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| 1: Mon, July 4 |
Arrive Lyon |
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We pick you up at the airport, transport you to Villard-Reculas (two hours from Lyon), and help you get your bike built up and ready to go. |
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| 2: Tues., July 5 |
Entraigues to la Source (41.5 km) |
Col d'Ornon (9.8 km at 4.8%, 2nd Cat.)
Villard - Reculas Road (9 km at 6%) |
This gentler climb preceded the final climb to les Deux Alpes (won by Santiago Botero) in the 2002 TdF. We'll tune up our legs and get a great view across the valley to Villard-Reculas, then practice our descending on the winding road down from the col. We finish with the steady climb from Allemont to Villard-Reculas; or, those in the mood can return via Alpe d'Huez. |
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| 3: Wed, July 6 |
RACE OPTION:
Prix des Grandes Rousses (40 km)
RIDE OPTION:
La Source to Vaujany (40 km or less) |
Alpe d'Huez, (14 km at 8%, HC); Vaujany (5.5 km at 6.5%) |
The first race in the Trophee de l'Oisans is 40 km from le Bourg d’Oisans to Alpe d’Huez, down to Villard-Reculas via the narrow Summer Road (you’ll pass right by la Source Chalet), then a big descent on the V-R road to Allemont, followed by the climb to the finish at the stylish ski village of Vaujany. A real TdF style mountain-top finish! |
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| 4: Thu, July 7 |
Bourg to la Berarde and back to Bourg (68 km) |
Venosc Climb (2.5 km at 10%)
St. Christophe Climb (3 km at 10%)All downhill on the way back! |
This is a favorite VLS ride on roads too narrow for the TdF to use. It's flat from Bourg along the river to Venosc, then there are two short, sharp climbs topping off in the village of St. Christophe, home to the Alpine mountaineering museum. The road simply ends in la Berarde, which is the jumping off point for serious climbing on la Meige glacier in le Parc National des Ecrins. We'll have lunch at a lovely inn in la Berarde before enjoying the mostly downhill cruise back to Bourg and a van ride up to la Source. As always, those feeling frisky can ride home via the Alpe. |
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| 5: Fri, July 8 |
La Source to Glandon and Croix de Fer and back to la Source |
Col du Glandon (28 km at 4.5%, 1st Cat.) and
Croix de Fer |
We'll roll out from la Source down the V-R road to Allemont, then take on the long, steady climb to the twin cols of le Glandon and Croix de Fer, which are separated by only a few kilometres. This was the start of stage 17 from le Bourg d'Oisans to le Grand Bornand in the 2004 Tour, where Floyd Landis worked like a mule for Lance Armstrong, and Armstrong took the stage in a sprint from Kloden. For us, the views along the Barrage de Grand Maison are stunning, as is the summit of Croix de Fer, from which one can see all the way to Mont Blanc on a clear day. |
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| 6: Sat, July 9 |
RACE OPTION:
la Marmotte (174 km)
RIDE OPTION:
Les Deux Alpes
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RACE OPTION:
Croix de Fer (28 km at 4.5%, 1st Cat.); le Telegraphe (12 km at 6.8%, 2nd Cat.); Col du Galibier (18.3 km at 6.8%, HC) Alpe d'Huez (14 km at 8%, HC)
RIDE OPTION:
les Deux Alpes (11.2 km at 6.4%, 1st Cat.)
Alpe d'Huez, partial (10 km at 8%, HC) or
Villard - Reculas Road (9 km at 6%) |
RACE OPTION: The second race in the Trophee de l'Oisans is the Big One: 174 km from le Bourg d’Oisans, over le Croix de Fer, down to the Maurienne Valley, up to Telegraphe and Galibier, down to Lautaret and le Bourg d’Oisans, then back up to the summit of Alpe d’Huez. VLS will be there in the feed zones to keep you fueled, and at the finish to “catch” you and whisk you off to massage.
RIDE OPTION: We'll take it right from la Source through the valley to the summit of les Deux Alpes, where Botero won in 2002. We'll have lunch at the summit, then return via the Villard-Reculas Road.
REST DAY: Those who wish a day off can install themselves on Alpe d'Huez to watch the competition of la Marmotte. |
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| 7: Sun, July 10 |
RACE:
la Montée de l’Alpe (14 km)
RIDE: Alpe d'Huez (14 km) |
Alpe d'Huez, (14 km at 8%, HC) |
RACE OPTION: This is the ultimate in coffee shop bragging rights: a 14 km time trial up Alpe d’Huez on the exact time trial course as Stage 16 of the 2004 Tour de France. You probably won’t break the record of 37 mins., but you’ll be doing great if you break an hour. We encourage everybody to put on a number and take on this once-in-a-lifetime time trial. Nobody cares how slow or fast you go; it's just for fun!
RIDE OPTION: Ride up Alpe d'Huez without a number on. VLS will have a barbecue picnic going all day on the Alpe. When you finish riding, meet us there for Chef's great food and plenty of good cheer. We're partying to celebrate your personal victory on the Alpe! |
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| 8: Mon, July 11 |
Rest Day. |
Rest Day. |
Rest Day. |
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| 9: Tue, July 12 |
Tour Viewing:
Summit of Courchevel
Ride: Col de la Madeleine or Salins-les-Thermes to Courchevel 2000 |
Courchevel, (21.8 km at 6.3%, HC) |
We'll take the vans from la Source to the summit of the Col de la Madeleine, about 2.5 hours drive. From here, we'll unload the bikes for the long descent to Salins-les-Thermes, the official start of the climb to the ski station at Courchevel. (Those wishing a shorter ride can stay with the van until Salins, or part way up the climb, depending upon road closures.) From Salins it's the tough climb to the very summit, where we'll find the VLS-K2 Bikes tent, our warmups, and a picnic lunch. We'll watch the finish at Courchevel 2000, then descend to Salins for the van ride back to la Source. |
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| 10: Wed, July 13 |
Tour Viewing:
Summit of Galibier
Ride: Bourg to Lautaret (38.5 km) or Galibier (47.5 km) and back to Bourg (77 or 95 km) |
Col de Lautaret (25.5 km at 4%, 1st Cat.)
Col du Galibier (9 km at 6.7%, HC) |
This climb was the first on the epic Stage 10 from Bourg to Gap, on which Beloki crashed out, Lance went cyclocross, and Vinokourov soloed to victory. Lautaret is a long, steady climb with stunning views of la Meige and only a couple of hard stretches. But then there's the Galibier, 9 more hard ks to the summit, passing the monument to the Tour's founder, Henri Desgrange. (Those who are tired from yesterday can get a van ride to Lautaret and just take on the final climb to the summit.) At the summit we'll find the VLS-K2 Bikes tent and a picnic lunch. We'll watch the peloton come over the highest point of the Tour de France, then descend to the Col de Lautaret for the van ride back to la Source. Those feeling frisky can ride all the way home (it's mostly downhill). |
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| 11: Thu, July 14 |
Depart Lyon |
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We transport you to the airport with a heavy heart. |
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Thank you to all 2005 guests who made our trips a smashing success this year!
questions? contact us! |
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