The Cycling

Edelweiss is extremley cycling friendly and is a great base for cycling in the area both road and mountainbike.We are in the midst of some of the most famous and mythical cols used in the Tour de France:              Col du Galibier, Col D'Izoard, Alpe D'Huez, Col du Lautaret...the start of the climb all within a few km's warm-up ride from the hotel.

Other famous cols and routes not far from the hotel include Les deuxAlpes, Col de Sarenne, La Bérarde to just name a few. We have information folders available for you to consult, with a large number of cycling itineraries in the area and with profiles of the various mountain passes. 

We are geared up to host individuals and big groups who participate in well knows races and events such as “La Marmotte”, the “Alpe d'Huzes” and the Tour de France/Etape du Tour.

In our well equiped workshop we have all the necessary specialist tools for servicing bicycles before facing the mountains and the bicycles can be safely stored at the end of the day. If any spare part or essential material for your bike is missing, a bicycle specialist store we work with, delivers them over night.

We also have bike washing facilities and for the clothes there is a drying area. In the sauna area you can relax your muscles after a long day on the mountains. We also work together with a number of massage therapists who come (on request) to the hotel if massages are needed. And for those who don't need all that, cold beer or a chilled glass of white wine is served on the terrace...

Each morning we offer a generous and well balanced breakfast buffet with all the cereals, yoghurts, fruit juices, hot drinks, locally made jams, fresh breads, meat, cheese and fruit salad...Enough to keep the hungriest sportsmen going. 

 The Oisans cycling website: routes, events, etc. 

MOUNTAINBIKING

 Did you know that there are great mountainbike opportunities in and around La Grave? For the crazy lot, you can take the téléphérique ski lift up to the middle station at 2400 m and test the new bike paths descending all the way down to La Grave. You ride 950 meters of vertical! But this activity we leave to the downhill experts.

For the rest of us there are plenty of single tracks and cross-country trails around to enjoy
pedaling and indulge the great scenary dominated by the La Meije massif and its glaciers. There are hundreds of km's of off-road trails in La Grave and the area. We have cycled on a mountainbike in many places in the world, but this area remains one of our favourites. You can stop for a lunch break at a high altitude hut to savour some local specialties or you have a nice pique-nique by the clear water lake...don't forget you are a bon-vivant sportif ! And why not finish your trip at our Sauna and Jacuzzi followed by a sports massage by a professional massage therapist, or have a relaxation session at the Hot Springs Spa in Monetier les Bains? 

To get a flavour of what you might find in La Grave, check out the site of the Ultra Raid de la Meije (www.ultraraidlameije.fr) Ofcourse there are numerous beautiful but less challenging cross-country mtb trails in the area.

EDELWEISS CYCLING JERSEYS
 We have our own Edelweiss cycling jerseys, which can be seen in numerous countries around the globe. they are "made in Italy" and available in sizes from XS to 7XL, all with full zip. They can be ordered via our website and be shipped anywhere.