2012 Climbs of the Tour De France:
Ride the climbs from 2012's Tour de France, all Alps and Pyrenean stages, squeezing in Mont Ventoux, with a day inbetween riding amongst the vines of Provence.

June 21 - July 1, 2012

Thursday June 21:
11.00am pick up from Grenoble railway station. Continue onto our accommodation at Albertville (82k, 1h). After everyone arrives and we have assembled bikes, we'll roll out for ride in our environs. There's a 45k loop with just over 1000m of ascent that may suit us today. Tonight we will enjoy our welcome dinner, prepared inhouse. (45k with 1075m of climbing)

Friday June 22:
Stage 11 runs Albertville to La Toussuire - Les Sybelles, 140k over Col de la Madeleine, Croix de Fer and Col du Mollard, before tackling the climb towards the resort of La Toussuire. Le Tour's website says 'This will certainly single out the potential winners'. Today, for most of us, we'll be happy to finish the ride, completing as much of the 3.5 murderous climbs as we can. With the limited amount of hilltop finish's in this year's tour, it will have an affect, guaranteed. Aside from that, there's beautiful views and spectacular scenery, also guaranteed. (<140k, 4,800m+ asc)

Saturday, June 23:
We'll be staying up in the alps, not far from St Jean du Maurienne, the site of Stage 12's start. Considering what was completed yesterday, a short(ish) day would be just the thing, and that's what we have on our agenda. From here we follow the stage route along the valley floor, before tackling the imposing Col du Grand Cucheron and the Col du Granier, situated in the first part of the stage. As both of the day's KOM's come in the first 100k, that should be enough for most of us. Accommodation tonight in Voiron. (100k, 2,000m+ asc)

Sunday, June 24:
Mont Ventoux is on the menu today, so we'll pack up and leave after breakfast and drive to Bedoin (226k, 3h). Starting from Bedoin means we are straight into the 20k climb, although the initial kilometres amble gently through the grapevines, before the shady forest envelopes us. However, it's not long before we are on the bare and exposed upper moonscape parts of the climb, that we all know so well from the TV coverage we have watched over the years... .nothing compares to riding it though, under a hot Provençal sun. Later we'll continue onto our accommodation in Sommieres where we'll relax for two nights. (40k, 1,500m asc)

Monday, June 25:
We'll have a bit of rest day here in Provence, no early start, no rushing, we have all day to find a loop around our little town of Sommieres. Le Tour has passed through here many times, and we will ride some of these roads as we traverse through the vineyards, maybe even enjoying a picnic lunch en route. Hopefully we will return home in time for a short siesta before venturing out for dinner in the historic centre of town. We will surely even traverse the road used in this sketch. (bike 50-70k, as easy or hard,as you choose to make it)

Tuesday, June 26:
We're on the move again, headed for Tarascon-sur-Ariège (285km, 3.5h) where we can ride the final half of this year's Stage 14. We'll pull off the course 20k before the stage end at Foix (it's not a mountain top finish), and continue on towards Camon for tonight's accommodation, where we will make use of the local Chateau. (75k with 2 significant climbs, 2,000m asc)

Wednesday, June 27:
Today we've got two choices, no. 1 is to tackle the final half of 2010's stage 14, the first Pyrenean hilltop finish from that year's tour. From Camon, there's two significant climbs, and 117k to the finish. First up is Port de Pailhères, which at 2001 metres is rated 'Hors Categorie' ie an unclassified climb, closely followed by Ax-3-Domaines, rated as a Cat 1 at 1372m. Once on top of Ax-3-Domaines we can take the easy route home, back to the chateau again, via the Topbike van. Our second choice is to take it easy by the pool. Probably one to call on the day? (120k, 3000m+ asc)

In 2010 Christophe Riblon won stage 14, this from letour.com:

"The first stage in the Pyrenees did provide a showdown with the overall favourites as expected but there was only a little reshuffle of the top 10 of the general classification after the stage from Revel to Ax-3 Domaines. The story of the day was that an opportunist transformed himself into a winner. In 2008, Christophe Riblon's best result was a silver medal in the points race of the track world championships, two years later he's claimed a stage win in the world's biggest road race. He escaped in the first 20km and held off the charge of the GC Brigade on the two huge mountains of stage 14."

Thursday, June 28:
Departing Camon we'll join the route of Stage 17 after mounting up at St Lary (120k, 1.5h in the car) as we head west to ride 3 of the stage's 4 climbs. We'll commence our ride of 90k, over two small cols, Portet d'Aspet (18.14k, 557m asc, 3.1 % avg, 1069m) & Col des Ares (6.7 km, 310 m asc, 4.6% avg, 797m) before crossing the valley over to the climb of Port de Bales (18.87 k, 1185m asc, 6.3%avg, 1755m). Descending once more we will arrive at the base of Col de Peyresourde, both sides of which are used in this year's tour. At some time we'll ensure we enjoy a picnic en route, atop one of the cols. Our accommodation tonight is in Arreau, in a hotel we have used many times, conveniently located on stage 16's route, albeit on the other side of Peyresourde. (<100k, 2500m asc hard).

In 2010 just as he was making a bid for time gains on his chief rival, Andy Schleck's bike bucked him out of the yellow jersey. He had made the decision to attack Alberto Contador with about three kilometers to climb on the Port de Bales and although he opened up a solid advantage, he ultimately lost the battle because of a mechanical problem. His chain dropped and got wedged between his crank and the bottom bracket. Not only did he nearly crash, he had to do an emergency repair on a bike that was the same color as the jersey he would ultimately surrender in unfortunate circumstances.

Friday June 29:
Stage 16 starts in Pau, climbs the Aubisque before the Tourmalet and Aspin en route to Peyresourde, finishing in the valley floor town of Bagneres du Luchon. We'll transport out of Arreau, over Aspin, and start our 110k loop that takes us through Lourdes and Argeles Gazost, on our way to the western approach to Tourmalet, which is the route this year's tour follows. We'll continue on over Tourmalet, returning to Arreau, well and truly shagged by the time we arrive, no doubt. (110k, >2000m asc)

Saturday June 30:
We'll wind down with a little jaunt, capping off the finish to stage 16, riding into Bagneres du Luchon, from Arreau. We can also take in the finish to stage 17, if it appeals, adding in the final climb up to the ski station of Peyragudes. We'll ensure we're home in time to watch the finish of today's opening stage of the 2012 Tour de France, live on the tele. (65k, 1700m + Peyragudes)

Sunday July 1:
It's pack up time for all, we'll be on the road soon after breakfast, so we can be at Toulouse railway station by midday (145k, 2h) to ensure everyone makes their next connections.

If we complete every ride we'll have ridden over 800k's (and climbed over 20,000 metres) climbed: Col de la Madeleine, Croix de Fer, Col du Mollard, La Toussuire, Col du Grand Cucheron, Col du Granier, Mont Ventoux, Port de Palheres, Ax-3-Domaine, col de Portet-d'Aspet, col des Ares, Port de Balès, col de Peyresourde (twice), col d'Aspin and the Tourmalet.

Included in your tour is:
all transport from Grenoble to Toulouse for you, your bike and one bag, accommodation, all breakfasts and all dinners.  You will also receive a full 2012 Topbike kit.  Also included is your experienced and knowledgeable guides, maps, training tips, coaching (if required) and mechanical back-up for your bike. 

Please also see our recommended list of things to bring.

NB: The itinerary above is to be used as a guide only, as Topbike Tours are well known for making use of all (and creating some extra) opportunities, expect that variations from the above can happen at any time.

[Page last updated: October 31, 2011]