Bubba s Cycling Tours France 2018 - Itinerary Annecy, Bourg D Oisans, L Etape du Tour
Day One We will collect you from the airport in Geneva for the transfer to our hotel in Agnon, a beautiful hamlet on the shores of Lake Annecy. After assembling the bikes, we will head out for a ride around the shores of the lake and the fantastic network of bike paths. Nothing too strenuous, around 30-40km to assist in loosening up the travel legs. After the ride we will have a little time to relax in by the lake or pool, before meeting for a group dinner in the restaurant of the fabulous Hotel Grillons. 30-40km
Day Two After breakfast we will again ride part of the lake before climbing to Monte de Semnoz, which was a finish for the TDF in 2013. Semnoz is a 17km climb out of Annecy and has a little bit of everything, the views at the summit are just mind-blowing. After Semnoz, we will drop back down to the lake before climbing the small twisting road to the Col de L Epine. Lunch back in Talloires and coffee at the fabulous Base-Camp. Dinner is a brilliant four course meal in the hotel restaurant. 110km
Day Three After breakfast we will head off for a loop around the lake before climbing up a delightful small (but steep) road to the col de la Forclaz After descending back down to the lake (take in the stunning views) we will roll back to our hotel and start to prepare for l Etape the following day. We would recommend a nice relaxing afternoon, a swim and some good food. Don t forget to also keep your fluids up. In the afternoon, we will head in for a look around the fantastic old town of Annecy, before returning to our hotel restaurant for another brilliant 4 course meal. 65km
Day Four Today is L Etape du Tour. After an early breakfast, we will roll around the lake to the start of the race. Taking your place on the start line, you will roll off with 14,000 others for an epic day out. Starting with a lap of the lake, the fun will soon begin with climbs of the Gliere plateau, the Col de Romme and the Col de la Colombiere, before the finish in Le Grand Bornand. This is a truly brilliant course, with a little bit of everything. After the event, we will travel back to our hotel in Agnon where we can have a shower, a swim and a gourmet recovery meal. Then off to bed for a well deserved sleep. 160km
Day Five After a massive riding day at L Etape, today is a rest day of sorts. We recommend at least a spin around the lake or bike paths, just to spin out some soreness from the previous day. This is of course voluntary and some may wish to sleep in and simply lay be the pool / swim in the pristine lake (Europe s cleanest). In the afternoon we will again head back in to soak up the fantastic energy of the old town in July. Dinner is provided again at the hotel. 30-40km (optional)
Day Six There are no better views of Mt Blanc than those you see at the summit of the Col des Aravis. After breakfast today, we will head off around the lake bound for Ugine and Flumet. We will be taking a small detour to Hauteville (literally translated as hightown) for one of the best vistas in all of the alps, before climbing the Aravis. Lunch at the summit before we descend the Col de la Croix Fry on the way back to the lake. This is our final ride from Annecy and it will be a fitting way to end a fabulous stay. I am certain that after 6 days in this most magnificent place, you will want to return. Our final Annecy dinner will be served again in the hotel restaurant. 125km
Day Seven The transfer from Annecy to Le Bourg d Oisans is just over two hours and we will roll out just after breakfast. The drive is lovely as we stay mostly within the Alps all the way. On arrival in Bourg d Oisans, we will check in to our accommodation, right in the centre of town. Then it will be time to assemble the bikes and take a little look around this most famous cycling town. This afternoon, we are going to ride the most famous climb in the Alps, L Alpe d Huez. It is 14km to the summit and only 15.5km from our hotel. So saddle up and get ready to hit the ground running. 35km Dinner will be a group meal in town.
Day Eight Today we have a stunning loop planned, with a little bit of everything, we call it the loop of the Balcon Roads. These are small roads, built on the side of cliffs, constructed during the gold rush era and they are incredible. The ride starts with the first 4km of the Alpe before turning off at La Garde. From here we have visual and cycling delights all day including the col de Sarenne that brings us up the back way to Alpe d Huez. Our return is via Villard Reculas and Allemond, with the option to add the Col d Ornon at the end. We will pack the bikes at the end of todays ride to prepare for our rollout to Briancon tomorrow. 75km or 105km Dinner will be at your leisure in town tonight.
Day Nine We are hitting the road for an early transfer today. We will roll out before breakfast and stop for a quick bite to eat in Briancon before beginning the days ride, which is really something special. We are riding an epic loop that takes us to Guillestre, through the stunning gorge de Guil and up over the mighty Col d Izoard, one of Frances most famous climbs. We also have a little surprise, a 3km detour that takes us up (and down) 29 switchbacks, possibly the world s most dramatic stretch of road. From the top of the Izoard, we descend all the way back down to Briancon, where we will have a group dinner and stay the night in town. 110km
Day Ten After our sleepover in Briancon, we will have breakfast in the hotel and then saddle up for the ride home to Bourg d Oisans. This is no ordinary route as we cross one of the most famous passes in the entire Alps, the Col du Galibier, before dropping down into the Maurienne Valley. We will stop for lunch in the gorgeous mountain town of St Jean de Maurienne. After lunch, we will take on one of the giants of Le Tour, the Col du Glandon. This is an absolute epic and a pass that has seen many a battle in the TDF over the years. From the summit it is a long descent with just a brief uphill to the town of Riviers de Allemond. Once in the valley, it is a slightly uphill and very straight run back to Bourg. A massive day and one you will never forget. Dinner at your leisure tonight in town 160km
Day Eleven Back in Bourg, we will again roll out just after breakfast and head out towards the Col du Galibier. We will take a small side ride out of the valley and head up the back way to Les Deux Alpe, the scene of Marco Pantani s famous tour winning coup in 1998. From here we will descend down the main valley road before turning towards La Berarde and on to the beautiful Saint Christophe. This is another gem that is rarely ridden by cycle tourists. Small, quiet and dazzlingly beautiful. Dinner will be at your leisure in town tonight. 105km
Day Twelve One of the delights of being in Bourg d Oisans is the sight of the tiny mountain villages and roads that are visible from town and the valleys either side. Today we will roll out after breakfast to visit a few of these. Vaujany, the Col de Sabot, Oulles and Villard Notre Dame are all on our list. In fact we will be able to visit all of these with less than 100km of riding. We will also be close to home for most of this ride, so have options to stop or even shorten the ride if required. It is of course our last ride of the tour, so well worth the effort required to see each of these sights. I guess you can rest tomorrow. Dinner will be a group meal in town, time to celebrate and say farewell. 96km
Day Thirteen Today is the final day of the tour and time to transfer to the airport in Lyon. After breakfast, we will pack the vehicles and hit the road for the relatively short drive to Lyon. We will have you there by 11am so that you may begin your journey home or commence the next leg of your travels. We know you will have had a most amazing two weeks, fallen in love with France and be justifiably proud of all that you have achieved. We truly hope (and believe) that this will not be your last cycling tour in Europe with Bubba s Cycling Tours.