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Sept 8 - Vence
We’ll meet your flight at the Nice/Côte d’Azur
airport and transport you to our hotel in Vence. This ancient
walled village, only six miles from the beaches of the Côte
d’Azur, is high enough in the hills to be free of the crush of
beach cruising tourists that can ruin anyone's vacation. We’ll
all be busy assembling bikes, sightseeing, or just relaxing from
our travels, so we offer several suggestions for a quick
shakedown ride before our get-acquainted dinner tonight.
Dinner will be at the hotel overlooking the garden and pool.
Sept 9 - Sospel - 72mi, 6600ft or 72mi, 7500ft
altitude gain
Our grand tour
starts quite casually, as we take a long winding forested road
down the Gorge du Loop to the seacoast. Here we encounter the
only real traffic of the entire tour, necessary for traversing
the city of Nice. However we will take the beautiful coast road
through town and then climb out of town on the high corniche
road. After a visit to the cliff village of Èze we climb the
Col de la Madone, which is Lance Armstrong’s fitness test
climb. From here the road twists relentlessly up the steep
valley to Sospel, a town carefully restored from the damage of
unsuccessful Allied attempts at unseating the German occupants
during the last war. The mind boggles at the immense amount of
scenery we try to absorb fully today, but that will soon be
replaced in the days to come with many more description-defying
panoramas.
Sept 10 - St Martin-Vesubie - 46mi, 6600ft or
76mi, 10,100ft
The region that
we cycle through today is extraordinarily rugged; one wonders
why there are roads here. The proximity to Nice and the
historical trade routes (especially the salt route) have over
time encouraged and sustained a number of small villages.
Because of their remoteness they were relatively safe from
pirates and marauding armies; over the course of time, they were
connected by small roads. These roads are cut into the sides of
mountains and cliffs, snaking and winding from village to
village, over passes, and down steep gorges. On a bike tour
that probably has more curves and switchbacks than any other
bike tour anywhere, today is one of constant switchbacks,
impressive views, and nonstop fun.
Sept 11 - Barcelonette - 72mi, 9400ft
At 9000 feet,
the Col de la Bonette is the highest paved pass in Europe, and
the single longest climb, starting at sea level in Nice some 65
miles away. After an early morning cruise up the Col de St
Martin, we start the big climb at the 1600ft elevation mark,
with 33 miles and 7400ft of cycling to the top. Words cannot
describe the impressive views and amazing scenery of the upper
reaches of this pass. It is as if we are cycling through the
heavens. Not to be forgotten is the great descent to
Barcelonnette, a year-round resort town.
Sept 12 - Barcelonette loop - 77mi, 10,700ft
After the past
two tough days of cycling, today might be a good day for a rest,
but hold on to your handlebar tape, because we have an amazing
ride in store. Three big passes await us, the Col d’Allos, the
Col des Champs, and the Col de la Cayolle. One might recognize
these names from past Tour de France stages, and these climbs
are considered leg breakers even for the pros. This area is so
beautiful, that any unused film in your camera will be long gone
by the time we coast back to our hotel.
Sept 13 - Barcelonette
- Rest day or Loop ride
Sept 14 - Orpierre - 83mi 5600ft
We start the
day with a gradual 13 mile descent, and soon thereafter we turn
back into the mountains on a very narrow road. Most of the
remaining day is spent on similar roads as we ride through a
remote and beautiful area of northern Provence. We will have a
preview of the brilliant fall colors that will be just beginning
when we cross the broad expanse of the Durance river valley.
Back into the hills again, our views of tall mountains will be
replaced by sheer cliffs, beneath which the tiny settlement of
Orpierre lies.
Sept 15 - Vaison-la-Romaine - 73mi, 7300ft, or
75mi, 4800ft
More of the
little roads that we seem to be able to enjoy all to ourselves
lead us over a few more minor passes to a well advised lunch
stop in Sault; here starts the climb of the giant of Provence,
le Mont Ventoux. Over the next two days we will have the
opportunity to climb Mont Ventoux twice more. Today we climb
from the east, which is considered the easiest of the three
routes up the mountain. The long descent to Vaison will be a
just reward. Vaison is a town well worth exploring, so after a
dip in the pool, be sure to leave some time for walking about.
From Sault the easier route descends the Gorge de la Nesque.
This is not only a very beautiful gorge, it is also a 20km,
winding, gradual descent, perfect for an exhilarating, high
speed pace line.
Sept 16 - Vaison-la-Romaine - 62mi, 7300ft
Today we will
tackle Mont Ventoux from the south; perhaps the hardest climb in
the Alps. First, however, we will have a scenic warm-up as we
follow the Route du Vin around the Dentelles, a mountain range
resembling the pointy edges of fine lace work, to Bedoin and the
start of the climb. The constant 10% to 13% climbing with no
relief is very difficult and will make the battle between Lance
and Marco in the 2000 Tour de France even more awe inspiring.
But since we still have another chance to climb the mountain
tomorrow, this might be a good day to relax by the pool, ride to
a nearby village for lunch, visit a winery, browse the local
markets, in other words, totally immerse yourself in the
Provençal lifestyle.
Sept 17 - Forcalquier - 68mi, 7000ft, or 80mi,
7200ft
This is our last chance to climb this great
mountain of Provence, from either the west side or the south
side. Be sure to visit the Tommy Simpson memorial, the tribute
to a great rider, who died at that spot from mixing drugs with
the all-out competition of the Tour de France. We will have
lunch again in Sault, before we ride across the Plateau de
Vaucluse. The sweet smell of lavender may still linger in the
air from the recently harvested fields and the loaded tractor
trucks piled high with the cut flowers.
Sept 18 - Digne-les-Bains - 75mi, 7200ft, or 63mi,
4100ft
There is a big
climb ahead, so a quick stop at the patisserie would be a good
idea. This time of year early morning fog is very common in the
lowlands. As we climb out of town along the ridge top, the
views of distant mountains bathed in a sea of fog can be quite
breathtaking if the climbing doesn’t consume it all. Over the
Pas de la Graille and a winding descent bring us to Sisteron and
an early lunch. From here we venture into a very remote area as
we climb through a series of three high valleys, followed by a
rip-roaring descent into Digne-les-Bains. In this town settled
a remarkable French woman, who spent her lifetime exploring in
Tibet; she called Digne her ‘Himalayas in miniature’.
Sept 19 - Castellane - 34mi, 3700ft, or 49mi,
4400ft, or 63mi, 4700ft, or 82mi, 7500ft
Ever faithful
to our theme of tiny roads in remote areas, today’s ride will
present a great array of routes. We will be zigzagging up and
down five mountain valleys. The mountains are not huge and the
passes between valleys will not be too challenging, but the area
is beautiful and the riding will easily be better than anything
back home. It should be noted that the short route is the route
that Napoleon took between Castellane and Digne on his return to
France from exile on the island of Elba.
Sept 20 - Castellane - 68mi, 8700ft
For sheer,
staggering, awe inspiring, scenic beauty, today ‘s ride is
probably the best. The Grand Canyon du Verdon is one of the
most impressive natural wonders of Europe, yet it was not
discovered until 1905. Of course the locals knew it well, but
its remoteness kept it hidden from the world. Agriculturally
useless, and almost inaccessible, the 13 mile canyon has sheer
limestone cliffs 1000 to 3000 ft high and less than one half
mile apart. Shortly after leaving Castellane we enter the
narrow canyon, we then climb the north side of the canyon and at
la Palud we take a side loop along the edge of the cliffs, which
takes us to the highest point along the canyon. We then descend
to the end of the canyon, cross the river and climb back to the
top and follow the southern edge until it finally descends back
to the river. A gradually climbing valley takes us to a small
pass and a tight little gorge that finally spills out into
Castellane, one of our favorite villages which has become base
for a myriad of outdoor activities.
Sept 21 - Valberg - 83mi, 8700ft, or 66mi, 8000ft
Again keeping
to our theme of small roads, today we take some doozies. In
really remote places, these little roads can become even smaller
and more treacherous, serving up some 16% to 19% climbs on the
easy route!!! On the long route there will be no Van support,
as it will have to drive around. However this morning’s ride
will be one of the most fun of the entire tour. One can easily
forget that someone had to build all these roads through the
Alps, but riding up the Gorge de Daluis we are reminded that
someone had to put this road here, as it winds through and
around the dark red cliffs. Tonight’s stop is in the ski-resort
town of Valberg.
Sept 22 - Vence - 69mi, 4500ft, or 90mi, 5500ft
This is our
last day of riding, and what a day it is, some of the best
scenery of the whole tour. After a short descent past Beuil
(pastry, anyone?), we enter the Gorges du Cians. The vertical
cliff walls are so tight that the sun rarely shines on our road,
but the intense red color of the rock gives an eerie glow to our
rapid descent. After crossing the Var River one might notice
that the vegetation is changing from dry mountain plants to a
more tropical nature. Here the climate is warmer and more
humid; we definitely are getting close to the Mediterranean and
the end of our trail. Our last major climb tops out on a ridge,
high above the Var behind us, and the steep hills that plunge
into the sea before us. After a very long gradual descent, we
eventually climb up the Col du Vence. One last all-too-quick
and screaming descent, we are at the hotel in Vence, where we’ll
pack up and enjoy our last dinner together.
Sept 23 - Departure
– Van transport provided to the Nice airport or train station.
COST $2600 per person based on Double Occupancy
$500 Single Supplement
INCLUDES
·2-3 star Hotel Accommodations ·
·Breakfast daily (except arrival day) ·Dinner daily (except one night and arrival/departure
days)
·Airport transfers from/to Nice airport
·Bike mechanic and van
support with cellular phone
·Ground transportation for all passengers, luggage & bikes
·Regional map plus detailed daily route maps & cue sheets
NOT INCLUDED
·International airfare
·Tips, gratuities, laundry, telephone, & items of a personal
nature
·Lunches and alcoholic beverages (a supplemental fee will be
charged for those who want wine with dinner, and can be prepaid
before departure)
PRE-TRIP PLANNING
A complete trip packet will be sent upon receipt of your final payment, including tour t-shirt, hotel lists, maps, and luggage tags. Our guidebook containing
information on what to bring, how to pack your bike for flying, equipment list, and changing currencies, will be sent upon receipt of your secondary deposit (due by March 1). All participants must possess a current passport.
TRAVEL
INSURANCE Erickson Cycle Tours strongly recommends purchasing insurance for trip cancellation, injury, illness, and loss of effects. A traveler's insurance brochure will be included in your confirmation letter.
AIRFARE We offer the
services of our travel agent, Claus Claussen of Des Peres Travel in obtaining economical, expedient air reservations, and we can assist with lodging for pre- and post-tour plans. For flight information, contact Des Peres Travel at
1.800.264.7717, or dptravel@primary.net. If you prefer, you may use the services of your own travel agent.
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