Our Trans-Alps Challenge offers you the opportunity to ride one of the most challenging routes in Europe - across the French Alps from north to south: from Lake Geneva to Italy's Piemonte Region - and in just 7 days!

And of course, we have to stick to Thomson Bike Tours tradition and follow one of the most challenging routes across the Alps!

We've lined up an impressive route including most of the legendary climbs in the Alps. Galibier, Telegraphe, Alpe d'Huez, Izoard, Madeleine, Agnello, Joux Plane, Colombiere... just a few of the famous climbs waiting to be conquered on this magnificent ride across the highest peaks in Europe.

Join our expert guides in the Alps for the ride of your life - you'll return home a different rider!

Trip Profile

 

Trip Highlights

• Climb the famous 21 switchbacks to Alpe d'Huez!
• Conquer the legendary Col du Galibier, one of the Grand Tour legends!
• Ride into Italy over the mighty Colle del' Agnello. At 2744m this is one of the highest cols in Europe. Enjoy one of the longest descents into Piemonte (over 50km from the summit of the Agnello!)
• The Col d'Izoard is one of the most scenic climbs (and descents) in Europe.
• Over 50,000ft of climbing in 7 days!
• As always the top support in the industry!

Top Support in the Industry

Throughout the trip you can relax and enjoy the rides knowing that you have the best Support Team in the industry right behind you all the way!

1 Sag Van and 1 experienced TBT ride leader for every 10 clients. And the highest staff to client ratio....1 staff member per 4 clients!

 

Your daily rides at a glance

Day	Itinerary	Ride Distance	Elevation Gain
1	Warm-up ride around Chatel	20 miles	2,625 ft
2	Chatel › Col du Corbier › Col de Joux-Plane › Col de la Colombiere › La Clusaz	73 miles	8,625 ft
3	La Clusaz › Col des Aravis › Col des Saisies › Cormet de Roselend › Bourg St Maurice	58 miles	8,000 ft
4	Bourg St Maurice › Col de la Madeleine › St Jean de Maurienne	70 miles	9,525 ft
5	St Jean de Maurienne › Col du Telegraphe › Col du Galibier › Alpe d'Huez	68 miles	11,500 ft
6	Alpe d'Huez › Col du Lautaret › Col d'Izoard › Guillestre	81 miles	9,050 ft
7	Guillestre › Colle del' Agnello › Saluzzo (Italy)	69 miles	6,600 ft
TOTAL:		439 miles	55,925 ft
DAILY AVERAGE:		63 miles	7,989 ft

 

What's Included

• 8 days / 7 nights fully accompanied trip
  
• All breakfasts
• All dinners
  
• Lunch on the first day
• Pick-up at Geneva Airport
• Drop-off at Turin Airport
• All ground transportation
• All luggage transfer
• Services of our expert guides
• Support vehicles
• Thomson Bike Tours maps, cue sheets and elevation profiles

What's Not Included

• Airfare
• Travel and personal insurance
• Additional hotel expenses i.e. phone charges, mini-bar, gratuities
• Lunches (except lunch on the first day which is included)

Climb these Famous Cols

In just 1 week climb many of the legendary cols in the Alps! Here are some of the cols included in our itinerary (sorted by Difficulty Index):

Climb	Elevation Gain	Average Grade	Length	Profile (m/km)	Difficulty Index
Col de la Madeleine	5062 ft	6.3%	15.3 miles		152
Colle del' Agnello	5213 ft	4.1%	26.1 miles		146
Alpe d'Huez	3,579 ft	7.7%	8.8 miles		125
Col du Galibier	4085 ft	6.9%	11.2 miles		122
Col de la Colombiere	3635 ft	6.8%	10.1 miles		118
Cormet de Roselend	4026 ft	6.0%	12.6 miles		119
Col d'Izoard	3743 ft	5.7%	12.4 miles		108
Col du Lautaret	4304 ft	3.8%	21.2 miles		94
Col de Telegraphe	2808 ft	7.3%	7.3 miles		93
Col des Saisies	2451 ft	5.0%	9.2 miles		82
Col de Joux Plane	2333 ft	6.5%	6.8 miles		72
Col des Aravis	2841 ft	4.6%	11.8 miles		68
Col du Corbier	1335 ft	7.1%	3.5 miles		62

 

 

The Thomson Bike Tours Difference Your trip to Europe may be a once-in-a-lifetime experience and you deserve the best! Performance cyclists now rate Thomson Bike Tours as the premiere provider of performance trips to Europe. Here are a few details that set us aside from the rest: LESS VAN - MORE BIKE: NO Van Transfers between your hotels and the start/finish of the bike rides. Each day we ride from and to the hotel. Our local knowledge, extensive planning and vast experience mean that you spend less time in a van and more time on the bike! Best-in-class Support & ride leaders: another key to our success! Sag van and ride leader for every 10 riders. Highest Staff to Customer Ratio: 1 staff member per 4 customers! THE THOMSON RIDES: over the years we've also gained a reputation for providing the best (and most challenging!) rides. 25 years experience riding in the Alps counts!