Raid Alpine - Mégeve to Nice
Highlights
- Numerous iconic tour de France climbs. The col de la Madeleine, Telegraphe, The Galibier, The Izoard, The Col de Vars.
- The 2800m Cime de la Bonette – The highest tarmac pass in France.
- The Verdon Gorge.
- Fully supported with vehicle and on road guides.
- Airport transfers from Geneva and to Nice airports included.
- 3 star family run hotels and great food.
Introduction
Our own take on this classic cycling traverse of The Alps to the Mediterranean.
Starting in Mégeve and finishing in Nice.
Highlights include iconic climbs such as The Cormet de Roselend, The Col de la Madeleine, The Col du Telegraphe, The Mighty Galibier, The Izoard, The Cime de la Bonette and also The Verdon Gorge.
Our version adds a mid-week rest day and fun mountain time trial up the Cime de la Bonette.
Spending two nights in some of the hotels means you’re not living out of your suitcase every day.
Definately less stress than the true Raid Alpine.
Dates
8 night Tour
Running as a custom tour.
Contact us with your preferred dates.
Cost
From £1350.00 per person
Single supplement £350
What's included
- 8 nights bed, breakfast and evening meals.
- Transfer from Geneva airport and back to Nice airport.
- 7 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
Arrival at Geneva airport for transfer of 1h15m to Megeve where we will assemble the bikes and have a short afternoon ride as a final bike check and to stretch the legs.
Two airport transfers available for morning and afternoon flights.
Day 2: Megeve to Moutiers
110Km with 2900m of elevation.
A great warm up ride from the hotel down the valley to Flumet where a left turn leads straight onto the 15km long Col des Saisies which has an average gradient of 5%.
From here there’s a great decent to Beaufort where we’ll stop for lunch before attacking the last big climb of the day – the Cormet de Roselend which is 20km at 6%.
Tonight we stay in Moutieres.
Day 3: Moutiers to Briancon
146km with 4400m of elevation.
A big big day crossing the iconic climbs of the Col de la Madeleine, 25km at 6%. We’ll stop for lunch in St Michel de Maurienne before attacking the Col du Telegraphe, 12km at 7% and the mighty Galibier from Valloire – 17km at 7.5%.
From the summit of the Galibier it’s all downhill to Briancon where we stay tonight.
Day 4: Briancon to Barcelonnette.
101km with 3100m of climbing over the Col d’Izord (20km at 5.7%) for lunch in Guillestre then the final climb of the day, the Col de Vars, 19.5km at 5.8%.
Another fantastic descent into the Ubaye valley to Barcelonnette where we stay for 2 nights.
Day 5: Mountain time trial
Cime de Bonnette mountain time trial.
A fun day today which is optional for those with tired legs. Be as competative as you want today on this informal mountain time trial.
We’ll do a warm up ride out to the car park in Jausieres then all start together for the 24km, 6.6% climb to the highest tarmac road used in the Tour de France.
Day 6: Barcelonnette to Castellane
129km with 3100m of climbing. Unbelievable scenery today climbing the long steady Col de Cayolle , 30km at 4% before dropping down to St Martin for lunch. One more climb after lunch the Col des Champs, 16km at 6.5%.
A long fast descent down the Verdon Valley takes us to Castellane where we stay for 2 nights.
Day 7: The Verdon Gorge
122km with 2600m of climbing. An incredible loop ride taking in the magnificent Gorge du Verdon, “The Grand Canyon of France” with it’s sheer 300m limestone cliffs.
A gentle warm up from Castellane alongside the Verdon river leads to the climb up to the Pont de l’Artuby which we cross before traversing the south rim of the Verdon Gorge.
We now descend to the Lac Ste. Croix where you can have a cooling swim.
We then head up the Col d’Ayen for lunch in La Palud before the descent back to Castellane.
Day 8: Castellane to The Med
108km with 2500m of ascent.
A handful of easy cols out from Castellane including the Col de Sainte Barnabé and the Col de la Bleine.
Then from a height of 1100m it’s almost all downhill through the Gorge du Loup all the way to the Mediterranean sea where we stay on the sea front in Cagnes sur Mer.
Day 9: Departure Day
Transfer back tp to Nice airport (20 minutes)
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 for each particular tour.
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.
Please ensure that there is nothing left in your bike box/bag that you will need during the week because you won’t have access to it.
We plan our tours to coincide with the optimum time of year to get the best weather. The Alps tours are run in July, the 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.
90% of the time your regular summer kit will suffice so bring at least two full sets of kit so you have a clean kit every day..
- Summer base layer
- 2 x Jersey
- 2 x bib shorts
- gilet
- arm warmers
- leg warmers
- socks
- mitts
- helmet
- sunglasses
- lightweight rain cape / windstopper
We also recommend you bring a set of cold weather gear:
- 1 x longs
- 1 x long sleeve jersey
- under helmet bonnet
- long finger gloves
- overshoes
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.
The tour from Ventoux to Nice 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.
We always stop for lunch mid-ride to re-fuel. If we know of a good tried and tested snack bar or restaurant where the turnaround is quick and the food is good and suitable for cyclists we will book ahead for the group. Often in the Alps and Provence by mid-day we can be “in the middle of nowhere” so a roadside picnic will be provided at the side of the road.
You will be informed each day of what the lunch options are.