Portes Du Soleil - MTB and the Passportes du Soleil

Register for Passportes du Soleil

During the summer months, this region linked by 24 lifts covering 12 mountain villages makes up the largest connected mountain bike area in the world.  With over 650km of marked trails, 10 specific downhill track and 4 expertly designed bike parks, there is something to challenge every level of mountain bike rider.

The area is most famous for the 80km Enduro mountain bike event called the Passportes du Soleil, which in 2013 saw 6500 competitors take part. The route uses 15 of the 24 lifts, passes through both France and Switzerland, and has 6000 meters of descending and thanks to the use of lifts, just 1000 meters of climbing. It is designed to take riders to all corners of the massive area and showcase the variety of terrain and trails that the area has to offer. Locals line the route and provide support and a number of food stations many of which offering a selection of local produce. The event is open to riders of all different levels with a number of optional sections to make the course more or less challenging.

In 2014 Les Gets will be the host village and the event will take place on the 27,28 and 29^th June. Fingers crossed for better weather condition than in 2013.

Registration for the 2014 event is open from Wednesday 12^th February from 9am. Further details can be found on www.passportesdusoleil.com


Thanks to the high numbers of competitors, it is essential to sign up for the event and book you accommodation early. At www.Bikelodging.com we have a number of bike friendly properties available in the ports du Soleil area. Send us an email and we will help find you the perfect MTB holiday accommodation.

Cycling and wine tasting - Mont Ventoux region

The region surrounding the iconic cycling peak of Mont Ventoux know as the Vaucluse includes the famous cycling towns of Bédoin and Malaucène. These towns provide two of the starting points to attempt the climb accessible from three different directions. Mont Ventoux sticking out at 1912 meters is visible from miles around and has earned the nickname as the 'Beast of Provence' The name Mont Ventoux derives from the French word for windy, which suitably describes the 'Mistral' wind that frequently blows down the Rhone Valley.

However the region provides a host of other cycling and mountain bike routes to explore such as the Baronnies Hills or the Toulourenc Valley with climbs such as the Col d'Ey at 718m, the Col de Soubeyrand at 996m, the Col de Perty at 1330m, or regions second highest mountain, Montagne de Lure at 1800m. 

Of course, the region is also famous for the wines of the Rhone Valley, which is the second largest quality wine producing area of France. It is also the oldest since there has been winemaking here since 500BC. Probably the best known wine village is Chateauneuf du Pape, the wine of the Popes when they lived here in medieval times. Many of the same families are still making fabulous wine here today.

Winemaking not only provides more jobs than any other industry in the Rhone, but the extensive vineyards on undulating hills and valleys make for a visual delight when cycling the area. There are over 6000 wine growers in the region making red, white and rose wines from predominantly Grenache and Syrah grapes.  

Should you dream of combining a cycling holiday to the region with the chance to taste and learn about the different wines of the region Gite du Vin is the perfect option.

Here surrounded by fields of vineyards with spectacular views over the Mont Ventoux, the Gite provides the perfect location to explore the region by bike and unwind at the end of the day in their large pool and immaculate gardens. Linda Field the Gite owner and qualified wine teacher can help you make sense of it all while you taste some of the regions best wines. Over 2-3 hours you will understand more about the geography, the history and the wines of the region, and taste several different examples of the wine styles the region offers.

For more details about this property, or others in the region, visit us at Bike Lodging.

Gite du Vin

Bourg d’Oisans to Alpe d’Huez road cycling

This cycling route is arguably the most legendary and famous cycling route in the world. Although challenging and relentless, it is far from the hardest, making it achievable to almost anyone with a basic level of fitness.

The climb itself can be split into four sections with their own milestones. It is important to warm up properly, because the first section from Bourg to La Garde and is arguably the most difficult, with the climb going instantly from flat to an average of 11%. Between Garde and the pretty hamlet of Ribot, the gradient drops of briefly before cranking up to 9%. This gradient now remains pretty constant, with no notable flatter sections, except for the briefest of rest-bites during the transitions in the hairpin bends. Between Ribot and Huez is the longest section which climbs quickly through a number of hairpin
bends, passing through the Dutch corner, made famous by the huge sea of orange clad Dutch supporters camped out here during each Tour du France. The final section form Huez to the resort of Alpe d’Huez passes through the lowest ski slopes of the resort and picturesque meadows.

As you arrive into the resort the unofficial and more popular finish line is close to the tourist office. However be aware, that the official Tour du France finish line continues up through the tunnel and another couple of bends and roundabouts through the resort. This finish line, which is located along side the ski slopes is slightly understated, with just a small banner, plaque and a line on the road. Which ever line you chose to finish at, don’t forget your stopwatch, so you can compare your effort against the times of the professionals.

Most people, after a rewarding treat in a local café chose to return to the valley by the same route, but anotable circular return option is possible via the Col de Sarenne, made famous in the 2013 Tour du France, when after climbing the 21 bends, competitors returned to the valley over the Col de Sarenne before climbing the Alpe d’Huez for a second time. Thankfully the event has resulted in vast improvements to the road surface over this col, although this is still a very technical descent with loose gravely corners.

The climb was first used in the Tour du France in 1952 and has been used 28 times up until it was climbed twice in one day in 2013.

It is also the final climb for the grueling Marmotte cycling event, which welcomes 8,000 amateur cyclists to compete in this cyclosportive. The race, which starts in Bourg d'Oisans, passes over the Col du Glandon, Col du Telegraphe, Col du Galibier, before finishing in Alpe d’Huez, a total of 174km and 5180m of climbing.

This climb is also the location for the Dutch charity cycling event the Alpe d’Huzes in early June, where teams of cyclists aim to climb the Alpe d’Huez six times in a day.

Depart altitude Le Bourg d'Oisans 2350ft/715m

Arrival altitude Alpe d'Huez 6100ft/1800m

Height gain 3750ft/1145m

Length 14km/8.8miles

Steepest gradient 13.5%

Average gradient 8.1%

Record 37min 35 Marco Pantani 1997

View Alpe d`Huez in a larger map

Accommodation options in Le Bourg d’Oisans