Road bike France

A beautiful road cycling trip offering beautiful routes through forests and meadows, the Alsace vinyards and charming typical villagesRef CR80

The eastern ridge of the Vosges massif has long marked the border between France and Germany. On the western side, the Vosges gastronomy punctuates days of cycling between these ridges, like the one visible from the Schlucht pass or from the Hohneck. On the eastern side, the Alsatian foothills are dotted with a string of villages with pink and pistachio-coloured facades, most of which are classified as "the most beautiful villages in France". Not to spoil anything, we follow the Alsace wine route, and take the time to stop for a tasting in a typical Winstub! To the south, this grand tour of the Vosges takes us to the Haut-Saône side, with the mythical Planche des Belles Filles climb and the Ronchamp chapel in our sights. An original end to the route thanks to a foray into the neighbouring Swiss Jura. As the route winds its way through the countless little lost roads that forge the identity of this great tour, history is never far away...

Version with assistance vehicle: from 1345€ - DetailsVersion without assistance vehicle: from 1060€ - Details Duration : 7 days | Level : Customer satisfaction :
- 1 reviews
+33 458 140 435 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.
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Highlights

  • The tour of the Vosges mountains, a land of contrasts
  • The Alsace wine route and typical villages
  • The ascent of the Planche des Belles Filles, the Grand Ballon and the Col du Bonhomme
  • The crossing of the Swiss border

Description


Detailed itinerary

Day 1: Belfort - Thann

Itinerary start: Rendezvous with the organisation team is fixed on day 1 at 9am at Belfort Montbeliard SNCF railway station. On request we can book the previous nights accommodation for you in Belfort.

Passes of the day:

  • Le Ballon d'Alsace from Malvaux, 1171 m (level 2)
  • Le Ballon d'Alsace from St Maurice sur Moselle, 1171 m (level 3)
  • Col du Hunsdruck, 748 m

Highlights:

  • The crossing of Belfort and the famous and monumental Lion of Bartholdi, carved in the rock
  • The ascent(s) to the Ballon d'Alsace and, from its summit, the view of the Alps: Mont Blanc massif and Bernese Alps in Switzerland
  • End of the day on a superb forest road before arriving in Thann

Distance and altitude gain:

  • Level 2 :  approx. 85 km and 1300 m.
  • Level 3 :  approx. 115 km and 2200 m.
Day 2: Thann - Soulzmatt

Passes of the day:

  • Le Grand Ballon, 1343 m.
  • Le Markstein, 1266 m.
  • Col de Bramont, 956 m (level 3)
  • Col des Feignes, 954 m (level 3)
  • Col de la Schlucht, 1138 m.
  • Col de Firstplan, 722 m (level 2)

Highlights:

  • The ascent to the Grand Ballon, and the passage by the Hartmannswillerkopf, place of a famous battle of the Great War.
  • The route des crêtes
  • The descent to the plain of Alsace
  • A particularly bucolic stage

Distance and altitude gain:

  • Level 2 :  approx. 95 km and 1900 m.
  • Level 3 :  approx. 120 km and 2700 m.
Day 3: Soulzmatt - Riquewihr

Passes of the day:

  • Col du Firstplan, 720 m (level 3)
  • Col du Haut de Ribeauvillé

Highlights:

  • The passage through several Alsatian villages with their typical charm: half-timbered houses, facades coloured with pistachio and pink...
  • The old town of Colmar
  • The rollercoaster ride between the Vosges mountains and the Alsatian wine route

Distance and altitude gain:

  • Level 2 :  approx. 90 km and 1600 m.
  • Level 3 :  approx. 110 km and 2300 m.
Day 4: Riquewihr - Ventron

Passes of the day:

  • Col de la Charbonniere, 961 m (level 3)
  • Col de Steige, 534 m. (level 3)
  • Col d’Urbeis, 602 m. (level 3)
  • Col de Fraisse sous Vologne (level 3)
  • Col du Calvaire, 1134 m (level 2)
  • Col de la Schlucht, 1138 m (level 2)
  • Col des Feignes, 955 m (level 2)

Highlights:

  • The Roman road north of Osthei
  • The castle of Haut Koenigsbourg
  • The Vosges mountains and their steep valleys
  • The lake of Longemer
  • The ascent to the route des crêtes and its northern section

Distance and altitude gain:

  • Level 2 :  approx. 65 km and 1450 m.
  • Level 3 :  approx. 130 km and 2200 m.
Day 5: Ventron - Ronchamp

Passes of the day:

  • Col du Ménil, 621 m (level 2)
  • Col du Page, 957 m (level 3)
  • Col des Croix, 679 m.
  • Col de Servance, 1158 m.
  • La Planche des Belles Filles, 1050 m.
  • Col de Chevrères, 916 m.

Highlights:

  • A succession of Vosges passes
  • The ascent of the mythical Planche des Belles Filles (optional)
  • An overview of the Plateau des Mille Etangs

Distance and altitude gain:

  • Level 2 :  approx. 100 km and 2200 m.
  • Level 3 :  approx. 115 km and 2430 m. (with the Planche des Belles Filles)
Day 6: Ronchamp - Pont de Roide

Passes of the day:

  • Climbing of the Notre Dame du Haut, 474 m.

Highlights:

  • The rest of the Plateau des Mille Etangs
  • The Franc-Comtois villages: the washhouses, their particular architecture in grey stone
  • Notre Dame du Haut in Ronchamp, signed by Le Corbusier

Distance and altitude gain:

  • Level 2 :  approx. 90 km and 1300 m.
  • Level 3 :  approx. 130 km and 1800 m.
Day 7: Pont de Roide - Belfort

Passes of the day:

  • The Passage de la Douleur, 799 m (level 3)
  • Fort des Roches, 800 m.
  • The Côte de St Hyppolite
  • Col de la Croix, 781 m.

Highlights:

  • The steep, winding Doubs valley...
  • Crossing into Switzerland
  • The medieval Swiss towns of Ste Ursanne and Porrentruy

Distance and altitude gain:

  • Level 2 :  approx. 95 km and 950 m.
  • Level 3 :  approx. 105 km and 1350 m.

Itinerary end: The tour ends in Belfort Montbeliard at around 3-4pm. On request we can book the following nights accommodation for you in Belfort.

Distances and altitude gain are an indication only and may vary.

Dates and price

Dates
Please, contact us.

Costs and services

The price includes:
  • Tour leader and assistance vehicle
  • 6 nights in 2* to 3* hotels in double rooms (DR) with en-suite facilities
  • 6 breakfasts
  • 7 picnic lunches
  • 6 dinners (3 to 4 course menu)
  • Daily baggage transfers
  • Carefully designed itineraries on 2 levels of difficulty
  • Our navigation app for smartphones, a detailed road book including maps (digital format) and GPS tracks
What is not included:
  • International flights
  • Your transfer to the meeting place (see paragraph below)
  • All services mentioned in extensions
  • Travel insurance
  • Drinks at the accommodation
  • Visits to museums, monuments and sites not covered by the programme
  • Additional travel related to change in the programme due to bad weather
  • All personal expenses
  • Everything not mentioned under  “the price includes".

Supplementary services

Single room accommodation (6 nights) 210 € / 

Extra night in Belfort in 4* hotel, twin room, including breakfast 80 € / 

Extra night in Belfort in 4* hotel, double room, including breakfast 80 € / 

Extra night in Belfort in 4* hotel, single room, including breakfast 150 € / 

Vélorizons cycling jersey
(shipping not included)
75 € / 

Vélorizons cycling jersey

A cycling jersey to our taste.

A timeless road cycling jersey produced in France, inspired by our team and our road cycling trips. High quality, made in France by a Savoy company and with a feel-good character for long days in the saddle. Offered at a great price.

Features

- High-quality SIRTECH + LYCRA textiles
- 3 pockets, one with a central zip + 1 side pocket
- Full front zip
- Half-high cycling collar
- Short raglan sleeves in Lycra with seamless ends
- Gripper at the hem

Available sizes (EU sizing): XXS bis XL
Cut:
Slim fit, unisex
Price: see above

Order and further information by e-Mail or ask our leaders while on tour.

Private groups / Custom tours

You are a group of friends, a family, a company or a cycling club and you would like to organise a private cycling tour on the dates of your choice. This option is available for guided and self-guided tours.

  • If you are interested in one of the tours presented on our website, we can provide you with a detailed quote based on the number of persons in your group.
  • If you are interested in a custom version of one of our tours, with specific requirements (tour duration, accommodation type, vehicle assistance, airport transfers, bike rental, etc.), we can provide you with a detailed quote based on the number of persons in the group and the group's specific requirements.

For more information or to receive a quote, please contact us by phone at +33 458 140 435  or by email at info@france-bike-trips.com.

Travel insurance

It is important to be correctly insured when embarking on a cycling holiday. We recommend checking the details of your travel insurance (if you have one) and, if necessary, subscribing to our contract below. Please note that France Bike Trips is simply an intermediary between you and the insurance company.

You can choose between these travel insurance contracts while completing your booking form:

  • I subscribe to the "comprehensive multi-risk" insurance cover (4.5%), minimum premium of 15 €:
    This contract covers assistance, repatriation, lost or stolen luggage, holiday interruption and cancellation. To see the full contract, click here.
  • I purchase the "cancellation only" insurance cover (2.5%), minimum premium of 10 €:
    This policy covers cancellation only. To see the full contract, click here.
  • I purchase the "repatriation & assistance" insurance cover (1.6%), minimum premium of 10 €:
    This policy covers assistance, repatriation, lost or stolen luggage and holiday interruption. To see the full contract, click here.

Recommendation:
If you choose to take out a travel insurance policy with another insurance company, please check that the search and rescue coverage is suitable: area covered, expenses included, risks covered (as an indication, a minimum cover of 15 000 € is recommended). Please note that credit card insurance rarely offers this type of coverage.

Booking procedure / Cancellation

How to book

In order to make a booking please fill in the online booking form on the "booking" page of your chosen tour. At the end of the booking process you will be transferred to our bank's secure payment page in order to pay a 30 % deposit.

Last minute booking

All self-guided bookings made within 21 days of tour departure will incur a surcharge of 15 € per person.

Expert advice
  • Unsure which tour to book?
  • Interested in a custom version of one of our tours?
  • Not sure if a particular tour is suitable for your riding style?

A dedicated team of travel specialists is available to offer you expert advice Monday to Friday from 9 am to 6 pm (French time) by phone - +33 458 140 435 or by mail - info@france-bike-trips.com.

Tour confirmation

In order to confirm our guided tours, we need to reach a minimum number of participants (usually 5 persons are necessary). Therefore booking a guided tour does not necessarily mean the tour is confirmed. In the unlikely event that we are unable to confirm your chosen tour, we will offer you the opportunity (no less than 21 days before departure) of switching to another (confirmed) tour, or receiving a full refund.

Self-guided or custom tours: We confirm bookings of self-guided tours and custom tours directly after booking.

In both cases, please await our final booking confirmation before making any travel arrangements.

Balance payment

Tour balance payment must be made no less than 30 days before tour departure. Your travel documents will be sent to you once we have received your balance payment. Road books and maps will be sent to you 3 weeks before departure.

Cancellation

In the event that you are obliged to cancel your tour France Bike Trips will reimburse the entire sum paid for the tour, minus the following cancellation charges:

  • More than 60 days before departure: 5 % of the tour price, excluding insurance premium
  • Between 60 and 31 days before departure: 15 % of the tour price, excluding insurance premium
  • Between 30 and 21 days: 30 % of the tour price, excluding insurance premium
  • Between 20 and 14 days: 50 % of the tour price, excluding insurance premium
  • Between 13 and 7 days: 70 % of the tour price, excluding insurance premium
  • Less than 7 days before departure: 100 % of the tour price, excluding insurance premium

Full details of our sales conditions are available here

Daily schedule

During riding you carry only your day pack. All your luggage is transported each day by the support vehicle.

After breakfast, the support vehicle driver will pack your luggage in the van, distribute cereal/energy bars, and announce the time slot for lunch. The driver can also hand out picnics to any participants who do not wish to stop at the designated picnic lunch stop.

Once all the participants have passed the picnic stop, the driver transports your luggage directly to the following nights accommodation, before returning to wait at the foot of the last climb of the day. He is then available to help any members of the group in difficulty or who encounter a mechanical problem. You'll usually meet the van driver several times during the day, offering the opportunity to fill up with water, change clothing, etc.

Each participant is free to ride at his or her own pace, using the road book and GPS route to navigate during the day. However, the driver is equipped with a mobile phone, and can be reached at any time during the day if a particpant encounters a problem. The driver is also available throughout the trip to provide information and advice.

How to get to the meeting point

By plane:

Mulhouse airport: https://www.euroairport.com/en

Paris airport: https://www.parisaeroport.fr/en

Airport transfers are available on request. Contact us for a quote.

By train:

SNCF: www.voyages.sncf.fr

By car:

Route planner: en.mappy.com

Parking: In the event that you travel by car to the meeting point, we will suggest your some parking solutions.

Route navigation

You will receive an email 2 weeks before departure, containing all the information necessary for your upcoming tour, including the following navigation tools:

Our dedicated smartphone app

Follow your route with comfort and ease! Thanks to the Velorizons navigation app, download the full trip itinerary to your smartphone, view route maps and profiles, access the list of booked accommodation, services and useful contacts, and use the integrated route guidance (visual and vocal) for navigation.

See the mobile app presentation video

To benefit fully from the app navigation system, we strongly recommend attaching your smartphone to the bicycle handlebar using a dedicated mount. An example can be viewed here.

Velorizons app compatibility
Operating systemAndroidAppleWindows PhoneBlackberry
CompatibilityVersion 8.0 minimumiOS 8.0 minimum. iPhone compatible, iPad compatible if GPS equippedNon compatibleNon compatible
A detailed Road Book

Your tour road book will be available to download in your My France Bike Trips customer area. The road book contains:

  • Full colour maps with highlighted routes,
  • Step-by-step route description,
  • Route profiles
GPS tracks

Tour GPS tracks will be available to download in your My France Bike Trips customer area. The tracks are in .gpx format, compatible with all GPS devices/apps.

Accommodation

We favour comfortable accommodation with warm hospitality.

Our standard price is based on 2* and 3* hotels and comfortable guesthouses with double rooms and en-suite facilities.

For private groups and self-guided trips it is possible to customise the accommodation (upgrade) depending on availability.

Food

This trip is fully catered (breakfast, lunch and dinner included). We pay very careful attention to the quality and the variety of your meals. Fresh and local products will be served wherever possible. This trip is also an opportunity to discover the local gastronomy and regional products - l'art de la table!

Please note: If you have any food intolerances, please inform us in the comments field on the booking form.

  • Continental breakfasts taken at the accommodation  
  • Simple cereal/muesli bars and dried fruit are distributed in the morning before the start of the stage. You must bring your own specific energy bars and isodrinks, if desired.
  • Hearty dinners (3 to 4 courses, with local dishes)

For lunch, our tour leader will offer you a picnic stop along the route. Our picnics combine a rich salad based on carbohydrates and fresh vegetables with cold meats and cheese, fresh fruit and bread (wherever possible from local producers) as well as sweet and savoury snacks. If you do not want to stop for lunch, we can offer the following options:

  • Our tour leader provides you with a picnic to carry along in a small backpack or a handlebar bag. It contains an individual salad (carbohydrate and vegetable based salad), cold meats, cheese and fruits
  • "Racing food" for weight weenies and those "allergic" to backpacks: energy bars, dried fruit
  • Feel free to stop and eat when and where you want (restaurant, bakery, grocery store...)

Car sharing

If you sign up for a guided tour, we offer you the opportunity to see if you can carpool with other participants to get to the point of departure. To do this, go to "Car sharing" in our website. By entering the complete reference and the date of departure of the tour (available on the registration confirmation that we have sent you), you have access to route details and emails of other participants who wish to carpool.

Baggage

During the day you carry only a daypack for additional clothing, water, food, camera, etc. The rest of your baggage is transferred each day to the following nights accommodation.

Our / Your state of mind

- A "group" tour: If you join a guided tour, you will be part of a group for several days. This is a superb opportunity to meet new people and share some magical moments. However, a group tour requires that each person show friendliness, openness and mutual respect for their fellow travellers.

- An "adventure" tour: despite the most careful preparation, adventure tours can present unforeseen events. Accepting these risks will help you enjoy your trip to the full, in the knowledge that your guide, our local partners and the entire France Bike Trips team will offer you the most suitable solutions to any given situation.

Bike and plane / train

If you decide to bring your own bike, be aware that transporting a bike by plane or train is no longer an issue. However a few simple guidelines help to optimise the transport and avoid potential damages that could occur.
Your bike must be transported in a designated bike bag (standard size 120x90cm). This maximal size allows you to travel with your bike as "hand luggage" in any high-speed and regional trains.
It is very important that you protect your bike in the bag. After having deflated the tires, removed the wheels (by removing the quick release mechanisms), pedals and rear derailleur (which is left hanging on the chain), we recommend you wrap your bike inside the bag in a sheet of dense foam (thickness of 3 to 5 cm). A piece of cardboard or rigid plastic positioned between the foam and the inside of the cover can be beneficial to provide more rigidity.

Once folded up the bike bag will take up very little space and will be transported by the assistance vehicle during your tour.

Bike bags are available directly from France Bike Trips at a cost of 70 euros, plus postage.

Personal Gear & Packing List

Luggage

All your belongings should be divided into two bags: a backpack and a travel bag.

1/ Backpack or Small Bag (to be kept in the support vehicle or on the bike)

This is the bag you use every day while cycling. It is kept in the support vehicle (accessible during the lunch stop or carried along on the bike (frame, seat or handlebar bag). This bag should not be too large (up to 15 litres).

It will contain: snack food, camera, waterproof and extra clothing, sunglasses, etc.

2/ Travel bag

This bag will be transported by vehicle from one accommodation to the next. It should contain all the items you won’t need during the day. You can expect to find it at your accommodation in the evening (generally not accessible during lunch).

Packing list
For your head
  • A cap or other head protection against the sun
  • A hat or sweat band
  • A bike helmet
For your upper body
  • Two or more cycling jerseys (or technical t-shirts made of synthetic or natural breathable fabrics)
  • A warm and long cycling jersey or shirt; alternatively: arm warmers
  • A sweatsheart and t-shirts (for the evenings)
  • A wind & waterproof jacket
  • A pair of cycling gloves
For your legs
  • Two or more good quality bib shorts with seat pad (chamois)
  • A pair of long and warm cycling tights or leg warmers
  • A casual short (for the evenings)
  • A swimsuit
For your feet
  • A pair of cycling shoes
  • A pair of shoes suitable for the evening
  • Sandals (not compulsory, but nice for warm evenings...)
  • Cycling socks
For your bike
  • Adapted gearing: if in doubt ask us our your local cycle dealer
  • Bike lights with batteries (or charger)
  • 2 spare tubes
  • Puncture repair kit or tubeless repair kit
  • Spare brake pads (except if you start with new pads)
  • Chain lube
  • A small pump
  • A multi tool
Other
  • 2 bike bottles 75 cl (or camelbak)
  • A toiletry kit and towel
  • A bike lock (not compulsory)
  • A small individual pharmacy: sunscreen (face and lips); band aids + double skin (Compeed); Immodium; pain killers, earplugs, other personal medication.

Costs and services self-guided tour

Price per person for a group of

A single room supplement is automatically charged for groups with an uneven number of participants:

Single room accommodation (6 nights) 210 € / 

The price includes:
  • 6 nights in 2* to 3* hotels in double rooms (DR) with en-suite facilities
  • 6 continental breakfasts
  • 6 dinners (3 to 4 course menu)
  • Daily baggage transfers
  • Our navigation app for smartphones, a detailed road book including maps (digital format) and GPS tracks
What is not included:
  • International flights
  • Lunches
  • Your transfer to the meeting place (see useful information tab)
  • All services mentioned in extensions
  • Travel insurance
  • Drinks at the accommodation
  • Visits to museums, monuments and sites not covered by the programme
  • Additional travel related to change in the programme due to bad weather
  • All personal expenses
  • Everything not mentioned under  “the price includes".

Self-guided trips: what you should know

Pick a date of your choice and book for as few as 2 people. We take care of the reservation of your accommodation (with breakfast and dinners), the transport of your luggage for each stage and provide you with detailed travel documents (reservation list, detailed road book with highlighted maps, our navigation app for smartphones and GPS tracks).

Our promise

An adventure with support.

  • perfect on-site logistics,
  • a carefully planned route,
  • ride on the most beautiful routes of a region without missing the highlights

Requirements

  • Self-guided navigation with the help of our navigation tools (roadbook, navigation app and/or GPS tracks)
  • Consideration of weather conditions and of the group's capacity with regard to the tour programme
  • Arrival at the accommodation in due time
  • Basic knowledge of equipment and bicycle technology for possible repairs
  • First aid and emergency management

With our travel documents, our advice and a thorough travel preparation on your part, nothing should stand in the way of a wonderful, trouble-free cycling trip.

Note: On our self-guided tours you ride on your own and without a cycling guide. The tours are specifically aimed at people who want to be independent and have experience in navigation. We cannot be held liable for navigation errors, personal misconduct, carelessness, insufficient timing or misjudgement of weather conditions or emergency situations. Any change of itinerary on your part is your own responsibility.

Average tour rating:

5/5 - 1 Reviews
Adam D. | Participant rating:
"Really great week - really great bunch of people, Magali was really efficient and very helpful. The only quibble would be the inaccuracy of the elevation information supplied on the app which, on a couple of days was way off. But, all in all, a really memorable trip."
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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.


Phone number: +33 458 140 435

Contact us

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.

Please type in your email address in order to access tour details and description

Your email will not be communicated to any third party or company outside France Bike Trips / Velorizons. You may receive occasional emails from France Bike Trips, with the possibility to unsubscribe at any time. CNIL (French National Commission for Data Protection and Liberties)