Classic Climbs: The Tour

Today you confront one of the Pyrénées’ legendary mountain passes: the mighty Col du Tourmalet. Cruise for a few miles along the valley floor following the river to Pierrefitte-Nestalas before climbing gently through the Gorges de Luz. With dramatic jagged cliffs above and a lively bubbling stream below, this section of the ride is incredibly picturesque. You'll ascend Tourmalet from the Barèges side - the same side the pros approached in 2012 and the finish line for Stage 14 in 2019. This climb is where Andy Schleck and Alberto Contador confronted each other in the fog in 2010’s deciding mountaintop finish. From here, you’ll descend to climb over the Col d’Aspin to the town of Saint Lary-Soulan. Or, if you still have power in your legs, ride one more climb up the Pla d’Adet, with an 8% average grade over the six-mile climb and grades reaching up to 12%. This afternoon make sure to visit the spa of the hotel before getting together with the group to enjoy a dinner at the comfortable location of our hotel restaurant.

This morning, you’ll rise early, bidding adieu to the mountains of the Pyrénées and beginning the day's transfer to Provence and the home of Mont Ventoux. Take some time to rest, relax, and watch the scenery change from the Pyrenean mountain landscapes to the vibrant lavender fields of Provence. This afternoon, with Ventoux as your backdrop, you’ll ride through the vineyard-covered hillsides from one sleepy village to another. If you’d rather take a day off the bike to linger in one of Provence’s quaint villages or take a dip in the pool, your guides are always ready to accommodate. Tonight your home will be in the Château de Mazan, once frequented by the notorious Marquis de Sade. You and your travel companions will be treated to your first Provençal meal at the hotel’s fantastic restaurant.

Featured meal:

La Cour du Château, Château de Mazan

Enjoy a bistro-style dinner in the beautiful setting of the hotel's farm-to-table restaurant which celebrates the riches and simplicity of the local region and its delicious ingredients. The restaurant's celebrated chef creates seasonal menus that use locally sourced ingredients, many coming from suppliers located in the same town of Mazan itself, as well as the surrounding Vaucluse region, and never further than 100 kilometres away. Here they focus on highlighting the mouth-watering traditions of Provence in a contemporary style.

Prepare yourself for epic scenery and legendary riding today! The challenge is the mighty Mont Ventoux - 13.42 miles of climbing with no flat sections and an average grade of 10% through the middle 6.2 miles before you hit the moonscape. What makes this climb challenging is not just the ride itself but also the weather. Intense winds or scorching heat can make this climb seem a hundred times more difficult than those found in the Alps. Your day will start early to give you the best opportunity to have a stellar climb. After taking a picture at the top to memorialize achieving this feat, you’ll descend to Malaucène to enjoy a bistro lunch where you can relax and refuel before spinning back to the hotel. This evening, you and your travel companions can explore this charming Provençal village and dine in the bistro of your choice.

This morning you’ll rise early and say "au revoir" to the lavender fields of Provence to focus on your next destination - the majestic Alps. After a scenic three and a half hour transfer, you’ll gear up to tackle the next classic climbs: Télégraphe and Galibier. Now the Tour's most visited mountain pass, the peloton first ascended Galibier in 1911. Take on the same route as the pros and understand just what makes the double ascent so tough! Challenging and beautiful, this is one of the great rides of the French Alps. If you're up to it, throw in the Lacets de Montvernier, featured in 2018 Tour de France, for some additional miles. After cresting the top of Galibier, you have a beautiful and fast descent to the town of La Grave and our hotel for the night, Hotel Edelweiss. This evening, you’ll be treated to a cycling-friendly dinner so you can retreat to your bed in time to rest up for tomorrow’s special day.

This morning, you begin by cycling one of the Tour’s most famous climbs and descents, the Col du Lautaret and descent to Briançon. Here is where Alberto Contador and Alexander Vinokourov won some of their most heralded Tour stages. Once in Briançon, make your way to the Vallée de la Clarée, with its quiet roads and stunning scenery. After a short climb over Col de l’Echelle, you'll descend into Bardonecchia, Italy for lunch. Enjoy the superb Italian food and coffee, and a quick taste of what makes Italy so magical. Later, you have the option to tackle both climbs again or alternatively opt for a shuttle back to La Grave. Tonight you are free to explore La Grave to find a great restaurant to refuel before more stunning climbs tomorrow!

Welcome to another day of thigh burning climbs and rapid descents. You'll start your day with a gentle descent and incredible views from La Grave, en route to the epic Col du Glandon, which was first featured in the 1947 Tour and showcased again in Stage 19 of 2013. The base of the col is at the Lac du Verney, which often hosts the swim of the Alpe d’Huez triathlon. From there, you'll ascend 3,770 feet over 15 miles. At the top, you’ve earned the fresh alpine air and dramatic mountain views this remote area affords for the short time the road is open from June to October. As always, your Trek Travel guides will have refreshments and snacks available for you to rest and refuel. If you have the legs, continue up another mile and a half to the summit of nearby Col de la Croix de Fer, featured last in the 2018 Tour de France. After a satisfying mountain lunch, enjoy an incredible descent and the last climb back to our hotel in Alpe d’Huez. Tonight, explore the village of Alpe d’Huez for dinner and celebrate the week’s exploits so far.

It's time. The moment you have been waiting for: the classic ascent of Alpe d'Huez, the most revered and famous mountaintop finish in France. With an average grade of 8% and 21 hairpin bends, this lion of a climb will grab and hold all your attention. You'll descend onto the route made famous in the 2013 Tour over the Col de Sarenne to take in the beauty of the mountains and to imagine the pros descending this small and narrow road, before we reach the final climb of the trip, Alpe d’Huez. The ultimate grand finale ride, this climb was first included in the Tour in 1952, and it's often one of the most exciting points in the race as the pros dance on their pedals to the summit. Take a photo on the summit podium and relax over lunch at the top of this mighty mountain as you soak up the reward of the grueling ascent: astounding views. Tonight, gather with your traveling companions and guides to raise a glass to the Tour, the legendary riding that makes it famous, heroes past and present, and your incredible cycling tour of the Alps and Pyrenees!

It's truly been an amazing trip, and you're sure to return home a different cyclist, changed forever by the experience. It's time to say farewell to your guides and fellow riders at 9:00 AM at the hotel lobby before boarding your shuttle to Grenoble train station.