|
| TOUR DE CORSE AUDAX-CLUB-PARISIEN | price from 795 € | | Corsica - Guided cycling - Road bike with assistance - 7 days |
| Our island offers you great rides through beautiful and varied scenery. No matter if you are looking for tough climbs or rather prefer to take it easy, you can always find the right road for you. In this particular program we follow the stages as they were designed by the Audax-Club-Parisien. This organisation has existed for more than 100 years and is known for the long distance race "Paris-Brest-Paris". If you make it through all of the planned checkpoints of this program, you will get a medal and a certificate. We are there to look after you and provide the best possible assistance, so you just have to concentrate on your cycling! |
Day 1 The Cap Corse
From Bastia, the tour begins northwards, around "Cap Corse" (the northern extremity of the island). This is a wonderful undulating coastal road with stunning views of the Mediterranean sea and the islands of Elba and Capri. The main challenge of the day is the Col de la Serra
Night in the picturesque port of St Florent on the south-west side of the Cap.
Distance: around 110 Km |  |
|
Day 2 Through the Corsican desert to Porto
Leaving the bay of St Florent you ride across the 'Desert des Agriates', where an easy climb sets you up for the day (col de Vezzu 311m). After a swift descent, the route takes you along the coast before heading into the Balagne with its typical Corsican villages. After cycling through Calvi, with its superb citadelle, a great coastal road awaits you and leads you to Porto, over the Col de Palmarella
Night in Porto
Distance: around 169 Km |  |
|
Day 3 Piana / Over the Col de Vergio into the heart of Corsica
This stage starts with the climb to Piana, through the famous "Calanches" (a UNESCO world heritage site). The route then continues through other incredible scenery including the Spelunca gorge and the Aïtone forest, and then up to the highest Corsican road pass, the Col de Vergio
What goes up must come down, and you will have nearly 39km of downhill (including the Scala Santa Regina which is fast and twisty). Finaly, there is one little climb over the Col d'Ominanda (654m) before crossing Corte (396m) and finishing in Santo Pietro di Venaco (744m).
Night in Santo Pietro.
Distance: around 117 Km |  |
|
Day 4 From the centre of the island to Ajaccio
Today you will be heading southwards and after a few warm-up km on the main road, two of the nicest climbs of the week await you; the Col de Sorba
and the Col de Verde
From there you can enjoy the downhill, through the villages of the upper Taravu-Valley, before riding over the Col St Georges (757m) and up again towards Bastelica (770m).
Night in Ajaccio
Distance: around 172 Km |  |
|
Day 5 From Ajaccio to the Southern most point of Corsica
From the city of Napoleon's birth, the route winds along the coast (over Coti-Chiavari, 486m) until reaching Propriano. After a little loop through the typical village of Sartene (305m), you will follow the main road to Bonifacio (famous for its houses perched precariously on the white cliffs). The last 25 Km of the stage are nearly flat.
Night in Porto-Vecchio.
Distance: around 172 Km |  |
|
Day 6 Over the Col de Bavella to Aleria
Today's stage is a "road classic". Up to the Ospedale region (forest and lake), over the Col d'Illarata
through the village of Zonza and up again to the well known Col de Bavella
After enjoying the great views over the "needles" you will ride down to the east coast until reaching Solenzara. Along the coast the route heads northwards to the ancient Roman city of Aleria.
Night in Aleria.
Distance: around 111 Km |  |
|
Day 7 The Castagniccia
From the largest plain of the island, you will head into the mountains again. More precisely, you will ride through a very authentic area known for its chestnut forests; the Castagniccia. The main climbs are the Col San Gavino (697m), the Col d'Arcarotta (819m) and the Col Sant'Agostino
You will then ride through some typical villages before reaching the east coast again.
Night in Bastia.
Distance: around 143 Km |  |
|
Day 8 End of the tour
After the breakfast the tour ends. The harbour is just a few minutes away and you have about 20 Km to the airport (we can organize a transfer if needed). |
| Feedback clients | Hi Anthony,
I am sorry I have not sent an email before. Just to say thank you for such a fantastic trip. Please also say thank you to Basile.
It really was a trip of a lifetime which everybody is still talking about. We all thought it was very successful and appreciate all of your hard work for us.
Should you need any recommendation to other customers please do not hesitate to ask.
Where should we go next?!
I hope all is well with you.
With very best wishes
John K. - October 2009
|
Dear Anthony,
Thank you very much for what can only be described as the very best cycling holiday we have all ever had. Corsica was far more beautiful than any of our group had imagined, it really had everything from long climbs to fantastic views. All of the group agreed that Corsica was more spectacular than the Pyrennees and also a lot harder.
Of course none of this would have been possible without the input from yourself and Basile, so from all of the group again a big thank you and I am so glad that we did not choose your UK competitor!
The Raid Corsica was tough and worthy of a medal, the harder the event, the more it seems to attract people so this might be a good angle to sell this trip in Corsica.
Neil T. - Sid Valley Cycling Club - Sept. 2009 |
|
|
| Details | Starting point
Bastia, at the "Office du tourisme" (square St Nicolas), on Sunday at 10:00 a.m.
End
Bastia, near the harbour. After breakfast.
Accommodation
Nights in 2* hotels (2 nights in a 3* hotel), with comfortable double rooms.
Number of people
From 7 participants
Level of difficulty
For trained road cyclists. Daily stages from 100 Km to 180 Km, with some steep climbs (up to around 10% on some sections).
Carrying
We transfer your luggage from one hotel to the other.
Options
- Single room : 170€
- Rent a road bike : 150€
Included
All meals from Day 1 lunch until breakfast on day 8. The luggage transfer between hotels. Assistance (driver + vehicle) during the entire tour. 7 nights in hotels in double rooms.
Not included
Arrival and departure to/from Bastia. Drinks. Unplanned transfers. Optional activities. The bike rental. Possible repair costs. Personal spending.
|
|
