Day 1
57km / 890m
CLIMB: Le Truel.
HOTEL: Hotel de la Muse

Today we start our ride along the Gorges du Tarn before starting the first climb of the day, the Causse de Sauveterre.The Causses are short climbs between 5 to 8 km that connects from the gorges up to the Cevennes plateau.

Continuing on a panoramic road we descend to La Malene, one of the many picturesque little towns that abound in the region. This is a very nice climb, with a good number of switchbacks, the higher you go the better are the views over the Gorges du Tarn and La Malene.

Now we are riding in the plateau before our descend to Florac via Col de Pierre-Plate. From Florac we start the climb up to the Col de Perjuret,

a nice and steady road that will take us to Meyrueis. Riding along the spectacular Gorges de la Jonte we arrive back to Le Rozier.

Day 2
124km / 1,970m
CLIMBS: Cote Les Vignes, La Malene, and Col du Perjuret.

HOTEL: Hotel de la Muse

The first of a series of big days planned for this trip.

Crossing the Cevennes from West to East, first we climb the Causse Noir from Le Meynial. From here we continue always uphill until we reach the top of the Mont Aigoual via the Col de la Serreydere. The mighty Mont Aigoual, at 1,567m, is the highest mountain in the area and can be seen from nearly all directions.

After a great descend into Valleraugue, we climb the Col de la Tribale followed by a very scenic road before reaching the Col de l’Asclier.

Col d’Uglas, will be the last climb of the day. In Ales, we will finish our ride before taking a transfer to Bedoin (2 hours). This will be our base for 3 nights, with some great riding ahead.

Day 3
150km / 2,600m
CLIMBS: Causse Noir, Col de la Serreyrede, Mont Aigoual, Col de la Tribale, Col de L’Asclier and Col d’Uglas.

HOTEL: Hotel des Pins

After some great and challenging riding in the Cevennes and the transfer to Provence, today we will have an easier ride in preparation for tomorrow’s ride.

From our comfortable hotel in Bedoin today we propose a very easy and scenic ride through the Gorges de la Nesque followed by a visit to picturesque Monieux.

Monieux is a nice medieval town perfect for a coffee break. The short Montee de Saint Hubert will provide amazing views of the Mont Ventoux. all with very gentle inclinations and on quiet secondary roads. Definitely a great way to spend our first day in Provence.

Day 4
77km / 900m
CLIMBS: Gorges de la Nesque and Montee de Saint Hubert.

HOTEL: Hotel des Pins

Today we will climb the Giant of Provence, the Mont Ventoux. We propose to try and go for the Cingles, so, to climb this epic mountain from it three possible ways.

Starting from Bedoin (the route normally used by the TDF) and then Malaucene both sides are 21km an average 7.5% gradient.

The third and last will be the Sault side, considered the “easiest” one, it is also the longest one at 25.5km with a 4.5% gradient.

We will be supporting you during all this amazing riding day!

Day 5
139km / 4,540m
CLIMBS: Mont Ventoux from Bedoin, Malaucene, and Sault in this order.
HOTEL: Hotel des Pins

After taking on such an amazing challenge like the Cingles du Mont Ventoux, today we are travelling by van to Saint Paul de Vence, in the Cote d’Azur region.

In the afternoon we plan to do a recovery ride around the Gorges du Loup and surrounding area, a great way to get ready for our Grand Finale rides in the Alpes Maritimes.

Day 6
60km / 1,270m

HOTEL: La Vague de Saint Paul

From our start in Vence to our destination for the day in Puget Theniers, we will climb five Cols and ride in some very scenic roads.

Our first climb in the Col de Vence followed by the Col de Bleine, with great views from the top. Later on, the Col du Buis, fortunately, we are climbing the easy side…

To end our ride, the Col du Trebuchet before taking a very narrow and panoramic road that will take us to the start of the Col de St.Raphael. From there is all downhill to Puget Theniers.

Day 7 
110km / 2,850m
CLIMBS:  Cols de Vence, de Bleine, du Buis, du Trebuchet, de St.Raphael.
HOTEL: Hotel Les Alizes

Today we are doing “only” two climbs, but a couple of amazing ones!

After a short flat section to Pont de Cians, we will start our ride up to the Gorges du Cians, part of the Valberg climb. The change of landscape from the start of the climb to the top is one of the most amazing you can experience, from hard and red-colored rock formations, narrow stretches with very vertical drops to the Alpine views on the final kilometers into Valberg.

An amazing descend will take us to Guillaumes, where the 32km long Col de la Cayolle starts. At 2,327m this is one of the highest climbs of our trip. We will end our day in Jausiers, at the bottom of another giant climb…

Day 8 
121km / 3,000m.
CLIMBS: Valberg, Col de la Cayolle.

HOTEL: Villa Morelia

Col de la Bonette, at 2,802m stands as the highest motorable road in Europe. From Jausiers is a 23km ride at 7% average and with 1,600m of elevation gain. Definitely a big climb!

After conquering the Bonette we will descend and ride along the Tinee valley, part of the Mercantour N.P. This is a long ride until we reach the end of the valley and finish our ride for today.

A short van transfer will take us to our hotel in Vence where conveniently, we will spend the last two nights of the trip.

Day 9
93km / 1,860m
CLIMBS: Col de la Bonette.
HOTEL: La Vague de Saint Paul

We are ending this epic trip riding Les Zinzins de Turini, climbing the three sides that reach the top of this famous mountain in the Alpes Maritimes. Expect an endless succession of switchbacks is some of the sections!

A short transfer to L’Escarene to start our first climb of the day, this way, via Luceram and Lacets de Baisse Cabanette, is the longest, 26.6km long at 4.7%.

Second in order is the Bollene-Vesubie side, 12km long at 7%.

Third and last, the Sospel side, probably the most classic one, is 24.3km long at 5.2%.

We hope this is a great end to this trip to Southern France’s most interesting regions.

Day 10
129km / 4,275m
CLIMBS: Col de Turini from L’Escarene (via Lacets Baisse de la Cabanette), Bollene-Vesubie and Sospel, in this order.

HOTEL: La Vague de Saint Paul

DAY 11: After breakfast transfer by van to Nice airport (NCE). Expect to get there by 10:00, so plan your flights accordingly.

MORE INFORMATION:

PRICE:

TWIN room:  4,450 Euros pp
SINGLE Supplement:  950 Euros
Rental bike:  600 Euros

PAYMENT TERMS:
600 Euros when making the booking. Balance to be paid 90 days before the trip starts.

INCLUDED:
10 nights accommodation between 3 – 4 Stars

ALL MEALS INCLUDED.
10 breakfasts.
10 lunches, picnic-style on long days.
10 dinners, including wine.

NOT INCLUDED:
International flights.
Travel insurance.
Hotel extras: mini-bar, spa, massage.
Tips for the staff.

SUPPORT:
We will have ride leaders and at least one mechanic on our trip.
Our staff/client ratio is 1:4 staff.
Our passenger vans come fully equipped with all necessary to give the best support during the rides.
We carry gels, energy bars, powder mix, water, fruit, riding food, tools, pumps, spare tubes and tires to make sure our first-class support helps you through the trip.
Professional first aid kit.

CANCELLATION POLICY:

Adapting to our current COVID-19 pandemic, and incoordination, with most of the hotel’s terms and conditions, we are adjusting our cancellation policy accordingly as follows:

If there’s a travel ban from your country to travel to the country you are doing a trip with us, you will receive a full refund on any payments you have made to SFIDA Cycling.

For any other reasons not related to COVID-19, the following will apply:

61 days before the trip starts – the return of your deposit.
60 days before the trip starts – the return of the full amount of the trip less 300 Euros cancellation fee, plus any amount that we can’t recover from Hotels and other costs that we have already incurred in the trip preparation.
Less than 30 days before the trip starts – no amount will be refunded. We will, however, try to credit as much as possible towards a future trip. This depends on the amount that we can get back from the hotels and other costs that we have already incurred in the trip preparation.

We understand that it is difficult to commit too much in advance given the situation we are all living in.

For this reason, we won’t be holding any spots until the full deposit has been paid.

Hotels are now more strict with how many rooms they are willing to have on hold for groups, so until deposit payments are made we won’t be able to confirm your spot.