Fusion Cycles Tour De France Trip 8-15 July 2012

 

 

A Week in the Alps

Sunday 8th – Sunday 15th July 2012

Fusion Cycles has partnered with Bikestyle Tours to bring you one of the most popular, cyclists trips of the Tour de France, The Week in the Alps.

TRIP DETAILS:
Duration: 8 days (7 nights)
Dates: Sunday 8th July to Sunday 15th July
Start and Finish: Lyon Airport (LYS) or Moutiers Salins Train Station
Accommodation: Courchevel Chalets
Group Size: Maximum 15 people.
Cost: AUD$2995.00
Deposit: AUD $1000.00
Note: All trip costs are per person, not including airfare and based on two persons per room.

Highlights:

One Location

See 3 Stages Live

Great Riding in the Alps

Who is this trip for:

The Week in the Alps itinerary is a cyclists trip that will excite anyone who likes to climb mountains. This trip is based in one location for the entire time and travels out each day to ride and watch the race.

This trip has a heavy emphasis on riding and climbing many of the famous climbs as well as seeing the Tour de France. It has a nice mix of race watching (with three stage viewings) combined with days away from the race to ride your bike.

The trip is geared to suit anyone with an interest in cycling who wants to see the biggest of the Grand Tours, the Tour de France. This (and riding our bikes) is our main focus for the trip.

The trip caters for cyclists of all abilities by providing riding options each day. The below itinerary is the ‘maximum’ riding you can do, but if you want to do half days of cycling and then lunch and wine and wandering in the local villages, this will definitely be an option!

To enjoy this trip you don’t need to be an athlete, but do need to be someone who cycles regularly and is capable of riding mountains. We ride on quiet scenic roads and where possible we ride on the race course ahead of the race. You’ll be guided by our expert team of ride leaders (including Matt and Craig from Fusion), drivers and guides.

 

As this trip is for a maximum of 15 people, we will be able to customise the itinerary depending on the group.  Please contact Chelsie on Chelsie@fusioncycles.com.au  or mobile 0401 969 317 for any enquiries.

 

Itinerary

Sunday 8th July: Bonjour

The start of your fantastic week in the Northern Alps. You will be collected from either Lyon Airport (LYS) at 3pm or Moutiers Salins Train Station.
On arrival at your chalet in the Courchevel valley you will meet the team, discuss the week ahead and get settled in.

The first job will be to assemble your bike. Staff will be available to assist if you have any problems.
Tonight there is a welcome meeting and dinner where you can meet the staff who will be looking after you on the trip and of course your fellow travellers with whom you will be spending the next week.

Welcome meeting at 1800pm for all guests.
Dinner and wine in the evening at your chalet at 1900pm

Monday 9th July: A Warm Up Ride

This will be your first Guided Ride day with the team.  We have found from experience that most cyclists want to have a short ride to shake out the cobwebs. So to break your legs in gently, we will be riding in the local, Vanoise area and never to far from the chalet. There will be varying distances and climbs for different abilities, so everyone should have a great first day.

Back at the chalet, you’ll be welcomed with afternoon tea to re-fuel you for the week ahead.

Breakfast 0800 until 0900am
Afternoon tea at the chalet
Dinner and wine in the evening at the chalet at 1930pm

Tuesday 10th July: Ride the Cormet de Roseland

Your second Guided Ride day will see you riding the Cormet de Roseland, as the TDF riders did in 2009. The Cormet de Roselend is just under 2000 metres at the summit is a beautiful and challenging climb. The north side is particularly scenic with a huge alpine lake at 1,600 metres. It has appeared more than a half dozen times in the Tour de France, first in 1979, when the Dutchman Henk Lubberding crossed the summit in front. On your way up you’ll get some great views of Mont Blanc if it’s a clear day.

We will head to Bourg St Maurice either by bike or bus, before beginning the ascent over this alpine pass and down into Beaufort (the home of our local cheese), before heading back to Albertville to jump on the coach. The ride from the chalet to Albertville is just over 110 kilometres while the ride from Bourg St Maurice will make 60 kilometres.

Starting from Bourg Saint Maurice, the Cormet de Roselend is 1967m and the ascent is 19.35 km long. Over this distance, you climb 1154 metres with an average percentage of 6 %.

Afternoon tea is waiting at the chalet on your return.

Breakfast 0730 until 0830am
Afternoon tea at the chalet
Dinner and wine in the evening at the chalet at 1930pm

Wednesday 11th July: See the Race on Grand Colombier

We head to Aix-les-Bains in the morning and ride to the stage course. Cyclists will ride along the beautiful lake of Lac du Bourget and can find a place on the climb of Col du Grand Colombier, the highest climb of 1505m, to watch your first stage visit of the week. Awesome scenery to go with a spectacular race!!!!!

Starting from Culoz, the Col du Grand Colombier (1505m) ascent is 18.3 km long. Over this distance, you climb 1255 metres with an average percentage of 6.9 %. It is a classic alpine climb with stunning views and a good surface with prolonged periods at 10-14%, so be ready for it!

The race will be preceded by the caravane with all of it’s noise and colour, then the stream of official cars and motorbikes carrying journalists and officials and then finally the race! They will be spread out when they pass with the GC Contenders up front and then a steady stream of riders until the grupetto arrives sometime later. This group will contain the sprinters just trying to get through to fight another day and the workers who have done their job down on the roads leading to the climb.

After we have seen the race we will descend down for our transfer back to Courchevel.

Breakfast 0730 until 0830am
Dinner and wine in the evening at the chalet 1930pm.

Thursday, 12 July 2012: See the Race, Col de la Madeleine

On what promises to be a tough and spectacular day for the riders, you will get to climb the Col de la Madeleine, the Serpentine of the Alps. A 28km climb, rising to 1993m, it is a real challenge and a great achievement and on a clear day has views across to Mont Blanc.

For our ride today we will descend the short distance from our chalet to the base of the Col de la Madeleine where you can climb up to the top, then descend back to find a good spot, enjoy the caravan and watch the riders fight it out!

Col de la Madeleine is a very hard climb, and a long one. In the Tour de France it is rated HC, or beyond categorization, a designation reserved for only the toughest cols. It is certainly one of the hardest ascents in the area! The Col de la Madeleine ascent is 28.28 km long. Over this distance, you climb 1533 metres with an average percentage of 5.4 %.

After we have seen the race we will descend down to the base with the option of a transfer or a ride back to Courchevel.

Breakfast 0700 until 0800am
Chalet night off, so we will suggest local restaurants etc for dinner this evening

Friday 13th July: See the Start in St Jean de Maurienne

Today, we will take you to St Jean de Maurienne to watch the stage start, as the TDF riders head away from the Alps. Enjoy the carnival atmosphere, do some “rider spotting” and get those cameras snapping!!!!

We’ll see close up the amazing event that Le Tour has become with the departure of the caravane, the riders arriving to sign on for the day and the loyal French fans who will be out in force today and adding the local flavour.

After we see the riders depart we will be back on the bikes for our ride home. It’s a touch over 100 kilometres if we ride through the valley to Albertville and then Moutiers before finally climbing up to Courchevel (2000 metres). Starting from Brides les Bains, the Courchevel ascent is 21.74 km long. Over this distance, you climb 1420 metres with an average percentage of 6.5 %.

Or it’s 77 kilometres if we ride up the Col de la Madeleine in reverse direction to yesterday’s race, then down to the valley below and onto Moutiers before finally climbing up to Courchevel. From this side is begins at La Chambre with an ascent of 19.05 km long and an average percentage of a leg snapping 8 %. There are a few cafe’s and shops on the way up to rest and gather your composure (if need be!)

Breakfast 0730 until 0830am
Dinner and wine in the evening at the chalet 1930pm

Saturday 14th July: One Last Big Ride

Your final big ride day with the team will take you to the Col des Saisies last used in the 2009 TDF. The Col des Saisies sit at 1650m and a nice climb to finish our week on. The ascent is 14.98 km long. Over this distance, you climb 957 metres with an average percentage of 6.4 %.

From the chalet it’s a ride of nearly 100 kilometres or you may choose to take the bus to the base and ride from there making a ride of around 40 kilometres.

Afternoon tea is waiting at the chalet on your return.

Later on it will be time to pack your bikes in preparation for tomorrow’s departure.

Tonight we will have our final dinner together and share some stories from your trip through the French Alps.

Breakfast 0730 until 0830am
A farewell dinner and wine in the evening in the chalet.

Sunday 15th July: Departure day

So it’s “farewell” after a great week of cycling!!!

Over the past week you’ve experienced the excitement of the Tour de France up close, challenged yourself over some famous climbs and hopefully had an unforgettable holiday.

Breakfast 0800 until 0900am
The coach for Lyon Airport (LYS) will be departing at 1000am
Moutiers train station drop offs will be confirmed.

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Inclusions
Tour cost is per person twin share and includes:
- Transfers from Lyon Airport (LYS) or Moutiers Salins Train Station on Sunday 8 July
- Transfers to Lyon Airport (LYS) or Moutiers Salins Train Station on Sunday 15 July
- 7 nights accommodation in chalets at Courchevel with excellent hosting
- Breakfast everyday
- 2 course home cooked evening meal with wine on 6 nights
- Maps/routes
- The support, experience and enthusiasm of the team
- 6 days accompanied riding (inc 3 Stage days) with our knowledgeable team
- Transport for Stage days and rides where required
- Safe and secure bike storage and use of tools

 

What’s not included:
- Flights or trains.
- Laundry facilities (although available at a small extra charge)
- Bike hire

See what our clients said about us after the 2011 Tour: Client Comments