How to channel your inner Geraint Thomas: The best cycle-themed tours in the French mountains
As the Tour de France kicks off, we select the best cycle-themed tours in the Alps and Pyrenees.
G-force
You know it’s July when images of men in unflinchingly tight sportswear pop up in newspapers, and random phrases such as “yellow jersey”, “team time-trial” and “irregularities with the second urine sample” hover on the periphery of the conversation. Ah yes, the 2019 edition of the Tour de France (letour.fr) begins today, in admittedly not-very-French Brussels – with Geraint “G” Thomas hoping to become the first British rider to retain the title since, ooh, Chris Froome did it way back in 2017. But as well as being the world’s greatest bike race, Le Tour is also a three-week slow-motion advert for France as a glorious destination. Not that this requires much advertising. More at uk.france.fr/en.
Elysian wheels
The best way to watch the Tour is to be in Paris for the final stage (Sunday July 28). Not only do the riders perform a dozen or so laps from the Louvre to the Champs-Elysées, meaning you see them dash by more than once, but if you get bored of sweaty Lycra, you can nip to a bar in the Marais or a restaurant in Saint-Germain-des-Pres. A three-night stay at the five-star Hotel du Collectionneur Arc de Triomphe (almost on the race route) with return trains (out on July 26) costs from £931pp, via eurostar.com.
You can call me Alps
If you can watch the pros lumbering up the hellish gradients of the Alps and not think “that looks awful”, you can follow in their tyre tracks. Marmot-tours.co.uk has a week-long “Alpine Classic Cols” tour, tackling beasts like Alpe D’Huez, from Aug 24-31. From £1,440pp including bike. Flights (to Geneva) are extra.
Chalet it be
Alpine pedalling does not have to be attritional, especially if you stay at Chalet Pelerin. This four-bed oasis (elevenexperience.com) in Le Miroir pairs the likes of Col de la Madeleine with fine wines and gourmet dinners. One week’s (half board) stay costs from £2,099 a head, with four days’ riding, all equipment, and flights to Geneva.
Rhone goal
The 2019 Tour will spend a good portion of its three weeks in the south-east of France. You can too, avoiding the up-and-down bits, by slotting on to the eight-day “Rhone River Cruise Biking Tour” that will go north from Marseille on July 28, courtesy of high-end cruise line uniworld.com. The gist? Some sailing on the SS Catherine (up to Lyon). Some cycling on flat paths. Beaucoup de vin rouge. From £6,490pp (flights extra).
Dis-mount
There are two ways to experience the Pyrenees by bike. One is as the Tour does – powering up the Col du Tourmalet. The other is via the coast roads into Spain. Explore.co.uk has an eight-day “Cycle Marseille to Barcelona” tour planned for Sept 14, from £1,375pp including flights.
Corse and effect
Was it something Corsica said? France’s Mediterranean island was invited to be part of the Tour in 2013. It was spectacular. It hasn’t been asked back since. All the more room for amateurs on the eight-day “Beautiful Isle” tour sold by Saddle Skedaddle (skedaddle.com). Next departure is Sept 29 – from £2,035pp, with bike and flights.
All in a fizz
The 2019 Tour will roll across the Champagne region, via Reims and Épernay, on Monday and Tuesday. Too soon for you to be there with fizz in hand. Still – why not go later? Freedomtreks.co.uk sells a four-night “Champagne: Bike & Bubbly” trip that stops regularly at local producers. From £681pp – including bike (trains extra).
Say cheese
Le Tour is giving Normandy a (very) wide berth this year. Which means no camembert or calvados for the riders, but plenty of both for those who take on the four-day self-guided “Alençon to Mont Saint-Michel” cycle tour (a distance of 87 miles/140km) sold by bellefrance.com. From £1,649pp, including return rail travel (via Paris), and bike hire.
Nothing Toulouse
France’s fourth biggest city (toulouse-visit.com) is both a foodie paradise and a shamefully underrated destination – though not by the Tour, which will call in on July 17. Take the hint. A three-night getaway to the five-star Hotel du Grand Balcon, flying from Stansted on Aug 15, costs from £215pp, via expedia.co.uk.
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