Road bike FranceFRENCH ALPS GRANDE TRAVERSEE: Lake Geneva to the Côte d'Azur From Thonon to Menton via the famous cols of the Tour de France

Day 1: Thonon-les-Bains - La Clusaz 

Itinerary start: Rendezvous with the organisation team is on day 1 at 9 am at Thonon les Bains SNCF railway station. On request we can book the previous night's accommodation for you in Thonon Les Bains. We can also organise a transfer from Geneva or Lyon airport.

Passes of the day: 

• Col de Jambaz, 1027 m (level 2)
• Col de Joux Plane, 1712m (level 3)
• Col de la Colombière, 1613 m

Highlights:

• A warm up on the quiet mountain roads of the Col de Jambaz (level 2)
• The beautiful Vallée du Giffre and Val d'Abondance (level 3)
• The "Portes du Soleil" area of Morzine, Les Gets, Avoriaz (level 3)
• The Diable gorges and bridge (level 3)
• Views of the Mont Blanc range
• Col de la Colombiere: the first difficulty of the week, and first real mountain pass of the Alps...
• Le Grand Bornand: reputable ski resort known for the beauty and authenticity of its mountain chalets

Distance and altitude gain:

• 2 wheels: approx. 90 km and 2500 m
• 3 wheels: approx. 120 km and 3200 m

Day 3: Bourg Saint Maurice - Aussois

Passes of the day:

• Col de l'Iseran, 2762m

Highlights:

• Liaison between the two biggest valleys of the Alps: the Tarentaise and the Maurienne 
• The Col de l'Iseran: simply one of the most beautiful and longest passes in the Alps...
• Panoramic views of the Vanoise National Park 
• Small, traditional villages and their stone houses (Le Miroir, La Gurraz...) where time seems to have stood still

Distance and altitude gain:

• 2 wheels : approx. 95 km and 2400 m
• 3 wheels : approx. 95 km and 2700 m

Day 5: Briançon - Jausiers

Passes of the day:

• Col de l'Isoard, 2360m (level 3)
• Col de Vars, 2109m

Highlights 

• The passage from the Northern Alps to the Southern Alps and its larch forests.
• A clever itinerary between Barcelonnette and Guillestre that avoids the busier roads (level 2)
•  The charming Haute Vallée de l'Ubaye
• The Col de Vars: one of the most major cols of the Alps with over 1000 metres of altitude gain on both sides

Distance and altitude gain:

• 2 wheels: approx. 90 km and 2500 m
• 3 wheels: approx. 100 km and 2700 m

Day 7: Beuil - Col de Turini

Passes of the day:

• Col de la Couillole, 1678m
• Col de Saint Martin, 1500m
• Col de Turini, 1604m

Highlights:

• Winding mountain roads through typical southern Alps mineral landscapes of larch and pine forests
• The village of Roubion
• Les « gorges rouges » (the red gorges) of the Tinée valley and its torrent
• The Col de Turini, last major challenge of our tour!  

Distance and altitude gain:

• 2 and 3 wheels: approx. 90 km and 2500 m