Classic Cols Weekend

Ride the legendary climbs of the Tour de France

This ride is soaked in cycling history. The route, similar to that of the renowned Marmotte Cyclosportive, winds through the spectacular scenery of the Dauphiné Alps, taking in many of the ‘grand classics’ where the heroes of the Tour de France have suffered and triumphed: Col de la Croix de Fer, Col du Galibier and the fabled ascent to Alp d'Huez are all on the itinerary.

' Memorable… good accommodation, great food and drink, and quality on the road support.' - Timothy Jensen, Associate Director, Global Banking, HSBC Bank plc

If you can tear your eyes away from the tarmac, where the names of the pros are painted in bold at every twist and switchback, you will enjoy mile after mile of magnificent scenery – from classic Alpine lakes and dark forests, to meadows of wild flowers and the jagged peaks of Les Aiguilles d’Arves. It certainly inspired the editor of Pro Cycling – read his feature.

Friday

Arrive at Geneva airport in the afternoon or evening. You will be met and driven in a shuttle to Huez en Oisans: transfer time approx. 3 hours. Unpack bikes and gather for dinner.

Saturday - Huez en Oisans to Valloires 114km

We depart Huez en Oisans, heading towards Col de la Croix de Fer (2067m). It can be hard to distinguish, in superlatives, between one Alpine pass and the next, but the road up to Col de la Croix de Fer takes some beating for beauty. There is a short diversion to take in Col du Glandon (1924m) before reaching the summit, where the likes of Gino Bartali, Fausto Coppi and Bernard Hainault have all summited in yellow. We head down and back up to the Col du Mollard (1638m), before a steep, technical descent to the historic, market town of St Jean de Maurienne. The day is not done, however: there is still the tough, 12km climb to reach the communication towers on Col du Télégraphe (1566m), before a brief descent to reach the overnight stop in the small ski-village, Valloires.

Sunday - Valloires to Alpe d'Huez 65km

After a leisurely breakfast, we depart from Valloires and head 17.5 km up, to reach the ‘ceiling of the Tour’, the mighty Col du Galibier (2645m). The summit views are, naturally, superb. Henri Desgranges, the founder of the Tour, famously described all mountains as ‘pale and vulgar babies’ compared to Galibier. On the long, fast descent we pass the monument to Desgranges. We continue the descent to reach Col du Lauteret (2058m), on the geographical fault line between the northern Rhone-Alps and the Provence-Alps region. It’s a further 38km, down the valley, to the foot of the last climb of the day – the mythical ascent to Alpe d'Huez.

This 13.8 km climb – average gradient 7.9%, with sections of 14% – is almost as iconic of the Tour de France as the Yellow Jersey. Coppi won the stage when it was first included in 1952, after a legendary race with French rider, Jean Robic. It has been included in the Tour almost every year since 1976, and the 21 hairpin bends are named after the stage winners. The ascent is even timed – Marco Pantani holds the record: 37mins 35secs in 1997 – so you can measure yourself against the greats.

From Alpe d’Huez, we descend back down to Huez en Oisans for a well-deserved drink and dinner, as the alpenglow illuminates the mountains.

Monday

Breakfast and pack before transferring to the airport, for flights departing Geneva from 1.00pm onwards.