The Avoriaz Road Biking Boom

Companies providing the full road biking experience are setting up left right and centre across the Portes Du Soleil (PDS), all hoping to stifle an increasing hunger for speed. Whether it’s men, women, families, clubs, triathletes or beginners there are routes across the region to suit all. And that’s the reason it’s not just skiing and mountain biking that’s making Avoriaz one of the most sought after holiday destinations in Europe.

It’s undoubtedly the amazing choice of routes offering challenging climbs, complex downhill sections and incredible landscapes that is pulling on cycling companies to invest in the PDS. Challenges made famous by competitions as prestigious as the Tour De France mean the roads in these parts are paths well worn. Whether it’s the Col de Joux Plan or the Joux Verte, any keen cyclist hopes to conquer these at least once in their riding lifetime.

Some of the routes that feature on the daily schedules at these companies include climbing the Col De Cou on the border of Switzerland, attempting the Col de Ramaz at 1610m and also the mighty Col D’Ecrenaz. In addition to these longer tours, day trips are also offered by certain companies meaning you don’t have to make your whole holiday about cycling. However you decide to do it, they’ll show you the way, take all your kit for you and most importantly feed you to help you up those hills.

What do some of these companies offer then?

Montem Cycle Club (brand new to Morzine) will give you a full four-day experience around the region along with accommodation, food, full support and transfers for just over £1000. According to Montem, the reason they chose Morzine is simple: “There’s Loads of great riding on the doorstep and really short transfers to get here. You arrive on one day and can ride the same day; you’ve then got three full days and can ride the day you leave too! It’s easy!”

The company has made Chalet Le Cabri its home because of its main road location and size. It’s able to sleep ten, which along with guides mean it forms the perfect size peloton when cruising through the Alps. They’ve decided to fully support the riders and take a van with them on tours, containing food, gear and space to sit if the climbs prove too challenging.

Forever Morzine has been around for a year or so. It offers a combination of 4 and 7 day tours, taking riders further afield, not only round the Haute Savoie region. It’s Marmotte Tour includes the chance for riders to conquer the famous Alpe d’Huez, which is featuring in this years Tour De France. They’ve made Chalet Eira their home, offering half board holidays with “a personal touch” and like Montem, the full supported experience.

44 South also offer tailored cycling holidays and are keen road cyclists themselves. They offer fully supported rides and a base in Morzine from which you can tackle some of the nearby French and Swiss sportives over the summer.

If you don’t want to make your whole holiday about cycling then there are still plenty of options to suit you. If you’re confident enough, you can of course just put on your cycling shoes and ride on your own or with friends. You can download routes from a number of websites and the signposting around the Portes Du Soleil makes it easy to find your way and tells you exactly what you’re letting yourself in for. There are also companies, like Velovation, which offers day long experiences, supported, with guides or just provides the equipment and routes you need. Their prices start at 150€ for a loop of the local cols and climbs to 300€ for a fully supported day ride. They also offer weekend and classic tours.

This year, companies, which traditionally offered Mountain bike holidays, are also branching out and appealing to those who prefer the road as well. RideMorzine has been present in Morzine for 10 years but has developed along with demand. It now invites downhillers, cross coutry, enduro, trail and road bikers to come together at its 4 central morzine Chalets. According to the company: “All bike riding is good”. For a four day break at one of the catered chalets you’re looking at £399 per person but that’s just accommodation.

So it’s clear that the road cycling craze has taken Morzine by storm. Long gone are the days when Mountain bikers shunned the road cyclist’s love of tight fitting kit and roadies teased the cross-country riders for being “too cool”. Morzine is a home from home for anyone who loves speed, two wheels and amazing countryside.

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You can hire road bikes (and mountain bikes) from Alpine Sports Warehouse and Torico in Morzine. Find more bike hire in Morzine & Les Gets here. Read our cycling in Avoriaz guide and take a look of some of the cycling routes in the area.