Cyclosportives No One Should Miss

Over the years, more and more people have wanted to ride the routes of the Grand Tours and feel the exhilaration the pros experience when reaching the top of a 2000 meter col. For this reason, we have been seeing an increase of cyclosportive, which Wikipedia describes as a long distance, organized, mass-participation cycling event typically held annually. One of the most popular is the Etape du Tour, covering a different stage of the Tour de France each year. ASO, Amaury Sport Organization, has added another Etape for 2011, since the number of attendees has been dramatically increasing since the first event in 1993.

The Etape du Tour, though the most popular, is not the only cyclosportive event amateurs can participate in. More are being added every year in different locations.

Paris-Roubaix

April 9, 2011

For the first time in history, amateurs get to ride the famous cobblestones of France in the Paris-Roubaix cyclosportive. This race, nicknamed “A Sunday in Hell,” originally started in Paris and ended in Roubaix, the course has been modified over the years, but one thing that doesn’t change is the strenuous kilometers of cobblestones you must endure to reach the finish. Discover France is offering a VIP Guided Paris-Roubaix Tour for those up to the challenge.

Haute Route

August 21-27, 2011

The Haute Route is the highest and one of the most difficult cyclosportive bike races in Europe, challenging riders over 14 legendary Alpine Cols. This event is stretched out over the course of 7 days, cycling 720 km, including 17,000 meters of climbing. Riders can race it individually, as a pair, or as a team (minimum 4 members, maximum of 9). The course starts in Geneva, Switzerland and finishes in Nice, France. The route will provide beautiful views, exciting rides through Europe, and bragging rights to last a lifetime.

La Roue d’Or des Pyrenees

May 22, 2011

Cycle the Hautes-Pyrenees with legendary champs in your slipstream. Roger Walkowiak, Eddy Merckx - Bernard Thevenet, Bernard Hinault, Pedro Delgado, and Miguel Indurain will be present at the event. The race in Argeles-Gazost will have 3 courses to better serve participants cycling ability. The Torny is 129 km, The Surprising is 86 km, and The Sweet is 52km. The passes include Col des Bordères, Col du Soulor, and Col de Spandelles. Although these climbs are not as renowned as Tourmalet or Alpe d’Huez, their difficulties, environment and landscapes will not leave riders disappointed.

Don't Forget About Nice This Year

It's All Happening in Nice

As the weather begins to warm up, your legs can't wait to do the same. Why not roll out your winter hibernated legs in Nice? Many professional athletes enjoy the early training in this part of France because it not only is warmer than the rest of the country it also has great hills and mountains in the interior countryside. Our Nice and French Riviera tour is a perfect way to start training as soon as possible.

The Nice area is well known worldwide for the sun and beaches and cycling, especially the off season training that a lot of athletes do here. While Nice is a big city, the hills and mountains in the interior countryside make great training grounds and it is where we go to enjoy some awesome early season rides. These tours are guided and in conjunction with the Paris Nice pro race and Milan-St Remo, unfortunately there is no VIP access like our Tour de France tours.

The 2011 dates for this tour are March 6-13 and March 18-25. What adds to this exciting tour is the option to go a day early and attend the 127^th Nice Carnival starting February 18 until March 8. The carnival consists of 20 floats, 30 giant puppets, and 200 entertainers from around the world. On the last night, as tradition has it, King Carnival parades alone, before being burned at the stake. A firework display to music then takes place over the Baie des Anges and the castle mount comes ablaze as if in response. How amazing would it be to get to be there for this spectacular event? We can help make this once in a lifetime dream trip a reality.

Take a look at the Nice and French Riviera tour itinerary and then contact us with any questions or bite the bullet and book this tour.

Velo Passion Magazine Photo Shoot

While Loren was in France this past December, he had the opportunity to attend a photo shoot for French magazine Velo Passion. Here is a picture from the event (taken as apart of Loren’s own personal photo shoot) and what he reported:

Thomas and Jerome

This was on a day in the Montpellier countryside, actually along a route our clients ride on the Languedoc Multisport trip. Thomas is with former World Champion mountain biker Jerome Chiotti. We were on site for a magazine photo shoot. The magazine needed some local people to come out to ride and model some bikes they were reviewing. The magazine is Velo Passion; French and will come out in February including an article on the great rides of this area of the department l’Herault.

Jerome Chiotti is famous in France because he admitted to the widespread drug use in cycling during his time and he was quickly marginalized for talking about it and his own doping experience. He was world champion in 1996 and French National Champion in 99 and 01.