ebike tours
Highlights
- Vaison la Romaine to the Luberon and The Rhone.
- Roman archeology, gorges, chateaux, and perched villages.
- The cultural city of Avignon.
- Fully supported with vehicle and on road guides.
- Airport transfers from Marseille included.
- Hand picked family run hotels and great food.
Introduction
The first part of the tour starts with 3 days cycling from the Veloventoux accommodation in Puymeras where you get to ride the Giant of Provence and explore the other fantastic cycling this area has to offer around the mountain and in the Baronnies national park.
Then we hit the road for 3 full days cycling through the foothills of the Alps to a summit finish on Alpe d’Huez.
On the last day you get to climb two more Tour de France classic cols, the Col du Glandon / Croix de Fer.
Dates
17th July to 24th July 2022
Cost
From €1025.00 per person
Single supplement €350.00
What's included
- 7 nights bed, breakfast and evening meals.
- Transfer from Marseille airport and back to Nice airport.
- 6 days fully guided and fully supported rides.
- GPX files for your GPS device.
Not included
- Flights.
- Lunches during the day.
- Insurance.
Itinerary
Day 1: Travel day / short ride
A transfer from Marseille airport (1h 30m) is included and we’ll be doing a morning and afternoon transfer.
Those arriving in the morning can assemble the bikes and you’ll will get the chance to do a leg stretcher ride of 45km to the perched village of Brantes with magnificent views of the north face of Ventoux.
Dinner tonight will be a group BBQ at the Veloventoux house.
Day 2: Mont Ventoux
The first proper cycling day of the tour and the day you’ve all been waiting for. You’ll climb Mont Ventoux from the classic Bedoin side. Round trip of 78km with 2300m of climbing from the Veloventoux house in Puymeras with a descent into Malaucene for lunch then the short ride of 15km back to the house.
Day 3: Tour du Ventoux
The Vélo Ventoux signature ride, 112km with 1400m of ascent.
The Tour du Ventoux ride goes full circle, anti-clockwise around the base of Mont Ventoux via the stunning Gorge de la Nesque and the Toulourenc Valley.
We’ll have a quick coffee stop in Villes sur Auzone before ascending the Gorge de la Nesque to Sault for lunch.
Day 4: Puymeras to Nonieres
Today is the first day on the road heading for Alpe d’Huez.
We ride from our base here in Puymeras over the relatively easy Col de la Croix Rouge then through the Gorge de St. May to a picnic lunch stop close to La Motte Challancon.
After lunch we climb the Col de Premol, 964m and 11km of climbing but with an easy average gradient of just 3.5%.
After crossing the Drome Valley the last climb of the day takes us to the village of Nonieres and the hotel de Mont Barral.
Day 5: Nonieres to Corps
105km with 1800m of ascent today where you get the first real feeling of being in the Alps.
After the short descent from the hotel a stunnng section of riding through the Gorge des Gats with it’s steep limestone walls leads to the bottom of the Col de Grimone, another long steady climb with the last 6 km averaging 6%.
A short hop over the Col de la Croix Haute with a lunch stop leads to some pleasant riding through Alpine pastures before descending to the Lac du Sautet and the town of Corps.
Day 6: Corps to Alpe d'Huez
Today is the shortest day of the tour of just 70km but with 2200m of ascent and, of course, the iconic summit finish on Alpe d’Huez.
Not to be underestimated is the Col d’Ornon which you need to ascend just 10km before your arrival in Bourg d’Oisans before the ascent of Alpe d’Huez.
The Ornon is 20km long with an overall average gradient of 3.5% but the meat of the climb is the last 5km which averages 7.5%.
Day 7: The Col de la Croix de Fer
Your last day of riding but probably the toughest since Mont Ventoux earlier in the week. An out and back ride to the top of the Col de la Croix de Fer.
77km with 200m of climbing plus the short detour to bag the Col du Glandon too.
Day 8: Departure Day
Transfer back to Lyon airport with tired legs and big smiles. Transfer time is approximately 1h30m.
Tour Map
Tour Quick Questions
Yes, subject to availability. There will be a single occupancy supplement and the cost for this is with the itinerary.
On the first day, after you have assembled your bike we will store all bike boxes until the last day of the tour when you need to dismantle your bike.
We plan our tours to coincide with the optimum time of year to get the best weather. The Alps tours are run in July, end of August and early September when the high passes are guaranteed to be open. With tours through Provence we have more flexibility and can run these through May, June and the end of September.
Neverthless, any kind of weather can be experienced at any time, especially in the High Alps. There will ne details of what clothing to bring in the tour notes.
You need a good level of fitness for our Alpine tours, especially The Raid. 4 – 5 hours riding time in the high Alps every day is tough.
Thetour from Ventoux to Alpe d’Huez is hilly but less challenging. We can provide help and advice with your fitness.
Yes of course. We have GPX files for your GPS devices and we can email them to you prior to the tour start date.