Provence‐Cycling.Com, Surf for Pedal Power P
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Page | 2 Leaving Mount Ventoux to the more athletic visitors, the Vaucluse saves its small country roads for families and nature lovers in search of discoveries. A real policy for developing cycling has been set up in this Provencal region. No fewer than 3 cycle paths and 35 routes are offered throughout the region. Contents Managed by local networks, over 242 professionals (hotels, guest houses, campsites, wine merchants, I. Map and access p. 3 restaurants, bike hire companies, etc.) belonging to II. Ventoux, an icon for competitive cyclists p. 6 the “Accueil vélo” (“Welcome Cyclists”) charter line the routes and offer specialist services for cycle III. A calendar for cycling buffs p. 8 tourists. IV. The Vaucluse, the ultimate cycling region p. 10 V. Cycle paths, cycling in peace p. 11 VI. 1550 kilometres of sign‐posted circuits p. 14 Looking for information or contacts? Missing a photo? Want to come to the Vaucluse? VII. A network of 242 approved “Welcome cyclists” partners p. 24 Vaucluse Tourism VIII. Cycling excursions and original ideas p. 26 Communication & Media Department Your contacts: IX. Independent travel or package holidays p. 29 Valérie Biset ‐ Manager X. www.provence‐cycling.com, surf for pedal power p. 34 valerie‐[email protected] XI. Useful contacts p. 35 T. +33(0)4 90 80 47 06 Valérie Gillet v‐[email protected] T. +33(0)4 90 80 47 08 Daniela Damiani The photos featured in this press pack are copyright‐ d‐[email protected] free (except when occasionally specified otherwise) T. +33(0)4 90 80 47 07 Teresa Storm storm‐[email protected] T. +33 (0)4 90 80 47 04 Vaucluse Tourism – Cycling inthe Vaucluse 2015 press kit ‐ www.provence‐cycling.com Press contact: Valérie BISET T. +33 (0)4 90 80 47 06 valerie‐[email protected] Page | 3 Vaucluse Tourism – Cycling inthe Vaucluse 2015 press kit ‐ www.provence‐cycling.com Press contact: Valérie BISET T. +33 (0)4 90 80 47 06 valerie‐[email protected] Page | 4 II – Access By air Avignon direct from: Southampton (UK) with Flybe, from 21st May to 12th September 2015 Birmingham (UK) with Flybe, from 23rd May to 5th September 2015 London‐City (UK) with CityJet, from end of June to end of August Liège (Belgium) with VLM Airlines (from 2 May to 24 October 2015) Avignon Airport: T. +33 (0)4 90 81 51 15 www.avignon.aeroport.fr or via the airports of Marseille (1 hour away) and Nimes (45 minutes away) By road Avignon is: 50 mins from Aix en Provence / 1 hour from Marseille / 30 mins from Arles / 2 hours from Lyon / 2 ½ hours from Nice By train Avignon direct from: Paris Gare de Lyon by high‐speed TGV train (2h38) Roissy Charles de Gaulle by TGV (3h20) Frankfurt (D) by TGV via Strasburg and Lyon (7 hrs) Lille – Rennes – Nantes ‐ Strasbourg Nice ‐ Geneva – Brussels Amsterdam (Thalys in summer) NEW: extended service from London by Eurostar, direct to Avignon, now from 2nd May till December. Orange direct from: Paris Gare de Lyon by TGV (3h20) – 3 weekly trips. Railway stations: Avignon TGV station and Avignon central station, Orange, Bollène, Isle sur la Sorgue, Pertuis, and, from April 2015: Carpentras (NEW) TGV + bike If you wish to take your bicycle in a high‐speed TGV train, you must book a space for it at the same time as you book your own ticket. Bike spaces are limited. You can find out if your train has bike accommodation by visiting the main SCNF Voyages website (in French) and simulating your journey. If the service displays a bike icon, then, the train can carry bikes. Rate: €10/bike. Vaucluse Tourism – Cycling inthe Vaucluse 2015 press kit ‐ www.provence‐cycling.com Press contact: Valérie BISET T. +33 (0)4 90 80 47 06 valerie‐[email protected] Page | 5 Once in Provence, ecological means of transports for tourists with bikes Regional TER train + bike You can travel by regional train (TER) with your bike. This is a free, environmentally friendly and highly practical way to explore the region differently. There is no need to make a reservation, all the region regional TER lines carry bikes free of charge (from Monday to Friday, outside the following peak times: 7.00am‐9.00am and 4.30pm‐ 6.30pm), depending on available space. The French national railway company (SNCF) has set up a network of bicycle hire shops close to some train stations which have been identified as “relais train+vélo”. Information and timetable at http://www.ter‐sncf.com/Regions/Paca/fr/ To travel to L’Isle sur la Sorgue or to reach the Luberon From Avignon Central Station: take the regional TER train Avignon‐Cavaillon‐Salon‐Marseille. It stops at L’Isle sur la Sorgue and Cavaillon (both relais train+vélo). From Marseille Saint Charles train station: take the regional TER train Marseille‐Aix‐en‐Provence‐Pertuis. It stops at Pertuis (relais train+vélo). To travel northward from Avignon, to the vineyards of Châteauneuf‐du‐Pape, to Orange and the vineyards of the Côtes du Rhône: From the Avignon Central Station: take the regional TER line Avignon‐Orange‐Lyon. It stops at: Sorgues – Bédarrides (relais train+vélo), Courthézon, Orange (relais train+vélo), Bollène NEW: from 25 April 2015: new railway route Avignon‐Carpentras From 25 April 2015, you will be able to train to Carpentras from Avignon TGV and Central stations. This railway route had been closed since… 1938! By bus Set up by the Vaucluse Departmental Council, the TransVaucluse transport network is a collection of 34 lines that offer daily connections between 117 Vaucluse towns and villages, and 8 on‐demand transport lines (by reservation on previous day). Of these, 5 lines offer direct connections to the Avignon TGV railway station. Routes and timetables available at http://www.vaucluse.fr/2826‐lignes‐et‐horaires‐du‐reseau‐transvaucluse.htm Automated service T. +33 (0)4 90 16 15 14 Avignon Bus Station (PEM), 5 avenue Monclar ‐ T. +33 (0)4 90 82 07 35 Ticket office open from 7am to 7.30pm from Monday to Saturday (excl. bank holidays). Apt Bus Station ‐ T. +33 (0)4 90 74 20 21 Orange Bus Station ‐ T. +33 (0)4 90 34 15 59 Bollène Bus Station ‐ T. +33 (0)4 90 30 10 18 New: The bus which runs the 15.1 route Avignon‐TGV – Apt has a bike rack for 8 bicycles. One daily trip (also possibility to put the bike away in the baggage hold). Information: T.33 (0)4 32 76 00 40 Vaucluse Tourism – Cycling inthe Vaucluse 2015 press kit ‐ www.provence‐cycling.com Press contact: Valérie BISET T. +33 (0)4 90 80 47 06 valerie‐[email protected] Page | 6 II. Ventoux, an icon for competitive cyclists Who remembers Jacques Gabriel? In 1908, this strong Provencal lumberjack won the first official cycling competition organised on the slopes of the Giant of Provence, the “Ventoux Marathon”. Subsequently, the ascent to the 1,912 m summit would become one of the most legendary events in multi‐stage cycling races, with its share of emotions and surprises. The only explanation for this could be the unusual environment of the ©Philippe Martin ‐ Coll ADT Vaucluse Tourisme mountain, an isolated and superb peak in the heart of Provence. A lunar landscape, formidable slopes and unpredictable weather all conspire to make the climb an event “apart” in the world of the race. Since the 1930s such cycling races as the Tour du Vaucluse, the Paris‐Nice and the Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré have put Ventoux on the map. The Tour de France only arrived in 1951 but it would make the event a legend forever. Robic in 1952, Bobet in 1955, Charly Gaul in 1958, Poulidor in 1965, Merckx in 1970, Thévenet in 1972, Pantani in 2000, Virenque in 2002…, only the greats have crossed the summit in the lead. In 2009, the Grande Boucle arrived once again, for the last but one stage, attracting thousands of spectators to its slopes. History remembers the spectacular rides, the tragic failures before the summit and of course, the drama of Tom Simpson, who collapsed in the heat with just two kilometres to go in 1967. Today, ascending Ventoux, particularly via the south face with roads at 10% ‐ remains the preserve of the most adventurous. ©P Martin ADT 84 Vaucluse Tourism – Cycling inthe Vaucluse 2015 press kit ‐ www.provence‐cycling.com Press contact: Valérie BISET T. +33 (0)4 90 80 47 06 valerie‐[email protected] Page | 7 Today, the ascent of Mont Ventoux ‐ particularly the south slope which boasts sections with a 10% gradient ‐ is still reserved for serious sportsmen. There are three options for the ascent itself: ‐ The “South” by Bedoin, the most difficult (21.5 km rising to 1,610 m, average incline 7.5%). ‐ The “North” from Malaucène, also very difficult (21 km rising to 1,548 m, average incline 7.5%). ‐ The “East” from Sault, the least gruelling (26 km rising to 1,187 m, average incline 4.7%). At Chalet Reynard (1,420 m), the “East” and “South” routes join together. There then remains the famous 6‐km long “Desert of Stone” travelling through a moon‐like landscape of pure white scree… Vélodateurs, to record your Ventoux adventure Not for entry into the Guinness Book of Records, but not far! Cycling up Mont Ventoux is no easy feat so the tourist offices have decided to immortalise the climb. How? By installing vélodateurs at the base of the Giant of Provence and another at the summit.