GROUP CYCLING TOUR ITALIAN & FRENCH ALPS

ACROSS THE ALPS SOUTH

EXAMPLE CUSTOM GROUP CYCLING TOUR ITALIAN & FRENCH ALPS

ROAD BIKE

Discover our group package Across the Alps South! Choose your dates with us and let us organise a custom group cycling tour in the Italian and French Alps for your cycling group. Climb famous Alpine cols, known from the Tour de France and Giro d’Italia, such as: Col du Galibier, Col d’Izoard, Col Agnel, Colle della Fauniera, and Cime de la Bonette. Experience the beautiful Italian and French Alps with your cycling friends on this challenging, full-service stage tour. Check out our example group package below and know: everything can be customized to your wishes.

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

Bonjour and ciao! Conquer the Alpine giants of the Southern Alps! Across the Alps South is a custom group cycling tour in the French and Italian Alps which starts and finishes in Barcelonnette. This breathtakingly beautiful tour over legendary Alpine passes will put your climbing legs to the test. Along the way, we’ll encounter the following Grand Cols, among others: Col de la Cayolle, Col du Glandon, Lacets de Montvernier, Gol du Galibier, Col d’Izoard, Col Agnel, Colle di Sampeyre, Colle della Fauniera, Colle di Lombarda en Cime de la Bonette.

In seven stages you ride 750 kilometres, and conquer 20,000 metres elavation gain. Would you rather choose the slightly less difficult red routes? Then you will cover 700 kilometres and climb ‘only’ 17,500 metres elavation gain.



Stages



Overnight stays



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!

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: DISCOVER AN UNKNOWN PART OF THE FRENCH ALPS

We start in the nice mountain town of Barcelonnette with a simple warm up stage in which we climb Col de la Cayolle. 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 and, in stage 3 Col d’Ornon. We arrive in a well-known cycling area and finish with the climb of the beautiful 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.’

STAGE 4 & 5: ON THE TRAIL OF LA MARMOTTE

In stage 4 we climb Lacets de Montvernier and then 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.

STAGE 6 & 7: 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, the Fauniera is the most beautiful col in Europe, and is 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. In stage 7 we enter France via the stunning Colle di Lombarda. 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! Satisfied, you descend to Barcelonnette, where we conclude Across the Alps South. Arrivée!

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 SOUTH

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

Contact

A SELECTION OF OUR EXAMPLE GROUP PACKAGES

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

MTB Giro di Sicilia

MTB GROUP CYCLING TOUR IN SICILY MTB GIRO DI SICILIADiscover the northeast of the Mediterranean island of Sicily by mountain bike! Set your preferred dates and let us and let us organise a custom MTB group cycling tour in Sicily for your cycling group. On this...

Custom Tours

CREATE YOUR DREAM CYCLING TOUR WITH USCREATE YOUR DREAM CYCLING TOUR WITH USCREATE YOUR DREAM CYCLING TOUR WITH USCUSTOM CYCLING TOURS: YOU DECIDEFOR GROUPSDo you want to go on a cycling tour with your group but can’t find your ideal group package on our website? Then...

Gravel Bianche Toscana

CUSTOM GRAVEL CYCLING TOUR TUSCANY GRAVEL BIANCHE TOSCANADiscover our Gravel Bianche Toscana group package! Set your preferred dates and let us organise a custom gravel cycling tour in Tuscany, Italy, for your cycling group. Explore the iconic white gravel roads of...