Ciao and welcome to Italy! You will be welcomed by our team at Milan airport and transferred to Cuneo (approx 3 hours away). Cuneo is the provincial capital in western Italy. It's a Renaissance style town with an arcaded main street lined with shops and cafés giving it an elegant appearance. Its old town centre dates from the 12th century when it was once a fortified town. Cuneo was the start town of the tour de France stage Cuneo – Jausiers in 2008. A welcome meeting will be held late afternoon/evening to check the bikes and do any last minute adjustments. Overnight: Cuneo

Meals:  Nil

To acclimatize and gently start cycling in the morning you will cycle along the valley Stura. You will cycle to the village of Pratolungo, perfect to warm up for the legs, and then you will start the climb to the Col de la Lombarde (21,3 km, 6,8% in average). The col de la Lombarde is a Hors Category col, at 2351 m high, located at the French / Italian border. It was climbed in 2008 for the 16th stage of the tour de France and the German rider Stefan Schumcher came first at the col. You will enjoy a downhill ride before a 15 km climb (300 m altitude gain) to the lovely village of Isola. Overnight: Isola Distance: 95 km Ascent: 2 027 m Descent: 1446 m

Meals:  B,D

In the morning you will cycle the North part of the Tinée valley, narrow and very alpine, with some superb water falls. You will take up the climb to the col de la Bonnette, the highest col of Europe (2802 m, 26 km of climb at 6,5% in average from Saint Etienne de Tinée, Hors Category), official col of the tour de France in 1962, 1964, 1993 and 2008. Option to climb to Super Sauze or Praloup from Jausiers in the afternoon. Overnight: Jausiers Distance: 62 km Ascent: 1999 m Descent: 1472 m

Meals:  B

This morning we cycle up to Jausiers and then climb the Col de Vars, (climbed 20 times since 1947 in the Tour de France). Hors Category (2108 m altitude, 15km of climb at 5.5% from the junction Col de Vars /Col de Larch). You will then enter the Hautes Alpes and can only be charmed by the beautiful mountains as you cycle down to Guillestre at the border of the Queyras regional Park. Either enjoy the short day for your third day of cycling, or cycle in the afternoon to Embrun (a nice loop ride not too hilly), or climb to the ski resort of Risoul (more challenging) if you are feeling up to it. Overnight: Guillestre Distance: 59km Ascent: 1070 m Descent: 1050 m

Meals:  B

It is difficult to consider a cycling trip in the Alps without including the Col d'Izoard! The Col d'Izoard (2360m) is a unique place to cycle and one of the great Cols of the French Alps (Hors category, climbed 23 times on the Tour de France since 1947!!). From the green wooded mountainsides above Briançon, to the sandy coloured, eroded cliffs above the the Casse Deserte and the Col, the scenery is beautiful. From Guillestre it is a 32km climb at 4.5% average. Once in Briancon it's possible to continue cycling to discover the Clarée Valley (relatively flat ride) or climb the Montgenevre Pass (up and back). Overnight: Briancon Distance: 58km Ascent: 1520 m Descent: 1250 m

Meals:  B

From Briancon, a giant of the Alps is waiting for you today, namely the Col du Galibier (2645m). A monument in homage to Henri Desgranges, the founder of the tour sits at the top of the Galibier col. This col (Hors category, 37km from Briancon 3.7% in average and the last 21km 6%) was climbed 32 times by the tour de France since 1947. From Valloire you will cycle down to the Maurienne Valley down to Saint Jean de Maurienne. There is the possibility once again to extend the cycle from Saint de Maurienne to Bonvillard (700 m climb but a nice loop ride). Overnight: St Jean de Maurienne Distance: 83 km Ascent: 1750 m Descent: 2419

Meals:  B

For your last day two challenges are on the menu! The col de la Croix de Fer and the Alpe d'Huez climb. The col de la Croix de Fer (2067 m, Hors Category, climbed 15 times in the Tour de France since 1947, offers 30km of climb at 5 % in average since Saint Jean de Maurienne. To finish the trip, you will climb the legendary 21 hairpins, 14 km from Bourg d'Oisans at 8% in average, climbed 27 times in the Tour since 1952. Once at l'Alpe d'Huez and after a soft drink to celebrate this mythic climb cycle down to le Bourg d'Oisans. A celebratory team dinner will cap off your epic Tour de France Cycle Challenge. Overnight: le Bourg d'Oisans Distance: 100 km Ascent: 2599 m Descent: 1394

Meals:  B,D

Spend the morning in le Bourg d'Oisans at your own pace before a transfer to Geneva Airport where the tour officially ends(approx 2.5 hours).

Meals:  B