Glorious Glacier Ride: Chamonix to Bormio

Kilometres of riding 30km

Metres of climbing 700m

Once all of the riders have arrived in Chamonix we’ll go for a very quick spin around the valley and to the foot of the Glacier des Bossons to check the bikes are all good and to loosen up the legs. We’ll then have a bit of time to explore the town and eat dinner together at the hotel around 1900. 

Kilometres of riding 121km

Metres of climbing 1670m

Your first day proper will take you along the Chamonix Valley before we turn upwards for your first real col of the trip, the Col des Montets. The views of the majestic Mont Blanc massif are spectacular from this steady climb up and over into Switzerland. 

After a quick descent you will climb again up toward the once magnificent Trient Glacier. You’ll have to walk 15 minutes through the forest, but get a beautiful view on the glacier before lunch! Hereafter we continue over the Col de Forclaz into the Swiss Canton of Valais. The descent down into the town of Martigny is fast and fun and is followed by 50km along the Rhône cycle path through Sion and Sierre to your hotel in Visp in the heart of Valais. 

Kilometres of riding 88km

Metres of climbing 2030m

Today you will ride right up to the source of the Rhône river, the Rhône glacier on the Furkapass. There’s a good warm up alongside the river for 10km to Brig, from where the road climbs very gently past the outflow of the Aletsch glacier (the largest glacier in the alps) onto the high valley. 

The climb up the Furkapass properly starts in Oberwald and lasts 16.5km at an average of 6.1%. You’ll pause at the famous Belvedere hotel where you will visit the Rhône glacier and the now vanished ice caves. From here it’s a short effort to the top of the Furkapass and the stunning descent into Andermatt made famous in the Bond film Goldfinger.

Kilometres of riding 97km

Metres of climbing 1130m

You will start today with a short climb out of Andermatt up to the Oberalppass (the source of the river Rhine). This climb gives wonderful views back out over Andermatt and the valley beyond. Once up on top and past the lake you’ll descend for over 50km to Illanz before a little bump up and over into the valley containing our destination for the day, Thusis.

Kilometres of riding 70km

Metres of climbing 2120m

Almost a mirror image of the ride you took on the day before, today is over 40km of uphill, from our start in Thusis to the top of the Albulapass. This is a stunning climb starting properly just after Tiefencastel. It is over 20km long but never too steep. Then follows a wonderful descent to La Punt, where you pick up the bike path to Samedan and your destination of Pontresina. On arrival we can ride or take the short train ride up to view the Morteratsch glacier.

Kilometres of riding 72km

Metres of climbing 1460m

Some real high altitude riding is on the agenda today, going from Pontresina all the way to Bormio in Italy. You’ll ride over 4 cols higher than 2,200m, but thankfully you never descend much below 1800m before the final descent to Bormio. First up is the Berninapass, where you’re accompanied by the amazing Swiss mountain railway. This is followed by the Forcolapass from where you descend towards the isolated ski resort of Livigno in Italy. From here you climb the Passo Eira, and you’re quickly on to  the final effort, the Passo del Foscagno from where you descend for over 20km into Bormio. 

Kilometres of riding 100km

Metres of climbing 3320m

Saving the very best for last, today you will climb both sides of the mythical Stelviopass on Stelvio Bike Day (meaning no cars allowed on the climbs). We leave Bormio and almost immediately start climbing on the long road up to the Umbrail pass. Whilst the less “famous” side of the Stelvio, this climb has got everything – forested stretches, rock tunnels, steep pitches, fabulous hairpins, impressive waterfalls, and even a flattish section – all leading you up to the junction to the Umbrail Pass and the road to Switzerland. 

This is quite simply one of the greatest descents you will ever ride. Perfectly engineered, taking you from the barren heights right down to the Mustair valley where we will cross back into Italy. The road takes us around to Prato from where we’ll climb the iconic 48 numbered hairpins of the Stelvio Pass to take us back over into Bormio. Depending on the weather we’ll spend some time at the top of the Stelvio to ensure that you can take in the majesty of this giant climb.

The descent seems to go on forever, transporting you from the snow covered peaks, right back through the alpine meadows and rock tunnels to the welcome sight of the Bormio town sign and our hotel.

After breakfast your transfer will take you to the train station in Tirano for your journey home.