E-BIKE TOUR OF MONT BLANC

The TOUR OF MONT BLANC has always been on your “bucket list”?
You have the technical level but you do not have to train for this alpine adventure??


We propose to ride this legendary circumnavigation of the Mont Blanc on E-Bike to easy the climbs and have more fun on the descents!!

We will ride an itinerary specially adapted to E-MountainBike, optimizing the “ uphill flow”!!
The climbs will be on 4x4 path or nice singletracks and the descents on alpine singletracks for maximizing the fun! LESS EFFORT, MORE FUN!

Departing from Chamonix, France, we will ride in a clockwise direction, passing through the Martigny Valley, Switzerland, on to Courmayeur, Italy, back into France and return to Chamonix to complete the loop!


The trail brings us through alpine flower covered pastures, passes glacial lakes, skims below glaciers and snowy summits, crosses deep valleys and climbs high altitude passes.

Riding around Mont Blanc, is about discovering the magic world of 'high mountain' biking...

Seven valleys, 71 glaciers, 400 summits, the Mont Blanc range is inspiring.
The Tour of Mont Blanc is dedicated to riders not afraid of long climbs, downhills can be technical in places, but the scenery is breathtaking and you will soon forget the pain...

We propose an original route known to us like the back of our hands.

We ride in the opposite direction to other tours, giving us the benefit of rideable ascents and fantastic descents free from crowds and close to nature, you will be awed by this legendary location.

INCLUDED

the guiding by a graduated French bilingual professional mountain bike guide expenses of organization 7 dinners / 7 continental breakfasts 6 lunchs during the riding days 7 nights accomodations in twin to quad room 1 one accomodation in small dorm of 4 person in Mottets Hut the transport of your luggage from place to place mechanical assistance at night possibilty to wash the bike everyday safe place to store the bike at night free access to a complete tool box to maintain your bike the road transfers when needed and ski lifts in Chamonix valley the pick up and drop off at Geneva airport on saturday arrival and departure day only the “ Alpsmountainbike “ jersey.

NOT INCLUDED

the fight ticket to Geneva airport the expenditure in personal matter (drinks energetic drinks and foods etc...) the bicycle hiring if needed the expenses of repair and maintenance of the bicycle the cancellation/help insurances and repatriation and in general way all that is not included/understood in the heading "the price includes/understands"

Warning: This itineray is given for your information and may be changed at the discretion of the guide depending on the weather conditions, physical ability of clients and the trail 'options' we decide together.

Riding E-MountainBike will help you for climbing, but you still need to have the minimum technical level to complet this trip!!

Information

This trip is for bikers of an advanced or expert level. It is not for beginners because despite the battery assistance you will need to pedal, sweat and earn your decent which will be on alpine, technical singletracks that require a minimum level 3 in order to have fun.

You can come with your own E-bike (fully suspended with 5”/130mm+ travel) or rent one in Chamonix (we can provide a list of bike descriptions and prices upon request).

The Schedule : arrival Saturday

DAY 1 of arrival (Saturday) : Arrival geneva airport and tranfert to your hotel in Chamonix town center

DAY 2 (Sunday) :
From Le Tour, top of Chamonix valley , in the mornig ,we'll take the gondola to col de Balme and start with a “Skills Clinic” and pratice on balance, braking, improve position on the bike, how to ride a tigh corner, optimization of the driving post etc....
The goal is to prepare you to the alpine sriding so you can fully enjoy your experience in the Alps. In the afternoon we will ride the first technical descent down to the village of Trient in Switzerland and work to improve your skills in technical singletracks.
We will ride down to Martigny (Switzerland) where our assistance van is waiting for us to drive us our hotel above the valley

Ride distance: 30km Uneven positive: 400m Uneven negative: 1100m


DAY 3 (Monday) : start by a short climb for warming up the legs, followed by breatahtaking view over the swiss Alps and the valley of Martigny and its wineyards.Descent to Val de Bagnes through wine yard and climb in the direction of the “Val Ferret”, just below glaciers and snowy summits!! Sleep in La Fouly ( Switzerland), at the foot of the Grand Col Ferret: the Italian Border.

Ride distance: 45km Uneven positive: 1400m Uneven negative: 1100m

DAY 4 (Tuesday) : Climb of “Grand Col Ferret “ ( 2500m) to Italy: one the 3 majors passes of this Tour of Mont Blanc . Stuning scenery at the top of the col on the “italian val ferret” and on italian side of the Mont Blanc. Descent to Arnuva and,depending of everybody’s shape , additional climb to ride one of the most beautifull singletrack in the Alps, involving less then 10mn of hike to bike thanks to the E-Bike to finish with a fantastic descent in Courmayeur Night in Courmayeur Italy.

Ride distance: 40 to 50km (depending options) Uneven positive: 1000 to 1400m Uneven negative: 1000 to 1600m

DAY 5 (Wednesday) :
After a short transfer, we will warm up on a dirt road than we hit the trail to arrive to Lake Checroui facing the italian side of Mont Blanc: the Mont Blanc of Courmayeur 4704m.
A Balcony trail will give the chance to see famous summits as “Noire de Peuterey”,“la Blanche” and the italian glacier and lake of Miage (one of the biggest glacier of Mont Blanc range).
The climb of Col de la Seigne (french border) is mostly riddable, the end is quite steep and you’ll have to push the bike for 5 mn!!
The downhill to Les Chapieux is a fanstastic, technical in places singletrack. A last short climb and we will be soon at the accomodation, a beautifull hotel facing the turquoise blue lake of Roselend!

Ride distance: 45km Uneven positive: 1100m Uneven negative: 1600m


DAY 6 (Thursday) :
Morning warm up with a dirt road climb then a short descent to Lake de la Gittaz. A second long climb on a 4x4 track will drive us to Col de la Gittaz ending pushing up the bike for 10mn. We' ll ride a technical singletrack to col du Joly and will finish with a great singletrack to the village of Contamines Montjoie: 1500m of descent very technical in places.
Night in Contamines Montjoie (France)

Ride distance: 55km Uneven positive: 1700m Uneven negative: 1500m


DAY 7 (Thursday) :
Last day but not the least !! From Contamines Montjoie we’ll climb to Chalet de Miage, an summer altitude mountain village at the foot of the french glacier of Miage: the place is absolutly breathtaking!! We feel small compared to this massive glaciers!
From there we’ll climb the col de Voza above les Houches and Chamonix valley with the Mont Blanc on our right side... Last technical downhill to Chamonix to end up is beauty!
Night in Chamonix (France)

Ride distance: 40km Uneven positive: 900m Uneven negative: 1200m


Total ride distance: 215 to 235km !!! Dismantle and pack bikes ready for departure the following day.
Yes I think a well earned cold beer or two is a definite!

Day 8 : departure day (Saturday) : transfert to Geneva airport



NB: this tour is run with a minimum of 4 clients. Lunches on Saturday of arrival and Saturday of departure are not included, but can be arranged at an additional cost.

Dates 2020
From June 13th to 20th From June 20th to 27th From June 27th to July 4th From July 4th to 11th From July 11th to 18th From July 18th to 25th From July 25th to August 1st From August 1st to 8th From August 8th to 15th From August 15th to 22th From August 22th to 29th From August 29th to September 5th From September 5th to 12th From September 12th to 19th From September 19th to 26th From September 26th to October 3rd From October 3rd to 10th From October 10th to 17th
Level
MORE INFOS


Physical
difficulty
  • You ride 2-3 times a week for 1h30 non stop minimum (road or mtb).
  • You can ride at aerobic pace with short anaerobic sections without excessive fatigue.
  • You are able to cycle 4-5 hours per day.
  • You are able to climb 800 meters vertical ascent (2400 feet) a day for 3-5 days and can push or carry your bike uphill or downhill on short sections (few meters).
  • You like to challenge yourself


  • Technical
    difficulty
  • You can manage your balance uphill and downhill on loose gravels, rocks and roots.
  • You feel confident in riding singletrack with few roots and rocks, on dry or wet terrain.
  • You can ride short rock garden of 30 meters.
  • You feel confident riding downhill for about 20 minutes non stop.
  • You able able to go up and down a step of about 20 centimeters.
  • You can handle switchbacks.
  • You can ride with a little exposure at times and would like to improve your skills.
  • YOUR BIKE
  • The best option is to ride on your own mountain bike, as it is familiar to you.
  • PLEASE NO XC bikes or short travel bikes (below 130mm)
  • A full suspension bike with at least 130 mm of front and back travel is required.
  • You need to have big grippy tires front and back, minimum 2.3 solid casing.
  • Possibility of renting a full suspension bike in the local sports stores (list on request).
  • Distance : 215 to 235 km - Ascent : 6500 to 6900 m - Descent : 7500 to 8100 m
    Duration8 days: arrival on saturday , departure on saturday
    7 nights accomodation
    6 days riding
    Terrain
    All kinds of trails !
    Cruisy 2 path trails
    From easy to technical singletracks (some very technical) 'rocky and rooty' trails.
    Location
    Starts and finishes in Chamonix, passes through France, Switzerland and Italy
    Accomodations and food
    7 nights accommodation in hotels (based on double occupancy twin bedrooms). Each accomodations has a secure bike storage, bike-washing facilities, a bar with fresh beers ( there are important things in life! Dinners are 3-courses and each hotels can cater for specific dietary requirements (veggy, vegan, gluten intolerant etc...), please let us in advance if you have specific diet.
    Lunch
    Our gourmet sandwiches are now reknown as we love to prepare some " deeluxe" lunch for fill your biker's hungry stomchs! So we provide a different sandwich freshly prepared everyday with delicious bread ( organic or whole wheat when possible) and local specialities. In addition we propose unlimited acces to trail snack and fruits!
    Pick up / Drop Off / Meeting point
    The closest international airport is GENEVA / Switzerland, about one hour transfer from Chamonix. The pick up and drop off from / to Geneva airport are included in the price of the trip. Please let us in advance your flight details. You will meet your guide and driver in Chamonix at dinner time. Please do not assemble your bike before you have arrived in at the hotel you'll stay in on saturday evening. Dependding wich trip you ride , you can leave your bike box safely at the hotel and find it back on friday
    Lodging
    7 nights accommodation in a mix of hotels (based on double occupancy twin bedrooms)