TORINO TO NICE - CLIMBING CHALLENGE

42 km | 290 m

Upon arrival, you’ll be greeted by one of our friendly team members and transferred to our beautiful hotel in Torino. After your bike fit with our guides, we’ll head out for a short welcome ride to make sure everything feels just right.

Our coffee stop is a memorable one: the village of Venaria Reale, home to the magnificent Reggia—the former hunting residence of the House of Savoy. Calling it a “hunting lodge” hardly does it justice; it’s as grand and impressive as Versailles itself.

Tonight, we raise a glass to the start of an epic adventure!

Relais Bella Rosina | Torino

88 km | 1460 m

In the 1850s, as Italy moved toward unification, France offered military support against Austria in exchange for Nice and the Duchy of Savoy. Turin and the nearby Susa Valley, however, remained part of Italy. Today, we ride through this remarkable border region, where Italian and French history meet.

Our route takes us over the beautiful Colle del Lys (14 km at 6.5%), a climb featured in the 2019 Giro d’Italia, before reaching the charming town of Susa - full of Roman and medieval history and a welcoming stop for travelers for thousands of years.

Hotel Napoleon | Susa

79 km | 2860 m

The Colle delle Finestre is a spectacular climb, winding up the mountain in dramatic twists and turns. With 7 km of gravel, it’s a true classic - and we’ll have time to warm up before the real challenge begins.

The descent is just as beautiful, taking us through meadows and forests before we ride on toward Sestriere and Mont Cenis. From there, we cross into France and reach Briançon, a fortified town and UNESCO World Heritage Site, known for its impressive seventeenth-century walls designed by the famous engineer Vauban.

Hotel Le Monêtier | Le Monêtier-les-Bains

115 km | 3510 m

This stage features three legendary climbs with a rich Giro d’Italia and Tour de France history. Fausto Coppi himself was first over the Col d’Izoard in both races back in 1949. At the top of our next major ascent, the Colle dell’Agnello - crossed twice by both the Giro and the Tour - we re-enter Italy.

From there, we descend to the village of Sampeyre, turn left, drop to the river, and begin the final challenge: the Colle di Sampeyre. At the top, a mountain refuge awaits, where we can relax and refuel after an unforgettable day of epic climbing.

Rifugio Meira Garneri | Colle di Sampeyre

90 km | 2330 m

The long, demanding Colle della Fauniera, with gradients rarely falling below 10%, has only featured once in the Giro d’Italia. Today, we follow much of that legendary 1999 stage when Marco Pantani surged ahead to finish second behind Paolo Savoldelli, who made his mark with one of the most technical descents in the Alps.

Like the champions before us, we conclude our ride in the charming Borgo San Dalmazzo, before transferring to the enchanting city of Cuneo, a historic citadel built by the Savoys to guard against France.

Hotel Le Lanterne | Cuneo

113 km | 3050 m

Our final town, Saint-Martin-Vésubie, was once part of the historic County of Nice, ceded by Italy to France in 1860, and was originally called San Martino Lantosca. Between Cuneo and Saint-Martin-Vésubie lies the Colle della Lombarda, an Alpine border pass whose road, completed in 1964, opened access to the Isola 2000 ski station.

This climb has its own cycling history: Tony Rominger won a Tour de France stage here in 1993, and Vincenzo Nibali claimed victory on the 2016 Giro d’Italia, though from the opposite direction.

Pure Montagne Resort & Spa | Saint-Martin Vésubie

64 km | 590 m

With Paris busy hosting the Olympic Games, where better for the 2024 Tour de France to finish than Nice? We’ll follow in its footsteps!

Nestled between the sparkling blue sea and the southern Alps, Nice offers breathtaking scenery for today’s ride. The iconic Promenade des Anglais, lined with Belle Époque hotels, predates the city’s annexation by France in 1860 and has been the final stage of the Paris-Nice race since 1933.

Splendid Hotel & Spa| Nice

Our mountain odyssey comes to an end. After so many breathtaking views, it feels impossible to take in any more! Now it’s time to exchange numbers, say our goodbyes, and start planning our next unforgettable adventure together. In the morning, our guides will ensure a seamless transfer to Nice Airport.