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The Cyclosportive scene is currently booming in the UK. In France the scene has always been strong and in our region there are lots of fantastic events to choose from. From May to September you could do a sportive every weekend if you wanted to.
We have holidays and long weekend breaks based around the best of our local events.
Below is a summary of all the sportives which we will be covering in 2009.
There are now 3 cyclosportives which ascend Mont Ventoux starting with the main event La Ventoux Beaumes de Venise at the beginning of June then La Vauclusienne on the 26th June.
In September the local sportive season is rounded off with the excellent La Routes du Ventoux 150km event.
La Ventoux - Beaumes de Venise
This is our biggest local even with over 1000 participants and it’s a tough challenge. There is a 170km circuit with 3500m of climbing and a shorter circuit at 102km.
The main event, "The Master", climbs the classic way up from Bedoin, descends the North side, takes a lumpy route round to Sault then ascends once again to Chalet Reynard before descending back to Bedoin.
La Vauclusienne
Now in its 4th season this is our local event, the start being just 5 kms from the Veloventoux base. It attracts over 500 entrants including the ex F1 champion and local cyclosportive specialist Alain Prost.
Les Routes Du Ventoux
Usually held on the first Saturday in September - we will confirm the date as soon as we know it. Run on a smaller scale than the Ventoux Beaumes de Venise with just over 400 entries in 2007. There is a 150km and a 100km option. Just one ascent of the mountain this time.
The Grand Tropheé events
We are now organising holidays around 4 of the classic Grand Tropheé sportives and by booking with us you will get great advantages such as priority event numbers usually in the second pen just behind the seeded riders and also the benefit of a nice clean Veloventoux private feed station with your own musette containing your own food!
The Grand Tropheé series starts in May with the fantastic Cezanne Sainte Victoire near Aix en Provence. There’s a 158km and a 104km option both taking in the fantastic scenery around the Ste. Victoire mountain made famous by the painter Cezanne.
The Epervier is a great even starting near St Tropez on the Cote d’Azur. There’s a 179km and a 133km option taking in the fantastic coastline and hills to the west of St Tropez.
A week later is La Ventoux then in July, the Daddy of all Cyclsportives La Marmotte. 2009 will be our 6th Marmotte event. This legendary 174km event with over 4500m of climbing over some of the most famous cols in France is not for the faint hearted.
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Les Cingles
du Ventoux
Not a cyclosportive with a fixed date but known as a permanent.
At 136km and 4500m of ascent all you have to do is climb The Ventoux
by the 3 ways up, from Bedoin, Malaucene and Sault and finish where
you started from.
The Cingle can be incorporated into a standard week but only experienced
cyclosportivers for this one please. (Cingle is French for screwball!)
Click here for fixed week prices.
L'Ardechoise
Held over the third weekend in June, we are running theis trip in conjunction with Gastrobiking.
About an hours drive away, L'Ardechoise is a great
first cyclosportive. The main circuit is 216km with over 4000m of
climbing but there are many shorter loops which you can choose to
take as you ride round depending on how you are feeling at the time.
Last year the main Ardechoise event attracted 15007 entrants.
Challenge du
Dauphine
31st of May, a fantastic hilly sportive in the spectacular Vercore Regional Park.3 options from 75km to 180km in fantastic scenery. A popular
event with normally over 1000 entrants.
The Vercors Drome
Last Saturday in August (Date TBC)
Again, based in the hilly Vercors, the main event is 189km with
3700m of climbing and had over 1000 participants in 2004.
This week is run in conjunction with Gastrobiking, click here for
details.
Local Randonnees
Randonnees are like non - compitative reliability rides and there
are some really good ones organised by our local club, Nyons CT.
These are:
Randonee les Oliviers - May
110km, 70km or 35KM
Le Tour de Nyonsais - End June
135km or 70km
La Barjavel - August
85km
Toboggan des Cotes du Rhone
September
Food & drink (inc wine) is available at feeding stops en route
and there are usually free gifts of wine, olives and tapenade for
every starter with trophys for the most travelled team.
The
Organisation of the cyclosportives is superb with
numerous feeding stations along the way, and by feeding station
I don't mean half a banana and some watered down sport drink.
There are usually shorter circuits available based around the main
event if you aren't up to a 200km monster and on the more popular
cyclosportives such as the Marmotte, the roads are closed to all
traffic.
If you need more detailed information on any of
our cyclosportive packages click here
for prices or drop us an e mail for technical help such as advice
on gearing, fitness and clothing etc.
These are the Sportives we will be covering in 2009. Please contact us for more details on any of the events detailed below. Dates to be confirmed.
March
- La Millau Causse Noir, Millau
April - Les Monts du Vaucluse, Villars
May - La Cigale a Lunel, Lunel (Nimes)
May - La Cezanne St Victoire, Aix en Provence
May - La Challenge du Dauphin, Vercors
June - La Ventoux Beaumes de Venise
June - La Vauclusienne Tristan Mouric, Vaison la Romaine
July - La Marmotte, Alpe d'Huez
August - La Vercors Drome, Romans
September - Les Routes du Ventoux / Chrono de la Nesque Time Trial
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