Spring Training Camps
Highlights
- Quiet spring roads in Provence.
- Improve technique, speed work and “through and off” riding.
- General training and nutrition tips from our qualified coaches and guides.
- The opportunity to ride with a French racing club.
- Fully supported with vehicle and on-road guides.
- Airport transfers from Marseille airport included.
- End the week with a classic local sportive.
Introduction
Spring Training camps from the Veloventoux base here in Puyméras aimed at racing cyclists, sportive and granfondo riders and those just looking for fitness and technique improvements. If you’ve stayed with us before you know how good the roads are for training rides. If it’s your first time with us be prepared for quiet roads with fantastic surfaces ideally suited for medium to fast group riding.
The rides will be a mixture of flat, rolling and some moderately hilly terrain.
There will be one big “hilly day” in the middle of the week and one easier ride option mid week for those in need of a rest day or recovery ride.
Flat and rolling rides will average 30 – 32kmh and when the rides include hills the average speed will be 27 – 29kmh.
On the climbs you’ll get the chance to “go for it” if you want but remember we ALWAYS re-group on the top.
When approaching villages you will be informed if there is a “sprint” available.
Distances will be between 100 and 150km depending on the terrain and there is always a café / lunch stop.
When the roads are suitable we will ride in a double pace line in a “through and off” style so everyone gets a turn on the front.
Dates
10th – 17th March 2024
6th to the 27th April 2024
Cost
From £645.00 per person
Single Supplement £45.00 per night
What's included
- Bed, breakfast
- Transfer from Marseille airport..
- Fully guided and fully supported training rides.
- 1 rest / recovery ride mid-week.
- Training tips and nutrition advice.
Not included
- Flights.
- Lunches during the day.
- Insurance.
Typical Itinerary
Saturday: 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.
Sunday: Training Ride 1
Clansayes and The Rhone Valley.
125km of flat and rolling terrain with some typical French “False Flat” climbing to get accustomed to the roads here in Provence.
Lunch in St Paul-3- Chateaux before some through and off riding through the quiet, flat vineyard roads to Vaison la Romaine.
Monday: Training Ride 2
The Tour du Ventoux – Extended.
The Vélo Ventoux signature ride + a bit more, 140km with 1700m of ascent.
The Tour du Ventoux ride goes full circle, anti-clockwise around the base of Mont Ventoux via the stunning Gorges 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.
Flat then downhill after lunch to the Toulourenc Valley and the final easy climb of the Col des Aires to finish.
Tuesday: Training Ride 3
Punchy Hill Day. Ridden at a steady pace of between 25 and 27kmh. A day for the climbers to have some fun.
120km with 2300m of ascent.
Col de Propiac (W), Col de Fontaube, Col d’Aulan, Col de Peyruerge, Col de Soubeyrand, Col d’Ey, Col de Propiac (E)
Wednesday: Rest / Recovery Optional Club Ride
An easy day today to let the legs recover with a coffee stop in the morning and extended lunch stop.
Just 50km with 600m of climbing.
Ride with Craig’s Club USC Vaison La Romaine. One of the regions will known racing clubs. Ride with G1 at “race” pace through and off or with G2 at a more sedate pace.
Thursday: Training Ride 4
90% flat today with one climb of significance, the Cote d’Aleyrac from the north.
Head north via Mirabel, Nyon and Rousset les Vignes to Dieulefit then west to la Begude. The easy climb of the Cote d’Aleyrac takes us back south into the vineyards for some flat “through and off” back to Puymeras.
Friday: Training Ride 5
A mixture of flat, rolling and a couple of easy hills for your last day training in Provence.
Heading out to the west where Craig trains with his club, USC Vaison la Romaine, in winter.
Mirabel, Tulette, Richereches, Colonzelle, Chantemerle, the short punchy “golf course climb” to Clansaye, descend to Montsegur, then some flat speed work all the way back to Vaison for some well earned beers.
Saturday: Departure Day
Transfer back to Marseille airport with tired legs but ready to smash your pals on next week’s club run.
Transfer time is approximately 1h30m.
sample maps
camp 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.
The answer is usually yes and the training rides are geared towards riders wanting to improve their fitness and group riding.
Yes of course. We have GPX files for your GPS devices and we can email them to you prior to the tour start date.
In March the barriers are still down. In April the Malaucene side is stillclosed but the Bedoin and Sault sides are usually passable. If you want to schedule this into the camp let us know beforehand.