Please contact us if you’d like to arrive on one of these days and we’ll add the extra nights to your booking. If you book your extra nights through us, we will provide transfers from Geneva airport at set times. We will offer 1 airport transfer on Thursday and Friday, departing Geneva airport at 16.00 to Megeve.

Early nights are available at the hotel Au Vieux Moulin in Megeve on a Half Board basis on request. See hotel and pricing tab for details.

The event village will be in Megeve. This is where we will be in place to welcome the 2021 Haute Route Alps riders. Please arrive early today, to give you enough time to register, and be fully prepared for the first stage on Sunday. We will run one transfer from Geneva airport, leaving at 14:00, to ensure that you are in time to register today.

Like every day, your hotel will have an early breakfast before you roll out to the start of today’s stage.

Stage 1 Megeve – Cote 2000 – 110 km| 3000m + Vertical

Stage 1 of the 2021 Haute Route Alps is a classic loop.  You will be greeted with stunning views of Mont Blanc from several angles, before you take on the final climb to the top of Côte 2000. Starting from the Palais des Sports, the course heads slightly downhill for 10km, before reaching the foot of the Col des Aravis. The peloton’s pace on the first climb of the week is always high, so take your time. This is first of four climbs today, with many more to face in the week! Following a fast descent, you’ll find yourself climbing almost immediately again, passing through small villages as you head to the summit of the Col de la Colombière at 1613m. Enjoy the descent and climb over the easier side of Col de Romme before plunging down the steep side to Cluses. From here, you then face the 19-kilometre false flat to Sallanches. Leaving town, you’ll start the first of three climbs on small country roads that will eventually bring you through Megève to the finish line in Côte 2000.

On the road you will be looked after with:

• Marshals
• Motorcycle escorts
• Security vehicles
• Mavic mechanical support
• Medical assistance
• Live timing system
• Feed stations

Post stage you will receive

• Secure bike park
• Bike wash area
• Hot meal
• Massage
• Daily ranking and awards
• Safety briefings
• Drinks party

As with every stage, we will provide support alongside the Haute Route feed stations. This will include; additional private feed stations, mechanical assistance from our mechanics, transport of non-cycling partners and daily race briefings.

Like every day, your hotel will have an early breakfast before you roll out to the start of today’s stage. Where stages finish in a different town, we will transport your luggage to the next hotel. En-route we will support you from our feed stations, and, after you finish, we will be there to meet you with a snack and a drink.

Stage 2 Megeve – Tignes – 109 km| 3450m + Vertical  

After a comfortable night in Megève, you will retrace the first 10 kilometres of Stage 1, before turning left and taking on the climb of the Col de Saisies. Following a fast descent, you’ll then start up the 20.5-kilometre Cormet de Roselend. This climb begins with a few very steep ramps, before settling into a steady grade. There is a short reprieve after 11km as you pass the beautiful blue waters of Lac de Roselend. Then you must gather up all your energy for the final five kilometres which will bring you to the summit, almost 2000 metres above sea level. A long descent to Bourg Saint Maurice will keep you on your toes with  open high-speed sections and a series of technical switchbacks. The final 25 kilometres can be thought of as one long climb with two short breakss. When you reach Tignes Les Brévières, you’ll start the climb to Tignes. This climb was the original finish to Stage 19 of the 2019 Tour de France, however the stage was famously cut short by a hailstorm.

Tonight we will enjoy a well-earned evening meal together. We will be there to help you with any mechanical issues, or to offer any other advice and support that you may require.

Like every day, your hotel will have an early breakfast before you roll out to the start of the day’s stage. Your luggage will be transported ahead of you to the next hotel, whilst you ride. We will provide you with additional assistance during the stage.

Stage 3 – Tignes to Alpe d’Huez– 182 km| 4700m+ Vertical 

This years queen stage is the biggest and most brutal ever! An awe-inspiring collection of legendary climbs totalling almost 5000 metres of vertical ascent. The first climb of the day is  the Col de l’Iseran,. The iconic 17km climb from Val d’Isere over the highest paved mountain pass in Europe offers spectacular views over snow capped peaks near and far. From the heights of Iseran, comes the 70km descent to Saint-Michel-de-Maurienne. Now you start the next two challenges for the day, culminating in 2000m of climbing over 35km. First comes the 11.8km Col du Télégraphe with an average grade of 7.3%, then you face the giant ascent of the Col du Galibier. Climbing for 18.1km, the Galibier has been featured in the Tour de France no less than 35 times since 1947. After conquering one of the most legendary climbs in the Alps, pause on the descent to view the monument to Henri Desgrange, the founder of the Tour de France. The final climb to Alpe d’Huez via the Col de Sarenne is the jewel in the crown of a queen stage, you are sure to never forget.

Tonight we will enjoy a well-earned evening meal together. We will be there to help you with any mechanical issues, or to offer any other advice and support that you may require.

Like every day, your hotel will have an early breakfast before you roll out to the start of the day’s stage. Your luggage will be transported ahead of you, to the next hotel, whilst you ride. We will provide you with additional assistance during the stage.

Stage 4 ITT Alpe d’ Huez – 15.5km | 1150M+ Vertical 

The 2021 time trial for the Haute Route Alps will also be one to remember. 21 iconic hairpin bends and  1130m  of climbing in just 15.km, the race to Alpe d’Huez from Bourg d’Oisans is really something special. This road has passed into cycling legend. It has unearthed new champions, created legends, broken countless hearts, and almost  as many bodies since it first featured in the 1952 Tour de France. It is the ultimate bucket list climb for cyclists from all around the world. Leaving Bourg d’Oisans one by one, riders will wind their way through the famous hairpins in an all-out blast to the top. This heroic and unforgettable stage is perfect to mark the 10th anniversary edition of the famous Haute Route Alps.

Tonight we will enjoy a well-earned evening meal together. We will be there to help you with any mechanical issues, or to offer any other advice and support that you may require.

This evening we will stay at the Hotel Les Barnieres in Guillestre at the foot of the Risoul climb. This is a convenient place to stay to avoid the neutralised descent from Risoul tomorrow. We will join the peloton in Guillestre.

Like every day, your hotel will have an early breakfast before you roll out to the start of the day’s stage. Your luggage will be transported ahead of you, to the next hotel, whilst you ride. We will provide you with additional assistance during the stage.

Stage 5 Alpe d’Huez – Auron – 86km|3000m+ Vertical 

After a thrilling descent from Alpe d’Huez first thing this morning, you’ll then face the immense 34km climb to the Col du Lautaret. At first you will find yourself following the Romanche river through the valley from le Clapier. Soon the road leaves the pine forests behind , and you enter a striking open alpine landscape and climbs steadily to the col at 2058m. From Lautaret, a gentle descent to Saint-Chaffrey brings you to the next of the days challenges. While it’s only 10km to Col du Granon, half of the ascent climbs at over 10%, topping 13% at times. The Col featured in the Tour de France only once, but when it did it was the site of an historic battle between Greg LeMond and teammate Bernard Hinault. LeMond became the first American to win the Tour de France that year. This short climb really packs a punch, accumulating over 1000m of elevation before you reach the finish line.

Tonight we will enjoy a well-earned evening meal together. We will be there to help you with any mechanical issues, or to offer any other advice or support that you may require.

This evening we will stay at the Hotel Chastellares and Bataclan in Auron.

Like every day, your hotel will have an early breakfast before you roll out to the start of the day’s stage. Your luggage will be transported ahead of you, to the next hotel, whilst you ride. We will provide you with additional assistance during the stage.

Stage 6 – Serre Chevalier – Auron – 140 km|3650m+ Vertical 

The Cime de la Bonette is even higher than Col de l’Iseran, and is the highlight of Stage 6. Bonette climbs to 2,802 metres. The panoramic views are absolutely worth every extra metre of climbing. To get to views of Bonette, you will first have a gentle warm up from Briancon to Guillestre, before the climb over the picturesque summit of the Col de Vars. After a stunning descent through quaint back roads, we’ll take on the colossal climb to the highest point in the 2021 course, Col de la Bonette. Rising almost 1600m+ from Jausiers, this epic pass is like no other. With your head in the clouds, you can enjoy the thrilling and technical descent to Saint-Étienne-de-Tinée knowing all that’s left is the 5km climb to the finish line in Auron.

Tonight we will enjoy a well-earned evening meal together. We will be there to help you with any mechanical issues, or to offer any other advice or support that you may require.

This evening we will stay at the Hotel Novotel in Nice.

On a first for the Haute Route, the week will finish with an individual time trial.

Stage 7 – Nice to Nice (Col de Vence) – 148km – 3200m + Vertical 

This final stage, from Auron to Nice, is the perfect way to bring the anniversary edition of Haute Route Alps to an end. The 170-kilometre route starts with the descent from Auron, gently down the valley road to Saint-Sauveur-sur-Tinée. The 16-kilometre climb of the Col de la Couillole might only average a steady 7-8%, but there are several steep ramps above 10% along the way. After the summit, you can enjoy a 30km decent to Puget-Théniers, where you’ll start the nine-kilometre climb to Col St Raphaël. The 55 undulating kilometres from the summit of the Col St Raphaël to the summit of the Col de Vence are a picturesque and challenging tour of the narrow country roads through the Maritime Alps. Take in the final descent to the Mediterranean Sea and relish every moment of the iconic ride along the beach to finish on the Promenade des Anglais in Nice.

You will be elated that you have completed the challenge of a lifetime. Tonight we will be in Nice.

After today’s stage there will be a closing party. This is your chance to celebrate your achievements with hundreds of other riders from around the world.

Enjoy a final breakfast of champions. You will be elated to have finished one of the toughest cycling challenges there is, The Haute Route Alps. But, all good things must come to an end, and today it is time for your onward journey or return journey home. Please check out of the hotel in good time.

We will run transfers to Nice airport today.  Please book flights departing after 10:00.