CYCLING SUPERHERO
Alps‘24.1
07 July – 21 July 2024
Six Days of Cycling Gains
Join us in the Alps for epic rides and breathtaking scenery. This Break-away is graded ‘red’ meaning you will need to have put in some preparation on the bike, have experienced hilly rides previously and can link day to day rides. Great routes and great memories lie ahead.
£1,400 GBP PP/PW (Limited to 12 riders)
Break-away Schedule
DAY ONE
125Km | 2,463m VERTICAL GAIN
DAY TWO
108KM | 3,110m VERTICAL GAIN
DAY THREE
106KM | 3,112m VERTICAL GAIN
DAY FOUR
86KM | 1,087m VERTICAL GAIN
DAY FIVE
170KM | 3,306m VERTICAL GAIN
DAY SIX
135KM | 3,079m VERTICAL GAIN
TRAINING TIME REMAINING
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Earn Your Stripes in The Alps 2024
Our first Alpine Break-away for 2024 will be based near Verchaix, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes in France. You will stay in a luxurious chalet right in the heart of the high Alps. As always, we will assist with guidance on the only thing you need to do, book your flight or plan your road journey. From that point on we will take care of everything.
Once you arrive at the chalet and settle in, Vertical Gain™ riding kit will be provided. It’s a great identity and something you will treasure long afterwards….you will have earned it. If time allows, a shake down ride along the valley is organised before your evening meal.
What to Expect
You will ride a series of the most famous cols in cycling, at your pace with support always nearby.
Day One | Col de la Colombiere route
One of the longest and most iconic climbs in the Alps. We will start climbing fairly early in the ride with a stunning added climb after La Colombiere.
Day Two | Col de la Ramaz route
After a delightful warm up along the valley, we will climb this beautiful mountain with a sting in the tail towards the top. It’s tough. Two smaller climbs follow on quiet alpine roads.
Day Three | Col de Joux Plane route
This is the reason we came to this valley. A huge history in the Tour de France and in view from the chalet. More climbing to follow, but this one will stay in your memory for ever.
Day Four | Valley ride
Today we focus on some of the smaller climbs along the valley, including the ‘waterfall’ climb, scene of Jonas Vingegaard’s amazing Tour de France timetrial.
Day Five | Col de l’Arpettaz route
Today is a big one. Lots of climbing, with a back country Alpine climb that will blow you away.
Day Six | Col de Romme route
Another big day and another Alpine challenge. This climb is a steep one, leading on to the Col de La Colombiere.
Day Seven | Homeward bound
Travel home with the most immense memories and a new found respect for the high mountains.
Route Grading
A theme you will start to see is our route grading. Overall this is a ‘red’ week, meaning you will need to have put in some preparation on the bike, have experienced hilly rides previously and can link day to day rides. However hard each ride is, all of the group is considered at all times, so no rider will be isolated and without support.
Our knowledge of these roads allows us to modify routes if required… conditions can change with little warning. You can even hop into the van for a short period, or even for the whole day if you choose to rest. Whatever the outcome, we will all have great stories to tell when we reminisce around the dinner table.
Click Here to View Our Route Grading
Fully supported
Daily we provide an energy loaded breakfast and also take care of specific dietary requirements. Your high quality evening meal is also prepared in-house for you, along with suitable nutrition throughout each ride. In essence, you just need to be ready to enjoy a superb day’s riding. Everything else that can effect the success of that ride is down to us. Six planned days of riding are then shown to you, with gpx files provided, along with verbal route description.
Included
- Daily breakfast
- Daily evening meal
- Daily ride nutrition
- Daily route guidance
- Accommodation & facilities
WHAT TO BRING
So, most of what you need is included. With our support, you need to;
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Organise your travel to France
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Have travel insurance and medical cover
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Bring a finely tuned bike along with you
We always have spares and good knowledge of sorting out bike issues, but starting the week with a ‘ride ready’ bike is essential.
Price Per Person
£1,400 GBP covers your week with Vertical Gain™. £250 deposit secures your place, with the £1,150 balance being paid in April 2024. The deposit is non refundable. Any questions you may have can be sent to info@verticalgain.co.uk
Cancellations & Refunds
A non refundable deposit secures your place on a Break-away, with the balance being paid in the month linked to each Break-away.
If Vertical Gain™ cancel your Break-away, all monies will be returned, including deposits.
If the client cancels their Break-away, a full refund less deposit is due up to 130 days prior to your journey. If less than 130 days, a full refund less deposit is returned to the client once Vertical Gain™ have filled the cancelled place.
If additional information is required regarding Terms and Conditions, please send your enquiry to info@verticalgain.co.uk
Route Grading
We aim to demonstrate the overall challenge of a Break-away with a colour coding of red, amber and green. All of the Break-aways could have elements of all three during the event, but the overall load is good to be aware of.
CYCLING SUPERHERO
Prepare to Earn Your Stripes
Code red will most often mean a significant amount of vertical gain on each ride and cumulatively during the week. There is no need to have raced previously at the highest level, but you will need to be able to spend consecutive days in the saddle, cope with fatigue and be aware of how a tired body can warm into the day and still have a great experience, even with one of Europe’s highest col’s ahead of you.
Code red could also associate with a one day event whereby distance could be extreme, or many miles of cobble stones could be between the rider and the finish line.
SERIOUS CYCLIST
Get Ready For Serious Gains
Code amber will be measurably lower load than a code red event. There would be less vertical gain and a lot less fatigue after each ride. This would mean a code amber event would be suitable to any rider who is a keen cyclist and exercises regularly, but could also complete the Break-away with a little less conviction in their preparation.
WEEKEND CYCLIST
A Challenge Within Reach
Code green is just as it sounds….green means ‘go’. This style of Break-away would associate more with an adventure or journey through a region, but without huge days of riding, and most likely more time to compete the distance. A participant who is a regular exerciser and not just a cyclist would be great on a code green Break-away.
Whichever colour code your chosen Break-away has tagged to it, Vertical Gain™ will ensure you have the very best opportunity to complete it with our support alongside you during every pedal revolution. Good luck and enjoy.
Book a Place
Our Break-aways are booked on a first come, first served basis. By submitting this form, you are securing a place/s which will be held and invoice generated. If the deposit isn't paid by the given date your place/s will be released again for general sale.
IMPORTANT
If you do not see the 'Thank You' page after submitting this form, please check your details have been entered correctly.
Cyclist Reviews
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Great food, great routes, great mechanical and roadside pickup service (in case your legs fall off). Set in a traditional, well-finished Alpine chalet with all your bike and recovery needs looked after by Gary and the team, I cannot recommend highly enough. If you’re looking to turn off your brain and pedal as hard as you like in a beautiful setting, this is the trip for you! 11/10
Charlotte – UK
'THE' ALPS TRIP
Where to start? Having done several personally and a couple along with the wife, I/we can say that from the moment you arrive to the minute you leave, you will want for nothing. Gary & K have always gone well above & beyond to make the trips challenging, memorable, and fun. All the best with your future adventures.
Marc & Caz – UK
VERY SPECIAL TRIPS
I've been extremely fortunate to have shared some amazing cycling experiences with Gary over the last ten years. Basing ourselves in a first first-class Chalet in the Haute-Savoie, Gary's intimate knowledge of the area guarantees challenging routes and breathtaking scenery.
From cursing up the brutal Col de Romme to bombing down the Joux Plane or watching stages of the Tour de France, there's been some incredible highlights.
But it is the camaraderie within the group that really make these trips so special. On and off the bike, the banter is brilliant and lifelong friendships are formed.
Richard - Australia