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Across the Alps – South
Across the Alps South
Discover the breathtaking and mythical Grand Cols of the Southern French and Italian Alps.
FROM BARCELONNETTE TO BARCELONNETTE
Bonjour and ciao! Across the Alps South is a climbing stage tour through the French and Italian Alps which starts and finishes in Barcelonnette. Your climbing legs will be put to the test in this breathtaking tour over mythical Alpine cols. In seven stages you ride 750 kilometres, climb 17 cols and conquer 20,000 metres elavation gain. Would you rather choose the slightly less difficult red routes? Then you´ll cover 700 kilometres and climb ‘only’ 17,500 metres elavation gain. Along the way we encounter the following Alpine giants: Col du Glandon, Gol du Galibier, Col d’Izoard, Colle di Sampeyre, Colle della Fauniera and Cime de la Bonette. This tour is for trained cyclists who climb easily.
Stages
7
Overnight stays
7
best time of year
June
September
TOUGHNESS
Distance (KM)
Red routes: 700
Elevation gain (M)
Red routes: 17,500
Explanation Toughness routes
Is this your first cycling tour in the mountains and are you wondering if you can handle our routes? Or are you an experienced climber and are you curious whether the challenge is interesting enough for you? Using our five-point scale, we help you gain insight into the toughness of our routes. Based on the number of polka dots you can easily see if the routes of this cycling tour match your level and ambition!
all fit cyclists
reasonably trained cyclists with some climbing experience
trained cyclists with climbing experience
trained cyclists with a lot of climbing experience
well trained cyclists with a lot of climbing experience
Within stages we often offer different routes so that groups with cyclists of different levels can participate in the cycling tour:
red = easier route
black = tougher route
If you are unsure whether the routes are suitable for you and your cycling friends, don’t hesitate to contact us. We’re happy to help you!
DISCOVER AN UNKNOWN PART OF THE FRENCH ALPS
We start in the nice mountain town of Barcelonnette with a simple warm up stage that we complete as a group. The tour starts in stage 2 through a lesser known, but beautiful part of the French Alps. We cross Lac de Serre Ponçon and cycle around the Parc National des Écrins, towards Le-Bourg-d’Oisans. Along the way we climb Col de la Moissière (1,573 metres) and, in stage 3 Col d’Ornon (1,371 metres). We arrive in a well-known cycling area and finish with Col du Glandon (1,924 metres). This is the first col of la Marmotte and the Glandon is also no stranger to the Tour de France. In the 2022 Tour, Tom Pidcock won on Alpe d’Huez after an unprecedented descent of the side of the Glandon that we climb.
‘This tour is for trained cyclists who climb easily.’
ON THE TRAIL OF LA MARMOTTE
In stage 4 we continue our way over the route of la Marmotte with Col du Télégraphe and Col du Galibier (2,642 metres); these Grand Cols devide more than 35 kilometers and 2,000 metres elevation gain among themselves! Col du Galibier needs no introduction. It is one of the highest cols in France and has been included in the Tour countless times. With Col d’Izoard (2,361 metres), we have another absolute Tour classic on the program in stage 5. This Grand Col is known for its mighty rubble slopes and the remarkable monument on the top. Then we ride into Italy via the mystical Col Agnel (2,744 metres). Benvenuto! You immediately notice that the roads are a lot quieter here and life is lived in a lower gear.
ITALIA AND CIME DE LA BONETTE
In Italy we climb the fantastic Colle di Sampeyre (2,274 metres) and Colle della Fauniera (2,481 metres) in stage 6. In our opinion, these are two of the most beautiful cols in Europe, which are worth every drop of sweat! In this remote part of Italy you will more than once feel like you have reached the end of the world. After we entered France in stage 7, a last tough challenge awaits us; Cime de la Bonette (2,802 metres), the highest asphalted road in Europe (according to the French)! The climb is long and tough, especially the last loop. While you enjoy the majestic view at the top, you slowly realize that you have achieved a very special achievement!
What's included in the price?
The price includes:
- Hotel accommodation in nice, cycle-friendly hotels (minimum 3 stars) on the route (double room, 7 nights)
- Breakfast (7 times) and dinner (7 times)
- Participation in the stages prepared by Grand Cols Cycling Tours (7 stages)
- Professional, digital road book with all relevant route information
- GPX files for uploading routes to navigation devices
- Picnic lunch, coffee stop with good, freshly ground coffee and sports nutrition (sports drink, water, bars, etc.) during the stages
- Support during the stages with a support car, for example: handing over clothing and carrying out minor repairs
- First aid and AED
- Luggage transport from hotel to hotel
- Help with minor repairs along the way and the use of a bicycle pump, lubricant and bicycle tools
- Grand Cols Cycling Tours cycling jersey (contact us if you would like to design a custom jersey)
- Participation in the VZR guarantee scheme
The price does not include:
– The outward journey to the starting location and the return journey from the finish location
– Personal insurance, such as travel and cancellation insurance
– Drinks during the dinners
– Equipment (you participate with your own equipment, such as: bike, helmet and clothing)
Optional extra:
- Upgrade to a single room € 275, –
- Additional overnight stay (without dinner) before the start of the cycling tour (double room): € 100, –
- Commonly used spare parts, such as: tyres, cleats and batteries (at cost price)
Anything else? Let us know!
WANT TO KNOW MORE?
DISCOVER Across the Alps – SOUTH
Are you interested in this cycling tour? Request more information without obligation.
A SELECTION of our cycling tours
Take up the challenge and discover the most beautiful Grand Cols with us
Tour de Suisse
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