French Alps Cycling Tours – 2012

Tour de France climbs week

Our chalet is ideally placed and allows 15 different major tour climbs from our doorstep in a day’s riding. The week is tailor made depending upon your level and requirements and a ‘mini tour’ can be included in the week. We can offer runs of 50 to 150 kms with 500 to 3500m of climbing per day. Truly something for everyone!

Mini Maurienne

One of our favourite tours with 2 nights away from the lodge in quality family run hotels. A magnificent 3 days with the Madeleine, the Telegraph and the mighty Galibier, finishing with the Iseran at nearly 2800m on the third day. An average of 100kms per day with around 2000m of climbing Europe’s most challenging climbs.

Tour of Mont Blanc

This tour has the particularity of traversing 3 countries, France, Italy and Switzerland. A challenging mini tour with 2 or 3 nights away depending on your level. There are numerous climbs on the way including ‘petit’ and ‘grand’ St. Bernard passes and the beautiful Cormet de Roseland. The views are incredible throughout the whole tour.

Italian Tour

As our chalet is only 8 kms from the Italien border, this trip is a must. The 2 night stay takes us onto the little known but very beautiful and quiet (and very steep!) Italien mountain roads. We do take in the Grand St Bernard, but the Col San Carlo is the one that people remember and is renowned by all the local cyclists. We can even stop at the Roman Baths ‘en route’! A nice change from the French side and very useful when it rains in France as it’s quite often sunny over the border.

Tour of Haute Savoie

Another 2 or 3 night stay in the Haute Savoie region. Haute because it’s further North and not because it’s higher! Some great climbs but also the lakes. We generally ride further in terms of distance as there’s a little less climbing. Lake Annecy and it’s unique 40 km cycle only road is a relaxing moment after the Col d’Aravis! A great mini tour to visit many areas not seen when driving.

The Marmotte cyclosportive

The cyclosportive that everyone wants to do. Join us for a 4 day stay for the race weekend, This includes taking in the climbs you’ll be doing before the race. All the logistics of transport etc are taken into hand, leaving you to concentrate fully on your efforts for the World’s hardest mass start sportive. We can arrange a dozen other sportives in the area during the season – please inquire.

The Marmotte cyclosportive and training week

The cyclosportive that everyone wants to do. We organize a week’s training beforehand within the Tarantaise & Maurienne valley and beyond staying at Chalet Montperron (or just a 4 day stay for the race if required). This includes taking in the climbs you’ll be doing before the race. All the logistics of transport etc are taken into hand, leaving you to concentrate fully on your efforts for the World’s hardest mass start sportive.

We can arrange a dozen other sportives in the area during the season – please enquire.

The Tour de France week

Of course we couldn’t do a season without the Tour de France. We will include 2 or 3 days of watching the Tour in the best areas. This year the riders are likely to be coming through Albertville and La Toussuire although this is speculation as the official route will be out at the end of October. Nothing equates to the ambiance of the roadside during the Tour - a ‘must do once in a lifetime’ trip!

Traversee des Alpes

The classic of all tours. A trip of over 600 kms with between 2 and 3000metres of climbing per day which takes in all the Alpes can offer! A once in a lifetime trip over climbs such as the Iseran, Galibier, Izoard, Vars and the mighty Bonnette finishing on the seafront near Nice!

A trip more suited to experienced cyclists due to the difficulty.