Porte Wins Criterium Dauphine 2021

Ritchie Porte Wins Criterium Dauphine 2021

With Covid 19 restrictions impacting freedom of movement and cycling holiday plans placed on hold we were all disappointed that we were not live on the roadside to cheer and witness Ritchie Porte’s fantastic victory at this years Dauphine.

Watching the ‘Aussie Warrior’ competing in the French Alps over the years, with great performances and attacking racing has been a highlight of our live bike race viewing experiences.

Ritchie Porte Wins Criterium Dauphine 2021, congratulations Ritchie!

Thursday 3rd June – View the Criterium du Dauphine Stage 5 Saint-Chamond > Saint-Vallier (Alps)
Ride Options:
Distance 42km/26mi Ascent 400m/1300ft route Rhone
Distance 73km/45mi Ascent 550m/1800ft route Châteauneuf-de-Galaure
Distance 105km/65mi Ascent 920m/3000ft route Vercors
Inclusions: Breakfast, Dauphine Rhone Restaurant Lunch
When the organisation was planning the 2021 Criterium Dauphine route it was certainly all about the climbers. We pick up the action on stage 5 as the peloton reaches halfway across the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region in this year’s stage race.
Transferring by vehicle this morning we start our cycling adventures on the roads of the Drome. It’s time for the action to really hot up with four consecutive superb mountain stages, its amazing cycling terrain and you will experience the very best riding and race viewing with this unique event, with new routes and climbs on offer in a format that will surprise the best professionals in the world on the roads of the Rhone-Alps this June.
Every day the action promises to get more exciting as we head to the live race action along this challenging route with 5 short but intense climbs towards the finish line on the banks of the Rhone river.
We’ll have time to relax and reward ourselves with superb lunch flavours of the Rhone Valley together before the world stars of cycling arrive at their maximum limits at this year’s Dauphine.

Friday 4th June – View the Criterium du Dauphine Stage 6 Loriol-sur-Drôme > Le Sappey-en-Chartreuse (Alps)
Ride Option:
Distance 40km/25mi Ascent 800m/2600ft route Chartreuse
Distance 63km/39mi Ascent 1300m/4300ft route Voiron
Distance 110km/68mi Ascent 1800m/5900ft route Chambery
Inclusions: Breakfast, Grenoble Restaurant Lunch
This could be considered the Alpine warm-up stage although like yesterday full of difficult terrain for the race peloton as they head into the Chartreuse Regional Nature Park.
Great roads for our cycling adventures to catch up with all the action of stage 6 in this wilderness park in the Chartreuse Mountains between the two key towns of Chambery and Grenoble. We will ease our legs into this year’s Dauphine with these fantastic roads and if you are as fired up as the professional cyclists then hit the slopes of the categorised col to test your own legs during your fantastic cycling holiday. This will be the first real test for the stars of cycling looking to win this year’s yellow jersey!
With all our specialty bike race tours, we cannot wait to share great cycling with you and great local flavours each day on route with a classic restaurant lunch, try the local ‘Ravioles du Royans’ you’ll love it! Superb cycling, wonderful French food and first-class world tour race viewing this has to be the perfect cycling day in the Alps. We will return to Annecy by support vehicle for you to enjoy your evening in one of France’s finest towns.

Saturday 5th June – View the Criterium du Dauphine Stage 7 Saint-Martin-Le-Vinoux > La Plagne (Alps)
Ride Option:
Distance 45km/28mi Ascent 100m/330ft route Albertville
Distance 63km/39mi Ascent 700m/2300ft route Beaufortain Valley
Distance 90km/56mi Ascent 1750m/5700ft route Grand AlpsInclusions: Breakfast, Beaufortain Restaurant Lunch
Riding from your Hotel we have unbelievable views all way as we head out of ‘Cycling Paradise’ with the turquoise waters of Lake Annecy this breathtaking backdrop has to be the most idyllic way to start the best bike ride of your life!

The race organisation has made this a challenging weekend in the French Alps for this year’s Criterium Dauphine route with 2 HC category climbs on stage 7, it will certainly test every muscle fibre to the limit for the winner of the 2021 Criterium du Dauphine.
Today takes the professionals over 2000m elevation on two occasions, full of classic alpine cols throughout the route in the Aravis Mountain Range. This is Practice Bicycle Tours backyard since 1998 and we cannot wait to share these spectacular cycling roads with you. Riding the race route, enjoy this amazing scenery at the perfect pace, your pace! Heading into the Grand Alps with your own magnificent ride and supported all the way by the local professional guides with a choice of ride options, tailored to your cycling ability.
With our own cycling done for the day and at your ‘unique live viewing spot’ in the Alps your team has thought of everything for you, get your breath back and enjoy your Alpine lunch at one of our favourite restaurants and all the action of the Criterium Dauphine. Should you have not pedalled enough, the options are endless…ride some more or return to Annecy by support vehicle with plenty of time for you to relax ready for more Criterium race action tomorrow.

Sunday 6th June – View the Criterium du Dauphine Stage 8 La Léchère-Les-Bains > Les Gets (Alps)
Ride Options:
Distance 48km/30mi Ascent 1300m/4300ft route Le Grand Bornand
Distance 70km/43mi Ascent 1800m/5900ft route Col de la Croix-Fry
Distance 105km/65mi Ascent 2210m/7200ft route Gorges de l’Arly
Inclusions: Breakfast, Dauphine French Alps Lunch

Today is our last superb ride opportunity together during your Dauphine week straight from your Hotel door. The value of the one location really comes into its own with one final adventure as we again head deep into the Grand Alps…it must be experienced to be believed, if you still have your uphill pedalling legs!
Will the Criterium winner be already decided or can the best climbers in the world challenge each other just one more time over this final classic French Alps tour stage?
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 Criterium Dauphine in 2021. Flexibility with our premium small group allows for the absolute best ride options; why not test your legs with a classic cycling col…before descending in time for an Alpine recovery lunch simply perfect!
Once refreshed we are at the ideal spot to end a great week of memorable riding together, it’s time to relax and enjoy the rest of this special day and one last moment to absorb the professional peloton in the Alps!
Return to Annecy by support vehicle or take advantage of the euphoria of ‘Cycling Paradise’ with breathtaking views cycling all the way back to Annecy!