HOLIDAY DETAILS
The Alps & Provence: The mountain range known as the Alps forms the backbone of Europe running through Austria and Switzerland, before turning south along the French and Italian border. In the southern part of the range the high mountains gradually drop towards the Mediterranean Sea. This is the region of Provence, one of the most attractive areas of France. The area is drier than further north, with rocky crags and deep gorges carved into the limestone plateaus. The most spectacular of these is the Grand Canyon of the Verdon River, which is the largest gorge to be found anywhere in Europe. Much of the area is still forested, and the lack of water means that away from the main rivers there are few towns. Deserted mountain roads link small villages that either cling to the edge of a rocky precipice or are squeezed into the bottom of narrow steep sided valleys. To the east, rising dramatically above the surrounding hills on the edge of the Alps, is legendary Mont Ventoux.
The Tour: This is a Fully Supported Cycling Holiday with a leader, and support vehicle to carry all the
luggage and provide any necessary assistance. The trip starts and finishes at the attractive town of Vence. The route takes you through the hills of Provence, across the Luberon Mountains, then over the summit of Mont Ventoux (1,912m / 6,273ft), and then returns through the mountains to Vence, crossing several moderately high cols on the way. This is a fairly strenuous holiday. The area is mountainous and most days we will be cycling between 55 - 65 miles. The first few days are moderately hilly, and alot of the route is quite undulating with a few steep climbs out of narrow gorges. However the route then becomes more mountainous. You cross over the summit of Mont Ventoux and then the route continues through the mountains, crossing several moderately high cols. Most of the roads are fairly well graded with plenty of switchbacks, they are nowhere near as steep as some roads in the UK. Gradients are usually around 6 or 7% (that’s about 1 in 16 or 1 in 14), with short sections that are about 8 - 10% (that’s about 1 in 12 – 1 in 10). However if you have not ridden a bicycle in mountainous areas before then you should be aware that cycling over this sort of terrain is fairly strenuous and doing so day after day can be very tiring. Road conditions vary. Alot of this route follows very quiet, in some cases almost deserted, roads. However there are a limited number of roads in some areas, and so we do follow some main roads for short distances where they cannot be avoided – but these are usually only moderately busy. Traffic is heavier around a couple of the towns we pass through, but this is generally only for a short distance. The roads through the Grand Canyon can be very busy during the summer, but are quieter in September, Mont Ventoux can also be very busy, although cyclists often outnumber the cars!
Mont Ventoux: You should be aware that the ride over Mont Ventoux is a particular challenge. It is generally regarded as one of the hardest climbs in France. From Malaucène the road rises 1570 m in 21 km. It is also worth noting that, as the name might suggest, it can be very windy at the summit. Wind speeds as high as 320 km/h (200 mph) have been recorded and the wind blows at 90+ km/h (56+ mph) 240 days a year. Mont Ventoux has also become legendary as one of the most gruelling climbs in the Tour de France, which has ascended the mountain fourteen times since 1951. The mountain achieved worldwide notoriety when it claimed the life of British cyclist Tom Simpson in 1967. The memorial to Simpson is just below the summit on the way down to Sault.
Accommodation & Food: This is a hotel based holiday. Accommodation will be in small family run hotels,
generally graded 2* or similar, offering clean and comfortable rooms. Single people travelling alone will be booked into a twin
bedded room with another person of the same sex – unless the additional single supplement has been paid. We book rooms
with en-suite facilities where available, but this cannot always be guaranteed. Breakfast is provided at the accommodation and most hotels also have a restaurant attached for an evening meal, or there is at least one other restaurant nearby.
Start/Finish: The holiday starts and finishes at Vence. Flights are available to the nearby airport at Nice from several regional airports in the UK. Alternatively there are good train connections from/to Paris (with Eurostar connection from London) to the railway station at Nice. Transport will be provided from Nice to/from Vence. Note: The cost of travel to/from Nice is not included in the price of the holiday. You may book the flight yourself (or make your own alternative arrangements), or if you wish us to make the booking for you we can do so (an additional fee is payable).A separate form will be sent to you.
Cycle Transport: If required we offer a cycle transport service to return your bike from Nimes to anywhere in the UK (additional fee payable), to save you the hassle of taking your bike on the plane. We can also arrange for your cycle to be transported to the start at Dover.
Documents: You require a passport to visit France. Nationals of some other countries also require a Visa. Non
EU passport holders should check with the nearest French Embassy. You are also required to have travel insurance for the
duration of the holiday. If you do not purchase insurance from us you will be required to provide evidence of a suitable
alternative travel insurance policy.
Bikes: The type of bicycle that you bring on these holidays is entirely up to you. If you have a choice we would recommend a 'road' or ‘touring’ bike as being the most suitable for most people, as they are generally lighter and easier to ride. However the most important thing is that your bike functions properly and you are comfortable riding it. Whatever type of cycle you are taking you should make sure that it has suitable gears for this sort of trip. If you haven't ridden in this type of terrain before you'll probably find that you'll be most comfortable with a bottom gear of about 25 - 30 inches, which will usually mean having a triple chainring. If you are riding a mountain bike then you should fit it with narrow 'slick' tyres.
You should also make sure that you are able to carry some spare food and clothing with you on the bike. The route does cross some wild exposed areas with little in the way of shelter and no services, and you can get very cold descending from Mont Ventoux and some of the passes, particularly if the weather is bad.
Weather: The weather in September is usually fairly warm and sunny with the temperature
gradually increasing as we head south, although it can be cooler in the mountains. Average spring temperatures along the Mediterranean coast are in the mid 20’s.
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