Web Links

Grenoble and the area
www.grenoble-isere.com The web site of the city.
photos.dauphine.free.fr/ A French website with photos from the mountain ranges around Grenoble.

English speaking Cycle Tour Companies and Accomodation (in alphabetical order)

www.alpbase.com Based in Vallouise, central to the Hautes Alpes, offering low-cost accommodation and easy access to many of the big cols in the Tour De France including the Col D'Izoard - the Tour runs through here each year. Run by leading UK climber Jerry Gore and his family for cyclists, climbers, walkers and skiers year round. We provide the 300 days of sunshine, facilities for cyclists, families and groups, and full board or self catering accommodation. You provide the pedal power!
www.alpsun.com Apartments in the Hautes Alpes ideal for riders wishing the cycle the big Cols in the region such as Col d'Izoard, Lautaret, Galibier, Montgenevre, Agnel, l'Echelle and Granon. Our apartments are family run and we ensure that the apartments are maintained and equipped to a high standard. In all of our apartments you will find good showers, TV and DVD players and of course suitable bike storage. We at AlpSun have an extensive knowledge of the region and will be happy to help you during your stay to make the most of you valuable holiday time.
www.bourgdoisansbandb.com Le Vélo Jaune Bed & Breakfast is situated 5km south of Bourg d'Oisans and the base of Alpe d'Huez on Route National 91, in the small hamlet of Le Clapier. Within the Ecrins national park this is a superb location for cycling , skiing and walking holidays and a great centre from which to go skiing in the spectacular French Alps. It is approximately a one hour drive from Grenoble. We provide something special for lovers of an outdoor holiday.
www.chalet-michelle.com Highly recommended by Cycling Weekly, a beautiful chalet in the spectacular setting of Venosc in the Veneon valley, just 20 minutes from the Alpe d'huez climb. A specialist cycling venue run by Bryan and Michelle, who offer guided rides to all the famous tour routes in the area and expert local knowledge. B&B basis with evening meal options. Minibus available for airport pick-ups and supported rides.
www.chaletribot.com

Chalet Ribot, a cyclists haven on one of the most famous mountains..Alpe dHuez. Situated on hairpin 12 in the tiny hamlet of Ribot, this large chalet can cater for up to 16 people. Owned and ran by Susan and Daniel (Irish and English), their chalet is totally geared towards riders from April right through to November. The chalet offers both self catering and half-board accommodation, bike shed, maps, wash area, mini work shop and tools galore.
www.holidayalps.com Situated in the heart of the ski resort of Alpe d'Huez. I took my tour groups here whenever the Tour de France was on the Alpe d'Huez and Deux Alpes. Run by Brits, Gary and Penny.
www.kingofthemountains.co.uk Based in Ornon, near Bourg d'Oisans, and only a few kilometres from the Alpe d'Huez, Col de la Croix de Fer and Col du Galibier, Guy and Heyln offer fine accomodation and cycle tours all year. Their tours to the big events including the Tour de France and the Marmotte amongst others.
www.laforetdemaronne.com Hotel La Foret de Maronne is a nice and cosy family hotel in La-Garde-en-Oisans, spread at 1450 metres altitude in the direct vicinity of Alpe d'Huez. A hotel for cyclists, hikers or just for people who want to take a few days off. Alpe d' Huez also named "Ile au Soleil" - the island in the sun is thanks to the bio-climate and influence of the Mediterranean sea giving 300 days of sun a year. In our hotel you will find quality time at the heated swimming pool. For more adventure there is rafting, climbing or parasaling. For people who like walking there is the famous GR 54 which starts at Bourg d'Oisans and after four kilometres of walking and climbing, you pass Hotel La Foret de Maronne.
www.maisoncaramel.com A luxury B&B and gite in Landry, a small village 7km along the valley from Bourg St Maurice, owned and run by Sam and Alvaro (English/Spanish couple). Beautiful spot for cycling, walking and skiing in the Tarentaise and Beaufortain mountains. Good choice of alpine rides for different levels straight from the door, and easy riding distance from Les Arcs, the Cormet de Roseland and Col du Petit St Bernard. B&B or half board (summer & winter) from 70€ per night, safe bike storage, garden, wash area, small workshop, sauna and after-ride massages. Minibus for outlifts, pickups, supported rides and airport transfers. They also have a self-catered chalet with 4 ensuite bedrooms and garden above the main farmhouse from 495€ per week.
www.rideoisans.com Ride Oisans offer the ultimate mountain bike holiday in the Oisans region of the French Alps. Either based from their beautiful town house in Bourg D'Oisans for that big day out in the mountains experience or in their catered chalet in Alpe d'Huez for the downhill experience of your life. Ride Oisans offers the guests the opportunity to experience the fantastic natural singletrack trails in the region or to experience the downhill runs made famous by the Megavalanche. On top of this they offer uplifts, fully equipped workshop with on site mechanic, safe bike storage, rental bikes and an after ride massage.
www.tourdoisans.com Tour d'Oisans offer a unique experience from their beautiful town house situated in Bourg D'Oisans at the base of Alpe D'Huez. Ideally located at the centre of the Oisans six valleys, Tour D'Oisans offers guests the opportunity to feel the history of the Tour de France by riding classic routes and climbs in the region such as Col de Galiber, Col de Lauteret, Col D'Ornan and of course, Alpe d'Huez. On top of this they offer outlifts and pickups, fully equipped workshop with on site mechanic, safe bike storage and a range of planned routes with maps and GPS navigation equipment and an after ride massage.
www.vaujanychalet.com Luxury privately owned chalet for rent in Vaujany. Chalet Verney lies in the small hamlet of Pourchery, Vaujany at 1000m altitude just above the foot of the Col du Croix Fer and on the climb used in the La Vaujany sportif. The large balcony provides unmatched views over Lake Verney. Self catering accommodation welcoming skiers & cyclists. Its very own large secure garage provides generous space for bikes and equipment.
www.velovercors.com Velo Vercors is a cycling holiday company run by Teresa and Roger (London Irish) catering for all levels of cyclists from elite club riders, relative newcomers to families. Based in the charming village of St.Jean-en-Royans, nestled at the base of the Spectacular Vercors National Park – a mountain range to the west of the High Alps featuring mountain roads reaching 1600m, deep valley gorges and grassy plateaux. Together with the rolling hills of the Drome and the flatter Isere valley, the region offers a fabulous choice of varied rides along low traffic and pot hole free roads. Luxury self catering gites (Gites de France) from £300 per week with optional home cooked evening meals, comprehensive library of routes, accompanied rides with Roger (ex-Top International GB rider) bike hire, many other activities on offer within the region. We look forward to giving you a warm welcome.

Travel to Grenoble
www.vfd.fr For buses around Grenoble
voyages.sncf.fr Want to take the train, get an idea of times and prices here.
www.grenoble.aeroport.fr/ Home page of Grenoble Airport with access plans and information on buses to Grenoble and Lyon.
www.easyjet.com Cheap airline flights to Geneva from around Europe.
www.buzzaway.com Cheap flights from Stanstead to Lyon or Grenoble.
www.bike-express.co.uk Take the bus from mulitple pick up points in England and Europe at excellent prices.
www.infotrafic.com For information on the state of the main Cols in the Alps. Click the link and then choose 'Etat des cols' and then choose the French region from the page, either Alpes du Nord or Alpes du Sud.

Cycling Links
www.letour.fr The web site of the most famous cycle race in the world.
www.sportcommunication.com Information on local Cyclosportifs Events including the Marmotte, Vaujany and the Galibier. You can also sign up for the events online and check your results.
www.cyclingnews.com The best cycling news site on the web. Daily up to date results and news on racing around the world..
http://www.trentobike.org/ Web site of the Trento Bike Pages. Read on other cyclist reports of their exploits while cycling in Europe.
www.jhbr00952.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/ocd/links.htm Links Page from the OCD detailing many useful sites for information on climbs around the world.
www.ktc.com/~blodwen Home page of Norman Ford who gives advice on cycle touring and has an extensive of ride reports and links.
www.ivelo.com French cycling portal with lots of information on clubs, shops and riding in France.
www.bikeaccess.net Information on traveling with bicycles (Air/Rail/Other) over the world.
www.salite.ch An incredible site that details the profiles of mountain passes and rates them. Extensive French section that covers just about every Col you could cycle over. Well recommended to visit before you plan your route and also good to see where the hardest Cols are.
www.altigraph.fr

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Essential books for planning cycling in the Alps. Four different atlases cover the French Alps from north to south, and describe over 200 climbs. Covering the gradient, kilometre by kilometre and the state of the road and maps.
www.geocities.com/jeanpba/ A French cycling friend's pages with information on the region in French and English.

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