GROUP CYCLING TOUR FRENCH & ITALIAN ALPS

ACROSS THE ALPS NORTH

EXAMPLE CUSTOM GROUP CYCLING TOUR FRENCH & ITALIAN ALPS

ROAD BIKE

Discover our Across the Alps North group package! Set your preferred dates with us and let us organise a custom group cycling tour in the French and Italian Alps for your cycling group. Conquer legendary Alpine cols from the Tour de France, such as Col de l’Iseran, Col du Mont Cenis, Alpe d’Huez, Col du Galibier and Col de la Madeleine. Experience the stunning Alps together with your cycling friends in this challenging, full-service stage tour. Check out the example group package below and know: everything can be customised to your wishes. Also ask about our version including Col de la Loze and Colle delle Finestre!

CUSTOM GROUP CYCLING TOUR IN FRENCH & ITALIAN ALPS WITH START AND FINISH IN ANNECY

Salut mes amis, ciao ragazzi! Conquer the stunning and iconic northern Alpine cols together with your cycling friends! Across the Alps North is a custom group cycling tour across the French and Italian Alps. We start and finish in Annecy, a charming Alpine town on the shores of its famous lake. Over seven stages, you’ll ride through breathtaking landscapes steeped in Tour de France history. Along the way, we tick off a series of legendary Grand Cols, including: Col de la Madeleine, Col du Glandon, l’Alpe d’Huez, Col du Lautaret, Col du Galibier, Col du Mont-Cenis and Col de l’Iseran.

If you choose the black routes, you will cover 715 kilometres and conquer 18,000 metres elevation gain. The red routes are more friendly; 700 kilometres and 17,500 metres elevation gain. Whatever routes you choose, make sure you are well trained and bring some climbing experience to the start!

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STAGEs

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overnight stays

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best time of year

June
September

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TOUGHNESS

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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!

EXPLANATION EXAMPLE GROUP PACKAGE

Inspiration for your group package

An example tour is a fully designed stage tour. We have selected the most beautiful cols, designed well-balanced routes and chosen cyclist-friendly hotels. This example group package gives you an idea of what a stage tour in this cycling region could look like. You can book this tour for your cycling group or use it as inspiration for your own custom group package.

Let us know your preferences, and we can adapt this example tour for your group. Consider options such as adding or removing a stage or col, choosing different routes or overnight stops, including a rest day, or selecting more luxurious hotels.

Our Terms and Conditions apply to this tour.

STAGE 1, 2 & 3: FROM ANNECY TO LE BOURG-D’OISANS

We start in Annecy, the cozy capital of the Haute Savoie department. On day one we complete a warm-up stage around Lac d’Annecy. In stage 2 and 3 we ride to the famous cycling village of Le Bourg-d’Oisans. Along the way we climb four challenging cols, including: Cret de Chatillon (1.668 meter), Col de la Madeleine (1,993 metres) and Col du Glandon (1,924 metres). The Madeleine is a long, heavy col where the cows are in charge. In the 2002 Tour de France, Michael Boogerd was the first to reach the top on his way to victory at La Plagne. Cycling history for the Dutch! Don’t underestimate Col du Glandon either; the finale is steep! The descent to Lac du Verney is beautiful. Please don’t try to imitate Tom Pidcock (Tour de France 2022)!

‘Enjoy breathtaking landscapes where Tour history was written.’

STAGE 4 & 5: 21 VIRAGES AND ITALIA

In stage 4 we climb the famous ‘Dutch mountain’ from Le Bourg-d’Oisans; Alpe d’Huez! The countless cycling stories that have been written on this Grand Col make the Alp a climb that every cyclist must check off, including you! Unfortunately, we have been waiting for many years for a successor to the many Dutch winners (Zoetemelk 2 times, Kuiper, Winnen 2 times, Rooks and Theunisse) on Alpe d’Huez. We continue our way with Col du Lautaret (2,057 metres) and Col du Galibier (2,648 metres). Then we pay Italy a little visit in stage 5 and climb the beautiful Col du Mont-Cenis (2,083 metres). This lesser-known climb, along the Lac du Mont-Cenis, is one of the absolute highlights of Across the Alps North!

STAGE 6 & 7: HIGH ALPINE COLS

In stage 6 we reach the next highlight, the so-called roof of Across the Alps North; the majestic Col de l’Iseran. With an altitude of 2,770 metres, this is one of Europe’s highest cols. The beautiful climb and the gentle descent take almost 80 kilometers! Egan Bernal was the first to reach the top in 2019 Tour stage that was unexpectedly canceled during the race due to mudslides. That’s how he won the Tour and not Kruijswijk (or Thomas). Via Bourg-Saint-Maurice we set course for Annecy. Along the way, in stage 7, we conquer Col de Aravis (1,487 metres) – a well-known intermediate pass that has been in La Grande Boucle 40 times – and Col de la Croix Fry (1,477 metres). When we see Lac d’Annecy sparkling in the sun, we have almost completed our ordeal!

WHAT's INCLUDED IN THE PRICE?

We tailor the price to your wishes. If you would like to book this group cycling tour and opt for Grand Cols Cycling Tours’ full-service approach, we would normally offer the following (optional) services. Have different requirements? Let us know, and we’ll adapt our services to suit your needs.

The price includes:

Hotel accommodation in nice, cycle-friendly hotels (double rooms)
Breakfast and dinner
Breakfast and dinner
Professional, digital road book with all relevant route information
GPX files for uploading routes to navigation devices
Picnic lunch, coffee stop with good, coffee and the opportunity to restock your sports nutrition (sports drinks, water, energy bars, etc.) during the stages
Support with a support vehicle (please note: not all unpaved roads are accessible by support vehicle): handing out extra 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
Additional overnight stay (without dinner) before the start of the cycling tour
Bike transport from the Netherlands to the start location and back (subject to availability)
Commonly used spare parts, such as: tyres, cables and batteries (at cost price)

Anything else? Let us know!

Want to know more?

DISCOVER ACROSS THE ALPS – NORTH

Are you interested in this cycling tour? Request more information without obligation.

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Take up the challenge and discover the most beautiful Grand Cols with us.

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