Cycle Geneva to Nice
Your SportActive Luxury Cycling Holiday

Overview

Ride from Geneva to Nice over "La Route des Grandes Alpes"

You will ride twelve alpine passes including col du Galibier, col du Télégraphe, and col d'Izoard. These mountains are regularly used in the Tour de France and will test your limits. Along the way you will ride hors category cols and gems such as the 'Shoelaces' of Montvernier..

Only 15 Spaces Available - Book Now to Secure Your Place

Test your Limits in the French Alps

Starting in the Mont Blanc region you will ride south for six days, until you reach Nice, on the Mediterranean Sea. Six days, 550kms riding the alpine passes the pros face every year offers a challenge like no other. Riding in the French Alps will test your abilities as a rider.

Supported Tour de France Style

We use support cars carrying spare parts, drinking water, and food. Martin will also be riding with you passing on coaching advice and knowledge. Martin is a professional cycle coach with years of experience. He ensures you will reach each stage of Geneva to Nice under your own steam. He and his team are on hand should a repair be needed. We want to keep you on the road as much as possible.

Logistics - From airport transfers to moving your luggage from hotel to hotel, we have you covered on Geneva to Nice

We've got you covered. We have good relationships with the hotels and some provide washing facilities for your kit. Every hotel provides secure bike storage. Our logistic mastery stretches to providing you with porridge in the morning.

Experience the Spectacular and the Beautiful

Riding the "Route des Grandes Alpes" is an experience which immerses you in the spectacular awe inspiring beauty of the French Alps. It is hard to describe the feeling as you ride higher and higher into the mountains. It is simply something you have to do.

We ride together, we eat together, and camaraderie forms

Our guests tell us they make new long long-lasting friendships on our tours. If you are wondering if you can enjoy riding Geneva to Nice if you're travelling alone, the answer is yes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What level of fitness and experience do I need for the Geneva to Nice tour?
A: This is an advanced cycling challenge covering 550km over six days with 12 alpine passes, including three hors catégorie climbs (Madeleine, Galibier, and Bonette—the highest paved road in Europe at 2802m). You need substantial endurance and climbing experience. If you can comfortably ride 90-100km days with significant elevation gain and have previous alpine climbing experience, you'll be well-prepared for this epic ride.
Q: How does SportActive support riders on the Geneva to Nice tour?
A: We provide Tour de France-style support with vehicles carrying spare parts, water, and food throughout each stage. Professional coach Martin rides with the group, offering pacing advice and coaching. Our support team handles all logistics—airport transfers, moving luggage between hotels, securing bike storage, and even organizing porridge for breakfast. If you need mechanical assistance or struggle on any stage, we can transport you and your bike.
Q: Why are there only 15 spaces available on this tour?
A: We intentionally limit the Geneva to Nice tour to 15 riders maximum to guarantee exceptional service quality and group cohesion. Smaller groups allow for personalized coaching from Martin, better support throughout the challenging alpine stages, and stronger camaraderie. This intimate group size ensures everyone receives the attention they need on this demanding six-day adventure.
Q: What should I pack for varying alpine weather conditions?
A: Alpine weather changes rapidly with altitude. Temperatures can swing from 30°C in valleys to below 10°C on summit climbs. Pack leggings, arm warmers, gilet, long-sleeve wind/rain jacket, light long-finger gloves, and overshoes. Thunderstorms are common in June. Our support vehicles carry your gear and can provide clothing during climbs. Some hotels offer washing facilities for your kit.
Q: Can I hire a bike for Geneva to Nice, or must I bring my own?
A: Bike hire is very difficult to arrange for this tour, so we strongly recommend bringing your own bike. We include airport transfers for you and your bike in both Geneva and Nice, plus we transport your bike box from Geneva to Nice. Our guides provide mechanical assistance if needed during the week. Having your own properly fitted and fully serviced bike is crucial for a six-day alpine challenge of this magnitude.

Itinerary, Cycling Location, and Profile

We'll ride 12 Alpine Passes:

• Col de la Colombière (1128m) 1st category. Distance 19.8 km, average gradient 5.6%. Maximum gradient 10%. Height gain 1066m
  
• Col des Aravis (1486 m) 1st category.  
  Average gradient: 5.7% ; maximum gradient : 8.6%. Distance 21.3 km ; height gain 756 m.
• Col de la Madeleine (1993 m) hors catégorie
  Distance 25,3 km average gradient 6,2 % ; height gain. : 1585 m
• Les lacets de Montvernier: Les lacets de Montvernier isn't a col but is noteworthy thanks to its tightly packed string of 17 hairpin bends. The bends are no more than a 100 metres apart and it has gradients of between 8-9%. If you have ridden Sa Colobra in Mallorca, you know how amazing this can be. Put on your climbing legs!
  3.4 km, average gradient 7.3%, elevation gain: 505 m
• Col du Télégraphe, 1st category  (1566 m), 12 km, average gradient  7%, height gain 851 metres
• Col du Galibier (2646 m) hors catégorie
  18.1 km, average gradient 6.9%, elevation gain: 1245 m
• Col du Lautaret (2058 m)
  We descend towards it from col du Galibier and then further down towards Briançon
• Col d'Izoard (2360 m)
  Average gradient: 5.7%, maximum gradient : 9.4%. Distance 20 km ; height gain 1141 m.
• Col de Vars (2108 m)
  Average gradient: 5.7%, maximum gradient : 8.7%. Distance 19.4 km ; height gain 1111 m
• Col de la Bonette (2802 m) hors catégorie
  Average gradient: 6.6%, maximum gradient: 9%. Distance 24,1 km ; height gain 1589 m ; the highest asphalted road in France and the highest through road in Europe
• Col St Martin (1500 m) : 1st category
  16.5 km, average gradient 6.2%, elevation gain 1018 m
• Col de Turini (1607 m) 1st category
  Average gradient: 5.2%, maximum gradient : 9.3%. Distance 15.3 km ; height gain 1107 m
• Col de Castillon (707 m) 3rd category
  Average gradient: 5.1%, maximum gradient : 6.8%. Distance 7 km ; height gain 349 m

Prices and dates

What's included / not included

What's Included

• Group transfers airport-hotel-airport for you and your bike, in Geneva and Nice on Saturdays of arrival and departure within a predefined time window (check recommended flight details)
• Transfer bike boxes from Geneva to Nice and daily luggage transport
• 7 nights HB
• Foods during the rides: lunch, water, energy bars & gels, other snacks & drinks
• Transport for you and your bike should you wish to have a shorter day or experience difficulty
• Mechanical assistance for your bike
• Secure overnight bike storage
• Martin and Thierry on the bike with you for pacing and coaching
• Flora's organisational and logistical talents and stretching if time allows

Not Included

• Flights
• Single Supplement
• Drinks during the meals and other private expenses
• Sports massage available in certain hotels. Fees apply
• Private medical & Travel insurance
• Bike hire is not totally unavailable for this trip, but not easy.

Services & Information

Accommodation details

We'll stay in 7 different hotels on our ride through the Alps, most of them are very good 3 star houses. The rooms are en-suite.

All hotels have been selected and visited by SportActive and  have been used in our previous Geneva to Nice tours.

The dinner menus are pre-planned for the whole week in order to enjoy diversified dishes. Breakfasts are suited to cyclists' needs with cereals, eggs, ham, cheese, fresh fruit etc. We even organize your porridge, should we make it ourselves in the kitchen! (it happens!)

Sports massage is available on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday nights. Sunday & Monday the masseurs comes to the hotel; Tuesday the hotel has a Spa with masseurs on site. We need to pre-book the massages, of course. 

 Your hotels of the week are the following:

• Hôtel**** La Ferme du Lac
• Hôtel Radiana***
• Hôtel de l'Europe*** St Jean de Maurienne
• Lautaret Lodge & Spa
• Aztéca Hôtel ***
• Hotel Le Saint Sebastien-Vesubie
• Hôtel Prince de Galles ****

Flights & Airport Transfers

2026 Flight info 

The flights to use for this holiday, if flying from Ireland, are the following:

June 2026

• Outbound - Sat 13/6/2026 Dublin to Geneva Cointrin airport with Aer Lingus: flight EI684, 13:15 - 16:30 
• Homebound - Sat 20/6/2026 Nice to Dublin with Aer Lingus: flight EI545, 15:20 - 17:00
• Group airport transfers will be organised for the above indicated flights.

If flying to Geneva from other airports, landing around 12:00 would be convenient; we'll arrange an additional transfer to the hotel.

When departing from Nice on Saturday (the homebound date), we'll organize group airport transfers for flights departing earliest at 15:00.
Should your flight be at a later time or date or very early morning, we'll help you organise your airport transfer.

It is best and easiest for you to book the flights yourself.

Weather & seasonality

Due to high altitude temperature and weather can change quickly. It can be 30 °C in the valley to lower than 10 °C on top of the climbs.

We advise taking a range of warm clothing including:

• Leggings,
• Arm warmers
• Gilet
• Long sleeve wind/rain jacket
• Light long finger gloves
• Overshoes

Thunderstorms are likely to happen in this season. Be prepared!

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You can download the Geneva to Nice over 'La Route des Grandes Alpes' PDF brochure :

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