Alps Cycling Tour

Barcelona to Bedoin. 5 hours drive. Meeting and sleep at Bedoin.

Stage 1

Bedoin-Mont Ventoux-Gorges de la Nesque-Bedoin 75 km.

If you are into cycling you know what Mont Ventoux means. The stage includes the climb to Mont Ventoux from the steepest and nicest side. Once at the Simpson monument and later at the top (at 1912 mts) we will descend via Chalet Reynard and Sault. The passage through Gorges de la Nesque is one of the top experiences of the whole trip!

Transfer Bedoin-Barcelonette after the stage.

Stage 2

Barcelonette-Barcelonette 122 km (Cayolle, Col des Champs, Allos)

Those are not very known climbs, but we can assure this is probably the toughest stage all over the tour. Three first category climbs over 2000 meters is indeed a demanding tour. Although, as said, they are not very known, probably you won’t forget their names forever.

Stage 3

Barcelonette-La Bonette-Barcelonette 70 km

Same as Ventoux, La Bonette is one of the top climbs in France. It is said to be the highest asphalted road in the Alps, which is not exactly true as in Austria there is some higher road, nevertheless, La Bonette is a myth. For the strongest, you can complete the stage with the additional climb to Pra Loup, which was a Tour de France stage ending in 2015.

Stage 4

Barcelonette- Briançon 106 km (Vars and Izoard)

Very special stage, as Tour de France did a very similar stage in 2017, climbing to Izoard via La Casse Desserte and finishing at the top of Izoard. Probably it was the queen stage on Tour de France 2017.

Stage 5

Briançon-St Jean de Maurienne 85 km

This stage is about Galibier. Galibier is to the Alps same a Tourmalet is to the Pyrenees. Not the steepest, not the highest, but it has everything: cycling history. The neverending climb to Galibier will leave some memories for life. Also, time to visit a couple of monuments along the route. Monument dedicated to Henry Desgrande (on Briançon side), and a monument dedicated to Marco Pantani (on the Valloire side).

Stage 6

St-Jean de Maurienne-St Jean de Maurienne 92 km (Lacets de Montvernier, Glandon).

Lacets de Montvernier was included in Tour de France in 2015 for the first time. Such a discovery! It is certainly one of the most beautiful stretches of roads all over Europe. Amazing.

And then the second climb is Col du Glandon. One of the toughest challenges all over the Alps, especially when we come from a 1^st category climb.

Stage 7

St-Jean de Maurienne- Alpe d’Huez-Bourg d’Oisans 100 km (Croix de Fer, Alpe d’Huez)

The last day is a demanding one. Climbing Croix de Fer is the same road we did yesterday on the way down. We reach again Col du Glandon and then we head towards Bourg d’Oisans to begin the last climb of the trip, and one of the most famous climbs in the Tour de France. Alpe d’Huez is the final climb with 21 hairpin curves, named after every winner at the top the climb in all Tour de France appearances.