Ruta Negra French Alps

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Ruta Negra French Alps

An EPIC route across the French Alps. Hardcore riders ONLY!

Our most ambitious itinerary yet with over 20 HC climbs squeezed into 14 days of riding. Our ingenious route across the French Alps, from Mont Ventoux to Alpe d’Huez, will challenge even the most hardcore cyclists.

Featured Climbs

Alpe d’Huez, Mont Ventoux, Col du Galibier, Col de la Madeleine, Col de la Bonette

Overview

Details

Next Departure

No Upcoming Departures

Duration

Non-Rider Friendly

Rental Bike

Not available

Ride Program

Total Distance

Total Elevation

Daily Av. Distance

Daily Av. Elevation

Overview

The Tour de France has ensured the Alps are embedded in cycling folklore, thanks to the pain, suffering and glory dished out by the legendary climbs of the region.

La Ruta Negra is designed to capture these same sensations in an EPIC journey across the French Alps. We’ve designed a unique and ambitious ride featuring the majority of the iconic climbs and lots of lesser-known gems. Over the 2 weeks you’ll ride legendary climbs like Alpe d’Huez, Galibier, Ventoux, Madeleine, Glandon, Izoard & Croix de Fer. You’ll also conquer the Col de la Bonette, the highest paved through-road in Europe, and a number of sensational, unfamiliar gems that easily match their more famous counterparts, such as the Col de Sabot, Col de Granon and the Col d’Allos.

Covering a distance of 1,700km and with over 45,000m total elevation (1,000 miles and 150,000ft), this unique trip concept is designed to challenge even the most hardcore rider.

Book with Confidence Commitment

Book your 2021 Thomson trip with confidence. Our new cancellation policy provides a Full Refund if you cancel your trip up to 90 days prior to departure. View our 2021 Terms & Conditions for full details.

Ruta Negra French Alps

This was a very challenging and well put together trip. The outstanding support from the first rate Thompson team made it both possible to achieve ...

Andrew Harrison, Australia — 2019

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Cycling helmet, sunglasses and shoes illustration

Itinerary

Day	Description	Hotel
01	Bienvenue en France!	Hostellerie du Val de Sault
02	Mont Ventoux x 2!	Hostellerie du Val de Sault
03	Gorges de la Nesque	Mon Hotel Gap
04	Col de La Bonette	Le Sauze – Montana Chalet
05	Best of the Southern Alps loop	Le Sauze – Montana Chalet
06	Col d'Izoard & Col de Granon	Hotel Alliey
07	Italian detour and the mighty Col de L'Iseran	Hotel La Toviere
08	Legendary Tour de France climbs	Hotel St Alban
09	Rest Day	Hotel St Alban
10	2018 Tour de France Stage 10	Hotel St Alban
11	The iconic Col de la Madeleine	Hotel Saint Georges
12	Col de Glandon & Col de la Croix de Fer	Hotel Saint Georges
13	Alps legends: Col du Galibier & Alpe d'Huez	Hotel Pic Blanc
14	The sensational Col du Sabot and Col de Sarenne	Hotel Pic Blanc
15	Au revoir!
	Daily Averages

Itinerary View

Map View

Itinerary Detail

Day 1

Distance

Elevation

Bienvenue en France!

Your trip starts at Marseille Provence Airport where our staff will meet you before the transfer to your hotel in Provence.

After lunch, orientation meeting and bike build-up, you’ll head out for your first ride in Provence, over the Col de Murs and the Col de La Ligne.

Day 2

Distance

Elevation

Mont Ventoux x 2!

Not much needs to be said about today’s ride – except maybe, that in true Thomson style, you’ll climb the Giant of Provence not once, but twice! You’ll climb the classic Bedoin side of the climb first. After 14km (9 miles) of climbing through the pine forest you’ll break out of the trees and be faced with the final 7km (4 miles), across the famous lunar landscape, to the summit at 1900m (6,200ft).

A long descent to Malaucene where you can enjoy a coffee-stop and some refuelling before tackling the 20km (12 miles) ascent back to the summit.

Day 3

Distance

Elevation

Gorges de la Nesque

The highlight of today’s ride has to be the spectacular 19km (12 miles) climb through the Gorges de la Nesque. The Gorges are a magical place to cycle, a vast canyon cut into the Vaucluse Mountains with twisty roads and incredible scenery the entire length of the climb.

On exiting the Gorges you’ll head north through the lavender fields around Sault and on to your next climb, the Cat 2. Col de Perty in the Baronnies Natural Park. Before reaching our hotel in Gap you have 1 last climb to contend with, the Cat 2 Col de Foureyssasse which peaks out at just 20km (12 miles) from the finish of the ride.

Map & Profile

	Av. Grade	Category
Col de Murs from Venasque	4.3%	2
Profile Map Gradient (%) 0 0-6 6-8 8-10 10-12 12-15 >15
Col de la Ligne from Murs	3.9%	3
Profile Map Gradient (%) 0 0-6 6-8 8-10 10-12 12-15 >15

	Av. Grade	Category
Mont Ventoux from Bedoin	7.3%	HC
Profile Map Gradient (%) 0 0-6 6-8 8-10 10-12 12-15 >15
Mont Ventoux from Malaucene	7.4%	HC
Profile Map Gradient (%) 0 0-6 6-8 8-10 10-12 12-15 >15

	Av. Grade	Category
Gorges de la Nesque from Villes sur Auzon	3.3%	2
Profile Map Gradient (%) 0 0-6 6-8 8-10 10-12 12-15 >15
Col de Perty from Montauban	5%	2
Profile Map Gradient (%) 0 0-6 6-8 8-10 10-12 12-15 >15
Col de Foureyssasse Sud from La Saulce	6.5%	2
Profile Map Gradient (%) 0 0-6 6-8 8-10 10-12 12-15 >15

	Av. Grade	Category
Col de la Sentinelle from Gap	4.2%	3
Profile Map Gradient (%) 0 0-6 6-8 8-10 10-12 12-15 >15
Mont Colombis from Remollon	8.9%	HC
Profile Map Gradient (%) 0 0-6 6-8 8-10 10-12 12-15 >15
Col de la Bonette from Jausiers	6.9%	HC
Profile Map Gradient (%) 0 0-6 6-8 8-10 10-12 12-15 >15

	Av. Grade	Category
Col d’Allos from Barcelonnette	6.7%	HC
Profile Map Gradient (%) 0 0-6 6-8 8-10 10-12 12-15 >15
Col des Champs from Colmars	7.5%	HC
Profile Map Gradient (%) 0 0-6 6-8 8-10 10-12 12-15 >15
Col de la Cayolle from St Martin d’Entraunes	6.6%	HC
Profile Map Gradient (%) 0 0-6 6-8 8-10 10-12 12-15 >15

	Av. Grade	Category
Col de Vars from Jausiers	4.5%	HC
Profile Map Gradient (%) 0 0-6 6-8 8-10 10-12 12-15 >15
Col d’Izoard from junction to Col d’Agnel)	7.3%	HC
Profile Map Gradient (%) 0 0-6 6-8 8-10 10-12 12-15 >15
Col de Granon from St Chaffrey	9.2%	HC
Profile Map Gradient (%) 0 0-6 6-8 8-10 10-12 12-15 >15

	Av. Grade	Category
Col de L’Echelle from Plampinet	5%	3
Profile Map Gradient (%) 0 0-6 6-8 8-10 10-12 12-15 >15
Moncenisio from Venaus	7.6%	HC
Profile Map Gradient (%) 0 0-6 6-8 8-10 10-12 12-15 >15
Mont Cenis from Moncenisio Junction	6%	1
Profile Map Gradient (%) 0 0-6 6-8 8-10 10-12 12-15 >15
Col de L’Iseran from Lanslevillard	4.8%	HC
Profile Map Gradient (%) 0 0-6 6-8 8-10 10-12 12-15 >15

	Av. Grade	Category
Cormet de Roselend from Bourg St Maurice	6.1%	HC
Profile Map Gradient (%) 0 0-6 6-8 8-10 10-12 12-15 >15
Col des Saisies from Beaufort	6.6%	HC
Profile Map Gradient (%) 0 0-6 6-8 8-10 10-12 12-15 >15
Col des Aravis from Flumet	5.7%	2
Profile Map Gradient (%) 0 0-6 6-8 8-10 10-12 12-15 >15

Climb		Distance	Elevation	Av. Grade	Category
	Col de la Croix Fry from Thones			7.3%	1
	Profile Map Gradient (%) 0 0-6 6-8 8-10 10-12 12-15 >15

	Av. Grade	Category
Col des Glieres from Petit Bornand	8.3%	HC
Profile Map Gradient (%) 0 0-6 6-8 8-10 10-12 12-15 >15
Mont Saxonnex from Thuet	8.2%	2
Profile Map Gradient (%) 0 0-6 6-8 8-10 10-12 12-15 >15
Col de Romme from Cluses	8.9%	HC
Profile Map Gradient (%) 0 0-6 6-8 8-10 10-12 12-15 >15
Col de la Colombiere from Le Reposoir	8.6%	1
Profile Map Gradient (%) 0 0-6 6-8 8-10 10-12 12-15 >15

	Av. Grade	Category
Col de la Forclaz de Montmin from Perroix	7.4%	1
Profile Map Gradient (%) 0 0-6 6-8 8-10 10-12 12-15 >15
Col du Tamie from Faverges	4%	3
Profile Map Gradient (%) 0 0-6 6-8 8-10 10-12 12-15 >15
Col de la Madeleine from La Lechere	6.6%	HC
Profile Map Gradient (%) 0 0-6 6-8 8-10 10-12 12-15 >15

	Av. Grade	Category
Lacets de Monvernier from Pontamafrey	10.6%	2
Profile Map Gradient (%) 0 0-6 6-8 8-10 10-12 12-15 >15
Col du Chaussy from Montvernier	8.2%	1
Profile Map Gradient (%) 0 0-6 6-8 8-10 10-12 12-15 >15
Col du Glandon from St Etienne de Cuines	7.3%	HC
Profile Map Gradient (%) 0 0-6 6-8 8-10 10-12 12-15 >15
Col du Mollard from Belleville	6.6%	3
Profile Map Gradient (%) 0 0-6 6-8 8-10 10-12 12-15 >15

	Av. Grade	Category
Col du Telegraphe from St Michel de Maurienne	7.3%	1
Profile Map Gradient (%) 0 0-6 6-8 8-10 10-12 12-15 >15
Col du Galibier from Valloire	6.8%	HC
Profile Map Gradient (%) 0 0-6 6-8 8-10 10-12 12-15 >15
Alpe d’Huez from Bourg d’Oisans Roundabout	7.7%	HC
Profile Map Gradient (%) 0 0-6 6-8 8-10 10-12 12-15 >15

	Av. Grade	Category
Col de Sabot from Allemont	7.9%	HC
Profile Map Gradient (%) 0 0-6 6-8 8-10 10-12 12-15 >15
Mont de Lans from D1091 Junction	7.7%	2
Profile Map Gradient (%) 0 0-6 6-8 8-10 10-12 12-15 >15
Col de Sarenne from Mizoen	7.4%	HC
Profile Map Gradient (%) 0 0-6 6-8 8-10 10-12 12-15 >15

Climb		Distance	Elevation	Av. Grade	Category
No major climbs today

Climbs

Day 01

Day 02

Day 03

Day 04

Day 05

Day 06

Day 07

Day 08

Day 09

Day 10

Day 11

Day 12

Day 13

Day 14

Day 15

Climbs

Category	Climb	Day	Difficulty	Av. Grade
2	Col de Murs (from Venasque)	01	37	4.3%
3	Col de la Ligne (from Murs)	01	27	3.9%
HC	Mont Ventoux (from Bedoin)	02	145	7.3%
HC	Mont Ventoux (from Malaucene)	02	145	7.4%
2	Gorges de la Nesque (from Villes sur Auzon)	03	34	3.3%
2	Col de Perty (from Montauban)	03	49	5%
2	Col de Foureyssasse Sud (from La Saulce)	03	56	6.5%
3	Col de la Sentinelle (from Gap)	04	30	4.2%
HC	Mont Colombis (from Remollon)	04	129	8.9%
HC	Col de la Bonette (from Jausiers)	04	138	6.9%
HC	Col d’Allos (from Barcelonnette)	05	104	6.7%
HC	Col des Champs (from Colmars)	05	92	7.5%
HC	Col de la Cayolle (from St Martin d’Entraunes)	05	114	6.6%
HC	Col de Vars (from Jausiers)	06	62	4.5%
HC	Col d’Izoard (from junction to Col d’Agnel))	06	104	7.3%
HC	Col de Granon (from St Chaffrey)	06	126	9.2%
3	Col de L’Echelle (from Plampinet)	07	35	5%
HC	Moncenisio (from Venaus)	07	94	7.6%
1	Mont Cenis (from Moncenisio Junction)	07	73	6%
HC	Col de L’Iseran (from Lanslevillard)	07	88	4.8%
HC	Cormet de Roselend (from Bourg St Maurice)	08	97	6.1%
HC	Col des Saisies (from Beaufort)	08	92	6.6%
2	Col des Aravis (from Flumet)	08	61	5.7%
1	Col de la Croix Fry (from Thones)	09	90	7.3%
HC	Col des Glieres (from Petit Bornand)	10	93	8.3%
2	Mont Saxonnex (from Thuet)	10	74	8.2%
HC	Col de Romme (from Cluses)	10	108	8.9%
1	Col de la Colombiere (from Le Reposoir)	10	90	8.6%
1	Col de la Forclaz de Montmin (from Perroix)	11	70	7.4%
3	Col du Tamie (from Faverges)	11	32	4%
HC	Col de la Madeleine (from La Lechere)	11	134	6.6%
2	Lacets de Monvernier (from Pontamafrey)	12	85	10.6%
1	Col du Chaussy (from Montvernier)	12	100	8.2%
HC	Col du Glandon (from St Etienne de Cuines)	12	135	7.3%
3	Col du Mollard (from Belleville)	12	53	6.6%
1	Col du Telegraphe (from St Michel de Maurienne)	13	94	7.3%
HC	Col du Galibier (from Valloire)	13	112	6.8%
HC	Alpe d’Huez (from Bourg d’Oisans Roundabout)	13	117	7.7%
HC	Col de Sabot (from Allemont)	14	140	7.9%
2	Mont de Lans (from D1091 Junction)	14	65	7.7%
HC	Col de Sarenne (from Mizoen)	14	100	7.4%

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Dates & Prices

Date	Booking Status	Availability	Price / Per Person	Single Supplement	Non-rider Discount

Waiting List

Sign up to the waiting list for this departure, to be notified if a space becomes available. Please fill out the information below:

Trip Hotels

Hostellerie du Val de Sault

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Mon Hotel Gap

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Le Sauze – Montana Chalet

View website

Hotel Alliey

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Hotel La Toviere

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Hotel St Alban

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Hotel Saint Georges

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Hotel Pic Blanc

View website

What's Included

What's Included	What's Not Included
Accommodations & Meals 15 days / 14 nights fully accompanied trip All accommodations All breakfasts All but 1 dinner 1 sit-down lunch on Day 1 Picnic lunches during the rides Transportation Pick-up at Marseille Provence Airport Drop-off at Lyon St Exupery Airport All transportation during the trip All luggage & bike box transfers Cycling Support 1 x Support Van & 1 x Ride Leader per 8 guests (approx.) Experienced bike mechanic Park Tools Toolkit Daily ride gpx files provided Nutrition during the ride Energy bars, gels and sports drink Variety of snacks and local specialties for picnic lunches Bottled water Post-ride recovery food	Airfare Travel and personal insurance Additional hotel expenses i.e. phone charges, mini-bar, gratuities Staff gratuities

What's Not Included

Accommodations & Meals

15 days / 14 nights fully accompanied trip

All accommodations

All breakfasts

All but 1 dinner

1 sit-down lunch on Day 1

Picnic lunches during the rides

Transportation

Pick-up at Marseille Provence Airport

Drop-off at Lyon St Exupery Airport

All transportation during the trip

All luggage & bike box transfers

Cycling Support

1 x Support Van & 1 x Ride Leader per 8 guests (approx.)

Experienced bike mechanic

Park Tools Toolkit

Daily ride gpx files provided

Nutrition during the ride

Energy bars, gels and sports drink

Variety of snacks and local specialties for picnic lunches

Bottled water

Post-ride recovery food

Airfare
Travel and personal insurance
Additional hotel expenses i.e. phone charges, mini-bar, gratuities
Staff gratuities

What's Included
Accommodations & Meals 15 days / 14 nights fully accompanied trip All accommodations All breakfasts All but 1 dinner 1 sit-down lunch on Day 1 Picnic lunches during the rides Transportation Pick-up at Marseille Provence Airport Drop-off at Lyon St Exupery Airport All transportation during the trip All luggage & bike box transfers Cycling Support 1 x Support Van & 1 x Ride Leader per 8 guests (approx.) Experienced bike mechanic Park Tools Toolkit Daily ride gpx files provided Nutrition during the ride Energy bars, gels and sports drink Variety of snacks and local specialties for picnic lunches Bottled water Post-ride recovery food
What's Not Included
Airfare Travel and personal insurance Additional hotel expenses i.e. phone charges, mini-bar, gratuities Staff gratuities

Pick-up/Drop-off Info

Arrival

Pickup Location	Time
Marseille Provence Airport	9:00am
OR
Hotel Pullman Marseille Provence Aéroport View website	9:00am

Pickup Location

Time

Marseille Provence Airport

9:00am

Hotel Pullman Marseille Provence Aéroport

View website

9:00am

Departure

Drop Off Location	Time
Lyon St Exupery Airport	9:00am

Ruta Negra French Alps

An EPIC route across the French Alps that will test the most hardcore cyclist!

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