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August to 06 September 2008
 Riding your bike through
the Provence countryside is to be one of cycling’s most pleasant experiences,
form the beautiful scenery, fantastic vistas and scents of the provencale
countryside to the relaxed way of living and the excellent Mediterranean
food.
This cycling
tour of Provence is to be a moving on tour, covering approximately
50 miles per day which should give you enough time to visit
and sample the Provence towns that you pass through. The
route will take you through the perfume capital of Grasse
and through the spectacular “Gorges du Verdon” before culminating
with climbing the Mont Ventoux (“Giant of Provence”).
 Accommodation
is provided in good quality hotels, most of them family
run establishments, on Half Board basis (evening meal Bed & Breakfast).
A van
will carry your luggage each day from overnight stop to
overnight stop, and act as a back up for food provisions
and mechanical breakdowns.
We have
chosen to run this tour in September as the oppressive
heat of Summer will have gone, and hopefully we will be
able to enjoy warm weather riding, without being uncomfortable.
Saturday
30th August:
Arrange your own flight to Nice, or contact ourselves for
flight details and prices. The following budget airlines from
the UK fly to Nice;
www.jet2.com from
Leeds Bradford & Manchester
www.easyjet.com from
Liverpool, London Gatwick, London Luton, London Stansted, Bristol, Newcastle,
Paris CDG, Paris Orly
www.bmibaby.com from
East Midlands (Nottingham)
On arrival
at Nice airport you will be met by our rep and taken the
short distance to the 3* Novotel hotel, Nice airport.
Sunday 31st August:
Nice to Grasse 60km or 80km
Our location at the Novotel, Nice airport allows easy
access (on bike) away from the busy coastal roads, and
soon you will be into the small roads of Provence and
on your way to the perfume town of Grasse, where we shall
spend the night. Today’s first ride will be approx
60km (40 miles) of undulating terrain.
Monday 1st September:
Grasse to Castellane 70km
Today we head further into the Provence countryside and
ride from Grasse to the town of Castellane, where part
of the ride will be on the “Route Napoleon”.
We shall spend the night in the town of Castellane at
the 3* Nouvel Hotel du Commerce.
Tuesday 2nd September:
Castellane to Moustiers Ste Marie 75km or 45km
Today is one of the most spectacular rides of the tour,
as we pass by the impressive “Grand Canyon Gorges
du Verdon” from Castellane to Moustiers Ste Marie.
There will be 2 ride options, a 75km ride and a 45km
shorter option. In Moustiers Ste Marie we shall spend
the night at the 2* Hotel Bonne Auberge.
Wednesday 3rd September:
Moustiers Ste Marie to Manosque 80km or 50km
After yesterdays hard ride over the Gorges du Verdon,
today is an easy riding day from Moustiers Ste Marie
to Manosque. Once again there will be long and short
ride options.
Thursday 4th September:
Greoux les Bains to Carpentras 100km
Today is the longest day of the tour, 100km from Geroux
les Bains to Carpentras, which will take you through
some of Provence’s most beautiful countryside,
including the Luberon (National Park) and the Col du
Murs. We shall spend the night in Carpentras at the 3*
Hotel Safari.
Friday 5th September:
Carpentras – Mont Ventoux – Carpentras 75km
Mont Ventoux is steeped in cycling history, and has featured
so prominently in the Tour de France, no more so than
when it claimed the life of Tom Simpson in the 1967 Tour
de France. The “Giant of Provence” stands
1909mt high with fantastic views over the region of Provence
and onto the Mediterranean sea. The top is a barren luna
like landscape where stands a weather station.
Today’s ride will be a circular route, climbing
Mont Ventoux from the Bedoin side and descending via
Malaucene before returning to Carpentras.
Saturday
6th September:
We shall leave Carpentras at 08.00hrs and transfer by
coach back to Nice arriving at the airport for 11.00hrs
for your return flight.
Order
a full Graham Baxter Sporting Tours
cycling kit (short sleeved jersey,
bib shorts, socks and cap) for only £70
(list price £85) when purchased with
your holiday booking. See clothing
page for clothing details and sizes.
Clothing order must be
paid in full and sent with
holiday booking. The offer
does not apply if ordered
separately from holiday booking.
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