The eyes of the sporting world will be firmly fixed on France this summer as it hosts the Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games and the 111th edition of the Tour de France – cycling’s most iconic road cycling event.
For cyclists and active travel enthusiasts looking to experience their own sporting adventure in France this year, independent cycling holiday company Saddle Skedaddle has a range of road cycling trips that combine highlights of Le Tour with the country’s stunning landscapes and scenery.
To mark this year’s Grand Depart in Florence and Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region, Saddle Skedaddle is also offering a relaxed, self-guided leisure cycling holiday that takes riders on a culinary tour of the Emilia-Romagna region – from Cremona in the north, to Bologna in the south.
Tackle classic Tour de France climbs in the French Alps
Saddle Skedaddle’s eight-day road cycling holiday across the Southern Alps – from Mont Ventoux to Alpe d’Huez – features some of the Tour’s classic mountain rides and some of road cycling’s most iconic and legendary climbs.
The trip begins with one of the most feared mountain climbs in professional cycling, the legendary Mont Ventoux. The mountain first featured in the Tour de France in 1951 and has become a mecca for cyclists, with thousands of riders taking on the journey to the summit each summer. To really get the legs working, the ascent to the summit follows one of the mountain’s more challenging routes.
Another mountain challenge awaits in the form of Col du Vars and Col d‘Izoard, and just like the professional riders in the 2017 Tour de France, cyclists will tackle both cols together.
Connecting the southern Alps to the northern Alps, the ascent of Col du Lauteret is just a warm up before the assault on one of the monuments of the Tour de France – Col du Galibier. This monster climb has featured in The Tour for more than 100 years and as well as being one of the most challenging of the alpine climbs, it’s also one of the most scenic.
The trip ends with one the most famous Alpine climb of them all, the legendary Alpe d’Huez. Count the 21 famous hairpin bends before reaching the summit and toast the end to a memorable Tour de France-inspired holiday.
- Dates: 8-15 June, 6-13 July 2024
- Price: Prices from £2,295pp. Price includes accommodation (half board), full tour service, luggage transfer, support vehicle, and airport transfers.
- Flights and bike hire not included. easyJet fly from London Gatwick to Marseille (outbound) and Geneva to London Gatwick (return). Flight price approx £150pp. Bike hire from £300pp.
- Booking: skedaddle.com, 0191 2651110
Scale one of Tour de France’s most notorious mountain climbs in Provence
Saddle Skedaddle’s eight-day road cycling holiday through Provence begins in the Vaucluse region with an ascent of one of the most famous and notorious mountains in the world. At 1,912m, Mont Ventoux (also known as the Giant of Provence) is the highest point in the region and has featured heavily in the Tour de France since 1951. For regular cyclists new to mountain riding, the ascent to the summit on this tour follows a gentler route.
After riding through small Provencal villages and towns and the lavender-growing region of Plateau de Valensole, the route arrives at Verdon Gorge, the biggest canyon in Europe. Following the southern rim of the gorge, the road drops dramatically into a roller coaster descent before rising again onto a plateau.
The last day in the saddle has the option of a final ascent in the form of Col de Vence, which overlooks the town of Castellane and the Mediterranean Sea. Completing the climb means riders are rewarded with a thrillingly fast descent into the 12th century medieval city of Vence, the final stop on the tour.
- Dates: 1-8 June and 17-24 August 2024.
- Price: Prices from £2,345pp. Price includes accommodation (half board), full tour service, luggage transfer, support vehicle, and airport transfers.
- Flights and bike hire not included. easyJet fly from London Stansted to Marseille (outbound) and Nice to London Stansted (return). Flight price approx £150pp. Bike hire from £300pp.
- Booking: skedaddle.com, 0191 2651110
Self-guided cycling holiday through Italy’s Emilia Romagna region
Italy’s Emilia Romagna region will be thrown into the spotlight this summer as, along with Florence, it hosts this year’s Tour de France Grand Depart.
Saddle Skedaddle’s self-guided leisure cycling holiday through the region – from Cremona in the north to Bologna in the south – is a great way to experience Emilia Romagna and its many cultural and culinary highlights. Covering around 30 miles each day, it’s a relaxed pace trip suitable for people new to cycling.
Starting in Cremona with a day enjoying the local food offering, the riding begins along the River Po bike path to the quiet town of Busseto; home to the Teatro Verdi and the Giuseppe Verdi National Museum. Busseto’s Piazza Verdi – an old winery set at the end of the Food Valley Bike route – is the perfect place to enjoy cold meats and Italian cheeses, paired with a great local wine.
Continuing on the Food Valley Bike route, the next stop on the trip is Colorno, home to ALMA – The International School of Italian Cuisine. After working up an appetite on the bike, the evening is spent in another of Italy’s culinary destinations, Parma, famous for its ham and salami.
Other highlights of the eight-day trip include the medieval village of Torrechiara, home to a stunning 15th century castle overlooking the valley below; visiting UNESCO World Heritage Sites Duomo, Torre Civica and Piazza Grande at Modena; and an optional loop ride along the Panaro River to Spilamberto and Vignola.
The final day in the saddle follows quiet country roads to Bologna, often referred to as the culinary capital of Italy. With Tagliatelle al Ragu, Erbazzone, Mortadella, and Tortellini all originating from the city, it’s easy to see why.
- Dates: Daily departures available between 25 March and 30 October 2024.
- Price: From £1,395pp. Price includes accommodation (bed and breakfast), detailed route notes and maps, luggage transfers and airport transfers.
- Flights and bike hire not included. British Airways fly direct to Bergamo from London Gatwick (outbound) and from Bologna to London Heathrow on the return. Flight price approx £200pp return. Bike hire from £215pp. Electric bike hire £340pp.
- Booking: skedaddle.com, 0191 2651110
2025 departures
Guided road cycling holiday from St Malo to Nice
For cyclists looking to experience their own Grand Tour of France, Saddle Skedaddle’s famous St Malo to Nice road cycling holidays offer the chance to traverse the country on two wheels and experience the ‘spiritual home of cycling’. Riders looking for a real Tour de France experience can join the 15-day trip, and for cyclists wanting to enjoy a more leisurely pace, the 20-day trip offers shorter daily distance and includes a rest day. See skedaddle.com
Complete the Trans Pyrenees Challenge
An epic coast-to-coast adventure riding the entire length of the Pyrenees, Saddle Skedaddle’s 10-day, guided road cycling holiday spans 800km between the Bay of Biscay on the Atlantic Coast and Port-Vendres on the Mediterranean Coast. See skedaddle.com
Top image: Saddle Skedaddle’s eight-day road cycling holiday across the Southern Alps – from Mont Ventoux to Alpe d’Huez (Credit: Lighttrapper photography)