Women’s Tour du Lac Leman

Kilometres of riding 29km

Metres of climbing 140m

After your arrival we would go for a quick spin alongside Lac Leman to check the bikes and get to know each other before heading for a welcome drink and dinner. 

Kilometres of riding 85km

Metres of climbing 1290m

We’ll start by crossing downtown Geneva with views of the Jet d’eau and the alps. We’re quickly out of the city and into the beautiful surrounding countryside.  We’re heading for Bons-en-Chablais and the start of the climb to the Col de Saxel.

This is a steady 8k climb at 5% average, perfect for warming up the legs on the first day. The climb gives stunning views back over towards Lac Leman and once over the top we’re into the Vallee Verte. 

We drop down into Boëge where we tackle the very short Col du Perrot which leads us to the Bogève. From here we drop off the plateau taking in picture perfect views of Mont Blanc. More rolling countryside awaits before arriving at our hotel in Samoëns ready for a good massage and dinner.

Kilometres of riding 105km

Metres of climbing 2160m

Today’s the biggest climbing day you’ll face on this trip. We tackle 3 major climbs, the toughest being one of the enduring climbs of the Tour de France, the Col de Joux-Plane.

We leave Samoëns and are soon on the steep lower slopes of the Joux-Plane. This is a climb to take steadily, as you don’t want to burn all your matches first thing in the morning.

The road takes you through alpine meadows, past working farms (and lots of cows), with stunning views towards Mont Blanc and the magnificent Criou towering above Samoëns.

Grab a coffee at the top before the swift descent into Morzine and down the valley to the foot of the Col de Corbier. This is a short pitch to take us over and into the Vallee d’Abondance.  This beautiful (cheese producing) valley takes us up to the ski resort of Chatel from where we have a last little effort over the Pas de Morgins into Switzerland. From here it’s all downhill to the Rhone valley and the small lakeside town of Villeneuve where we’ll spend the night.

Kilometres of riding 81km

Metres of climbing 1525m

A tale of two lakes today. We leave Villeneuve and ride along the shores of Lac Leman, through the Swiss Riviera towns of Montreux and Vevey, before heading up into the beautiful UNESCO World Heritage Vineyards of the Lavaux. This leads us north of Lausanne and across the Vaud plateau towards the Swiss Jura mountains.

We climb steadily to the foot of the Col du Mollendruz, an 8k climb at an average gradient of 5.3%. This takes us into the heart of the Jura and we descend through the beautiful meadows to the Lac de Joux and the small village of Le Pont on the lake shore where we will spend the night.

Kilometres of riding 77km

Metres of climbing 570m

Our last day has us exploring one of the gems of the Lac Leman basin, the Jura mountains. We leave Le Pont and head south west along the lake shore, past the luxury watch factories and HQs. From there we continue all the way into France. The road takes us through beautiful forests towards the final col of the day, Faucille. 

If the weather is clear you’ll get one of your last, and best, views of Mont Blanc before dropping down the perfect descent to Gex. From here it is steadily down all the way back to the hotel where we’ll pack up the bags and have a celebratory drink ahead of departure tomorrow. 

After breakfast you’ll be transferred to Geneva Airport or train station for your journey home.