Bike Weekender

This 4-day weekend has a very short airport transfer and full vehicle support for each day’s ride, giving you the most cycling possible over a short break.

You’ll be riding at least 6 famous Tour de France cols, on quiet, smooth Alpine roads, with stunning views in every direction.
It’s a challenging and rewarding weekend featuring world-class riding through beautiful Alpine landscape.

Our ‘Classic’ weekends are designed to give you a varied selection of the best riding to be found in the region.

We set a fixed itinerary for rides based on the make-up of each group, but for each day there is often flexibility to ride longer or shorter route versions.

The Tour de France is a regular visitor to this region; the Col de la Colombière, Col des Aravis and Col de la Forclaz featured once more in the 2016 edition, and in 2018 one of the stages finished in Le Grand Bornand, in the heart of the Aravis. In 2020 the Tour will be passing by our front door yet again!

Though it’s not just for the pros, it’s a popular region for amateur cyclists to tackle Alpine climbs; our Bike Weekender route folder is filled with rides of all lengths and challenge.

Each day you can cycle from the door of your base on a circular ride covering as many cols as your legs can take! Each evening we’ll discuss options for the next day’s cycling to help you select the best routes for your group. A typical ride in this region could be between 60km – 90km with anywhere between 1,500 and 3,000 metres of climbing. As you’ll be riding independently there’s no time pressure; you can take all day (including a leisurely lunch enroute), find your pace and just take in the stunning scenery of the French Alps in summer.

After each ride, you’ll be relaxing and recovering at your base accommodation. Within easy reach of both Le Grand Bornand and La Clusaz, there’s plenty to keep you busy when not riding.

Tick-off some legendary Tour de France cols with a challenging and rewarding itinerary designed to make the most of these rugged mountains.
From our base we can ride up or down the valley to access the main climbs and cols. We stay in a very comfortable and friendly Auberge hotel in the traditional high-mountain village of La Grave.

All our weekends are designed to give you the best riding possible in 4 days and to mix challenge with enjoyment. It’s not a training camp; we want you to enjoy the rides and scenery and not just be fixed on the tarmac!

Our ‘Classic’ weekends are designed to give you a varied selection of the best riding to be found in the region. We set a fixed itinerary for rides each day.

Rolling hills, quiet roads, beautiful scenery and the fabled sunshine of the South… these are the ingredients that make Provence and the Mont Ventoux region such a superb destination, and one of our favourite cycling holiday locations.

Imagine a long weekend spent riding amongst vineyards and olive groves, passing through historic villages perched on hill tops and taking in scenic gorges, rolling hills and great climbs too. The region of Provence and the Ventoux really does have something for everyone.

Our short breaks are designed to be the most convenient and hassle-free road cycling holidays – we will ensure that with 2 days off work, you enjoy 4 days of relaxing and fun cycling.
We look after everything – so you just need to turn up to Marseille airport on Thursday evening and be ready to ride!

Although the riding in Provence is not as challenging as that in the Alps, our rides and routes include some good climbing and varied terrain to suit all levels.

And of course don’t forget the mighty Mont Ventoux, one of the most famous cycling ascents in the world… enough to provide a stiff challenge for even the most experienced riders!

The rides are not just about cols and climbing (although we will be still ticking a few off during the weekend); we’ll explore the region and take time to end our rides at places such as St Tropez. With our full vehicle support, you can change out of your lycra and join the celebs in town, or just let us take you to the best beach for a refreshing swim before heading back to our base.

To celebrate the Tour de France coming through the region, we have devised a special itinerary for you, to ensure that you experience the best the area has to offer, whilst getting in on the Tour action, on what are usually some of the most exciting and decisive stages of the Tour.

You’ll be riding at least 6 famous Tour de France cols, on quiet, smooth Alpine roads. It’s a challenging and rewarding weekend featuring world-class riding through beautiful Alpine scenery.

You’ll stay at our home base, the Aravis Lodge, a comfortable home away from home in the centre of the traditional Alpine village of Saint Jean de Sixt.

As well as delicious, hearty food, you’ll find great bike facilities and dedicated service from our resident team.

This 4-day holiday has a very short airport transfer from Geneva, and full vehicle support for each day’s ride, giving you the most cycling possible.

Each day we’ll head out on the scheduled ride after breakfast at the Lodge. Lunch (not included in the package) is taken at cafés / restaurants along the ride route.

After each ride, there’ll be afternoon tea back at the Lodge, whilst watching the closing miles of that day’s Tour de France stage on TV (in English!) and a chance to relax before a 3-course evening meal, with wine.
All rides are accompanied by our friendly and knowledgeable support team in the minibus, who will be equipped with plenty of drinks and snacks, spares, along with any gear you don’t want to carry, and shouting encouragement along the way.

They can also give you a ride back to base if the legs give up, allowing you to simply enjoy the experience.