Tour de France Tours Lake Annecy
Tour de France tours at Lake Annecy the ultimate cycling destination for the ultimate bike race experience in the world.
Tuesday 17th July – Arrival Day in Annecy
View Tour de France Stage 10 Annecy -> Le Grand-Bornand (Stage Start)
Greatest Sporting Event in the World on Lake Annecy
Includes: Airport Transfer, Welcome Drinks & Dinner
Non cycling guests: Share the spectacular tour day in Lake Annecy
Welcome to ‘Cycling Paradise’ with Practice Bicycle Bike Tours and a full days entertainment at the Tour de France 2018 on Lake Annecy. With the breathtaking backdrop of the French Alps and the Lakeside gardens turned into a buzz of excitement with team buses, riders and support crews. Immerse yourself in the Le Tour, join the roadside party as the publicity caravan departs throwing its goodies in all directions. It won’t be long before the first teams arrive in preparation for their first day in the Alps and what an opener it is!
Enjoy exploring the ‘Village Depart’ and the all the glamour of the best professional cyclists in the world and their multi-million dollar support teams and equipment on display, take advantage of the riders ‘Sign On Podium’ the perfect spot for a great photo opportunity.
Complete the perfect opening day at your Tour de France in 2018 with a Welcome Aperitif together followed by Gastronomique Dinner at one of Annecy’s finest Restaurants to experience the best flavours of French cuisine!
Wednesday 18th July – View Tour de France Stage 11 Albertville -> La Rosière (Alps)
*Ride option:
Distance 90km Ascent 1750m route Col du Pre (1748m/Cat 1)
Distance 63km Ascent 700m route Beaufort Valley Venthon
Distance 45km Ascent 100m route Albertville
Includes: Breakfast, TDF Restaurant Lunch
Non cycling guests: Share all the Tour day in the Beaufort Valley and the best Cheese in the world!
Here it is what we’ve all been waiting for the Tour de France 2018 peloton in action in the French Alps, including your own fantastic opportunity to ride on the race route in the Grand Alps!
Tour de France tours are not all the same. Riding from your Hotel with unbelievable views all way as we head out of ‘Cycling Paradise’ with the turquoise waters of Lake Annecy the breathtaking backdrop this has to be the most idyllic way to start the best bike ride of your life!
Today’s ride may feel like we are heading slightly downhill all the way before continuing along the flat valley floor to the winter Olympic town of Albertville. Heading south we pass by mountain monuments on each side, some with famous names that you may have seen on TV in previous Tour de France battles and others just as awesome in their own unique way. It’s not long before we are on the race route and enjoying our own challenge as we head to our ‘unique live viewing spot’ with live action from the roadside. With an endless choice of superb rides planned throughout the week, take on the Col du Pre (12.6km @ Average 7.7%, 1748m Altitude), alternatively save your climbing legs for tomorrows adventure in the High Alps!
Local knowledge is everything on your Practice Bicycle bike trip, relax over hearty restaurant lunch together (compliments of PRACTICE BICYCLE Bike Tours) explore French village life and get ready for the show to begin!
Thursday 19th July – View Tour de France Stage 12 Bourg-Saint-Maurice -> Alpe d’Huez (Alps)
*Ride Option:
Distance 96km Ascent 1970m route Maurienne Valley
Distance 36km Ascent 1670m route Col de la Croix der Fer (2067m)
Distance 22km Ascent 1070m route Saint-Sorlin-d’Arves (1486m)
INCLUSIONS: Breakfast, TDF Restaurant Lunch
NON CYCLING GUEST: Share all the Tour day & spectacular TDF Action in the High Alps!
Today the Yellow Jersey battle hot’s up with the professional peloton hitting the Alps for the third consecutive decisive stage. After yesterday’s introduction ride to the Alps, our second ride is a classic and what an opportunity awaits us as we head deep into the High Alps and on top of the world…it has to be experienced to be believed!
We will have an early start today as we transfer by vehicle to the race route and the most famous roads in cycling. This might be the day to rest the legs, leave the climbing to the Tour de France peloton and watch the suffering faces of the very best climbers in the world with a well-deserved rest day (repos). Take advantage of your team’s planning and all their local knowledge to give you the best of both worlds with your ‘unique live viewing spot’ on the slopes of the mountain and a superb day at the Tour de France in 2018.
Flexibility with our premium small group allows for the best ride options, why not test your legs with one of the classic cycling challenges of all time…the Col de la Croix de Fer (29km @ Average 5.2% Altitude 2067m)! For the mountain goats who love to climb then the summit awaits you, before descending in time for an Alpine recovery lunch (compliments of PRACTICE BICYCLE Bike Tours) just perfect!
Once refreshed we are at the ideal spot with time to relax and enjoy the rest of this special day and one last memorable moment to absorb the professional peloton in the French Alps during this year’s Tour de France!
Friday 20th July – Home of Reblochon
*Ride option:
Distance 95km Ascent 1440m route Col de la Croix-Fry (1477m) + Col du Marais (843m)
Distance 80km Ascent 1150m route Col de la Croix-Fry (1477m)
Distance 40km Ascent 300m route Thones
Includes: Breakfast, Lunch by the Lake
Non cycling guests: Share all the spectacular Tour day in the Grand Alps
With the Tour peloton speeding south towards the Pyrenees, we can slow down a gear and at a far slower speed experience for ourselves the first Alpine Col of the TDF 2018 the Col de la Croix-Fry (1477m). We are always spoilt for choice when it comes to picking and tailoring your great ride routes in and around the French Alps during your stay with us. Heading in every direction is the best way to show case ‘Cycling Paradise’ for you in one short week!
May be it’s one of PRACTICE BICYCLES local favourites into the Grand Alps that appeals, we have many Col’s of varying difficulties and duration accessible from Annecy and the clear blue waters of the edge of the Lake, the Aravis Mountain range is one of the most spectacular. Passing through the world renowned Reblochon cheese production area, before we start our long gradual climb deep into the high Alps amongst the shimmering peaks and the fresh mountain air, with breathtaking scenery every pedal stroke of the way.
It’s a challenging ride but the spectacular views and sense of achievement as you reach the summit of the Col de la Croix-Fry (11.3km @ Average 7% Altitude 1477m) make it well worthwhile. As with all our planned rides you have the option, to relax and enjoy the views from the comfort of the support vehicle if you wish.
Saturday 21st July – Massif des Bauges – TDF 2013 stage route
*Ride Option:
Distance 110km Ascent 2125m route Cret de Chatillon (1699m)
Distance 90km Ascent 1325m route Col de Leschaux (900m)
Distance 65km Ascent 950m route Chatelard
INCLUSIONS: Breakfast, Lunch amongst nature!
NON CYCLING GUEST: Share all the Tour day in the Bauges National Park
With Annecy’s prestigious final stage hosting of the 2013 Tour de France still very much in our memory, it would be amiss of us not to include this stage in Tour de France tours. It’s a great route and gives you a taste of what it must feel like to be a Tour de France rider with the opportunity to ride a section of a classic Alps Tour stage! What we might like to call our very own TDF stage on our local roads here in Annecy.
It’s one of our favorite areas and one that we could spend all week exploring together, popular in winter with the skiing fraternity, just as breathtakingly peaceful in summer by bike. We head south out of Annecy and into the Park Massif des Bauges Region, dotted with tiny villages and wonderful views just perfect! Of course we will take it a little slower than the speedy race peloton did, as we pass over these great roads and a local café will never be too far away! Our lunch stop on route is in one of these traditional villages a hidden gem restaurant and specialty of Practice Bicycle Bike Tours. Fully refreshed we finish this amazing ride descending back into Annecy with incredible views all the way.
These superb roads are here for you to experience as much or as little as you wish with your Professional Team in the French Alps.
Sunday 22nd July – Green Fields of France
*Ride Option:
Distance 80km Ascent 1000m route Alby-sur-Cheran
Distance 60km Ascent 790m route Montagny
Distance 40km Ascent 450m route Vaulx
INCLUSIONS: Breakfast, Restaurant Terrace Lunch
NON CYCLING GUEST: Share the Tour day sights & sounds of true France
This is our last opportunity to share with you the many pleasures of riding in ‘Cycling Paradise’.
Our pick of the rides today is the tranquility of the French country lanes as we explore to the west of Annecy amongst traditional tiny villages and away from the Grand Alps, a perfect ride route to celebrate our Tour de France 2018 together.
This ride show cases the rolling green fields of France with the Semnoz Mountain Forrest and the spectacular jagged silhouette of the French Alps for the backdrop. With so much fun passed under the wheels during your tour a leisurely lunch in a picture postcard setting is the perfect way to celebrate your trip. Why not a classic French midday lunch in the country! What could be better than this quaint village, a true favourite at Practice Bicycle, Feeling hungry? The legs must surely be hungry? Who would think a special little village in the Haute Savoie countryside could provide such wonderful cuisine…It’s just around the corner with PRACTICE BICYCLE Bike Tours!
What a perfect way to spend the day who would have thought Tour de France tours could be this great with the best guided riding in the world stress free!
Monday 23rd July – Departure Day from Annecy
Includes: Breakfast, Airport Transfer
Unfortunately today is your departure day, PRACTICE BICYCLE are available to assist you with packing your bike ready for your onward journey from Annecy. Your team will say good bye this morning and transfer you to Geneva International Airport (Switzerland) for your midday departure.
PRACTICE BICYCLE wish you a “Bon Voyage”, safe cycling until we Practice bicycle together again.
*As with all the PRACTICE BICYCLE planned rides you always have the option of taking it easy and enjoying the comfort of the support vehicle and all the spectacle of the day at a more leisurely pace.
