This point to point trip takes its roots in heart of the Alps, below the "4000" of the swiss alps, we'll pass several high alpine passes at more than 2900m such as Lona, col de Torrent, or Illsee pass , ride the well maintained swiss singletracks and take the time to have a look to the breathtaking alpine summits and glaciers such as Weisshorn, Breithorn, Pigna D'Arolla....We'll pass trough old quaint swiss villages, all wood made and their narrow streets to protect them form the cold in winter and meet the local shepards in the alpine pastures taking care of the "Queens", these famous black fighting cows....
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 riding 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 where our assistance van is waiting for us to drive us to Verbier Ski resort for the night.
Ride distance: 40km Uneven positive: 400m Uneven negative: 1500m Physical difficulty: 2/5 Technical skills: 3/5
DAY 3 (Monday) : Starting by using a ski lift is always a good start ! We first pass the Croix de Coeur pass than descent on a splendid singletrack. The rest of the day is shared with several climbs and descents, one of them will be done with skilift and the reward is a long DHt on a spruce needles covered smooth singletrack... huummmmm! After a short transfer to avoid a long road climb, we'll climb for 30mn on easy dirt road to acces the last techy descent to the quaint swiss village of Evolene nested in a narrow valley.Night in Evolene
Ride distance: 65km Uneven positive: 1400m Uneven negative: 2400m Physical difficulty: 3/5 Technical skills: 3/5
DAY 4 (Tuesday) : Today comes the big climb of the the highest passe of this trip, “Col de Torrent” 2916m. We will warm up the legs by riding along the river to the village of “les Hauderes” then ride on road until the next village of “ la villaz” . From there it is a long steady climb on a 4x4 trail until a little lake situated at 2500m with an amazing view on the glaciers. The final part of the clim involves some hike a bike sections and some riddeable sections depending your fitness. The reward is a long and varied descent passing nearby the splendid turquoise blue lake of Moiry and finishing by a nice singletrack to the village of Grimentz.Night in Grimentz.
Ride distance: 35km Uneven positive: 1600m Uneven negative: 1600m Physical difficulty: 3/5 Technical skills: 3/5
DAY 5 (Wednesday) : Early start for another long day on the bike. We'll pas the Illsee pass 2544m from where we can see the Matterhorn and the Mont Blanc in the time and estimate the distance we did and what there is still to ride ....After short traversing trail to a pass, the view is breathtaking from Matterhorn to Mont Blanc! An epic and varied Dh is the iciing on the cake. This descent is a mix of all the best trails you've ever dreamed about, fast tracks, swoopy, technical parts, thigh corners, it's just Toooooo gooooood!!! But the climbs are finished and a road/jeep track will bring us to above Unterbach, our stop for the night and we'll finish by a easy DH.
Ride distance: 45km Uneven positive: 1000m Uneven negative: 2000m Physical difficulty: 3/5 Technical skills: 3/5
DAY 6 (Thursday) : Change of ambiance today. we'll ride on the ridge of the swiss Rhone valley and enter in the german speaking area of switzerland: Achtung!!!! After a warm up on a jeeptrack we'll hit a singletrack and finish the climb to the highest point for today: the moose pass 2048m. The view on the neighbooring peaks is stunning as we are standing at the junction of Zermatt and Saas-Fé valleys. The descent towards Saint Niklaus and Zermatt valley is splendid. We'll use singletracks and large trails and pass through alpine villages barely hanged on the mountain side.Night in St Niklaus.
Ride distance: 35km Uneven positive: 1100m Uneven negative: 1100m Physical difficulty: 3/5 Technical skills: 3/5
DAY 7 (Friday) : This last day will surely be engraved in your memory for long time!!! From Saint Niklaus we'll go to Zermatt using trails and road and ride the terrific trails of Zermatt valley ..... You'll have the choice to choose the lift you want to take, the train to Gornergrat train 3016m or the Sunnegga funicular. From both of these lift the view on the Matterhorn, the Breithorn, the Monte Rosa is just breathaking!! The descent down to Zermatt valley is fantastic and will make your disc brake burn for sure!! For sure, riding here , in Switzerland is truly an experience you won't forget before long...
Ride distance: 40km Uneven positive: 500m Uneven negative: 1800m Physical difficulty: 3/5 Technical skills: 3/5
Total ride distance: 260km !!!
Day 8 : departure day (Saturday) : transfert to Geneva airport. Make sure you book an afternoon or a late/ evening flight due to the time of transfert to Geneva airport. * Please make sure to book a late afternoon or evening return flight, due to the transfer time to Geneva airport from Zermatt.
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