Road bike France
This cycle route is a gem, crossing the pre-Alps from Thonon to Fréjus via forgotten passes, and the famous Mont Ventoux...Ref CR19
From Thonon to Fréjus, this crossing of the Pre-Alps is a must do... Most of the massifs that pass by are protected parks, which gives an idea of the beauty of the landscapes encountered. Their names speak for themselves: Aravis, Bauges, Chartreuse, Vercors, Diois, Baronnies, Vaucluse, Luberon, Verdon, Esterel. The main strength of this crossing is the quietness of the small roads thanks to the low traffic. Without doubt, a crossing that will surprise many. A multitude of superb passes on a "human" scale with, in passing, the ascent (optional) of the mythical Mont Ventoux. The last brake: the sea!
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A dedicated team of travel specialists is available to offer you expert advice Monday to Friday from 9 to 12:30 AM and 13:30 to 6 PM (French time) on the phone, or by email.
Bookthis tour
In the event that there are official travel or mobility restrictions in France or in your country of origin at the booked tour dates (official travel warning, quarantine upon return, closed borders) which make it impossible for you to undertake the trip, we offer to defer your booking to a later date at no extra charge. If no suitable date can be found, we offer a full reimbursement.
Physical level :
Physical level :
Highlights
- Very typical mid-mountain ranges.
- Small mountain roads, most of them very quiet.
- The evolution from the alpine landscapes of the Northern Alps to the "Provencal Alps".
- The ascent of the "Giant of Provence" during this trip: the Ventoux...
Description
Choose each day
Each day you choose between different routes with varying distances and altitude gain (from level 1 to level 3).
Day 1: Thonon les Bains – Thônes
Itinerary start: We will meet you on day 1 at 9am next to the SNCF train station in Thonon les Bains (precise meeting point given in the travel documents). The driver of the support vehicle will welcome you at the main exit of the station, take care of your luggage and give you your lunch or food for the day so that you can leave directly by bike.
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 2040 m
- 3 wheels: approx. 120 km and 2900 m
Day 2: Thônes – Saint Pierre d’Entremont
Passes of the day:
- Col de Bluffy, 630 m.
- Col de Leschaux, 897 m.
- Le Revard, 1448 m. (level 3)
- Col de Plainpalais, 1173 m.
- Col du Granier, 1164 m.
Highlights:
- The tour of Lake Annecy, one of the most beautiful in the Alps
- The Bauges Regional Natural Park: authenticity, tranquillity...
- The Revard and the La Feclaz plateau, a little bit of Canada in France !
- Between the Bauges and the Chartreuse, an itinerary in the heart of the Savoyard vineyards (Chignin, Apremont...).
- The ascent of the Granier pass by an unusual route
Distance and altitude gain:
- Level 2: approx. 105 km and 2300 m
- Level 3: approx. 140 km and 3000 m
Day 3: Saint Pierre d’Entremont – Les-Baraques-en-Vercors
Passes of the day:
- Col du Cucheron, 1139 m. (level 2)
- Col de Porte, 1326 m.
- Lans en Vercors, 1001 m.
Highlights:
- The superb crossing of the Chartreuse Regional Park, a small haven of peace suspended between forests, mountain pastures and authentic villages.
- A special day in the gorges! Guiers Vif and Guiers Mort, Bourne and Grands Goulets (level 3)
- The possible return trip to the Grande Chartreuse convent, where the famous liqueur is made...
- The Vercors plateau and its large forests of fir and spruce trees.
- The gigantic landslide on the Grands Goulets road.
Distance and altitude gain:
- Level 2: approx. 110 km and 2300 m.
- Level 3: approx. 100 km and 3800 m.
Day 4: Les-Baraques-en-Vercors – La Motte Chalancon
Passes of the day:
- Col de Lachau, 1337 m. (level 3)
- Col de Saint-Alexis, 1222 m. (level 3)
- Col du Rousset, 1254 m.
- Col des Roustans, 1003 m.
Highlights:
- The north-south crossing of the Vercors plateau, one of the first French parks: superb coniferous forests, typical villages in the middle of pastures, valleys where it is good to ride and watch the landscapes go by...
- The Rousset pass: quite a symbol! It is here that the switch to "the south" seems to take place, with regard to the vegetation and the houses. A real plunge into the country of the famous Clairette de Die.
- The magnificent Roanne valley: a small road on a balcony overlooking the river.
- The small wild mountain roads of the Diois.
Distance and altitude gain:
- Level 2: approx. 105 km and 2500 m.
- Level 3: approx. 130 km and 3100 m.
Day 5: La Motte Chalancon – Mormoiron
Passes of the day:
- Col de la Fromagère, 1081 m. (level 3)
- Col de Soubeyrand, 990 m.
- Col de Peyruergue, 794 m.
- Mont Ventoux, 1909 m. (optional)
Highlights:
- The little secret passes of the Barronnies: a poetic mix between the Alps and Provence...
- Buis les Barronnies : a very pleasant village for a little break on a terrace !
- The Dentelles de Montmirail: perched limestone lacework overlooking the vineyards of Gigondas, Vacqueyras, Beaumes-de-Venise...
- The Mont Ventoux, you've been waiting for it for so long!
Distance and altitude gain:
- Level 2: approx. 105 km and 2400 m.
- Level 3: approx. 110 km and 2800 m.
Day 6: Mormoiron – Quinson
Passes of the day:
- Col de Macuègne, 1068 m. (level 3)
- No pass planned for level 2, but a succession of "bumps" ideal to recover after the Ventoux...
Highlights:
- The foothills of the Montagne de Lure with its small mountain passes (level 3)
- The crossing of the Monts du Vaucluse, its gentle relief, its lavender fields, its stone villages
- Sisteron: its viaduct and its old town (level 3)
- The "fairy chimneys" of Les Mées, strange formations caused by erosion (level 3)
Distance and altitude gain:
- Level 2 and 3: approx. 130 km and 2200 m.
Day 7: Quinson – Castellane
Passes of the day:
- The Corniche Sublime, above the Verdon, 1002 m.
- Col de Clavel, 1063 m.
- Col de Valferrière, 1169 m.
Highlights:
- The complete tour of the Sainte-Croix lake (level 3)
- The lake of Sainte-Croix, from its shores, then from the ascent to Aiguines, a perched village overlooking it.
- The panoramic views over the Grand Canyon du Verdon from the "Corniche Sublime".
Distance and altitude gain:
- Level 2: approx. 110 km and 2800 m.
- Level 3: approx. 145 km and 3500 m.
Day 8: Castellane – Fréjus
I spy with my little eye..... the sea! There is almost nothing left to do but to let yourself go down, unless you have the desire and the courage to go for a nice loop in the Esterel massif...
Highlights:
- Riding knowing that the sea is not far away, and realising where you started from... A very pleasant feeling!
- The arrival at the sea !
- The (optional) loop in the Esterel massif and then the seaside, between Agay and Saint-Raphaël.
Distance and altitude gain:
- Level 2 and 3: approx. 80 km and 1200 m.
Itinerary end: The trip ends at the Fréjus SNCF station from 12 noon. Usually, before the separation, we enjoy a small meal at the restaurant on the seafront (not included in the price).
The Vélorizons Fréjus -Thonon vehicle, which brings back some participants, leaves Fréjus at 2 pm. It will be waiting for you in front of the station with your luggage from 12 noon.
Distances and altitude gain are an indication only and may vary.
