Watch the Tour de France time trial on Alpe d’Huez and climb the famous climbs yourself !
After the successful Tour de France trip to Mont Ventoux in 2002, it is now time to climb Alpe d’Huez and witness what promises to be one of the most memorable days in the history of the Tour de france. Will this be the day that Lance writes history by securing a 6th TdF victory ? Or will Jan have lost enough weight to fly up the hill and become the first German ever to win at Alpe d'Huez ? More than half a million people are expected to be there with us !
On top of this, we will climb some of the other famous climbs, like Col de l’Iseran (the highest paved pass in the Alps!), Col de Galibier, Col de Croix de Fer, Col de la Madeleine. The stages are tough but relatively short, to give us the opportunity to enjoy the towns that we are staying in. We will stay in small country inns that are comfortable and charming but not luxurious.
There will be a van driven by our experienced tour guide Peter to transport our luggage and provide support on the road.
Participation will be limited to 10 riders because hotel availability during the TdF is very limited.
Participation is open to all strong A riders.
The price is $1280 per person (double occupancy). A limited number of single rooms is available for an additional $160.
Included are hotels, breakfasts and dinners (except two nights) and transportation to/from Geneva airport.
Dates: leave NYC on Friday night July 16th, back on Sunday July 25th.
More information: [email protected]
Alpe d'Huez Bike Trip
"Pieter states the ""Col de l'Iseran"" (actually, to be repulsively pedantic, it is the Col d'Iseran) is the ""highest paved pass in the Alps.""
...Well, yes and no. It is 2770 meters. The cimé above the Col de la Bonette (c. 80 miles NNW of Nice) is 2802 m. One can argue the actual pass on the Bonette is a bit below 2770, and that the roundabout that takes you to the summit goes above and beyond the actual pass. (That last stretch to the summit from the pass, perhaps 3/4 of a mile, is, as I recall it, steeper and more difficult than any part of the Iseran. Well, let me amend that. One of my trips up the Iseran, I had to wait out a snow storm at the top. (That was in August. I've never seen snow anywhere on the Bonette in four trips to it.) I waited in a restaurant atop the Iseran for the blizzard to abate. The restaurant toilet was a hole in the ground. It required more sustained thigh strength than did the climb.
Pieter limits participation in his trip to ""strong A riders."" I hasten to tell anyone with an inclination to ride the Alps, or any other mountains, to simply go and do it. There are actually more difficult climbs around here than you'll encounter in the Alps, albeit, of course, shorter. But the point is, all it takes to ride the mountains is: The Will; The Time; and a Low Enough Gear (in my aged, dedicatedly untrained, and chronically out of shape case, a 39-28). I'm proof of that.
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"Rich, you state that ""Pieter limits participation in his trip to ""strong A riders.""
Actually, Pieter's limitation is 10 people. It is OPEN to strong A riders. I think that subtle difference should not be lost."
