Bridget’s favourite French Alps cycling routes come in all shapes and sizes or should we say all distances and variety of terrain. One thing is certain some will be your favourites also! The Rhone River bike tour takes you on a big loop away from the Grand Alps to explore the edge of the pre-Alps. Mostly all downhill for the first 30km and a wonderful way to start the day. Once we are riding by the Rhone River, we’ll take a café stop in the town of Seyssel, the ideal place to refuel before we push on with this great endurance ride. We could ride these traffic free roads all day as we arrive at our crossing point over the Rhone at the Barrage-de-Genissiat we better head back otherwise we could end up in Switzerland.
We haven’t ridden over any major col’s on this cycling tour route, although we have seen them in every direction. After years of discovering these roads you can appreciate with Bridget how you will accomplish a lot of work together on these favourite French Alps cycling roads.

The legs might be humming a little this morning after yesterday’s Rhone River cycling tour. It’s only to be expected and another reason that Practice Bicycle know the French Alps and Bridget specializes in tailoring the fully guided Womens French Alps bike tour experience just for you.
Today it’s an adventure into the rolling roads of this ‘Cycling Paradise’ small country roads ridden at the perfect pace, your pace. Crossing the medieval suspension bridge of Les Ponts de la Caille, we can take a café break together in the town of Cruseilles.
These great cycling roads are like a spiders web, with tiny lanes shooting off in all directions, local knowledge is everything to ensure everyday is a great day when cycling in the French Alps. Passing among the fruit growing farms this loop keeps you completely focused on the ever-changing landscape.
Could this be your favourite cycling landscape too?

This is a big one and our longest day on the bike together during the Favourite French Alps Cycling itinerary.
If Bridget’s favourites are a little tough for your cycling choice, we also have the less demanding option of the Challenging Alps Cycling Itinerary.
You will feel like your riding your own Tour de France stage with this huge loop, if your like Bridget she prefers the continuous cycling routes rather than the out and back on the same roads. The first half of today’s loop is mostly flat, valley floors all the way to the town of Albertville. We’ll have to stop here to refuel at one of our favourite Tea shops and I’m sure we can squeeze in one of Christophe’s amazing macaroons to keep our legs turning!
The next section of this loop is passing through the Savoie vineyards and these roads are perfect for tempo riding together before we arrive at the base of our days climb. It’s time for the small chainring and the Col du Frene (950m 9.6km @ average 6.9%), climbing alpine cols is about correct rhythm, technique and focus.
Discovery of this and every climb is fun with Bridget and Practice Bicycle Tours.

If our legs were humming a couple of days ago, this morning they may still be buzzing after our epic cycling route together yesterday. With last night’s opportunity for full recovery, stretching, dinner and sleep, the one perfect location comes into its own league.
Every moment of your Womens French Alps Cycling Tour is focused on quality bike riding and adequate time for relaxation and recovery. It’s how we take ourselves to the next level of cycling.
Don’t worry about the humming legs, it happens to all of us. Small chainring start to the day, comfortable tempo, chatting and looking at the Alps and before you know it we’re back in the cycling groove together.
Bridget included this route into her Favourite French Alps Cycling, as it’s based on a French Cyclo-Sportive event that she often used in her preparations for bigger goals later in the year. Enjoy this amazing cycling into the Grand Alps as you will be riding on the same roads as the famous Tour de France route.

We can’t get enough cycling together with our Womens Cycling Tours, although we certainly keep trying. We make new friends and discover new levels of our own cycling ability when we experience these great cycling adventures together.
Let’s enjoy one more of Bridget’s rides with your Favourite French Alps Cycling itinerary and a route around the famous mountain of Semnoz. This area surrounding the forest mountain has an unbelievable network of roads that are perfect for cycling. We can’t say we leave the most favourite ride until last because they are all our favourites and undoubtedly they will be your favourite rides also.
The views on our return to Annecy are a priceless way to complete our cycling tour and no picture can appreciate these panoramic images better than with your own eyes, smile and laugh together in the French Alps one more time.

Departure Day and Its unfortunately time for your Womens French Alps Cycling Tour adventures to draw to an end.

Practice Bicycle Tours wish you ‘Bon Voyage’, safe cycling until we PRACTICE BICYCLE together again

We are always spoilt for choice when it comes to picking and tailoring your Challenging Alps Cycling routes with so many Cols around Annecy some famous others not so well known. It’s also more interesting to see these amazing sights, delights and challenges in every direction, today we are heading North and following the edge of the Alps and the sheer rock face of the Tete du Parmelan.
These impressive panoramas of the mountains are part of your daily ride routine with Practice Bicycle Tours, today is no exception as we climb through the forest of the Col de Frettallaz (670m) and all the splendor of Alpine views. These secret country roads have everything from Chateaux’s to Plateau’s perfect to escape and appreciate all the pleasures from great cycling in the French Alps.
This historic area was a strong hold of the French Resistance during World War 2 and the Plateau Glieres has an impressive National Monument to the Resistance.
The climb of the Col des Fleuries (932m, 5.6km @ average 5%) is your challenge today enjoy the peace and tranquility of this Alpine region and the views of Switzerland in the distance.

After yesterday’s ride to the North, today we show you the contrast of this ‘Cycling Paradise’ as we explore some of the undulating roads to the West of Annecy, away from the Grand Alps and to one of France’s main rivers the Rhone.
Gently winding away from town we are on the very best cycling roads in the world and what feels like slightly downhill all the way as we are heading into the next valley dotted with local vineyards and amazing views. It’s only the vertical over hanging rocks of the valley road that separates you from the Rhone River and with the natural site of the Val du Fier we’re in a totally different landscape and area of France the department of L’Ain.
The Rhone is an impressive river system with changes in currents and colors a reflection of the hydro-electric power systems nearby. More impressive are the green shrouded mountains either side, referred to as the pre-Alps and often on the Tour de France routes, your Challenging Alps Cycling Col is one of these the Cote du Mont-des-Prince (696m 6km @ average 6.2%)
With today’s challenge complete enjoy quite traffic free roads returning to Lake Annecy with panoramic views all the way.

Today we have chosen one of the Practice Bicycle teams favorite climbs the Col du Marais, this challenge with its constant grade and relatively short duration makes it a French Alps pleasure for all!
This route like many of these amazing rides can be ridden from a variety of directions, we will head south down the valley following the side of Lake Annecy. Ready to take on your own Alps at your pace with the slopes of the Col du Marais (10km @ Average 4%, 843m Altitude), the air is fresh and the views are magnificent and you can experience for yourself why the French Alps are world famous!
Your little taste of the grandeur of the Alps continues descending through the village of Thones, a beautiful town and the center of the famous local “Reblochon” cheese production industry.
With all this cycling effort there is always a reward and today is no different with a favorite cafe and patisserie stop. Enjoy the rest of the ride as it’s nearly all downhill back to Annecy not forgetting unforgettable views all the way.

Riding on great roads is not just about the climbing, it’s about the view waiting for you at the top! The Practice Bicycle team are used to great views and can’t wait to share this one with you, with a panoramic view of the city of Geneva, Lake Leman and Switzerland.
Twisting country roads of France warm up the legs before we cross the Pont de la Caille, this medieval bridge was the only way of crossing the river Les Usses and getting to near by Geneva. We can see Mont Saleve waiting for us in the distance and our challenge for the day the Col des Pitons (1335m) 12km @ 4.5% ! It’s 1992 since the Tour de France passed over this climb, although most of the surrounding roads have seen the Grande Boucle in more recent years. This will be the longest Col on your Challenging Alps Cycling itinerary, allowing for plenty of time to enjoy the views and great cycling together.
Get your breath back and make the most of these valuable moments in time with spectacular panoramic views the perfect reward for this great bike ride.

Many of your bike rides from Annecy include Cols that have been included in the famous Tour de France bike race. We’re not leaving the best until last although you may think so! Your last ride with us starts with the Cote de Puget (796m, 5.4km @ average 5.9%) which was the first climb included in an epic final stage of the 2013 TDF which had a staggering 6 Cols finishing at the summit of the nearby giant of Semnoz.
Enjoy these scenic slopes and the incredible vista offered of the Lake as the road winds its way upwards, it’s a challenge and welcome relief to arrive at the farm village summit. Get your breath back as you have a second Col fast approaching the Col de Leschaux (944m, 3.6km @ average 6.1%). This Col can be climbed from several other directions and just another reason why we call the home of Practice Bicycle Tours, ‘Cycling Paradise’.
It is a fantastic experience with the Challenging Alps Cycling routes, enjoyable, challenging and an amazing sense of achievement riding these famous Cols, enjoy climbing together one last time to cap off a great week of your Alps cycling holiday.

Departure Day and Its unfortunately time for your French Alps Bike Tour adventures to draw to an end.
Practice Bicycle Tours wish you ‘Bon Voyage’, safe cycling until we PRACTICE BICYCLE together again

Challenging Alps Cycling Itinerary Distance 420km/260mi Elevation 4770m/15600ft Cols 8