Nights 1–2
Saint-Sorlin-d'Arves
Under the Croix de Fer · 1,550 m
French Alps · Dates on request
The FrenchJob
Powered by 
Six riding days on the mountains of the Tour de France. The Madeleine, the Croix de Fer, the Galibier, the 21 hairpins of the Alpe d'Huez, the Izoard and a night ride up the Granon.
Activity levelAdvanced
BikesBring yours or rent an Aurum Magma
Group sizeUp to 16 riders
Duration7 days · 6 nights
6Riding days
≈580Kilometres
≈18,500Metres climbed
16Big climbs
2,642m · Col du Galibier
Overview
Three bases. The Tour's greatest climbs.
We start in Saint-Sorlin-d'Arves, under the Croix de Fer, with the Lacets de Montvernier and the Madeleine on day one. Then we cross the Galibier to L'Alpe d'Huez for three nights: the 21 hairpins, the balcony roads of the Oisans and the Glandon. The last base is Serre Chevalier, for the Izoard, the Granon and a final climb in the dark to watch the sun rise over the Écrins.
Most days are 90 to 130 km with 2,700 to 4,250 m of climbing, measured on our own routes. It's not a race: two riding groups, one guide for every eight riders, and the van never far away.
What's included
- Transfers from and to Geneva or Lyon airport
- 6 nights in hotels, with all breakfasts, lunches on the road and dinners
- Soigneur: three 30-minute sports massages
- Welcome pack: full Velodrom kit, T-shirt, cap and a Scicon bag
- 6 guided rides in two riding groups
- Support vehicles and mechanical assistance
- Two feed stations on every stage
- One laundry of your cycling kit, trip photos and GPX files
Why you'll love it
- The 21 hairpins of the Alpe d'Huez, and the Sarenne over the back
- The Galibier at 2,642 m, the roof of the trip
- The Madeleine, the Croix de Fer and the Glandon
- The Izoard and the Casse Déserte
- A night ride up the Granon to watch the sunrise over the Écrins
- One staff member for every four riders
Nights 3–5
L'Alpe d'Huez
At the top of the 21 hairpins · 1,860 m
Night 6
Serre Chevalier
Between the Izoard and the Granon · 1,400 m
Itinerary
Day by day
Fly into Geneva or Lyon, ride six stages from three mountain bases and fly home on day seven. Routes, distances and climbing come from our own tracks. Select a day to see it on the map.
Route lines follow the real roads. Day 5 starts after a short transfer over the Lautaret to Serre Chevalier.
Select a day
Twenty-one hairpins. One sunrise.The Velodrom way to ride the French Alps
Why Velodrom
Not just a route and a hotel
We run our trips the way we like to ride: a van that is never far away, food worth stopping for and people who know these roads. This is what makes a Velodrom trip different.
Good company
Coffee stops, long dinners and people you'll want to ride with again. Most of our riders come back for the next trip.
Your pace, one group
Climb at your own pace. We regroup at set points along the route, and the van is never far away with spares and your extra layers.
Your trip, photographed
A photographer rides with us. You get the full album after the trip: you on the climbs, not just the view.
Feed stations, not gels
The van sets up a real feed stop on every ride: sandwiches, fruit, smoothies, crisps and cold drinks under the Velodrom tent.
Dinner together
Every evening at one table with the group and our guides. Breakfasts, lunches on the road and dinners are included.
Bikes worth riding
Bring your own or ride an Aurum Magma from our fleet, built and fitted for you before day one.
Hotels
Three mountain bases
Two nights under the Croix de Fer, three at the top of the Alpe d'Huez and one in Serre Chevalier. Your luggage moves between hotels in the van while you ride. We confirm the hotels with the dates; photos show each area.
Nights 1–2
Saint-Sorlin-d'Arves
- A mountain village at 1,550 m under the Col de la Croix de Fer
- The Croix de Fer, Glandon and Madeleine from the door
- Close to Geneva and Lyon for the first day
Nights 3–5
L'Alpe d'Huez
- At the top of the 21 hairpins, at 1,860 m
- Three nights in the same hotel in the middle of the trip
- The Sarenne, Villard-Notre-Dame and Villard-Reculas balconies within reach
Night 6
Serre Chevalier
- In the Guisane valley near Briançon
- The Izoard and the Granon from the door
- The start of the night ride
Equipment
Your bike or one of ours
Bring your own bike, or ride an Aurum Magma from our rental fleet. We build it, fit it and have it waiting at the first hotel.
Trip rentalBringing your own?No extra cost. Bring it boxed and we'll build it on arrival day. Fit an 11–34 or easier cassette for the Madeleine and the Granon. Rental bikes are limited, so book early.
On the route
What you'll see
Getting there
Flights & transfers
Fly into Geneva or Lyon. Transfers to the first hotel and back to the airport at the end are included.
| Airport | To Saint-Sorlin-d'Arves | From Serre Chevalier |
|---|---|---|
| GenevaGVA · most international flights | ≈2 h 30 | ≈3 h 30 |
| Lyon Saint-ExupéryLYS | ≈2 h | ≈3 h |
Drive times are approximate and depend on traffic.
Our advice for flights
- Land by early afternoon on day one so we can build your bike before dinner.
- Fly home on day seven, after the night ride and breakfast.
- Book a flexible fare and send us your flight times.
- Group transfers run at set times from and to each airport.
Flights are not included in the trip price.
Weather
What to expect
Summer in the Alps is mild at L'Alpe d'Huez and warmer in the valleys, but the Galibier at 2,642 m can be close to freezing in the morning, and afternoon thunderstorms are common. Always carry a rain jacket and a gilet; the van carries your extra layers.
Monthly averages · trip months highlighted
Averages for 2015–2024 from Open-Meteo. Mountain weather changes fast, so check the forecast the week before.
Know before you go
Good to know
What to expect from the riding, and what to pack.
Who it's for
Experienced riders comfortable with back-to-back days of 90–130 km and up to 4,250 m. The first two days are the hardest. Two riding groups mean everyone climbs at their own pace.
High passes
The Galibier, Izoard and Granon open in late spring and can close for snow even in summer. If a pass is closed, we ride the planned alternative.
What to bring
Climbing gears (34×32 or easier), a rain jacket, arm warmers and a gilet for the descents, and front and rear lights for the night ride.
Groups & dates
Your group, your dates
Bring your own group of 6 to 16 riders and pick a Friday start from late June to mid-September. We skip August, when the passes of the Tour are at their busiest.
6–11 riders+20% per person
12–15 riders+10% per person
16 ridersSame price as the open trip
See you on the Galibier
Dates on request · Shared double €3,299 · Single room €3,699. Ask for the next departure and hold your place with a €500 deposit.
See dates & pricesThe French Job · Alps
Dates on request · from €3,299 · €500 deposit
Routes from our own Komoot tracks. Distances and climbing are measured on those tracks and confirmed with the final GPX files. Photos from past Velodrom trips. Some photos from Wikimedia Commons: Col de la Madeleine and Madeleine road by Florian Pépellin (CC BY-SA 4.0); Col d'Izoard by patano (CC BY-SA 3.0), SchiDD (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Gigillo83 (public domain); Col du Granon by Anthospace (CC BY-SA 4.0), Benj05 (CC BY-SA 3.0) and Pampuco (CC BY-SA 4.0); Croix de Fer by Zehnfinger (CC BY-SA 2.0 de).