Le PAC Provence = PAC Tour in France
A Premier
Exploration of France
Cycle with friends
in the south of France
The
week after Paris Brest Paris, PAC Tour will
lead a special tour in southern France. The route will be hilly and challenging but allow time to
have fun visiting the sites of the countryside. The
climate of Provence is perfect
for riding - average August temperature is 75 degrees with a slight chance of
rain. It is a dry region with forests and farms.
Provence,
situated in the south of France,
has richness, ancient history and quaint towns nestled by mountain ranges that
have inspired Tour De France cyclists for decades. Le
PAC Provence will take riders on a splendid
journey via winding hilltop roads with spectacular views of vineyards, lavender
fields and olive groves.
Riders
will challenge themselves on climbs in the Petit Luberon and Grand Luberon
mountain ranges including the infamous Mt.
Ventoux. Take
photos at the top of passes with names and elevations that will make you
quiver; Col de Homme Mort (Dead Man's Pass) and Col
de Font Belle at 1708 meters or 5,604 ft. Can be very
HILLY! Mileage 60 - 100 per day.
Arrival/Departure
Information:
Tour begins from Paris - Charles De Gaulle Airport to Avignon, Sunday, August 24th
Riders
will take the mid-morning TGV high-speed train from the Charles De Gaulle
Airport to Avignon.
Note: TGV
trains depart from the Charles De Gaulle Airport (CDG) and the Gare de Lyon
train station, which is located in the eastern section of Paris. Trains run all day between Paris
and Avignon so later connections
are possible. All riders should be in Avignon
by 5:00 pm. Travel time approximately
3 hours. Train speeds exceed 130 mph.
Upon Arrival In Avignon
Riders
will be met and transported to the Pac Tour hotel.
Riders
will assemble bikes and then take a test ride south of Avignon.
A
route map will be provided so riders may visit the town of Les
Baux de Provence.
Bike
boxes will be stored at the hotel in Avignon.
From
Avignon we will travel northeast toward
Sisteron and return to Avignon a
week later.
Return to Charles De Gaulle Airport on
Sunday, August 31st
TGV
departs at 9:30 am.
Shuttle transfers begin at 7:30 am.
Lodging
at the Ibis Hotel at the CDG airport is included on Sunday, August 31st.
Riders
are free to go home Monday September 1st
or stay on in Paris for a few
days. Local trains run between Paris
and the CDG airport frequently.
Tour Beginning
Location August 24, 2003
Charles
De Gaulle Airport - TGV Train Station
Tour Finishing Location
August 31, 2003
Charles
De Gaulle Airport - Ibis Hotel
Le PAC Provence 2003
Itinerary August
24 –August 31, 2003
Sunday - August 24th Charles De Gaulle Airport to Avignon
via TGV
Shuttle
transfer to hotel. Assemble bikes.
Avignon
– Les Baux – Avignon Loop
(30)
Monday - August 25th Fontaine de Vaucluse,
Gordes, Roussillon and Sault (60-100)
Tuesday – August 26th Sault to Sisteron (60-100) Optional - Signal De Lure
Wednesday - August 27th Sisteron- Digne les Bains loop (60-100)
or Col de Font Belle
Thursday - August 28th Sisteron to Sault (80-100) Optional - Col
de Perty
Friday – August 29th Sault to Mt.
Ventoux loop back to Sault
(80-100)
Saturday – August 30 Sault to Avignon Gorges de la Nesque (60-100)
Sunday – August 31st Avignon
to Charles De Gaulle Airport TGV Station; walk to Ibis Hotel
·
Cycling in Provence
Side
trips will be available for non-cycling spouses, family
or friends who would like to tour and experience the historic towns, food and
sights of Provence.
Tour
is lead by Lon Haldeman and Susan
Notorangelo.
Accompanying
them are Jennifer Wise and Pierce Gafgen.
Le PAC Provence 2003
Detailed Daily Tour Description
Day One
On
Sunday, a warm up ride will take cyclists down the tree-lined streets of St.
Remy and Les Baux de Provence. This area
is famous for its classic architecture; dating back to the 10th century.
Day Two
Monday,
our tour leaves Avignon heading
east through the historic towns of Fontaine de Vaucluse, Gordes, Roussillon
and finally into Sault. An optional
climb before the town of Gordes,
will take riders to the Abbaye de Sénanque, built by the 12th century
monks. You will love Roussillon’s
narrow main thoroughfare. Glimpses of Mt.
Ventoux due north will be visible
most of the day. Our hotel in Sault is situated with Mt.
Ventoux to the west. Dining out on the patio with Mt.
Ventoux silhouetted in the sunset
will be a sight you will never forget.
Day Three
From
Sault, our route takes us into the farmland and hillsides going northeast
toward the Alpes de Haute Provence
Region. The easy
route still climbs over the Col de Homme Morte, at 1212 meters, then winds down
a river valley toward Sisteron. The pass
option is just beyond the town of Noyers
and takes riders up a wild climb that will last more than two hours. The Montagne de Lure, with its collection of
radio and microwave towers stands at 1826 meters. Coasting down the pass takes the cyclist near
the ski lodges on the southern slopes of Montagne de Lure. It is an enjoyable ride through St Ettienne
and into Sisteron. The tour is hosted at
the Grand Hotel Du Cours, located in the center of Sisteron, with its 19th
century citadel perched high above the Durance
River Valley. Sisteron has nightlife, a swimming area,
pedestrian-only cobblestone streets lined with quaint shops, great restaurants and unique history.
Day Four
Our
Sisteron day loop follows the Durance
River south toward Volonne and
along the Route Napoleon into the city of Digne
les Bains. In the town center of Digne,
there is a hot springs pool if
riders want to relax in the healing waters.
The return route options are adventuresome or pleasant. The adventuresome route takes cyclists over
the Col de Font Belle at 1708 meters.
The pleasant ride back to Sisteron simply retraces its route.
Day Five
Departing
from Sisteron, the route travels northeast and winds it’s way through Ribiers
and along the Meouge River before ascending two climbs, Col de St. Jean and Col
de Perty at 1158 and 1302 meters respectively.
Those who choose to ignore these climbs will continue west into the town
of Sederon, where a fine bakery is located and then finally returning to Sault.
Le PAC Provence 2003
Day Six
We
have two opportunities to make the accent on Mt.
Ventoux. We will schedule the ride on the best weather
day. The indescribable views of Mt.
Ventoux (at 6265ft or 1909 meters)
from the Sault cafes will inspire you for the journey up its steep climbs. We loop back to Sault up through the Gorges de la
Nesque.
Day Seven
Our final day to ride.
Choose either the Mt. Ventoux
repeat or a gentle scenic trip back to Avignon. Pack up bikes and enjoy our final dinner
together. Toasting our accomplishments.
Day Eight
Riders
and gear are transported to the TGV for the 9:30
am train back to Charles De Gaulle Airport. Relax and relive the past week among friends
on the trip back to Paris. After checking into the Ibis Hotel, you may
choose to snooze or take the local train into Paris
for the afternoon and evening. The
following day, riders and gear either fly home or choose to stay on in Paris
for a few more days.
This tour was organized by Susan Notorangelo and Jennifer Wise as a way to combine PAC Tour with the great cycling in southern France. Susan and Jennifer had planned a route that offered lots of mountains with the plenty of rural scenery.
If you have never been to Southeastern France the terrain is similar to the arid mountains and valleys of southern California. Unlike California the region is laced with hundreds of miles of desolate one lane roads. The area is lightly populated so lack of traffic on the smaller roads is great for cycling.
Our tour began and ended in Avignon. The TGV train whisked everyone south 300 miles from Paris at 175 mph. The ride was smoother than many airlines. Trees flashed past the train windows faster than a blink.
Our cycling route would head east making an eight day loop near Mount Ventoux. This mountain is famous from the Tour de France where many champions claimed their victories. There are actually three routes leading to the top. The steepest 20 mile grade averaged 9%. We would have the chance to climb and descend Mount Ventoux several times.
One memorable day we started to the top of Mount Ventoux in a rainy drizzle. Half way up the fog blocked visibility to five bike lengths. The weather on Mount Ventoux is famous for being the worst in France. As we climbed to the restaurant near the summit the wind flapped our jackets like tatter flags. Between the rain, fog and wind it would have been easier to believe we were standing on the bow of a ship in a typhoon. The fog was so thick several riders never saw the restaurant at the edge of the road. They rode to the top and back down without stopping to warm up with some coffee or hot chocolate.
The next day we rode to the top again. The conditions were warm, calm
and clear. Hundreds of local cyclists were dressed in colorful short
sleeve jerseys. Each day was special in it¹s own way.
The highlights of this region are the good roads, varied terrain and historic buildings. Small towns are only five miles apart separated by rural farm fields. As you rode into a village you felt like you went back 500 years and were entering a walled castle. We spent as much time exploring the narrow streets and eating at ancient cafes as we did cycling.
PAC Tour will be going back to ride in Provence again. If you like civilized bike touring, this region has to be one of the best in the world.