{"id":36268,"date":"2022-05-13T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-05-12T22:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/?post_type=purple_issue&#038;p=36268"},"modified":"2022-05-17T10:33:53","modified_gmt":"2022-05-17T08:33:53","slug":"annecy-france","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/2022\/05\/13\/annecy-france\/","title":{"rendered":"Annecy, France"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h5 class=\"has-text-align-center article-standfirst\"><strong><span class=\"has-inline-color has-ccp-primary-dark-color\">DESTINATION<\/span><\/strong><\/h5>\n\n<h2 class=\"has-text-align-center\">Annecy, France<\/h2>\n\n<figure class=\"no-tts wp-block-image article-in-image photo\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1703\" src=\"https:\/\/dj9jqhxgw9833.cloudfront.net\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2022\/05\/22d647a2-99a8-48d2-abf9-acb2575fd088.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"no-tts wp-image-36264\" srcset=\"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2022\/05\/22d647a2-99a8-48d2-abf9-acb2575fd088.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2022\/05\/22d647a2-99a8-48d2-abf9-acb2575fd088-300x249.jpg 300w, https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2022\/05\/22d647a2-99a8-48d2-abf9-acb2575fd088-1024x852.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2022\/05\/22d647a2-99a8-48d2-abf9-acb2575fd088-768x639.jpg 768w, https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2022\/05\/22d647a2-99a8-48d2-abf9-acb2575fd088-1536x1277.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" \/><figcaption>Since Annecy\u2019s a relatively short drive from Geneva airport, a long-weekend cycling trip is definitely doable<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n<p class=\"article-full-body sans-serif\">Peace envelopes the Col de l\u2019Arpettaz, following a bruising passage up narrow, pine tree-lined tarmac. This might be a climbing backwater in the northern Aravis mountain range of the French Alps, but it\u2019s all the better for it, serving up a slice of tranquillity across its 16km, 7.1 per cent slope. Up here it\u2019s a good deal more serene than 50km in energetic Annecy, the \u2018jewel in the crown\u2019 of the Haute-Savoie region, says <em>Lonely <\/em><em>Planet. <\/em><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"article-full-body sans-serif\">Annecy, vibrant on both land and water, is a fabulous spot to base yourself for an extended break on the bike, should you want a destination with more off-bike activity. Its old town, separated by canals, has bags of charm \u2013a Venice in miniature, without the over-torqued tourism feel. Lake Annecy, France\u2019s thirdlargest lake at 27km\u00b2, dominates the town. If you want to go on it, water sports abound. You might prefer to<span>&nbsp;go around it, however, and riding its paths will be respite after hard days in the mountains. Much of its 40km distance is on designated bike paths, with moves to buy up land to build more. It\u2019s the mountains, however, that exert the greatest pull on cyclists here and there\u2019s certainly no shortage. If long and high is what you want, consider Semnoz, Annecy\u2019s biggest climb (15.5km at 7.7 per cent from Saint-Jorioz) and the climb that finished the 2013 Tour de France.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"no-tts wp-block-purple-slider\" data-autoplay=\"true\" data-speed=\"300\" data-effect=\"fade\"><li class=\"no-tts blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img src=\"https:\/\/dj9jqhxgw9833.cloudfront.net\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2022\/05\/f045b784-c26e-4e50-bc89-887e9f5768a6.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"36265\" data-link=\"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/f045b784-c26e-4e50-bc89-887e9f5768a6\/\"\/><figcaption>The Aravis mountain range, being lower than those deeper south into the Alps, has a longer cycling season<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"no-tts blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img src=\"https:\/\/dj9jqhxgw9833.cloudfront.net\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2022\/05\/cdcf4d52-d98f-4dc7-b19a-14849dc887a9.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"36266\" data-link=\"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/cdcf4d52-d98f-4dc7-b19a-14849dc887a9\/\"\/><figcaption>The picturesque old town area has an air of Venice about it, with its colourful waterside buildings  <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><\/ul>\n\n<h5 class=\"article-subhead\"><strong>When to go<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n<p class=\"article-full-body sans-serif\">The Aravis mountain range is lower than those deeper south into the Alps, so you can ride on the roads earlier in the spring and leave later into the autumn and still hit the summits; early May through till late September is the window, but June-early September will offer the warmest riding, with average temperatures ranging from 17.1 degrees in June to 19 degrees in July.<\/p>\n\n<h5 class=\"article-subhead\"><strong>Big dates <\/strong><\/h5>\n\n<p class=\"article-full-body sans-serif\">Pitched perfectly in this weather sweet spot is the AlpinBike Lac d\u2019Annecy sportive (<a href=\"http:\/\/alpinbike.fr\">alpinbike.fr<\/a>) on 27-28 August. Starting in Saint-Jorioz, the long 127km route opens with Semnoz. Annecy is a semiregular on the Tour de France route, last hosting a stage start in the 2018 race, on stage 10 (won by Julian Alaphilippe into Le Grand-Bornand).<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"article-full-body sans-serif\">It was this stage that was used for that year\u2019s Etape du Tour, the mass participation sportive aligned with the Tour. Every Wednesday is market day in Annecy\u2019s old town, and on the first Saturday of August each year there are grand pyrotechnics on the lake in the F\u00eate du Lac \u2013 the biggest fireworks display in Europe, they say.<\/p>\n\n<h5 class=\"article-subhead\"><strong>Don\u2019t miss <\/strong><\/h5>\n\n<p class=\"article-full-body sans-serif\">For a bird\u2019s eye view of the lake, Col de la Forclaz, at 1,150m, offers splendid views. From Menthon Saint Bernard it\u2019s a good test for riders of all levels \u2013 660 metres gained over 10.2km. Ending up a little over 700m above the lake attracts people for the view, for lunch (La Ferme restaurant) and even the chance to paraglide off the summit, should the bike descent not be adrenaline-fuelled enough.<\/p>\n\n<h5 class=\"article-subhead\"><strong>Travel<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n<p class=\"article-full-body sans-serif\">Annecy is just a 44km drive from Geneva airport, which has direct flights with airports across the UK.<span> Return flights in early June from Gatwick cost \u00a355 at time of writing.<\/span> Travelling by Eurostar to Annecy, with one change in Paris, is roughly 8 hours from London St Pancras International and costs \u00a3163 return.<span> Be warned, however: travelling with fully assembled bikes or those in bike boxes is currently not allowed on Eurostar.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<h5 class=\"article-subhead\"><strong>Accommodation<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n<p class=\"article-full-body sans-serif\">Le Boutik Hotel is situated right in the heart of the old town of Annecy and each of its 12 rooms has a different design theme, including \u2018Pink Nordik&#8217; (leboutikhotel. <em>com). <\/em>On <em>Cycling <\/em><em>Plus\u2019s <\/em>last visit to Annecy, while we rode into town and scaled its climbs, we stayed with bike holiday company Bike Weekender, based 30km away in Saint-Jean-de-Sixt. It offers fully and self-supported trips of weekends or longer, climbing all the climbs mentioned in this article and more. A four-day trip on 2 June, including transfers, accommodation, ride guide and dinner costs \u00a3545 at time of writing (<a href=\"http:\/\/bikeweekender.com\">bikeweekender.com<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n<section class=\"wp-block-uagb-section uagb-section__wrap uagb-section__background-color uagb-block-10c9e52e-602f-4db1-9503-6a65f436b77c\"><div class=\"uagb-section__overlay\"><\/div><div class=\"uagb-section__inner-wrap\">\n<h4 class=\"has-text-align-center article-subhead\"><strong>The Route<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center article-full-body sans-serif has-ccp-primary-color has-text-color\"><span style=\"color: rgb(18,18,18)\">An easy opening along the west side of Lake Annecy before climbing starts on the Arpettaz at 32km. It\u2019s a rough descent, before you arrive at the Col des Aravis on the southern Flumet side (11.5km at 5%).<\/span> `The return to Annecy is lumpy, though nothing like what\u2019s come before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center article-full-body sans-serif has-ccp-primary-color has-text-color\"><strong><span class=\"has-inline-color has-ccp-primary-dark-color\">01<\/span> Bike <strong>shop<\/strong><\/strong><br>\u25cf <span style=\"color: rgb(18,18,18)\">Meta Bike\u2019s in Annecy-le-Vieux sells parts and accessories and offers repairs.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center article-full-body sans-serif has-ccp-primary-color has-text-color\"><strong><span class=\"has-inline-color has-ccp-primary-dark-color\">02<\/span> <strong>Lunch stop<\/strong><\/strong><br>\u25cf <span style=\"color: rgb(18,18,18)\">Flumet is the most<\/span> timely lunch location, if not the most appropriate, as it sits just before you climb the Aravis. The Auberge de Montagne les Bougnettes restaurant is a little bit of a detour, but with its traditional French food, is worth the effort. There\u2019s also an eatery at the top of Arpettaz.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center article-full-body sans-serif has-ccp-primary-color has-text-color\"><strong><span class=\"has-inline-color has-ccp-primary-dark-color\">03<\/span> <strong>Photo op<\/strong><\/strong><br>\u25cf <span style=\"color: rgb(18,18,18)\">As you begin your descent from Arpettaz, look out for, on a clear day, the terrific sight of Mont Blanc, the Alps\u2019 highest peak (4,807m).<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center article-full-body sans-serif has-ccp-primary-color has-text-color\"><strong>Distance <\/strong>120km <br><strong>Total elevation <\/strong>2,301m <br><strong>Download <\/strong><em><a href=\"http:\/\/komoot.com\/tour\/736164881\">komoot.com\/tour\/736164881<\/a> <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"no-tts wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"819\" height=\"820\" src=\"https:\/\/dj9jqhxgw9833.cloudfront.net\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2022\/05\/CUSYW6N7E8F6092TCZYHIWNZQF82.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"no-tts wp-image-36677\" srcset=\"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2022\/05\/CUSYW6N7E8F6092TCZYHIWNZQF82.jpg 819w, https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2022\/05\/CUSYW6N7E8F6092TCZYHIWNZQF82-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2022\/05\/CUSYW6N7E8F6092TCZYHIWNZQF82-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2022\/05\/CUSYW6N7E8F6092TCZYHIWNZQF82-768x769.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 819px) 100vw, 819px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"footer\">Photography Patrick Douetil, Getty Images<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>DESTINATION Annecy, France Peace envelopes the Col de l\u2019Arpettaz, following a bruising passage up narrow, pine tree-lined tarmac. This might be a climbing backwater in the northern Aravis mountain range of the French Alps, but it\u2019s all the better for it, serving up a slice of tranquillity across its 16km, 7.1 per cent slope. Up [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":36264,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ub_ctt_via":"","purple_page_number":"26","purple_custom_meta_purple_page_number":"26","purple_seq_number":"1","purple_custom_meta_purple_seq_number":"1","purple_source_article":"article_26-1.xml","purple_custom_meta_purple_source_article":"article_26-1.xml","purple_source_issue":"July-2022","purple_custom_meta_purple_source_issue":"July-2022","purple_external_id":"July-2022-26-1","purple_custom_meta_purple_external_id":"July-2022-26-1","purple_issue_code":"|0000111757||","purple_custom_meta_purple_issue_code":"|0000111757||","purple_android_product":"com.im.cyclingplus.393","purple_custom_meta_purple_android_product":"com.im.cyclingplus.393","purple_ios_product":"com.im.cyclingplus.393","purple_custom_meta_purple_ios_product":"com.im.cyclingplus.393","purple_web_product":"","purple_custom_meta_purple_web_product":"","purple_publication_id":"d6ad2395-23ab-4326-a10d-940b8b948490","purple_migrated":"","kt_blocks_editor_width":"","apple_news_api_created_at":"2022-05-17T08:33:57Z","apple_news_article-theme":"","apple_news_api_id":"5b5aa1d0-34c1-47d8-a50a-853f05e2fe71","apple_news_api_modified_at":"2022-05-17T08:33:58Z","apple_news_api_revision":"AAAAAAAAAAD\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/w==","apple_news_api_share_url":"https:\/\/apple.news\/AW1qh0DTBR9ilCoU_BeL-cQ","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_is_hidden":false,"apple_news_is_paid":true,"apple_news_is_preview":true,"apple_news_is_sponsored":false,"apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"","apple_news_article_theme":"","apple_news_sections":"[]"},"categories":[48],"tags":[14],"apple_news_notices":[],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2022\/05\/22d647a2-99a8-48d2-abf9-acb2575fd088.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"acf":{"readingTimeMinutes":"5","apple_news_title":""},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2022\/05\/22d647a2-99a8-48d2-abf9-acb2575fd088.jpg",2048,1703,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2022\/05\/22d647a2-99a8-48d2-abf9-acb2575fd088-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2022\/05\/22d647a2-99a8-48d2-abf9-acb2575fd088-300x249.jpg",300,249,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2022\/05\/22d647a2-99a8-48d2-abf9-acb2575fd088-768x639.jpg",768,639,true],"large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2022\/05\/22d647a2-99a8-48d2-abf9-acb2575fd088-1024x852.jpg",800,666,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2022\/05\/22d647a2-99a8-48d2-abf9-acb2575fd088-1536x1277.jpg",1536,1277,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2022\/05\/22d647a2-99a8-48d2-abf9-acb2575fd088.jpg",2048,1703,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"DESTINATION Annecy, France Peace envelopes the Col de l\u2019Arpettaz, following a bruising passage up narrow, pine tree-lined tarmac. This might be a climbing backwater in the northern Aravis mountain range of the French Alps, but it\u2019s all the better for it, serving up a slice of tranquillity across its 16km, 7.1 per cent slope. Up&hellip;","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36268"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=36268"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36268\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":37812,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36268\/revisions\/37812"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/36264"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=36268"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=36268"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=36268"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}