
Full length tights or knee/Leg warmers
Cycling gloves
Arm warmers
Chamois cream
Energy drink powder
Energy bars and gels
Sunscreen
Please note that all bikes are supplied with flat pedals and only a limited
number of clipless pedals are available from the hire company. Because of
this we recommend bringing your own shoes and pedals for all drop bar cycling
holidays.
If you are bringing your own bike we recommend packing the following items:
Spare tyre
Inner tubes
Brake pads
Correct length spokes (especially if using Mavic wheels)
Multi tool
Mini pump
Tyre leavers
Puncture repair kit
The support vehicle carries a range of tools and 2 track pumps that you are
free to use during the trip. Basic spares are also carried, but we are never
too far from a bike shop, in the case that you require a specialist
replacement part.
Every night the bikes will be put in a garage/shed, but it is best to bring a
lock, just so that you can be sure yours is safe. Your bike box / bag will be
transported to the end hotel on the roof rack of the support vehicle.
On all departures of this trip we can expect to be cycling in just shorts and
a short-sleeved jersey. The temperature is naturally dependant on the
altitude, so on some of the higher cols it can get fairly chilly.
Unfortunately rain cannot be ruled out but the showers tend to be fairly
short.
Wearing a helmet is mandatory for anyone taking part in any guided Exodus
cycling holiday. Group members must bring their own helmets, as they are not
available for hire, even if they are hiring a bike from Exodus.
For self-guided cycling holidays wearing a helmet is highly recommended.
Customers who choose to ignore our advice do so entirely at their own risk
and on the understanding that it may affect the validity of their travel
insurance. It should also be noted that in some countries we travel to
wearing a helmet is already a legal requirement.
Cycling of all kinds has its dangers and accidents can happen from time to
time. Please ensure that you are properly prepared for the riding you are
going to undertake.
You may like to bring your own pedals and saddle (excluding the seat post) or
gel saddle cover to fit to the hire bikes. We encourage this, if it is your
preference. However, please note that you are responsible for your own
equipment, and removing your saddle/pedals at the end of the trip. We cannot
guarantee the return of any bike parts left behind.
*Local Bike Details:* /Bike hire is not included in the holiday price of our
Drop Bar holidays./
Scott CR1 20 Carbon drop bar road bike available on request.
There is no local payment on this holiday. As of 1st January 2008, Exodus no
longer uses local payments to cover part of the cost of the holiday. While
some of the headline prices seem higher, we have not added any extra costs
into the total price, apart from the local payment and any standard annual
fluctuation in price. If you are comparing prices with other operators,
please check the total price paid, as we believe that Exodus offers the best
balance between value for money and operational quality.
This is entirely at your own discretion. However, as a guideline, we suggest
you allow a few pounds each day for tips for the guide‐ about £4 (approx.
US$6‐7) a day per client would seem reasonable.
* Visa and vaccinations
* Local bike hire (available on request)
* Single accommodation (available on request)
Ved skriftlig aksept av vårt tilbud bekrefter du/dere at våre betingelser er både lest og forstått og at evt kansellerings gebyrer kan tilkomme ved en evt. avbestilling av reisen.
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