France - Alps and Provence (2003)

---

My wife and I went on a group biking trip, organized by Velo La Source, to the French Alps. We stayed for a week in the town of Villard Reculas located on Alp d’Huez. We went biking every day and also saw two stages of the Tour de France as it passed through the area (including a mountain top finish on Alp d’Huez). The trip was one of the best vacations we have ever had -- great food, wine, biking, weather, and company. We would highly recommend Velo La Source if you are interested in biking in the French Alps. After the Velo La Source trip we took an additional four days and drove down to Vaisons-la-Romain in Provence and did more sightseeing and biking.

Villard Reculas, France

La Source Chalet, Villard Reculas, France

Villard Reculas, France

View from Villard Reculas looking down on the town of Bourg d’Oisans

Day 1: Bike to Les Deux Alpes

At the foot of the climb to Les Deux Alps

Les Deux Alpes, France

Day 2: Ride to La Berarde

Climbing up to the town of La Berarde

La Berarde, France

Lunch in La Berarde

On the way back from La Berarde

Day 4: Bike up Alp d’Huez

The Velo La Source group about to start the climb of Alp d’Huez

Alp d’Huez, France

There are 21 switchbacks to the top of the climb (8 miles with an average gradient of 8.5 %)!

Climbing Alp d’Huez

The founders of Velo La Source (Rebecca Taylor and Adam Weisman) climbing Alp d’Huez

Joseba Beloki, Lance Armstrong, Tyler Hamilton, and Haimar Zubeldia climbing Alp d’Huez during the 2003 Tour de France

Day 5: Bike Col de Glandon and Col de la Croix de Fer

Col du Glandon, French Alps

Col de la Croix de Fer, French Alps

Bike Mount Ventoux

Mt. Ventoux, Provence, France

The barren summit of Mt Ventoux

View from Mt Ventoux with the French Alps in the distance