The Alps 1000 Challenge !

Another cycling trip of a lifetime.

... 1000 miles

... 100,000 feet

... 12 days of riding

... + 2 rest days ...

... June 17 to July 2 - 2024

Purely awesome. Partially up the Alps d'Huez is a side road offering a spectacular view of the valley below.

The Alps 1000 mile Challenge

1000 mi. -  100,000 ft. -  12 stages

Stages and Stats, Alps.

A trip through the Alps is a fairy tale for anybody. But for fit, devoted cyclists it’s the journey of a lifetime.

Below, farther down the page, are 3 large detailed layouts of the route map. The course starts on the Mediterranean near Nice in the town of Vence.

Also above, under the page healdine and in blue, are the links to all the individual stages and their maps. Click through these links to review each of the stages (maps, elevation profiles, and stats). Note, all of the pictures on each "stage page" correspond with that particular stage.

An Alps bike tour vacation doesn't get much better than this! For all the details take a moment and "cycle" through the website - use the links at the left and top of the page. Space is limited to 8 clients; a small group so that you get awesome ride support, and we don't have the hassles of a large group!

Stage stats below. Please note that these numbers are not 100% accurate because they are averages between several different bike computers. However, they should give you an idea of what you can expect. Furthermore, the ride times listed do not account for stoppage, i.e. taking in vista view at the col summits...etc..

View from the Col de Noyer near Gap.

Stats for the Alps Tour.
Day
 Stage start/finish
Daily # of Mtn. passes
Mileage
Elevation gained
Ride time
1.
 Vence - Beuil
3
74 mi.
9547 ft.
 5.5 hrs
2.
 Beuil - Guillestre
3
84 mi.
9698 ft.
 6 hrs
3.
 Guillestre - Bourg d'Oisan
2
77 mi.
8350 ft.
 5.5 hrs
4.
 Bourg d'Oisan
2
74 mi.
9573 ft.
 5.5 hrs
5.
 1st Rest Day - Bourg d'Oisan. We spend 4 nights here.
6.
 Bourg d'Oisan (loop)
3
101 mi.
13,000 ft.
 7 hrs
7.
 Bourg d'Oisan - Gap
3
96 mi.
9137 ft.
 6.5 hrs
8.
 Gap - Briancon
1 & smaller climbs
92 mi.
10,413 ft.
 6.5 hrs
9.
 Briancon - Guillestre
3
80 mi.
10,000 ft.
 6 hrs
10.
 2nd Rest Day -Guillestre
11.
 Guillestre - Barcellonette
2
92 mi.
12612 ft.
 7 hrs
12.
 Barcellonette - Castallane
3
113 mi.
11,450 ft.
 7 hrs
13.
 Castallane (loop)
loop of gorge
84 mi.
9276 ft.
 6 hrs
14.
 Castallane - Vence
small climbs
84 mi.
5000 ft.
 5.5 hrs
Totals:
25 cols + small climbs
1102 mi.
113,872 ft.
 77.5 hrs

Short passageways carved in the granite rock on our first day as we head up into the high mountains and away from the Mediterranean Sea.

View from the Col de Noyer near Gap.

Short passageways carved in the granite rock on our first day as we head up into the high mountains and away from the Mediterranean Sea.

Overview of the first 4 stages of the tour, from Vence (on the Mediterranean Coast) to Bourg d'Oisan (base of the Alps d'Huez in the high mountains).  Day 1 ends in the high mountains, and the next 3 stages are all in the high mountains.

Overview of stages 4-8 of the tour.

Overview of the last 4 stages of the tour.  Stage 10 is a long day to transition from the high mountains down the gorge de Verdon.  Stage 11 is a loop around the beauiful gorge de Verdon.