Road Cycling Odyssey Weekend: Legendary Alpine Routes on Reserved Roads (self guided)

Embark on an exhilarating weekend cycling adventure on the iconic climbs of the Southern French Alps: col du Noyer, Galibier, Izoard, Lautaret, Granon, Echelle, Orcieres, Risoul, Agnel, Vars, and the tour of the Serre Ponçon lake. Immerse yourself in the dramatic beauty of the mountains as you navigate these renowned routes and conquer the hairpin turns!

Your adventure begins with high-quality road bikes, delivered to your bike-friendly hotel upon arrival. With GPX tracks, comprehensive advice on the famous climbs and circuits, and station or airport transfers included, all you need to do is show up and enjoy the ride!

This self-guided cycling experience also offers the unique opportunity to ride on roads exclusively closed for your enjoyment, free from motor vehicles – just you, the open road, and fellow cyclists.

We will custom-design your itinerary to craft your ideal Alps cycling weekend, including both legendary mountain passes and lesser-known but equally stunning routes from our four Alpine bases, making the most of the reserved cols available during your stay. 

For a longer trip of 5 nights to a week, please check out our Road Cycling Odyssey Trip

Holiday Highlights:

Roads Reserved for Cyclists!

In France, the home of the Tour de France, authorities close roads purely for cyclists' enjoyment in the Southern French Alps, home to some of the race’s most iconic mountain passes. This tradition, established in 1997, allows cyclists to ride freely on these legendary routes.

Each year, we gain early access to the schedule of road closures, enabling us to organise bespoke self-guided cycling holidays around these dates. During these events, roads are closed in the mornings, from the base of the climb to the mountain pass summit. While approaching routes remain open, motorists are vigilant and accommodating due to the event's popularity.

Local tourist offices often set up refreshment stands, and supporters cheer you on, creating a Tour de France-like atmosphere. These events welcome cyclists of all levels, from professionals to families, fostering a relaxed, friendly environment where everyone can share their passion for cycling.

Your Cycling Bases:

For this trip, we use four main cycling bases in the Southern French Alps: Guillestre, Briançon, Embrun, and Gap. These locations are strategically selected for their easy and direct access to legendary Tour de France climbs and routes. Based on your preferred rides and the calendar of closed cols, we will design your itinerary using the most suitable bases and arrange baggage transport between them.

Who will love this trip?

If you’re passionate about road cycling and a fan of the Tour de France, this trip is perfect for you! It’s an ideal opportunity to conquer iconic mountain passes on your bucket list and is especially great for groups and cycling clubs looking for a shared adventure.

A high level of fitness is essential, as these climbs are challenging and require cycling endurance. Training beforehand is recommended. The rewarding experience of cycling in the Alps includes tough ascents and high altitudes, so being comfortable with rides of 50-80km and 2000m+ of ascent per day is necessary.

Completing all the climbs on this trip will leave you with a lasting sense of achievement. For those wanting the experience without the intense physical demand, electric road bike rentals are available, making it accessible for everyone in your group or club.

Sustainable Travel:

This tour exemplifies eco-friendly travel, with convenient train access from across Europe, eliminating the need for car use. Your adventure through the Southern French Alps is entirely by bike, with minimal baggage transfers to reduce environmental impact.

You will stay in locally owned, eco-conscious, bike-friendly hostels and hotels, all dedicated to sustainable practices.

Please have a look at our full carbon report which has been calculated using the Carmacal tool and based on a 7 night stay with two changes of base during the trip.

Itinerary

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BY TRAIN / BUS:

We offer a 3% discount for those travelling by train instead of plane. To claim, provide proof of train travel for international routes over 3 hours that could have been taken by plane. Please inquire when booking.

Arrive at Briançon, Gap, Embrun, or Mont Dauphin, depending on your base(s). These stations are all on the same train line between Gap and Briançon. Direct train links are available from Grenoble, Aix-en-Provence, Marseille, and Paris (overnight sleeper). Plan your journey on the Oui SNCF website.

Transfers from the nearest train station to your base are included.

BY PLANE:

The nearest airports are Marseille (MRS), Turin (TRN), Lyon (LYS), and Grenoble (GNB). We can arrange transfers from these airports for groups of six or more at an additional cost.

For smaller groups, public transport may be more cost-effective. From Marseille, take a coach to Gap, then transfer to a train for Briançon, or use the shuttle to Marseille St Charles for direct trains. From Grenoble, take the airport shuttle to the train station.

Ask about transport options when you inquire; we are experts at helping guests reach this beautiful region!

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