3rd to 10th June 2012
Corsica, described by many as the "Island of Beauty" or also called "Mountain in the Sea", is ideal for a cycling holiday. From its rugged Mediterranean coastline to its gorges and valleys of the mountains to the interior of the island, Corsica is varied, wild and unspoilt. All this combined with the quiet and testing roads make for a great cycling holiday.
This Raid Corsica is a 1000km tour of the island in 7 days, starting and finishing in the coastal town of Bastia. Although the mountains are not as high as the Pyrenees or Alps the continuous undulations make this a tough randonnee. However if you have completed the Raid Pyreneen & Alpine then you should have no trouble following in the tyre tracks of the worlds professionals and cycling some of the roads of the 2010 Criterium International. Organised by the Audax Club Parisian (ACP), the same people who organise the Paris - Brest - Paris randonnee, the route of Raid Corsica starts by following the coastal road around the northern peninsula of Cap Corse.
From here you will cross the Agriates Desert and follow the eastern coast to the town of Porto, from where you will climb into the hinterland and rejoin the coast 2 days later at the port of Ajaccio. From Ajaccio you will follow the undulating coastal road to Bonifacio, the islands most southerly town, from where, once again you will enter the mountainous interior before descending to the eastern coast and the return leg to Bastia.
Just like the Raid Pyreneen, Alpine & Dolomite you will be supplied with a carnet which must be stamped at pre determined points on the route to prove that you have completed the "Raid". These are then returned by us to the organisers and you will receive a medal for your efforts!
A van will carry your luggage each day from overnight stop to overnight stop, and where possible act as a back up for serious mechanical breakdowns. Accommodation has been pre booked at roughly equidistant locations (140km to 160km), on half board basis - Bed, Breakfast, Evening Meal.
for
a profile of the Raid Corsica route.
Itinerary:
Sunday 3rd June:
Flights to Bastia are available through various airlines, including the likes of Easyjet from Bristol, Manchester, & Gatwick. On arrival at Bastia airport you will be met by our representative, and commence the tour with a 60km ride onto Cap Corse and the small fishing village of Macinaggio, where we spend the night on half board basis.
Monday 4th June: 160km to Calvi.
Tuesday 5th June: 135km to Evisa
Wednesday 6th June: 170km to Santa Maria Sich
Thursday 7th June: 166km to Propriano.
Friday 8th June: 131km to Zonza.
Saturday 9th June: 137km to Peidicroce.
Sunday 10th June: We shall leave Peidicroce early and ride the 40km to Bastia airport where we shall check in for your return flight from Bastia to Bristol, Manchester, or Gatwick.
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