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2014 Tour de France Alsace, Annecy & Alpes
Beautiful!Basel!
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Join us for a holiday extravaganza. We begin in the picturesque and historic Swiss town of Basel right on the French, !German & Switzerland borders before making our way down through the French Alpes.
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Enjoy watching the pro riders on no less than 5 stages during this tour as well as riding some of our favourite magical back! roads roads. We are based in this region of France so know it well.
Alpe!d’Huez!
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Along the way we will stay in carefully selected accommodation not only for its quality but also its location. ! Highlights will include an 11th century family run chateau on the shores of Lake Geneva and the most delightful Auberge on the edge of pristine Lake Annecy. ! As for riding, we wont just let the pros have all the fun. Our ! rides will include adventures in the mountains of the Alsace, classic famous climbs in the French Alpes including the ! d’Huez and many more classics plus a few not so iconic Alpe well known but equally amazing and spectacular ones.
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For those who are not riding on this tour you will be offered a smorgasbord of sightseeing activities as well as getting to see ! the tourist track and naturally getting up close to places off the pros.
! This tour offers a chance to experience Le Tour, the culture of two countries and hidden France in one action packed holiday, all while having peace of mind knowing you are being taken care of by the best in the industry. DATES:
12 – 20 July 2014 (9 days / 8 nights)
PRICE:
$5,400 AUD
GROUP SIZE:
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Limited to 18 guests with 5 professional staff
START:
Basel, Switzerland (airport or train station)
FINISH:
Lyon (St Exupery International Airport)
CONTACT:
info@procyclingtours.com
Le!Tour!
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WELCOME!TO!BASEL!
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!!!!12!July
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Today you will be collected from Saint Louis Airport or Basel Train Station and be taken to our stunning and
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historic hotel located in the old town, equipped with it’s own Michelin Star restaurant.
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For those that would prefer to arrive into Basel a day or ! two earlier to take advantage of exploring what is
considered the best preserved and prettiest old town in ! Europe, we can arrange additional accommodation or simply ! meet you at the hotel today.
! checked in we will be available to help you set up Once your bike or introduce you to your hire bike. Depending
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legs and check your bike is in perfect working order. With Basel located directly on the border of Switzerland, France and Germany, let’s set ourselves the challenge to
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ride through 3 countries in 1 day!
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Late afternoon, wander the streets of Basel taking in one of the many well sign-posted tourist walks, taking you to
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stunning piazzas, museums and so much more.
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This evening we will enjoy our welcome dinner at the hotel where ! you will get the chance to meet your fellow tour guests and where we can talk about the tour that lies ahead! !
RIDE! OPTION
2.5 hours / 50km / flat & rolling
hills STAY
Basel 4* Hotel
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! !!!!DAY!2!
!STAGE!FINISH!MULHOUSE!
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!!!!13!July!!!!!!!!!!!
! Welcome to the Tour de France! ! Today we will be witness Stage 9 of Le Tour, where ! ! we expect a thrilling bunch sprint into Mulhouse. We !will leave on bike this morning taking in the rolling countryside through typical farmland of the ! – cornfields, sunflowers and forests await. Alsace Upon! arrival into Mulhouse, the festivities will begin, soaking up all things Tour de France. Having ! featured some 15 times in the past, Mulhouse knows how to put on a show and the afternoon will be ! walking around the old town and finding the spent perfect position to see the peloton charge into ! town. After! the race, the option will exist to ride back to Basel or return by vans depending on just how much ! you decided to party! Dinner will be at your leisure tonight in the old town ! of Basel, where will be happy to provide a range of recommendations.
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RIDE OPTIONS
3 to 5 hours / 60 to 100km / flat
STAY!
Basel 4* Hotel
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! ! !!DAY!3! (Stay!Lake!Geneva)!
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A!DAY!IN!THE!VOSGES!MOUNTAINS! ! ! ! ! !!!!!!!!!
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Today is Bastille Day and what better way to celebrate it than !in the mountains watching the Tour de France! This morning we will drive the short distance to the village ! of Cernay where we will start our ride into the mountains conquering the beautiful Grand Ballon. Some 20kms in ! and with a climbing elevation of 1000m, it’s the length perfect warm up climb to the bigger mountains that lay further ! south. The Tour really hits it’s straps today, passing over no less ! than 6 categorised climbs making the first real mountain stage of the tour. Expect to see an early break away ! at least 1 Frenchman ride with their heart on their including sleeve to take victory on the most important day in ! After watching the peloton charge over the France. highest point of today’s stage, the Col du Platzenwasel, we will ! enjoy lunch in the nearby ski village and of course the fantastic descent back to Cernay.
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After using our portable showers and change rooms, settle in for a van transfer (with use of free Wi-FI, DVD’s and ! to Lake Geneva and to our stunning 11th Century books) Château which we’re sure will be a tour highlight.
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At the days end we will dine in style in the Château where your meals will be prepared by top chef Marina Laden (3 ! hats in Guide Gault Millau).
! RIDE OPTIONS
3.5hrs / 80km / gradual climbing
STAY
Lake Geneva, 4 * Château
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14!July!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!DAY!4!! ! (Stay!Lake!Geneva)!
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LAKE!GENEVA!&!SURROUNDS! !!!!!!!!! ! ! ! ! !!!!!!!!!
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Today is a REST DAY for the peloton and indeed an opportunity for you to rest and relax in the Chateau today. ! For those interested in a ride today, what a perfect setting ! we have for a fantastic ride along the lake, together with a great climb into the hills overlooking Geneva.
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Often used in the Tour de France, Criterium du Dauphine and !other events, the roads of this region are pristine, taking in some of the finest scenery as we roll through vineyards and dense forest and climb the likes of Col de ! Saxel and Col de Cou (a wonderful stop for lunch). A day! where you can ride as much or as little as you like. Those! not riding today will have the opportunity to be transferred into the stunning medieval village of Yvoire to explore this quaint preserved village. Perhaps a wine taste ! for two is also on the agenda given we are in the heart of the Jurancon wine region.
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Tonight enjoy dinner at your leisure either within the Chateau ! or at a nearby restaurant located on the lake.
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2 to 4 hours / 40 - 100km / rolling hills
STAY
Lake Geneva, 4* Ch창teau
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15!July!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!! !!DAY!5! ! (Stay!Lake!Geneva)!
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STAGE!FINISH!OYANNAX!OR!ANNECY! !!!!!!!!! ! ! ! ! !!!!!!!!!
!16!July!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Tour de France reignites again today with a stage from ! Besancon to Oyannax and our location presents a great opportunity to see a stage finish in this beautiful city that will welcome the Tour for the very first time. ! We have a very special ride planned today, many of you ! may recall the spectacular footage from the 2012 Tour de France of the Col du Grand Colombier, well today you are going! to see it in the flesh! It’s indeed no puppy and needs to be treated with respect, but well worth the effort. ! then ride through spectacular quiet back-roads We will and on route to Oyonnax from the opposite direction as the race ! route. With the luxury of using vans, we will also offer guests the ! opportunity to bi-pass the Tour de France altogether today and be driven directly to beautiful Annecy and to our hotel! situated directly on the lake. A day spent exploring this wonderful town, with it’s canals, architecture, shops and cafes, not to mention THE most pristine lake in Europe. ! Following the stage finish, it’s a short transfer to Annecy ! and to our family owned hotel, in time to witness the cliffs of the Alpes surrounding the lake turn a shade of pink as ! set’s to the west - what a day. the sun Our group dinner tonight will be prepared by the hotel’s ! Maîtres Cuisiniers and a wonderful 4 course dinner.
! RIDE! OPTIONS
2 - 5 hrs / 40 - 90km / mountains
! STAY
Lake Annecy, 3* deluxe
Auberge
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! !!DAY!6!!!!!!!!!COL!DE!l’ARPETAZ,!FORCLAZ!&!ANNECY! (Stay!Lake!Geneva)! ! ! ! ! !!!!!!!!! ! Today we will ride a little known col with some 34 ! switchbacks and indeed it was a tour highlight for many clients in 2013. For all our non-riders they nominated this day as ! the best on tour. We first ride along the lake on a converted bike path (once a railway line) and enjoy pristine lake views. That said, the views riding up the ! l’Arpetaz are even more astounding and can't even begin to be taken in without stopping. But as spectacular as they ! are, the best are still to come. Assuming we’ve chosen well and it's a silver dollar day, ! about to be richly rewarded with perhaps THE best you're views of Mt Blanc anyone on a road bike or sightseeing ! ever have. For those that want more, you will have you will the option to also ride the Col de la Forclaz, taking in the most !spectacular view if the entire lake. The option also exists to simply ride around the entire lake, ! some 42kms in length there are many places to stop for lunch.
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A day away from the Tour de France means we again have! all the time in the world to ride, explore and relax in one of the greatest locations in Europe.
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Our group dinner tonight will once again enjoy the delights of the Maîtres Cuisiniers, you’ve never seen a cheese ! quite like it. platter
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RIDE OPTIONS
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STAY
Auberge !
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2 - 4 hours / 50 – 100kms / mountains Lake Annecy, 3* deluxe
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!17!July!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
! !!DAY!7!!!!!!!!!ALPE!D’HUEZ!&!STAGE!FINISH! (Stay!Lake!Geneva)! ! ! ! ! !
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Today will be a day you have been waiting for. Conquering the iconic climb of Alpe d’Huez. ! We leave Annecy today and transfer by van to the Bourg ! as the mountains close in around us – you’ll start d’Oisan, feeling the excitement of conquering THE most famous mountain ridden in the Tour de France. After a ! compulsory coffee stop in the old town, we’ll start our stop-watches and ride onwards and upwards to the Alpe d’Huez ! ski station. A 14km climb, be sure to take the first 2km nice and slow, as it ramps up to gradients of 10%. But don’t worry, you WILL make it!
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After a podium photo and lunch at the summit at a funky little café, we’ll ride a secret balcony road to the base of ! the Glandon / Croix de Fer, and indeed one of our favourite roads in the Alpes, you will understand why!
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It’s then off to see the stage finish in the ski village of Chamrousse, arguably one of the tour hi-lights of the 2014 ! edition with the main GC podium contenders well and truly known after the 25km mountain top ascent!
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Those feeling up to is will also have an opportunity to climb ! Chamrousse on a little back-road or simply being toward driven by van, a luxury we have by not operating large buses. !! Tonight, you’ll have the chance to explore the beautiful ! old city of Chambery, selecting one of the many fine restaurants in which to relax and dine.
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RIDE! OPTIONS
2 - 4 hours / 50 – 90kms / mountains
STAY!
Chambery, 4 * Hotel
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18!July!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
! !!DAY!8!!!!!!!STAGE!START!GRENOBLE!&!COL!DE!PALAQUIT!! (Stay!Lake!Geneva)! ! ! ! ! !!!!!!!!! ! It’s a short drive on the autoroute to Grenoble this morning ! and to enjoy the stage start, which will see the peloton ride deep into the mountains. Stage! starts are a lot of fun, a chance to get up close to your favourite riders, pick up some Tour de France merchandise and walk around the team buses and ! mechanic vans to see the very latest equipment being used by the pros.
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After seeing the peloton off, we will also get prepared for a fantastic final ride of the tour, some would say we have ! saved the best until last.
! The Cartreusse Mountains are rarely frequented by the international cycling traveller, for the only reason that we believe ! the French like keeping this little secret to themselves! We’ll climb the Col de Palaquit, which was tackled by the peloton the day prior, a great way to get a ! first hand understanding of how the race unfolded. Those! not riding today will simply love the scenery and quaint ancient villages.
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Riding in this spectacular mountain range will remain with you for ever and once we’ve had enough of riding in this ! cycling playground, it’s a transfer to our 4 star hotel conveniently located in Saint Exupery Airport, Lyon.
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It’s here we will enjoy our final farewell dinner, share a few stories, ! plenty of laughs and reflect on what has been a great cycling holiday.
! RIDE OPTIONS
2 - 4 hours / 50 – 80kms / mountains
STAY
Lyon Saint Exupery, 4* Hotel
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19!July!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
! !!DAY!9!!!!!!!BON!VOYAGE!! ! ! ! !!!!!!!!! !
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20!July!
Today we bid you farewell to what has been an amazing holiday.
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We will provide any assistance disassembling and packing your bike or remove your pedals, garmin etc from your BMC hire bike
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We will provide all the assistance you need in checking into the airport or provide advice and support for you onward holiday plans in Europe. Our travel partner can also assist with all pre and ! post tour logistics for you so please ask if you would like further information. If you! are joining us for our second tour through the Pyrenees to Paris, transfer to Toulouse will also be arranged.
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! TOUR!HIKLIGHTS!and!KEY!INCLUSIONS! !
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8 nights slumber in splendid 4* & 3* deluxe accommodation and sample mouth-watering cuisine through some of Frances best locations. All transfers including those to and from arrival and departure locations. Ride classic climbs of the French Alpes including Alpe d’Huez and many more Watch live 5 stage of the Tour de France. Non-riders are welcomed and catered for with daily sightseeing options offered. Delicious and filling buffet breakfast on ALL mornings. 6 delicious dinners including selected wines and beverages The OWNERS of procyclingtours create and personally host your holiday experience. Up to 5 experienced and professional staff and a maximum of 18 guests to ensure you receive the pro treatment. Modern, fully equipped, air-conditioned 9 seater vans with WI-FI connectivity, portable shower and change rooms and DVD player and professional bike racks. On-road PERSONAL coaching and advice by former pro rider and director sportive, Steve Cunningham. The support you need to get the best out of your cycling. Option for massage on designated nights by our qualified guide. Pre-tour training and holiday preparation advice. Be treated like a pro by the pro’s. Our professional Soignier support includes transfer of luggage, expert handling your bike right but doesn't stop at handing you your room keys and taking care of any dietary needs. Photography by procyclingtours. We provide you with up to 1000 precious memories of your holiday. Printed ride maps and detailed itinerary. A tree will be planted in the procyclingtours forest to offset carbon emission generated during your holiday. Our gift to you and the planet. Picnic lunches on selected days, where lunch stops are not possible. A welcome pack including a procyclingtours jersey, a day bag and plenty of other goodies.. On road supplements including quality brand energy bars, drinks, mechanical, first aid and vehicle support throughout your ride (not just at the start and finish). Flexible ride options each day - ride as much or as little as you like! Quality BMC hire bikes available at the special price of only $495 including full set-up, helmet, spares, bottles and plenty of gears to get you up any climb. Travel ASSIST, pre and post tour support.
! TO!FINALISE!THE!BOOKING! ! To assure your place on this procyclingtours holiday, simply register online through the tour page and arrange! your deposit of $1,000 . Balance of payment is due 3 months prior to tour start.
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For any questions please feel free to email us at info@procyclingtours.com and remember to visit our ! for all trip inclusions, bike hire details etc. FAQs page For full terms & conditions, refer to our website @ procyclingtours.com !
BMC Bike Hire
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$495 (with an option to purchase Theft & Damage Insurance for only $100)
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BMC GF02 (or similar), includes compact or triple chain ring, ultegra, helmet, water bottle, saddle bag ! with multi-tool, spare tube, leavers. As a unique procyclingtours benefit, we offer Theft and Damage Insurance for complete piece of mind.
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Single Supplement
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$1,500
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Travelling alone and do not want to share a room? We provide you with the option to go it alone. Just let us know.
Travel ASSIST Our preferred Travel partner, Oliver Travel will help you with all your travel needs, including insurance, airfares and pre and post tour travel arrangements. Please let us know if you will like Oliver Travel to help you and we’ll put you in touch with them. Oliver Travel are based in Adelaide Australia, however can arrange any travel for clients Australia wide.