FRENCH ALPS TO FRENCH RIVIERA CLASSICO Ability Level: Advanced / Duration: 9 days / 8 nights PEDAL YOUR PASSION

French Alps to French Riviera ITINERARY OUTLINE Trip Essence / Page 2 Alp d’Huez, Col du Galibier, Col d’Izoard & the Col de Daily Itinerary / Page 3-5 Vars with a gran finale through the Gorges du Verdon / Page 6 and the French Riviera Arrival & Departure Bike Information / Page 6 Ciclismo Classico’s French Alps to Riviera trip is a one-of-a-kind ride from the heart of the mountains made famous by Tour de legends to Terms & Conditions / Page 7 the brilliantly blue Mediterranean Sea. Along the way guests will have the / Page 7 chance to ascend Alp d’Huez, the Col du Galibier, the Col d’Izoard and the Reserve Your Space! Col de Vars, four of the region’s most challenging climbs. Other exciting adventures include a chairlift ride to the top of a glacier and a day rafting on the Verdon River. You will be escorted by Ciclismo’s expert guides the whole way to the French Riviera and they will show you the best this corner of France has to offer. Other highlights include the Provençal wines and the yummy local cheeses, pastries and delicious tapenade.

Ciclismo Classico 1-800-866-7314 | [email protected] | www.ciclismoclassico.com 1 FRENCH ALPS TO FRENCH RIVIERA CLASSICO Ability Level: Advanced / Duration: 9 days / 8 nights PEDAL YOUR PASSION

TRIP ESSENCE TRIP DETAILS Ability Level • Spectacular riding through the Alps, Provence and the Cote d’Azur • Advanced

• Full immersion in French culture Summary of Daily Distances • Day 1: 17 miles • Admire the stunning beauty of the Alps • Day 2: 41/62 miles • Day 3: 58 miles • Challenge yourself on epic climbs featured on the • Day 4: 34/47 miles • Day 5: 56 miles • Discover the Gorges du Verdon by bike and water sport activity • Day 6: 78 miles • Day 7: 16 miles (optional) • Savor the local alpine cheeses, the Provencale cuisine and wines • Day 8: 73 miles • Day 9: Au Revoir!

Optional extra loops available

WHAT’S INCLUDED

• Use of a carbon road bike (see page 6 for details)

• Service of local, professional guides throughout the program

• Ciclismo jersey and water bottle

• All accommodations

• All breakfasts, 2 lunches, and 6 dinners

• Cycling clinics

• Chairlift ride to glacier

• Water sport activity on the Verdon River

• Walking tour of Briancon

• Full van support and 2 bilingual guides

• Shuttle at the end of the tour to Nice Airport

“The trip was everything I expected and more; I learned that my limits were beyond what I had expected them to be.” - David W. Arlington, MA

Ciclismo Classico 1-800-866-7314 | [email protected] | www.ciclismoclassico.com 2 FRENCH ALPS TO FRENCH RIVIERA CLASSICO Ability Level: Advanced / Duration: 9 days / 8 nights PEDAL YOUR PASSION DAY 1 Highlights URIAGE-LES-BAINS, Welcome to France! We meet at 1 pm in the hotel lobby for a light lunch and introductions, then we will have a warm up ride starting from Uriage- les-Bains, about 3 miles out of Grenoble, the gateway to the Alps. Grenoble Daily Mileage - 17 miles; 2,190 ft is a lively town situated on the Isere River and is one of the most important scientific hubs in Europe as well as home to an ancient university with more Riding Terrain - Hilly than 60,000 students.

Hotel - Grand Hotel Uriage The 4-star Grand Hotel is located in the heart of Uriage. While the authentic • Location: Uriage character of the building has been preserved, modern facilities have been • Duration: 2 Nights added in order to improve its comfort. All of the luxury rooms offer a special • www.grand-hotel-uriage.com atmosphere inspired by the great names who have stayed at the hotel: Coco Chanel, Sendhal, and many others. Meals - L, D

DAY 2 Highlights MONTAGNE DE Today we tackle the Col de Muille, a very scenic road along the Montagne LAUZIER AND COL DE de Lauziere, with the option to take the extra loop to Chamrousse, a quiet MUILLE area, with several short climbs, perfect to find the right pedals stroke. Back to the hotel you can soothe your legs at the Hotel spa and pool. Daily Mileage - 41/62 miles; 4,265/8,200 ft

Riding Terrain - Mountainous

Hotel - See Day 1

Meals - B

DAY 3 Highlights Today we will attack our first great climb: l’Alp d’Huez! Cycling’s great L’ALP D’HUEZ AND LA legends have made their names famous on this mountain’s twenty-one GRAVE switchbacks and you will ride in their footsteps today. After conquering this climb you will enjoy a very scenic descent and will reach our hotel nested in Daily Mileage - 58 miles; 7,544 the spectacular French Alps. ft Auberge Edelweiss is a favourite address with bon-vivant skiers and cyclists. Riding Terrain - Mountainous It is a privately owned centuries old coaching inn, situated in the heart of the 12th century village of La Grave, off the main road, and is less than 5 Hotel - Auberge Edelweiss minutes walk from the “Téléphérique”. • Location: La Grave • Duration: 1 Night • https://www.hotel-edelweiss. com/

Meals - B, D

Ciclismo Classico 1-800-866-7314 | [email protected] | www.ciclismoclassico.com 3 FRENCH ALPS TO FRENCH RIVIERA CLASSICO Ability Level: Advanced / Duration: 9 days / 8 nights PEDAL YOUR PASSION DAY 4 Highlights COL DU GALIBIER, DU In the morning you have the option to enjoy a chairlift ride to the Meije GRANON AND BRIANCON Glacier. From here you can admire the Alps in all of their snow-capped splendor and have a breathtaking view of Mont Blanc. On our way towards 34/47 miles; Daily Mileage - Briancon and , popular Tour de France stops, we will have 5,136/8,600 ft the chance to explore more amazing mountain roads. The shorter route will certainly challenge your fitness on the fearsome Col du Galibier, but if Mountainous Riding Terrain - you’re looking for more you have the option to climb the Col du Granon.

Parc Hotel Hotel - After this hard day we’ll head into Briancon for a much-deserved beer at • Location: Briancon our hotel. Situated in the heart of the Southern Alps, the Parc Hotel offers • Duration: 1 Night spacious, comfortable rooms with great views. • www.soleilvacances.com/hotel/ parc-hotel-briancon

Meals - B

DAY 5 Highlights After having tested your riding ability on two of the Alps’ most difficult COL D’IZOARD, COL DE VARS climbs over the two previous days, today we will tackle two of their smaller AND JAUSIERS counterparts, the Col d’Izoard and the Col de Vars.

Daily Mileage - 56 miles; 7,550 ft Spend the night at Ville Morelia, a 4-star hotel built in a wonderful closed park with magnificent panoramic views. Complete with a wellness center Riding Terrain - Mountainous and restaurant, you will have a chance to relax and pick up your feet!

Hotel - Villa Morelia • Location: Jausiers • Duration: 1 Night • www.villa-morelia.com/#/en/accueil/

Meals - B, D

DAY 6 Highlights JAUSIERS TO VERDON Today we will leave the Hautes Alps behind and head into the Alps de Provence. Towards the second half of the ride the changes in landscape will Daily Mileage - 78 miles; 5,900 ft be very evident. Although not as mountainous as the previous days, today will not be a leisurely ride either. Once away from the mountains, however, Riding Terrain - Hilly we will end at the Gorges du Verdon, widely considered Europe’s most pic- turesque river with its gorge’s stunning beauty. Hotel - Hotel des Gorges du Verdon • Location: La Palud sur Verdon Hotel des Gorges du Verdon is a paradise in the heart of the Verdon • Duration: 2 Nights Gorges! This lovely hotel with cascading terraces and swimming pool offers • www.hotel-des-gorges-du-verdon.fr a unique panoramic view over the village, mountains and fields.

Meals - B, D

Ciclismo Classico 1-800-866-7314 | [email protected] | www.ciclismoclassico.com 4 FRENCH ALPS TO FRENCH RIVIERA CLASSICO Ability Level: Advanced / Duration: 9 days / 8 nights PEDAL YOUR PASSION DAY 7 Highlights VERDON REST DAY Today you have the option to rest your legs or you can venture back out with the guides to explore the Verdon river valley by bike on the Route des Daily Mileage - 15 miles; 3,464 Crêtes. Carved out over thousands of years by the Verdon River, this region ft is an adventure athlete’s paradise. We have also the option to enjoy water sports in the afternoon: It will be an adventure that lets you experience the Riding Terrain - Hilly beauty of the bottom of the gorges in a very unique way!

Hotel - See Day 6

Meals - B, D

DAY 8 Highlights VERDON TO SAINTE- MAXIME Today’s ride will be the last of the trip, but this awesome adventure is far from over. One last set of hills stands between you and the Mediterranean. Working our way through and over jagged peaks, we come to a romantic and exclusive 73 miles; 3,464 ft Daily Mileage - corner of the French Riviera: Sainte-Maxime, on the edge of the Gulf of Saint- Tropez. Nestled into the Mediterranean coastline and a mere stone’s throw away Hilly Riding Terrain - from a gorgeous fine sand beach, this is the perfect location to end our tour in the heart of a tropical-looking botanical garden, just a few minutes away from Les Jardins de Sainte Hotel - Sainte-Maxime. Maxime

• Location: Saint-Maxime At the foot of a hill, between pines and palm trees, the hotel Les Jardin de Saint- • Duration: 1 Night Maxime combines comfort, sophistication and conviviality. As soon as you arrive, • https://www.hotel-lesjardins. its warm atmosphere and natural surroundings immediately encourage you to com/ relax, to focus on well-being and leave your worries behind. Meals - B, L, D

Highlights DAY 9 AU REVOIR! After breakfast we will provide a 1-hour group shuttle to Nice airport, where you can make connections to other airports in France, as well as Meals - B international airports.

Ciclismo Classico 1-800-866-7314 | [email protected] | www.ciclismoclassico.com 5 FRENCH ALPS TO FRENCH RIVIERA CLASSICO Ability Level: Advanced / Duration: 9 days / 8 nights PEDAL YOUR PASSION

ARRIVAL & DEPARTURE OTHER INFORMATION GETTING TO URIAGE For Flight Reservations Valerie Wilson Travel Option 1: Fly to Lyon Saint Exupery (LYS) and catch a 1 hour TGV train to Call: 1-855-780-2022 or Grenoble train station, then a 20 min. taxi to the hotel. Option 2: Fly to E-mail: [email protected] Grenoble Saint-Geors (GNB) from where you can take a bus to Grenoble train station, then a taxi to the hotel (taxi from the airport to the hotel is 50 Travel Insurance min.). Fly to Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) and catch a TGV train World Nomads Option 3: Call: 1-816-905-3963 (Direct/ to Grenoble (3.5 hrs). From Grenoble take a taxi to the hotel. Collect) 1-844-207-1930 (Toll-Free DEPARTING FROM SAINTE-MAXIME within USA) https://www.worldnomads.com/ The tour ends in Sainte-Maxime the morning of Day 9. There will be travel-insurance/ one 1-hour group shuttle to Nice Airport (NCE) where you can make connections (by flight or TGV Train) within France or to other international Transportation destinations. Rome2rio http://www.rome2rio.com

BIKE INFORMATION ON THE BIKE Bianchi Intenso and Vertigo Included: • The carbon frame guarantees maximum performance with minimum stress • Ciclismo Classico water bottle for the riders, thanks to Bianchi’s special C2C (Coast to Coast) frame design/ • Two water bottle holders geometry and different material combination. Carbon bikes are equipped • Map holder on handlebars with compact crank and 11/32 cassette. and a Garmin Edge GPS • Bianchi Vertigo included free on all Easy and Athletic Beginner tours. • Handlebar bag • Bianchi Intenso included on all Intermediate and Advanced tours. • Tire pump • Combination bike lock • Gel-padded saddle Bianchi C-Sport 2.5 • More relaxed riding at a look-around-you pace, this is a highperformance • Choice of pedals aluminum hybrid bicycle with straight handlebars. It has a sloping design for • Card with your tour leaders’ superior comfort and bigger tires and hydraulic disc brakes. Included on all mobile phone numbers tours. Pedal Options: Tandems • Flat pedals • Cannondale RT 2: Racing position with 700 c wheels. Available for $400, • Half-toe pedals (without limited availability. straps) • Honey bicycles: Racing position with 700 c wheels. Available for $400, • Toe cage pedals limited availability. Racing position with 700 c wheels. Accommodates Things to Bring: • Co-motion Periscope: • Helmet smaller team or even children. Available for $400. • Optional: clipless pedals with Upright position with 26 c wheels and straight • Cannondale Hybrid MT800: shoes handlebars. Available for $400. • Optional: your own saddle E-Bike: Bianchi Manhattan • Available on all easy and athletic beginner tours, some intermediate and advanced tours. Please contact us for more information. Available for $400.

Bike type outside of Europe may vary, please contact us at 800-866-7314 for more information.

Ciclismo Classico 1-800-866-7314 | [email protected] | www.ciclismoclassico.com 6 FRENCH ALPS TO FRENCH RIVIERA CLASSICO Ability Level: Advanced / Duration: 9 days / 8 nights PEDAL YOUR PASSION INSURANCE, TERMS & CONDITIONS

Insurance Ciclismo Classico will not assume responsibility or liability for any loss or damage of personal effects or for any injury or loss during the duration of the tour. Therefore, we highly recommend that you obtain travel insurance. Information on travel insurance will be sent to you via email once trip deposit is received. We recommend MH Ross, but travelers may choose the insurance carrier of their choice.

Cancellations and Refunds All requests for refunds must be submitted in writing as soon as possible to Ciclismo Classico. Exceptions to their cancellation policy cannot be made for any reason, including weather or personal emergencies. There is no refund for unexpectedly leaving a trip early or arriving late. The purchase of short-term travel insurance policy is strongly recommended. Cancellation fees are determined as follows:

Days before departure – Cancellation fee 121+ days - 50% of the deposit* 91-120 days - 100% of the deposit* 61-90 days - 30% of the trip price 31-60 days - 60% of the trip price 0-30 days - 100% of the trip price

*You may transfer your trip deposit to another departure in the same tour season up to 90 days before your original departure with payment of a $100 per person transfer fee. Prices quoted are subject to adjustment without prior notification. OR your deposit (currently $600) may be carried forward to the following year as a credit toward the final balance of a tour. At the time of booking, we will ask for another $600 deposit to secure your spot. Carried-forward credits expire at the end of the year to which they are applied.

Alterations to the tour itinerary Sometimes modifications may be made to the itinerary. We will notify you of any changes that may affect your arrival, departure or lodging. Any changes to the program are made in the best interest and safety of the group.

To review our policies, please visit http://www.ciclismoclassico.com/plan-your-trip/policies/

RESERVE YOUR SPACE!

To reserve a space, call Ciclismo Classico at 800-866-7314. Or, mail your deposit and contact information to:

Ciclismo Classico 30 Marathon St Arlington, MA 02474

At the time of registration, a deposit of $600 per person is due, payable by Visa, MasterCard, American Express or check, made payable to Ciclismo Classico, along with your full name, mailing address, phone number(s) and email address. We cannot confirm reservations without a deposit. Final payment is due 90 days before departure payable by check, credit card, wire transfer or money order. All travelers must review and sign a terms and conditions statement and a waiver form.

Ciclismo Classico 1-800-866-7314 | [email protected] | www.ciclismoclassico.com 7