Alps to the Pyrenees 2012

Wiggo on the last part of the Tourmalet

ALPS TO THE PYRENEES RIDE YOUR OWN TOUR DE FRANCE 2012:

The Alps to the Pyrenees

Our group cycling holidays covers a range of different destinations however this is a route where the destination is different each day this is an undertaking for all cycling abilities. We take care of everything – we plan the route, book the accommodation and do all we can to make sure you have a great time.

There is a support vehicle to carry your bags, and look after the group. We also have a member of our team riding with the group will be able to speak both English and French to help with mechanicals or any other problems and to make sure that no-one is left behind.

This 9 Day tour of France always a classic route through France which is only for cyclists who have a very good fitness level and just like the Tour we change the route every year. Should you want to do your own Tour De France in 2011, then the Alps to the Pyrenees will be one of your best rides of the year, our 1st trip starts on Saturday 5 – 13 May 2012.

All our holidays have been carefully researched to ensure the routes use quiet scenic roads and include places of interest along the way. You are also provided with detailed route instructions so you can ride at your own pace if you wanted to. Each day has a pre-arranged lunch stop where you can help yourself and have a little rest.

The holidays attract all sorts of different people, are usually a good mix of males and females, singles, couples, friends and families, and are always great fun. A summary of our trips for 2012 can be found in the Holidays packages.

French East to West taking you all the way from Geneva at the Swiss Border via Mont Ventoux the Massive central to the Pyrenees. Highlights of this years ride include the, Mont Ventoux, the Mediterranean coastline the lower Pyrenees in the Ariege – south west Cassoulet country and the Hautes Pyrenees for another fantastic trip through France.

The holiday starts with a flight into Geneva from Edinburgh, Manchester or London-Gatwick. We will collect you from Geneva airport where you will spend your 1st night before you start the journey west. Our route takes you through the pretty farming countryside of Hautes Savoie south eastern France through the Rhone Valley on into Provence where we tackle the Giant that is the Mont Ventoux!!! Through the massive central, with its lush green wooded countryside the Languedoc and through the Aveyron the Tarn valley and finally into the Midi Pyrenees.

The last regions of excellent riding territory hilly to say the least before the last day arrives and we are fully into the high mountains of the Pyrenees. This superb ride that takes you through some of the most beautiful areas of France – it should not be missed. This is one of our favourite cycling holidays and we run it twice a year May, and September some of the most delightful times of the year when there is no holiday traffic, unlike July and August in France and when the days are not too hot. The holiday offers similar challenges to the UK ‘End to End’, but the weather is better and the total distance is slightly less.

Start dates for this years 9 day Tour de France – Alps to the Pyrenees. Travel to the event must be carried out on the day before the ride starts all 2012 rides will start at 0930 on the dates shown:-

Route and trips confirmed as:-

Trip 1:- 4 –13 May 2012 Alps to the Pyrenees Route confirmed arrival on the 4th May Start riding Saturday 5th finish the  13th May depart 0930 14th May.

Geneva to Villefranche-Sur-Soane 141kms Saturday 5th May

Villefranche-Sur-Soane to St Vallier 133kms Sunday 6th May

St Vallier to Vaison la Romaine 136kms Monday 7th May

Vaison la Romaine to Carpentras 80kms Tuesday 8th May

Carpentras to Nimes 140kms Wednesday 9th May

Nimes to Beziers 140kms Thursday 10th May

Beziers to Mirepoix 132kms Friday 11th May

Mirepoix to St Gaudens 123kms Saturday 12th May

St Gaudens to Bareges 111kms Sunday 13th May

Trip 2 16 – 25 September 2012 Alps to the Pyrenees Route confirmed arrival on the 15 September start riding 16 September finish 24 September, depart 0930 25 September

Geneva to Villefranche-Sur-Soane 141kms Saturday 16 September

Villefranche-Sur-Soane to St Vallier 133kms Sunday 17 September

St Vallier to Vaison la Romaine 136kms Monday 18 September

Vaison la Romaine to Carpentras 80kms Tuesday 19 September

Carpentras to Nimes 140kms Wednesday 20 September

Nimes to Beziers 140kms Thursday 21 September

Beziers to Mirepoix 132kms Friday 22 September

Mirepoix to St Gaudens 123kms 23 September

St Gaudens to Bareges 111kms 24 September

We look forward to seeing you in 2012 stay fit see you in Geneva

How do you get to the start of the holiday?
The holiday starts with a flight into Geneva from Edinburgh, Manchester or London-Gatwick. We will collect you from Geneva airport Flying offers the quickest and easiest way to return home from your holiday with Ryanair, although for most destinations travelling by train (or coach-BIKE EXPRESS) is also an option. We will provide transport from the nearest airport Geneva for the start or Pau or Lourdes (or Train station Lourdes) to the start & finish of the holiday.

The support vehicle?
The support vehicle will transport your luggage to the daily destination, and also provides any additional assistance required. It doesn’t follow the group closely but will meet up with you once or twice a day, so you can top up your water bottles, have some lunch, cup of tea or coffee or jump on board if you are feeling tired.

Accommodation
The accommodation is on half board basis, breakfast and evening meals are included in the price of this holiday. The hotels we use are mostly small family run accommodation, providing a friendly relaxed atmosphere. These are usually classed as 2* or similar. We book rooms with ensuite facilities where available, but this cannot be guaranteed due to the variety and number of establishments used. Some basic lunch items are provided and the tour leader will have a pre-arranged lunch stop about half way through the days ride (but you are welcome to stop wherever you want). Hotels are chosen to ensure that there is a restaurant in the hotel or close by, so that you do not have far to go for an evening meal.

All hotel based holidays if you are travelling alone you can either pay the “Single supplement – price for the holiday and have a room to yourself or pay the regular price and we will book you into a twin bedded room with another single member of the group of the same sex. However please note that on most holidays the number of single rooms available is limited and they do tend to go quickly.

Do I have to ride with the group all the time?
Every member of the group is provided with our detailed route instructions, so you can ride at your own pace and stop whenever you want, without the worry of getting lost. During breakfast the tour leader will go over the day’s route and point out the scheduled lunch stop suggest a few places you may like to stop, but you are free to do what you want. In practice most people find they team up with other group members of a similar ability really quickly, and so ride together with a small group most of the time.

Tour Price includes:-

* Accommodation family run 2*Hotels 9 days based on 2 sharing.
* Breakfasts for 9 days
* Evening Meals for 9 days
* Route guide should you wish to ride on your own
* Guiding for 9 stages
* Support vehicle & driver.
* Hotel luggage transfers
* Energy drinks bars and gels etc.
* Transfers from Geneva inbound to outbound Lourdes or Pau airports or Lourdes Train Station

Tour Price does not include:
Travel to Geneva or return flights home from the Pyrenees any additional snacks or drinks required during the day or hotel drinks or extra services (e.g. washing).

So now all you have to do is look at which week suits your requirements above, check with us for availability, then check travel arrangements for how to get to Geneva search Easyjet.com for flights. Then Ryanair or Air France for your return Flight back to the UK or Paris, for connecting flights worldwide or coach-BIKE EXPRESS search for this in google. We can book these for you using the credit card details you have supplied to us for the booking of your holiday. We will check all dates with you first before confirming any other travel arrangements. We look forward to spending time with you on the roads of France.

The cost for 9 nights is €1350.00 euros per person. This is a place to place Tour. Please enquire for Single suppl.

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