Goodbye Blog, Hello Newsletter

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, especially to our loyal followers, but this is the last blog entry for Cycling Classics Challenge Tours. We have enjoyed bringing you news about our company, tours, France, the TDF, and other cycling events. We appreciate everyone’s interest in our posts and comments.

Fortunately, every cloud has a silver lining and so do we. Starting in March 2011 we will begin sending a monthly email newsletter with tour highlights, cycling tips and more. This newsletter is geared towards cycling enthusiasts interested in getting their adrenaline pumping while conquering the legendary classic climbs in France and Spain. Make sure you “don’t get dropped” and subscribe today.

Continue to follow us on Discover France’s blog and our facebook page, where we will post, along with our current content, information about Cycling Classics, the tours and the pro Grand Tours. Our Discover France and Pure Adventures monthly newsletters are other great ways to stay involved and keep up with the latest happening in France and Europe.

Carnivals and Cycling in Nice

Springtime 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.

Why Cycle the Pyrenees?

5 Reasons to Cycle the Pyrenees

Buried within the high mountains in the Midi-Pyrenees region of France there is history to unveil, towns to explore and exquisite meals to try. This region, widely known for its Tour de France appearances, is a treasure for cyclists looking for tough climbs and superb scenery. Less advanced riders will enjoy biking along rivers running through charming towns and enjoy seeing the magnificent architecture dating back centuries. Like all regions in France, the Midi-Pyrenees has more to offer travelers than one could imagine, including these five:

Roots of Tour de France

The Pyrenees cols were introduced in the Tour de France itinerary in 1910 at the insistence of Tour organizer Henri Desgrange’s colleague. These cols have played an influential role in deciding the outcome of the tour in previous years. The most note-worthy of these is the Col de Tourmalet, which has set the record for tour appearances with 75 summit crossings. The road to the peak can be reached from Sainte-Marie-de-Campan on the east or from Luz-Saint-Sauveur on the west. Both difficult routes have been cycled by biking fanatics who relish in seeing the statue of Octave Lapize, first competitor over the summit in 1910, at the top of the Tourmalet.

Toulouse

Toulouse, referred to as Ville Rose (pink city) for its buildings made of pink brick that seem to change color as the day passes, has a great deal to explore and discover.

• Museums, with one-of-a-kind collections, are in no short supply in this city. A few worth visiting include Contemporary Art Museum featuring works by many of the most famous artists, Musée St Raymond with art and archaeology dating up to the Middle Ages, and Musée du Vieux Toulouse devoted to the history of Toulouse.
• While visiting be sure to cycle down the banks of the Garonne River lined with trees giving you the perfect opportunity to escape from the city commotion. The river passes by the charming “old Toulouse” where grand houses dating back to the 18^th century line the streets.
• Toulouse is filled with famous sights as well. For example, the Place du Capitole, located in the middle of the city, houses the town hall, an opera theater and tourist center. The Saint-Sernin church, widely recognized by its octagonal five-level tower, has been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, along with the Canal du Midi.

Lourdes

Lourdes is a town of Roman Catholic pilgrimage and alleged miraculous healings. Once reports of the Virgin Mary, referred to as Our Lady of Lourdes, appearing to a young peasant girl numerous times went public, millions of people began migrating to Lourdes in search of a spiritual encounter. For this reason, Lourdes is filled with countless churches and sanctuaries which are worth visiting if not for the holy aspect, than for the sheer beauty. The Basilica of Saint Pius X seats 25,000 people, making it one of the biggest in the world. Le Pic du Jer has a large cross that is accessed by a chair lift providing you with wonderful views of the Midi-Pyrenees region. However, spiritual experiences are not all Lourdes has to offer, many tourists enjoy the mountain biking trails as well as cycling along the lake in the town’s center.

Cassoulet

The Midi-Pyrenees region is known for many things, one of which being their cuisine, particularly their cassoulets. The cassoulet is not only one of the most popular dishes in France, but also one of the oldest dating back to the 100 Years War. Many visitors enjoy finding different variations of cassoulets because the possibilities are endless. Most ingredients include white beans, pure pork sausages, and duck confit. Lamb and goose confit are also well-liked components of this delicious stew. This timeless favorite is a must-try for all food-lovers.

Cordes-Sur-Siel

Located in the Tarn department of the Midi-Pyrenees, this hilltop town emerges from the clouds in the valley below taking your breath away at first sight. The town’s narrow streets offer visitors more than they could imagine. With many local art and craft shops ranging from pictures to sculptures to glasswork, no one will leave empty-handed. This town is a sweet-lover’s paradise with its Museum of the Art of Sugar and Chocolate. Cordes-Sur-Siel festivals like the Medieval Festival of the Grand Fauconnier, the Classical Music Festival and the Jousting Tournament will entertain any traveler.

Millions of travelers journey to the Midi-Pyrenees region every year, for numerous reasons. Some enjoy the unique towns and their history, like Lourdes and Toulouse, while others take pleasure in the views at the top of famous summits, like the Col du Toumalet. No matter what the reason for going, everyone leaves the same way, in awe at everything they experienced.

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.

Loire Valley Chateaux

The Beautiful Castles of Loire

Of all the places on Earth to visit for sightseeing and adventure travel, France is perhaps the most popular. The challenging terrain, breathtaking scenery and the country’s rich history create the perfect environment to meet any traveler’s needs. And although there are countless trails and tours to choose from, those that include visits to the Loire Valley Chateaux are by far among the most famous.

The following are five castles that are featured in our Loire Valley Classic 7 Night Tour, and are a must for any visitor’s itinerary.

Chateau de Chambord – One of the most recognized castles in the world, this is also the largest chateau of the Loire Valley. People come from across the globe to witness this massive building’s amazing architecture, which perfectly combines both traditional French and classic Italian style.

Chateau d’Usse – Over the past several centuries, this incredible castle has been destroyed and rebuilt several times to arrive at the breathtaking modern-day version that we visit today. It is often referred to as the “Sleeping Beauty” castle because of its picturesque fairy tale appearance. In fact, it is said to have been one of Walt Disney’s inspirations in his creation of several Disney castles.

Chateau de Chaumont – Famous for the summertime garden festival held here, this beautiful castle has been classified as a Monument Historique since 1840 by the French Ministry of Culture. The views from this chateau are nothing short of amazing, mainly due to its prime location, right on the banks of the Loire River. Visitors here enjoy stunning panoramic views from all areas of the castle.

Chateau de Villandry – Known for its incredible sprawling gardens, the Chateau de Villandry is one of the most visited castles in France. Strategically planted and laid out in formal patterns, the famous gardens here include a water garden, ornamental flower gardens, and vegetable gardens. They are certainly a unique sight to see, and something not to be forgotten.

Chateau de Chenonceau – Built along the banks of the Cher River, this amazing superstructure is known for its breathtakingly beautiful architecture, both inside and out. It is home to an enormous library and several large halls big enough to entertain hundreds of visitors, as well as a lovely garden. The Chateau de Chenonceau also has an intriguing history, as it is rumored to have been given as a gift to King Henry’s mistress. This castle is one of our favorites and is included in seven of our Loire Valley tours.

A trip to France simply wouldn’t be complete without a visit to these world famous buildings. With the exception of Chaumont, all of them are a part of The Loire Valley between Sully-sur-Loire and Chalonnes, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Join us for one of our Loire Valley tours and experience these incredible and unforgettable pieces of ancient history for yourself.

10 Rules for Safe Biking

We want everyone to have a fun and safe holiday season. Check out these 10 rules to keep in mind while on the road.

http://www.ecovelo.info/2010/11/09/a-kinder-gentler-%E2%80%9C10-rules%E2%80%9D/?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed

Happy holidays and enjoy the ride!!

The Towns of the 2011 Etape

Enjoy the Ride and the Towns

Two Etape du Tours this year!! By now, everyone is familiar with the routes dates, distance, and difficulty, but have you researched deeper into the towns visited? Both locations have amazing, but different things to offer.

Act 1: Modane to Alpe d’Huez

Both these towns are exceptional places to visit and the ride from each location is exhilarating, but does take a great deal of endurance while battling the high peaks of the Rhone-Alpes department. Modane being a border town has many Italian features seen in the culture and monuments. The town has many fabulous sights to see including the Chapel of Our Lady of Chairmax, the Leaning House, and the Fountain of Modane. Although a remote area, its scenery is nothing short of stunning and will please any visitor.

Alpe d’Huez has been heard around the world with its famous 21 hairpins appearing in numerous Tour de France races. This area draws athletes of all types. Biking to the summit is a must whether it is on the road or on the mountain trails, but there is also great hiking as well as other activities from dog sledding to hang gliding. The possibilities are endless in this region.

Our guided and self-guided tours in the Rhone-Alpes region offer you an experience of a lifetime. Feel the sting when climbing the steep hills, the accomplishment when you reach the summit, the thrill as you race down the mountain, all while enjoying one of the best views in France.

Act 2: Issoire to St. Flour

This course, which stretches 208 km, begins in Issoire and finishes in St Flour. The first thing that usually pops into people’s mind is, “where the heck is Issoire and St Flour?” Both are in the Auvergne region, almost in the center of France, west of the Rhone-Alpes region and north of the Midi-Pyrenees region. Although off the beaten path, this area has much to offer travelers, specifically cyclists.

Everyone will want to take a stroll in the town square of Issoire lined with painted houses and joined by winding narrow streets. The Church of Saint-Austremoine exemplifying Roman style architecture is a unbelievable sight inside and out. Different from many churches, the interior is almost all painted with patterns of different colors. This isn’t the only site to see; along your route to St Flour make sure you visit the Chateau d'Alleuze and Viaduc de Garabit while taking in the magnificent landscape.

St Flour is situated between two volcanic mountains in the Massif Central department of the Auvergne region. The town itself is actually perched on top of the volcanic outcrops giving visitors a view of the surrounding countryside unlike any other. Take time to visit the museums of the town as well as the Cathedral of St. Pierre made of black basalt with its life-sized wooden black Christ statue.

St Flour knows a few things about gastronomy, so don’t miss the opportunity to try Tripoux, a stew of tripe and sheep feet tied in parcels…when in France right?

Both Issoire and St Flour have many adventures to offer cyclists. Many travelers overlook the Auvergne region, but with it being so close to the Pyrenees, Rhone-Alpes, Loire Valley and Provence regions it has many similar features from all of them making it the perfect getaway. The Etape Act 2 gives you the ideal excuse to explore these towns.