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Challenging Cycling Tours In Europe

Biking In The French Alps. What Is The Best Month?

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Some Tips And Opinions On When To Go, What to Consider and How to Plan Your Bike Tour in The French Alps.

riding in the alps

So you’d like to go biking in the French Alps and you’re wondering what month would be best to plan your bike tour? We often recommend the month of June. Here are a few of our ideas and opinions why:

  • The available season is relatively short due to many of the famous mountain passes being closed due to snow during the late fall, winter and early spring.
  • Depending on what passes you’d like to ride, this can determine when you should go. For example, if climbing the Col du Galibier is essential during your trip, you shouldn’t really plan on going before June. In May, for example, you might be able to ride most of the way up, but the last few kilometers will probably still be covered in snow or even if not, the road might be closed due to avalanche danger. Play it safe and don’t ride past the barriers, even if the road appears to be ok. Or play it even safer and plan your visit for the summer.
  • Alternatively, climbing Alpe d’Huez is possible almost all year, because the road leads to the ski resort and therefore is frequently cleared of snow. Not that you’d necessarily want to climb it in the middle of winter, but if you are traveling in the spring or fall, you can feel pretty confident that the road will be open for you to ride. Be prepared though for dramatic changes in temperature as well as the onset of a heavy storm. These are the mountains, so you should always be prepared for all weather conditions, no matter what time of year.
  • If your goals include several different alpine passes, a bunch of the famous Tour de France climbs, and covering a bit of ground, as we do in our Bike Tour in the French Alps, you might want to consider the month of June. Of course the weather can be good in July and August, although noticeably warmer. You will also have to contend with the peak tourism season and the Tour de France. Keep in mind that most of Europe will be on vacation in August, so road traffic will be at its fullest and accommodations will be at a premium. July is synonymous with the Tour de France. If you’re not trying to see the race, you should plan accordingly to avoid the massive crowds. Of course if you are trying to watch the Tour, here are a few of our tips to watch the Tour de France in person.
  • If June just doesn’t fit your schedule, we’d recommend September as well. The summer crowds have left, the weather is still very nice and the snow should still be at least a few weeks away.
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French Alps Bike Tour: Climbing Alpe d’Huez

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English: Picture of Marco Pantani on the way t...
English: Picture of Marco Pantani on the way to Alpe d’Huez 1997 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Alpe d’Huez: the name alone is virtually synonymous with the Tour de France. When cyclists think of France and its legendary cycling routes, inevitably Alpe d’Huez is near the top of the list. For sure, when we’re discussing our bike tours in France with our guests, Alpe d’Huez is the most requested climb of any of our routes. And with good reason: it has been the battleground for many a spectacular stage during the Tour. Guests are anxious to try their own fitness against the clock to see how challenging this climb really is.

 

Knowing the region and the climbs well, we’d like to share with you a few of our insights and opinions on Alpe d’Huez:

It’s not the hardest climb in the Alps. Far from it: Alpe d’Huez may be one of the most famous names in cycling and in the French Alps, but it is by no means the hardest climb. A quick look at the stats of several other nearby climbs will reveal this. Alpe d’Huez is roughly 14 kilometers long with an average gradient around 8 percent. In contrast, the nearby climbs of the Galibier and the Croix de Fer are both harder by the sheer fact of their distances. The Galibier for example is 2.5 times longer with an average gradient of just below 6 percent, which includes a couple of flat and slightly downhill sections on route!

It’s not the climb with the most switchbacks. Yes, 21 switchbacks is a lot and yes, they are one of the elements that make Alpe d’Huez famous. But did you know that it’s far from the most? The Passo dello Stelvio (Italy) more than doubles Alpe d’Huez’ hairpin turns with a whopping 48 switchbacks to the summit!

It’s not the highest climb in the Alps. Despite being the most famous, Alpe d’Huez tops out at a little over 1800 meters (5900 feet). Again, the nearby Galibier exceeds this height with a worthy 2645 meters (8678 feet).

It can be crowded. Given that it’s so famous, everyone wants to ride it. The climb is also located just about 1-2 km from the town of Bourg d’Oisans which means that it doesn’t take any effort to decide to climb it. There are lots of bike shops in town that rent bikes by the hour, just to allow people a chance to test their legs on the climb. Alpe d’Huez is also a ski resort, which draws summertime crowds as well as winter ones. If you come in the peak of summer be prepared for traffic too.

The finish line is not in the main village. Despite the fact that there’s a finish line painted on the road and a podium next to it, this location on the main road in the ski village of Alpe d’Huez is NOT the finish line used by the pros during the Tour de France. Many, many cyclists stop here thinking they are finished. If you want to truly ride the whole thing and compare your time against the pros you’ve got another kilometer or so to climb. If you’ve been following the yellow rider signs to the top, continue following them to the upper, residential part of the ski resort. Be sure to exit left uphill at the last roundabout. You then have just another few hundred meters to go. There you’ll see the official finish.

Despite several of these things however, Alpe d’Huez is still a worthy and exhilarating climb. It’s certainly a must-do item for any cyclist that has not had the chance to ride it. And it’s for this reason that we’re happy to include it as part of our French Alps Bike Tour.

Do you have any questions for us? Email us and let us know.


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5 Fabulous French Climbs To Ride On Your Bike

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The cycling is unbeatable in Europe, and the climbs are world class. It’s no wonder that the best cyclists in the world gather for a three week race in France every July….there’s nothing that compares to the smooth mountain ascents that should hold a place on every rider’s bike tour bucket list. Here are a few of our favorites French climbs:

  1. Le Mont Ventoux: (1912 meters—6273 feet—22 kms—Average grade 7.1%–Max grade 11%) Dominating the landscape in all directions, Ventoux has rightfully earned the nickname “The Giant.” There are three ways to ascend this beast (4 if you count the forest road) but the most famous route starts in the village of Bedoin where you will want to buy yourself a celebratory jersey after your valiant efforts. After all, not everyone has made it down alive. Just a half-mile from the summit, you will pass a memorial to the British pro-cyclist Tom Simpson who died racing a tour stage here in 1967.
  2. Le Col du Tourmalet: (2115 meters—6939 feet—19 kms—Average grade 7.4%–Max grade 10.2%) When asked why the Tourmalet is so famous, many riders speak of its mystic prowess. You have not truly experienced the Pyrenees until you have climbed the range’s highest pass. It’s hard-core and there’s no wonder why this climb has been used more than any other as a Tour stage.
  3. Le Col du Galibier: (2645 meters—8678 feet—34 kms—Average grade 6.9%–Max grade 10.1%) 2011 was a big year for the Col du Galibier as it was celebrating its 100th year anniversary in the Tour by having riders ascend it twice over two days during the race. Don’t be surprised to find yourself dwarfed by columns of snow if you summit the pass in early summer; this col is closed through winter and opens only when road officials decide to blast through the dense snow pack.
  4. L’Alpe d’Huez: (1860 meters—6102 feet—14 kms—Average grade 7.9%–Max grade 14%) Immortalized by regular tour finishes, this Mecca of Alps climbs is famous for its grueling 21 switchbacks. The record ascent is 37:35 minutes, but riders of all abilities come out in force each year to test themselves against this mammoth of a climb.
  5. Col d’Aubisque: (1709 meters—5601 feet—16.6 kms—Average grade 7.2%–Max grade 13%) This col made its Tour debut in 1910 when race organizers were deemed crazy by Pyrenees locals when asked to have the roads cleared of debris in time for race day. Nonetheless, the Aubisque has become a Tour staple and is a favorite climb by riders the world over. Not for the fainthearted, the climb is famous for its sinuous roads that are gingerly carved to hug the mountainside and sport drops of hundreds of feet beyond the safety barriers.

Check out our list of Bike Tours in Europe so that you too can ride these legendary climbs.

 

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See the 2011 Tour with Us!

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Have you been thinking about going to France to see the Tour? Well now is a great time to go! We’re offering 50% off our trip to see the race in July.

When you book with a friend, either you or the friend will receive 50% the regular price of the trip. That’s a fantastic savings! Call or email us today to find out more! Our trip hotel is located right on the race route, situated between the famous climbs of Alpe d’Huez and the Col du Galibier. You’ll be sure to catch all of the action. And with the daily rides that we’ve scheduled, you’ll be able to see the pros battle it out for all four of the Alpine stages, right down to the final time-trial in Grenoble.We already know that we offer one of the best packages to see this year’s Tour and now we’re sure that we’re offering it for one of the best prices too.

Check out all of the trip details here:

Offer Terms and Conditions: Offer valid only for our “France’s Pro Tour” trip in July 2011. A 50% savings will be applied to only one of each two individuals that book at the same time. Booking must take place between May 1 and May 31, 2011. Offer cannot be combined with any other offer, past or present.And check out our other trips here: www.insitutravel.com

 

pro tour bike race

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