Dec 2018 Ventoux & the Gorge

A wonderful, flexible cycling holiday in spring or autumn, exploring , the beautiful Verdon Gorge and, of course, Ventoux! Summary

WHERE: Provence DISTANCE: To suit you TIME : 6 days on the bike PRICE : see website

Ventoux & the Verdon Gorge This flexible road cycling itinerary has been carefully crafted to give you the opportunity to cycle the best of Provence, in the South of , during Spring and Autumn seasons, when the weather is cooler and ideal for cycling. A Classic Cols style holiday, you can expect our usual route DATES: May/Jun/Sep choices, Classic or Challenge, depending on how much or little you want to be on the bike. As well as cycling the highlights of Highlights the Verdon Gorge and the ascent of Ventoux, you will also explore Provence’s quieter and most beautiful routes. This holiday is ideal for mixed ability groups or couples. Those on the Classic route Flexible itinerary to suit can expect to cycle an average of 90km/day with about 1,408m everyone ascent. The optional extras that upgrade it to the Challenge route mean an average possible distance of 124km/day with 2,217m Cycle Verdon Gorge & ascent. Ventoux! Regardless of which route you go for (perhaps a few days of either!) this week is definitely a 'holiday' and riding on the quiet 2 customised support roads through the stunning mountain scenery and along the gorge roads is a joy. The views are far reaching and dramatic, and vehicles & experienced, the sense of achievement as you summit these climbs really is energetic guides something. We also offer summer Classic Cols holidays in Corsica, Sardinia, Fabulous 3 and 4* hotels Catalonia, the Picos, Alps, Dolomites and the Pyrenees too, so you throughout may want to compare; for a winter alternative, check out our Classic Cols of Gran Canaria or the gentler Classic Cols of Tenerife. Ventoux & the Verdon Gorge 1 Dec 2018

in a North-East direction towards Verdon, your Itinerary destination for the day. Passing through these sleepy Provencal villages, Day 0 - Travel Out we recommend pausing to sample traditional patisseries before cycling off any excess calories Included transfers from Marseille Airport to the en route to your hotel on the edge of the Lac de start hotel in Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume Sainte-Croix, in the heart of the Verdon National (transfer 1hour). Assemble your bikes and Park. The scenery is asking to be admired, cool depending on your arrival time, go for an beer in hand, but for those choosing to do the exploratory spin. Welcome briefing and a great Challenge option today, there is a ‘cheeky’ climb dinner will follow. known locally as Montée D9. Maybe not such a catchy name but a suitable feather to add to your Day 01: St Maximin to Lac de Sainte- casquette nonetheless! Croix Provence is amazing for cycling, with an Classic route extensive network of quiet roads, pretty St Maximin to Lac de St Croix (85km with villages, diverse forests, gorges and turquoise 1,2050m ascent) reservoirs. Today’s ride offers you a little taste of everything the area has to offer. You’ll spend the Challenge route majority of your day on quiet and rolling roads, St Maximin to Lac de St Croix + Montée D9 (95km winding your way through forest and scrub land with 1,400m ascent) Classic Route

Challenge Route

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Day 02: Day Ride into Verdon Gorge course, the giant of Provence, Mt Ventoux, your ultimate destination. For those chasing the Considered by many as the most beautiful Challenge options, a visit to the region would not in Europe, the Verdon Gorge is a real gem. The be complete without conquering Mt Ventoux’s road that hugs the cliffs of the gorge is an ‘little sister’ – the Montagne de Lure, up at 1745m, amazing feat of engineering and today you get with it’s views to the North into the Hautes-Alpes to appreciate every km of it! With shear drops to region. the side of over 500m, big views and some sneaky climbs, today is set to be one of the most memorable rides of your life. Warming up on the Tonight we stay in the majestic pre-Roman town gentle slopes of the Source de Vaumale (1202m), of Sisteron with it’s narrow cobbled streets and you enter the gorge proper for some stunning magnificent Vauban fortifications, sat in the pedalling. Cycling doesn’t really get any better shadows of the impressively ravined Rocher de la than this! You leave the gorge for a short while, Baume mountain. With a somewhat ‘flatter’ (yes, but only to take in some of the surrounding it is all relative!) day of cycling behind you, we highlights such as the forgiving slopes of Col foresee arriving with plenty of time to spare, d’Ayen (1031m), before returning again to affording you the opportunity to stretch your legs drink your fill of magnificent gorge scenery and a and experience some local history. fabulous descent. Classic route Those choosing the Challenge option today head Moustiers St Marie to Sisteron (102km with on to the incredible Route des Crêtes du Verdon 1100m ascent) (1320m), for even more of the spectacular views to be had. Challenge route Moustiers St Mairie to Sisteron + Montagne de Classic route Lure (126km with 2300m ascent) Verdon Gorge, + Col d’ayen (88km with 1700m ascent) Day 04: Sisteron to Malaucene & Vineyards of Gigondas Challenge route Verdon Gordge + Cretes du Verdon (108km with Todays route takes you to the pretty village of 2300m ascent) Sault via Col de la Pigière (968m) and Col de Macuègne (1068m) – drawing cyclists from far and wide for the alluring views of Ventoux that Day 03: Moustiers Set Marie to it’s slopes reward. Sisteron You start today with a couple of minor Suitably caffeinated, you leave Sault to join a undulations and a swift descent before the winding narrow road that hugs the cliffs of the landscape eventually opens out to reveal wide Gorges de la Nesque, descending gently through open plains of never-ending fields of lavender a series of short tunnels hewn out of the rock. and sunflowers. Dominating the horizon is, of

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This road is one of highlights of the region and Challenge route draws cyclists and photographers from miles Col du Perty, Col St Jean + Cote de Bluye (143km around for it’s magnificent riding and views of with 2200m ascent) the valley below. Once through the gorge, a few undulations take you via Bédoin to your hotel in Malaucene. I know you are on holiday, but there is Day 06: The iconic Mont Ventoux no escaping the tough decisions: to relax by the Mont Ventoux has featured heavily in the Tour de pool, meander into the centre of town, or tag on France world since it was first included over 60 an additional 52kms in the hills to the West on years ago. It became infamous when it claimed the ‘Gigondas’ loop – taking in some beautiful the life of the British rider Tom Simpson in 1967 vineyards and rural villages, and adding 700m of and has since become a Mecca for cyclists (and ascent. now runners, see Chris Froome 2016!) from all over the world wanting to battle body and mind The hotel Domaine de Tilleuls is one of our firm up this iconic, arid, rocky moonscape of a favourites so you are here for the next 3 nights. mountain.

Classic route We’ll focus our attention this week on the most Col de la Pigière, Col de Macuegne + Gorges de la popular sides of this iconic climb, from Bedoin Nesque (116km with 1600m ascent) and Sault, descending back down to Malaucene from the summit.

Challenge route The Classic route takes on the ascent from Col de la Pigière, Col de Macuegne, Gorges de la Bedoin via the petit (Col de Madeleine 451m) Nesque + Gigondas loop (163 with 2300m ascent) whilst the Challenge route climbs the Bedoin side via Col de Madaleine, before heading back down Day 05: Ride from Malaucene: Parc from the summit for one last climb up from Sault. Regional des Baronnies Provencales Classic route The routes outlined for day 5 & 6 are Petit Col de Madeleine + Ventoux (55km with interchangeable, depending on the weather 1700m ascent) forecast. But one thing is guaranteed – you are going to have a great final two days out on your bike! The mountains to the north of Ventoux are Challenge route often overlooked, but as you will discover, they Petit Col de Madeleine + Ventoux (twice!) (106km are stunningly beautiful. with 2800m ascent)

Our excursion into the Parc regional des Day 07 - Travel Back Baronnies Provencales takes you over the Côte de We offer included transfers from Malaucene back Bluye (578m), whilst the Challenge option to Marseille Airport (1hr 30mins) - read on for detours early into the ride to take on the Col du more detail about your travel options. Perty (1302m) and the Col St-Jean (1158m).

Classic route Cote de Bluye (194km with 1100m ascent)

Ventoux & Verdon Gorge 4 Dec 2018 Navigation Am I too fit? You will see the van and your guides regularly so Have a quick peek at page 2 of this document - navigation does not tend to be an issue on our the week’s profile of the Challenge Route. This Classic Cols itineraries. We provide you with should reassure you that even if you are a very fit colour maps and altitude profiles, as well as and experienced road cyclist, there will be plenty detailed directions of where to go. Our guides to entertain you on this holiday. will even aim to be at those ‘easy to miss’ junctions. With our choice of routes each day, you have the opportunity to cycle all day and every day of the For those of you with GPS units, we have GPS holiday, as you so desire, making yourself very files available, provided a few weeks prior to your tired indeed! If you do our Challenge Route each trip, in .gpx, and .tcx formats. day then you are looking at 741km with 13300m of ascent during your week, a comparable amount of The files can be downloaded onto any Garmin ascent to the Raid Pyrenean. This Challenge unit and in their most basic form provide a route, to allow you to compare, is probably our 'purple line' to follow, however with the more easiest Challenge route in terms of overall ascent recent units you will also receive a set of visual so perhaps a good goal for those who normally instructions as you approach a turning. Our GPS stick to the Classic ? tracks take you from hotel to hotel and are updated regularly. What is so about this range of holidays is that you can come along with people who are either less or more experienced than you and you can each get out of it what you want by choosing Am I fit Enough? the daily routes for you. It is normal (and only right) that you should consider whether or not you are fit enough for a cycling holiday in the mountains. Pacing and Training We have created our Classic Cols range of As with all sports holidays, the fitter you are the holidays in order to open up the world of road more you can relax and enjoy the stunning route cycling in the mountains to those who may not have experienced it before. This itinerary It can be difficult finding extended climbs for the particularly, warms you up gently to the altitude, training in the UK, but generally if you can build the extended and to the technique of up your comfort on the bike (ideally on descending. consecutive days) and your stamina and cardio vascular fitness generally, then you will really This Classic Route is an achievable goal for benefit when it comes to the holiday itself. regular cyclists who have never climbed a mountain on a bike before, and either our As well as training before the holiday, pacing Pyrenean Classic Cols or our CC of Tenerife yourself will go a long way towards you achieving holiday would both be a great starting place. your goals. The joy of a group holiday is that you This holiday fits firmly into the ‘centre’ of our are likely to find someone to cycle at a similar Classic Cols range, with the Alpine and pace to you so you don’t need to try and keep up Dolomites routes being considered the harder of with your partner/friend/room mate. The the summer CC choices and Gran Canaria being quickest way to injure yourself or burn out is to the more challenging of the winter itineraries. cycle faster than you feel comfortable going.

Our vehicles and guides are on hand to support We can’t emphasise enough that this is your you on your holiday and can offer advice, moral holiday and so if you want a lift up the hill for support and lifts in the van if you are tired. whatever reason, then that is fine by us.

Our goal at Marmot Tours is to create on your cycling holiday an ambiance of non competitive cycling with no pressure to ‘keep up’ with anyone else. It is about achieving your own individual goals and having a fabulous time doing it.

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Strava Guiding Many cyclists nowadays are using apps like “This trip was fabulous and made by the Strava and Garmin Connect to track their awesome..the small things and attention to progress, and to compare themselves to their detail really made a big difference” H Gray peers using ‘segments’, for instance. Supporting you on your holiday will be 2 of our These apps make for great training tools and highly experienced, fun, approachable and interesting post-ride analysis but there are knowledgeable guides. Despite being passionate obvious risks associated with competitive about cycling, both guides will be in support vans cycling styles, pushing yourself beyond your as this holiday is all about you and your needs. usual tolerance, and focusing on live feed Between them they will know the area, speak the information whilst on the bike. language and be skilled in bike mechanics.

We therefore encourage our clients to avoid Having two vehicles per group is what allows us such ‘Live Segment’ features when cycling on to offer you freedom to cycle at your own pace a Marmot Tours holiday or Challenge, and a level of independence on this holiday. One especially descending, and to focus on the van stays on the Classic Route and one van road at all times. covers the Challenge Route. Due to the distances involved, those cyclists doing the full challenge route may need to be more independent than the less experienced cyclists on the Classic Route. Gearing/Bikes Our guides are experts at advising you on the routes, where you can expect to see the van, and The climbs are not particularly steep (compared what you might need with you. to a lot of hills in the UK), but they do go on for a very long time. It is best to make sure that your In the event that you need help for a mechanical bike will be suitable for your strength/fitness. (for example) there are 2 vans on the road so one will be able to quickly get to you with full tool Most people 'get away with' a compact (smallest kits, spare back wheels and even a spare bike. We ring on front having 34 teeth), with the largest hope you won’t need us for anything serious but ring on the rear cassette having 27 teeth. If you being prepared for all eventualities is what we do are worried about getting up the hill then the exceptionally well. cheapest way to get even lower gears is to change your rear cassette and chain. Campag, Shimano You can expect to see a support van with its and SRAM produce 11 speed 32 toothed cassettes water, snacks and your personal day bags 2 - 4 that will get you up anything! For most of these times a day so you don’t need to carry much on big cassettes you may need to have fitted a rear your bike unless the weather is exceptional! derailleur with a long reach. “Just coming down to earth now after an You may already have a triple fitted on your bike. unforgettable week of amazing scenery and new If so, great! You will appreciate being able to friendships made”. R Bill drop down to a granny gear and twiddle your way up the steeper sections.

If this all sounds too complicated then we do have some fabulous titanium framed bikes for hire, which are fitted out with SRAM 50-34 at the front with a 11 speed 11 - 32 toothed cassettes - perfect for our tours.

Ventoux & Verdon Gorge 6 Dec 2018 Snacks Group Dynamics Your support van aka snack-shop will be well stocked with a variety of tasty delectables: cereal Your group will be any number up to a maximum bars, cakes, fresh fruit (bananas obviously!), of 20 clients. This max. number works really well dried fruit & nuts & sweets are the staples. We - it’s big enough for you to find others to cycle suggest you bring your own favourite energy with at your pace but not so huge as to feel powders/gels/bars with you as these will not be impersonal! We get lots of clients booking alone easily available en route and we find clients are and lots of small groups of friends. If you think quite brand specific in terms of what they like. you can get a group of 17 - 20 people together, then we can offer you a custom departure date. Dinner We love that we also get a really big variety in We eat as a group in the evening in the hotel terms of cycling experience… from club cyclists, restaurants. Expect 3 or 4 courses (and generous people training for other events, those raising portions) which are tailored to the needs of money for charity, ex-pro cyclists and people who cyclists . Dinner will be served at around 19.30. are relatively new to cycling who like to try Wine at dinner is included every night, including something new on holiday. the last celebratory evening. Coffees/soft drinks and beers are not included (we’d be broke!) Accommodation Special diets Please contact us with any special dietary We stay in three 4* hotels with en suite facilities. requirements. We need to give our hotels plenty The hotels have been selected for their excellent of warning and need clients to firmly be either location, their ambiance, and their customer vegetarian (for example) for the trip or not - they service towards cyclists. You will be sharing a (and the guides) find it hard if clients are twin room with another client (of the same vegetarian for some meals and not for others. gender) unless you book a single room for a Coeliacs and other intolerances can also be supplement (contact [email protected] provided for and we can communicate with you for availability). Each hotel has a garage/locked individually and prepare to make sure you have room to ensure that your trusty steed has a the right food throughout your trip. comfortable night too. Two of the hotels (5 nights) have a pool and spa facilities with massage available to book in advance. What’s Included? Food • 6 days supported riding Breakfast • Airport transfers @ specified times No surprise that this is the crucial meal of the • Route notes/directions/maps/GPS files day. Expect a well supplied breakfast buffet which we supplement with Dorset Cereals and fruit. • 7 nights half board 3 or 4* accommodation & Most hotels offer cheese & meats for your protein table wine @ dinner, including last night kick start. • 2 customised & well stocked vehicles with Lunches experienced guides, offering moral, You know what you like to eat when you are mechanical & medical support, plus snacks & riding, and it is not likely to be the same as what water the other guys and gals in your group will want to • 750ml Marmot Tours water bidon x 1 and eat. We don’t include lunches so there are no Marmot Tours Ride Guard (2018) enforced group stops. We strongly advise that you stop for ‘proper’ food at lunchtime. Each day we recommend a suitable place serving cyclist friendly food which is great for you, and they appreciate your custom. We will be sure to have a van there so you can have your midday faff!

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Start & End Hotels Airport Transfers 2019 Start: Le Couvent Royal, Saint Maximin la Sainte Baume, France (+33 494865566) Transfers from and to Marseille-Provence airport (MRS) are included in the holiday price. The End: Le Domaine de Tilleuls, Route de Mont- transfers times around 1 hour at the start of the Ventoux, Malaucène, France (+33 490652231) trip and 1 hr 45 at the end of the trip.

If you arrive earlier than the transfer time then you will need to wait at the airport for your pick Travel up. If flights are delayed then transfers may also Marmot Tours includes airport transfers from the be delayed. If flights are significantly delayed or most convenient airport for the start of your trip. cancelled then you may need to get public Transfers are timed to fit in with as many flights transport to the start hotel and make a claim on from as many regional airports as possible - we your insurance or to your airline. are slaves to the airline timetables! You will find our most up to date transfer times on the Holiday Details page on the Link (once Under your own you’ve made your booking). If you need to know the timings before booking, please get in touch steam… via email: [email protected]. If you are going to meet us at the start hotel or are leaving independently at the end of your trip to go on elsewhere then do let us know and we 2020 Airport Transfers may be able to help you with your travel plans. Please hold off booking your flights for 2020 as If you are travelling long haul for your holiday, we won’t have fixed our new transfer times until then we recommend arriving a day early in order all airlines have released their new flight to get over any jet lag before you start cycling. schedules. We expect to publish them in towards the end of October 2019.

Ventoux & Verdon Gorge 8 Dec 2018 Insurance Bike Hire Holiday insurance is essential for all Marmot Marmot Tours has an excellently maintained Tours trips. Anyone without insurance is not fleet of custom built titanium framed bikes able to take part in the cycle so please make sure available to rent for your holiday. Advantages you arrange cover. We recommend sorting your of rental include: insurance when you book so that if you have problems during training and need to cancel, • avoiding hefty fees levied by airlines for you are covered. transport

Your insurance needs to cover you for non- • worry free travel (knowing your trusty steed is competitive road cycling (cycle touring) with the safely stored away at home!) following fairly standard inclusions: • the chance to try a titanium bike built - Medical Expenses specifically with climbing cols in mind - Repatriation (gearing!)

Some clients also like to ensure they have the • relinquishing responsibility for cleaning and following optional items: maintenance to our experienced team.

- Cancellation cover Prices: £40/day on the bike including an - Loss or damage to their bike. insurance fee and VAT. For full spec and dimensions, please see our website’s Bike Hire NB if you are hiring a bike from us there is an page insurance element in the fee so you will not need additional cover.

We will ask you to complete a form with your policy number and emergency contact details for the trip but in the meantime we don’t need any confirmation of your cover.

Ventoux & Verdon Gorge 9 Dec 2018 for Tour Operators. Marmot Tours holds a Tour Operators License (IM009120008) awarded by Financial Protection ATOUT (July 2012) Marmot Tours are members of ABTA, the Association of British Travel Agents. For further information about ABTA, the Code of Conduct and the arbitration scheme available to ABTA and ABTA members help holidaymakers to you if you have a a complaint, please contact get the most from their travel and assist them ABTA, 30 Park St, London, SE1 9EQ (Tel 0203 117 when things do not go according to plan. 0500)

As part of our membership contract we are obliged to maintain a high standard of service to you by ABTA's Code of Conduct. How to Book 1 . E m a i l [email protected] to check • In line with our ABTA membership (no Y6184), availability for your preferred departure date we hold an insurance policy that gives you full financial protection for all funds you pay us for your holiday 2. Bag your spot with a provisional booking for a week or so while you get planning • We have full Tour Operators Professional and Public Liability Insurance with specialist 3. Log on or Register with our online booking brokers Campbell Irvine system, The Link (link.marmot-tours.co.uk) to complete your booking form. • We carry out risk assessments on all of our holidays to ensure we have thought through 4. Pay your £300 deposit by BACs or online via every detail The Link. Receive a confirmation email

• We employ staff with the correct experience 5. Await contact from Kate in the office and skills to ensure you have a safe and fun regarding authorisation of your final trip trip, and have a thorough training programme invoice. each season 6. We’ll post regular holiday information and • We comply with the legislation and Tourism updates on the Link (you’ll receive an email Code for the countries we work in. notification)

• Accordingly, in France we are registered with 7. Optionally meet your fellow holiday makers ATOUT France, the French registration body via The Link and share training / travel plans

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