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Tour de France 2018
7-day Cycling Holiday
Tour de France 2018 – French Alps Cycling Break
Come and watch the World’s most famous Cycling Race – from our doorstep!
Summer 2018 is set for a quite simply incredible Tour de France route for us here at Bike Weekender. The oldest and most celebrated of the Grand Tours, the Tour de France requires no introduction in the world of cycling.
The second week of this year’s Tour heads to the Alps, with three of the big mountain stages taking place within 30km of our base at the Aravis Lodge.
If you want to experience this gruelling race at first hand, there is no better place to be! Come and experience the buzz of watching up to 3 live stages of the Tour de France in the stunning Northern Alps, plus the finale of La Course – the women’s race – whilst challenging yourself by riding some of the actual cols made famous by the Tour for yourself!
We are offering a special weeklong package from our home base in the Aravis. The Aravis Lodge is the perfect ‘home from home’ cycling base from which to experience some incredible alpine riding whilst enjoying the attentive service of our team in the cosy surroundings of the lodge.
Rides are typically around 70km – 100km with between 1500m and 3000m of climbing.
You will also get to spend some time down at Lake Annecy – venue of the Tour’s first rest day – and go for a cooling swim in its azure blue waters, where you will get to see this beautiful mountain region from a totally different perspective. You might even spot some of the pros out on their rest day training ride!
Our Dedicated Cycling Base – Lake Annecy / Aravis Mountains
Our base for your 7-day ‘watch & ride’ cycling holiday is the Aravis Lodge, in Saint Jean de Sixt: the home of Bike Weekender. A charming Alpine farming village in the heart of the Aravis Mountains, yet only an hour’s transfer from Geneva airport, its location ensures varied cycling is possible with minimal hassle, all week long. It’s a sociable chalet-hotel, offering great food, on-site bike hire and a high level of personal service from our resident team, helping to make this a trip to remember for a long time to come!
Tour de France 2018 – 7 day French Alps Break
Saturday 14th – Saturday 21st July 2018
You’ll be riding at least 6 famous Tour de France cols, on quiet, smooth Alpine roads. It’s a challenging and
This 7-day holiday has a very short airport transfer from Geneva, and full vehicle support for each day’s ride, giving you the most cycling possible. Each day we’ll head out on the scheduled ride after breakfast at the Lodge. Lunch (not included in the package) is taken at cafés / restaurants along the ride route.
All rides are accompanied by our friendly and knowledgeable support team in the minibus, who will be equipped with plenty of drinks and snacks, spares, along with any gear you don’t want to carry, and shouting encouragement along the way. They can also give you a ride back to base if the legs give up, allowing you to simply enjoy the experience.
‘Watch & Ride’ the Tour de France 2018 – Holiday Itinerary
Saturday 14th July 2018 – Arrival
You arrange morning / early afternoon flights to Geneva Airport.
Geneva is well served with flights from the UK – see full details on travel options here >>>
Our airport pick-ups are at 13:00 and 17:00 – transfer to your base is only 1 hour.
There’ll be time to build bikes / set up hire bikes, and maybe go for a quick ride to stretch the legs, before a 3-course dinner is served.
Sunday 15th July 2018 – Introduction Ride
A ride out to find your climbing legs taking in some of our favourite locals cols of the Col de Marais, the Col d’Epine and Col de la Croix Fry – featured in this year’s Tour – before returning to the lodge to relax and watch the last hour or two of the Tour on TV, before a 3-course dinner with wine.
Ride distance 73km with total ascent 1954m
Monday 16th July – Annecy Lake Loop Ride
A spectacular ride with amazing views across Lake Annecy and the surrounding mountains from the top of the Col de la Forclaz. From there, you will then drop down to Talloires and ride round the lake via Duingt, into/through the beautiful medieval town of Annecy, and then onto Veyrier du Lac. Bear in mind, this is the first rest day of the Tour, so keep your eyes open for any WorldTour teams on their rest day training rides in the Annecy/Aravis area.
Finish with a swim (or at least a paddle to cool the feet) at Plage de Veyrier.
Option to ride back – or take the minibus up the hill home!
Finish at Veyrier = 74km – 1,365 ascent
Full ride = 97km – 2,049 ascent
Tuesday 17th July – Stage 10 – Annecy to Le Grand Bornand
Option to head out for an early ride, or alternatively watch La Course – the women’s race – which also finishes in Le Grand Bornand, before settling in to watch the Tour go right past our door. Then either cycle up the switchbacks of the Col de la Colombière to watch the race pass by a second time, or stop in Le Grand Bornand to watch the exciting race finish.
Time to refresh and relax, before a special Tour de France 2018 BBQ party in the garden, with wine
Wednesday 18th July – Stage 11 – Albertville to la Rosière
We will ride out to watch the peloton come over one of the mountain cols on what is likely to be the Tour’s queen alpine stage. A ride over Col des Aravis will warm the legs up before the long and challenging climb up to Col de Saisies via the steeper route through Crest Voland and on up to the Bisanne. Once the race has come through we will descend back down the 13km through Saisies and the beautiful alpine village of Notre Dame de Bellecombe, before climbing the Col des Aravis from the south and descending back down to base, giving us time to refresh and relax whilst watching the highlights of the stage on TV, before a 3-course dinner at Aravis Lodge with wine.
Ride distance 89km with total ascent 2952m
Thursday 19th July – Col de Arpettaz Ride
A stunning ride featuring Col de Marais and the fabulous descent down Col d’Epine and the less well-known but spectacular Col d’Arpettaz complete with its 42 switchbacks – a real hidden gem and an incredible view of Mont Blanc! Then tackle the famous Col des Aravis and a thrilling descent back to base – as featured on the penultimate day of the 2016 Tour de France.
Ride distance 94km with total ascent 2700m
Friday 20th July – Col de la Colombiere Ride
An opportunity to tackle two of the cols featured in Tuesday’s stage! After a 20 km long, gentle descent down the Gorge des Bornes, the first ascent of the day climbs to the picturesque village of Mont Saxonnex for a quick coffee before descending down to the foot of the steep and challenging Col de Romme before the final dig up over the Col de la Colombière and back down to the lodge.
Ride distance 77km with total ascent 2386m
Saturday 21st July – Departure
Depart for Geneva Airport transfers leave base at 09:00 (for flights departing after 12:00) and 14:00 (for flights departing after 17:00).
Please Note
The itinerary outlined is provisional, and on rare occasions, we may have to modify this programme due to weather conditions, group ability, roadworks etc.
The Aravis Lodge – A Perfect Cycling Base
The Aravis Lodge is set up to cater to all of your cycling holiday needs, so make yourself comfortable and think of it as your home away from home.
The Aravis Lodge has 18 ensuite bedrooms, with all bathrooms having recently (2016) been fully renovated in a fresh, contemporary style. Most rooms are 2-person twin / doubles; there are also four larger family rooms, which sleep up to 4 in twin / double beds plus an adult-sized bunk bed.
The ground floor of the Lodge has a large dining and breakfast room, with tea and coffee available throughout the day. It also has a large, sunny lounge with comfy sofas, a smaller TV room with satellite TV and DVD player, and a large licensed bar. The bar has draught beers (Kronenbourg and Guiness) on tap along with a wide range of spirits, bottled beers and soft drinks.
On the basement level you will find the bike room and workshop. There is also a fully equipped gym and fitness room with CV and weights machines – in case you haven’t had enough exercise already. The modern sauna and massage room always seem to be much more popular!
Aravis Lodge Food and Drink for Cyclists
All Bike Weekender breaks include half board – a hearty breakfast and 3 course evening meal every night.
Breakfast is a continental buffet, served from 0730 each morning to set you up for the day’s riding.
Dinner is freshly prepared by a dedicated chef team, using local produce, and served at 1930 each day. Menus are planned with cyclists in mind, and will fill you up with the carbs you need for the next day’s riding.
Red and white table wine is included with dinner; additional drinks (draft and bottle beers, spirits and wine-list wines by the bottle) are available from the Aravis Lodge bar on a tab basis, charged on departure in Euros.
Find out more about the Aravis Lodge in the Northern French Alps here >>>
Tour de France 2018 – ‘Watch & Ride’ Cycling Holiday
Saturday 14th July – Saturday 21st July 2018
Special package price = £975pp
All prices are per-person, based on 2 guests sharing a room. Contact us for details of single occupancy options.
Inclusive package includes:-
- Transfers to / from Geneva Airport
- Ensuite accommodation at the cosy chalet-style Aravis Lodge, Saint Jean de Sixt (twin/triple rooms)
- Cyclist-focused breakfast and hearty 3 course evening meal, including red and white wine
- Tour de France BBQ party on the Tuesday
- Fully supported rides – route marked, vehicle support, drinks and snacks etc.
- The dedicated service of our professional, friendly team
- Access to the in-house gym and sauna
Not included in the package price:-
- Flights to / from Geneva – arranged independently
- Bike hire – can be arranged with us
- Lunches whilst out riding – bought directly
- Additional drinks from the Aravis Lodge bar – tabs charged on departure
- Post-ride massage (optional)
Airport Transfers
For Arrivals from Geneva Airport
Arrive on Saturday 14th July Geneva Airport, by either 1300 for the first pick-up, or 1700 for the second.
For Departures from Geneva Airport
Saturday 21st July – departing our base at either 0900 (which is good for flights from 1200 onwards), or 1400 (which is good for flights from 1700 onwards).
Booking Process
Sign up using the booking form below
Pay a deposit of £150pp once your reservation has been confirmed by email
The remaining balance will be due 6 weeks prior to the trip
If you’d like to join us on this special Tour de France 2018 7-day cycling holiday, just click on the button below to access the booking form and we’ll be in touch by email shortly to confirm your reservation.
If you have any questions about any aspect of our road cycling holidays, our package, accommodations or the areas we operate in, just send through an enquiry form here, call us on +44 845 557 5983 or email info@bikeweekender.com
