1: 2012 - Tour de France 2012 - 6days/5nts (Alps)
The Alps,the TDF & Mont Ventoux!
If you're hungry to see some great mountain stages of the Tour de France up close and want to ride your bike too, then this trip is just for you. This small group experience follows the Tour de France in the exciting Alps stages, and includes Alpe d'Huez and Mont Ventoux.
Itinerary
Day 1: Sunday 8th July 2012 - arrival day
Our tour starts today with our staff meeting you at Grenoble Railway Station and transferring you to the hotel, and home for 5 nights. Your afternoon will be free to explore Grenoble, and to have your bike set up & maybe a short ride to move those legs!
Overnight: Grenoble - Park Hotel
Meals: Welcome dinner
Day 2: Monday 9th July 2012
Today we will the opportunity to ride on the 2011 Time trail course. Departing our hotel either on bikes or in the vans, we'll work our way towards the beautiful Alps, and the amazing rides that she offers. Tonight is free.
Overnight: Grenoble - Park Hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Day 3: Tuesday 10th July 2012
An early breakfast before we depart for the small town of Rochetailles, which is located just 10kms before the base of L'Alpe d'Huez. It's time for you to experience the 'ride of your life' and give it all on this famous Tour de France climb. Alpe d'Huez is one of the great climbs of the Alps and was first climbed by the Tour de France peloton in 1952.
As you cycle the 14 kilometres, 21 hairpins & 1,100 vertical metres to the finish at the top of the mountain, the climb can be broken down into three stages. The first part of the climb is the steepest with gradients above 10% for the first six hairpins until the hamlet of La Garde. The gradient then eases to around 8% after hairpin 16, with the hairpins being more spread out for the following six kilometres. There are only five hairpins left and after hairpin four, the gradient steepens to 11% for a kilometre before easing to 9%. Once you reach the village of Alpe d'Huez, the final 2kms to the finishing line ease to around 5%. What an experience!
After the arrival of each of our cyclists, there will be time for lunch and a wander around this beautiful ski village. The views are absolutely fantastic, and the ride down the mountain makes you fully appreciate the gradients and distance of the infamous Alpe d'Huez climb that you just completed. We'll regroup and make our way by bike (or van) to our hotel in Grenoble.)
Overnight: Grenoble - Park Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Day 4: Wednesday 11th July 2012
Today we will see a part of the Tour de France as it makes its way into the Alps. We'll drive to a starting point and then cycle to intersect the race, possibly in a small rural town, where the buzz and excitement of the tour passing by will be electric. Mountain passes and finishes are always great to experience. Its then off on the bikes back to the hotel, or in the vans… Tonight is free.
Overnight: Grenoble - Park Hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Day 5: Thursday 12th July 2012
Today sees another opportunity to view the pro peloton doing what they do best - chasing the yellow into mountain climbs. Who will be leading and how many Aussies are still in the tour? Hopefully we will be able to see some good breakaway groups today, making our roadside adventure exciting. It's then a cycle back to the vans and back to the hotel in Grenoble. Tonight is free.
Overnight: Grenoble - Park Hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Day 6: Friday 13th July 2012
After breakfast, we will depart our Grenoble base and prepare ourselves for the ride of our life. We'll drive south to the small town of Bedoin, (Provence) where you will take on the famous 'Mont Ventoux' (completing a 60km loop).
Probably the second most famous climb in the world after Alpe d'Huez, Mont Ventoux is a magnet for cyclists and stands over 1600 metres or a vertical mile above the Provence countryside. Your ride is the same route that the Tour de France and Dauphine Libere use when riding the mountain. It will be a great day in the saddle, before driving through to Montpellier for our last night (and the first night for those joining our 2nd Tour de France tour.)
Tonight we can celebrate over a cold beer & good food and get ready for the next 10 days through the Pyrenees.
Overnight: Montpellier - Pullman Hotel - Accommodation not included (unless joining our next tour) but can be arranged)
Meals: Breakfast, Farewell dinner
Day 7: Saturday 14th July
For those of you who are leaving us today, farewell and thank you for joining us in France. . For those joining our Tour 2, get ready for the Pyrenees Adventure
Package Includes
- 6 days (5 nights) - centre based - NO moving until last day.
- from: Sunday 8th July to Friday 13th July 2012
- Start: Grenoble - Finish: Montpellier
- Accommodation: 4 star hotel - The Park Hotel, Grenoble
- Group Size: Maximum 15 people (3 Staff)
- Cost: AUD$3375.00 - Single Supplement AUD$895.00
- Deposit: AUD $1000.00
Note: All trip costs are per person, do not include airfare and based on two persons per room.
Tour cost is per person twin share and includes:
- 3 experienced tour guides / driver including French speaking
- Arrival transfers on day 1
- 5 night's accommodation in a quality 4 star hotel
- Buffet breakfast daily
- 3 evening meals
- Guided rides each day
- Transportation / support vehicles
Contact David Hull now on 03 5974 2951 or email david@adventure-travel.com.au