Enjoy epic climbs, thrilling descents and exquisite, ever-changing scenery. The Alps form the bedrock of cycling history, home to iconic mountains where the world’s best cyclists have become household names. Start the ride on the shores of Lake Annecy. Make your own slice of history on the slopes of the Semnoz, the Madeleine, the Croix du Fer, the Glandon, the Telegraph and the Galibier as you ride south to finish in style at the summit of Alpe d’Huez.
Share the tour with our expert Eat Sleep Cycle ride leaders, experienced riders from all walks of life united by a love of cycling, who’ll help keep the group safe, motivated and savouring the trip of a lifetime. Their knowledge of the routes and region are an incredible aset to this tour, so ask them anything!
Stay in fantastic locations along the route, such as Les Trésoms Spa and Lake Resort in Lake Annecy, Le Beausoleil in La Toussuire and Hotel Grandes Rousses in Alpe d’Huez. Start each day with a breakfast buffet at the hotel to fuel up for an epic day of riding, then enjoy a time-efficient lunch served by the support team and stay energised all day with ride nutrition from the support vehicle. This is an all-inclusive, fully supported tour, so all you have to think about is enjoying your ride!
Rated 3 out of 4 our Advanced tours are designed for people who ride regularly and want back to back challenging days on the bike. Riders should be confident riding in a small group, comfortable on extended climbs (at your own pace) and have good bike handling skills on corners and descents. E-bikes are available on all of our tours.
Welcome to France! Meet your guides at Grenoble train station and take a 90 min transfer to Lake Annecy. Head out on a warm-up ride and the first Col of the tour: the Col de Leschaux. Spend the night in the 4* Les Trésoms Spa and Lake Resort, boasting spectacular views in of Lake Annecy. The medieval city centre of Annecy is a 15-minute stroll away.
On the cards for day 2 is a point to point 87-km ride from Lake Annecy to Albertville. Today’s highlights include Semnoz (16 km, 1150 m, 7% av.) and the Col du Frene (12 km, 300 m, 3% av.). Spend the night at the Hotel Million, a wonderful 1770 bourgeois house transformed into a traditional French hotel.
Day 3 brings another point to point ride from Albertville to La Toussuire including two spectacular climbs, Col de la Madeleine (25 km, 1,600 m, 6% av.) and La Toussuire (19 km, 1,100 m, 5.5% av.). Spend the evening and night at Le Beausoleil, a traditional chalet-style accommodation in the village of La Toussuire. Enjoy a warm welcome & seasonal produce at the restaurant.
On day 4, prepare for another point to point ride from La Toussuire to Bourg-d’Oisans. Conquer the Col du Télégraphe (11 km, 800 m, 7% av.) and the Col du Galibier (18 km, 1,200 m, 7% av.) recurrently the highest point of the Tour de France. Spend the night at the Hotel Grandes Rousses, a fabulous hotel on the top of Alpe d’Huez. Unwind in the spa, enjoy surf and turf cuisine at the restaurant and enjoy a nightcap at the bar.
On the final day of riding, day 6, take on the mighty Alpe d’Huez (15 km, 1,147 m, 8% av.) and its 21 hairpin bends! Drink in the breath-taking views and enjoy the magnificent descent. Spend a final night at the 4* Hotel Grandes Rousses.
Enjoy a final breakfast at the hotel before departing from the Alps. There will be a group transfer to Grenoble train station, which takes around one hour. Bon voyage!
FULL SUPPORT
Enjoy full ride support from our professional guide team & support vehicle.
The ride support vehicle is stocked with natural ride nutrition, electrolytes and water, as well as a full set of tools to resolve any mechanicals. On selected days the support crew will serve a delicious picnic lunch in a scenic location en route. Enjoy local foods chosen to keep you feeling energized and healthy.
Eat Sleep Cycle guides are experienced riders from all walks of life united by a love of cycling who’ll help to keep the group safe, motivated and savouring the trip of a lifetime.
All guests will receive access to our digital Road Book and routes, giving everyone the flexibility to ride at their own pace.
Hotels shown are examples and are subject to change
Soak up spectacular views in this beautiful hotel on the shores of Lake Annecy. The medieval city centre of Annecy is a 15 min stroll away.
Stay in a bourgeois house from 1770 turned traditional French hotel.
Relax in traditional chalet-style accommodation in the village of La Toussuire. Enjoy a warm welcome & seasonal produce at the restaurant.
A fabulous hotel on the top of Alpe d’Huez. Unwind in the spa, enjoy surf & turf cuisine at the restaurant & enjoy a nightcap at the bar.
The Filante SLR is an extremely lightweight aerodynamic bicycle used by World Tour team Astana. Enjoy a Shimano Ultegra Di2 groupset and DT Swiss ERC 1400 wheelset.
A comfortable e-road bike with a lightweight carbon frameset and a clean-cut design featuring fully integrated cable routing. The Garda Hybrid uses the proven and reliable Mahle X35+ drive unit with 250 Wh motor inserted in the rear hub while the battery is housed in the down tube. The groupset is Shimano 105 Di2. The Garda has an autonomy of 1,000-2,000m of elevation, or constant use 1.5-2hrs – it’s possible to rent a range extender to double the range for an additional fee.
The Wilier Filante SL guarantees a first-class weight, a precise ride and a great aesthetic clarity thanks to the integrated cables. Carbon Monocoque frame with full internal cable routing Electronic Shimano 105 Di2 shifting Carbon wheels Chainrings: 50/34, Cassette: 11-34
The ultimate bike for climbers. The Diamante features a lightweight fully integrated frameset, a Shimano Ultegra Di2 groupset and a carbon ERC 1400 wheelset from DT Swiss. The Diamante has gearing for climbing – a 50/34 chainset and an 11-34 cassette.
An endurance all-road bike that increases versatility with features that lean closer to gravel. Enojy a comfortable performance carbon frameset, an electronic SRAM Force AXS groupset and a MicroTech RE38 Carbon wheelset. 48/35 chainrings and 10-36 cassette
Gethyn is from Wales but has been living in Catalonia for 14 years, and having found a quiet spot in the forest not far from Girona, he has no intention of leaving. Gethyn’s been a part of the ESC team since the early days and loves the job. He rides road and gravel with friends and MTB with his dog.
The soaring peaks and deep green valleys of the Alps stretch north from the French coast through northern Italy and beyond. Best experienced in summer, these dramatic landscapes are home to legendary climbs such as the Passo Stelvio, The Passo Mortirolo and the Passo Gavia in Italy, and the Col du Télégraphe, Col du Galibier, Col de la Madeleine and the Alpe d’Huez in France, many of which are commonly featured in the Tour de France.
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