Raid Alps Cycling Tour

Day 1

Arrival in Bonne, customized pick up at your arrival location can be arranged. Introduction to the Echappée Cycling Tours staff, go over the schedule, route, safety as you complete the Echappée Cycling Tours, and respond to any questions left unanswered. Gift bags that include an Echappee Cycling Tours cycling jersey, water bottles and road book will be distributed to each guest, and for those who have chosen to rent a bike from Bike Basque, we will assist in setting it up to your specs.

Hotel: Baud****

Day 2

Bonne – Praz sur Arly – 80 km – 2 000m D+

After yesterday’s verbal introduction to your Raid Alps cycling challenge, today, you will enter straight into cycling folklore as you confront the first mythical climb of this trip, the Col de la Colombiere, steep in its second part. Then the rolling ascension of the Col des Avaris will bring your first day in the Alps to a close.

Difficulties:

-Col de la Colombiere (15 km at 7.2%)

-Col des Aravis (7 km at 6.2 %)

Hotel: La Griyotire***

Day 3

Praz sur Arly – Brides-les-Bains – 121 km – 2 600m D+

The Col des Saisies is a great first climb to warm you up for the day’s challenges. It has a good road surface and is long enough to prepare you for the Cormet de Roselend, one of the longer climbs in the Alps. As you pedal along near the top, you will have the chance to admire the fantastic Lake de Roselend, located at approximately 1,600 m of altitude.

Difficulties:

-Col des Saisies (13.4 km at 5.1 %)

-Cormet de Roselend (20 km at 6 %)

Hotel: Le Chalet***

Day 4

Brides-les-Bains – Allemont – 118 km – 3 400m D+

The longest, and most likely, the hardest day of riding of this Raid Alps cycling adventure, you will be pedaling a minimum of 118 km, with 45 kilometers of that total distance dedicated to climbing

Difficulties:

-Col de la Madeleine (25 km at 6 %)

-Col du Glandon (19.5 km at 7.3 %)

Hotel: La Douce Montagne***

Day 5

Allemont – Briançon – 120 km – 3 100m D+

Today’s ride is positively the most legendary of your entire Raid Alps cycling challenge. You will be climbing the 21 famous switchbacks of Alpe d’Huez and you will tackle the Lautaret taking you to the Glandon. Tonight, you will definitely deserve a hearty dinner and good night’s rest!

Difficulties:

-Alpe d’Huez (13.8 km at 7.9 %)

-Col du Lautaret (19.2 km at 4.7 %)

-Col du Galibier (8,6km at 6,7%)

Hotel: Le Vauban***

Day 6

Briançon – Barcelonnette – 113 km – 2 700m D+

The day begins the Izoard and its “Casse Déserte”, a daunting and barren landscape that takes over in the final kilometers of this demanding climb, the day then concludes with the sporadic percent grades of the Col de Vars, so get ready for a few steep sections as you make your way to the top.

Difficulties:

-Col d’Izoard (14 km at 7.3 %)

-Col de Vars (19.1 km at 5.5 %)

Hotel: Azteca***

Day 7

Barcelonnette – Nice – 171 km – 2 500m D+

Welcome to the last day of your Raid Alps adventure. The Mediterranean climate of the Var region means more arid terrain as we pedal along the Med. You will confront one of the highest-paved roads in Europe, your legs will face the long but paced Col de la Cayolle rising above 2 000 m in altitude. The rest of the ride has no significant or extremely long difficulties, but the day will be long, but most of the time downhill, as we make our way to Nice on the beautiful French Riviera, otherwise known as the “Côte d’Azur”.

Difficulties:

-Col de la Cayolle (25 km at 4,2 %)

-Col de St.Raphael (7,4 km at 6 %)

-Ascros (4,3 km at 5,4 %)

Hotel : Villa Victoria****

Day 8

Leaving day: Nice airport is only 20min away from the city center by taxi, or 30min by tram.