Switzerland for cycling holiday?

daniel_b · February 2020

Myself and a couple of cycling mates are looking to spend a week away somewhere for some top class cycling, preferably with some hilly options.

I have a van, so we may well drive and share it accordingly to minimise travel time.

My initial thoughts were the likes of southern France or Italy, but one chap has suggested Switzerland.

Has anyone been, and or have any recommendations of where to stay, areas to ride in?

We'd be looking for a self catering place, and as we had the van with us, nothing to stop a shortish drive to get to a good route, which would mean we don't have to start all rides from the accommodation.

Thanks

pblakeney · February 2020

I appreciate your optimism.
These days there are doubts about any travel, and I include my spring Holiday.
Plan B would be the NW part of the NC500, although it might get busy too.
All being well, you could start on the French side of Geneva and head south to Nice, or pick a location @ 100 miles south and head out from there.

davep1 · March 2020

We drive through the Alps every summer, Switzerland is fantastic. Stunning scenery, smooth tarmac, lots and lots of stunning climbs. The only problem with it is the expense, everything costs more than in neighbouring France Italy or Germany. Pizzas are around 17 swiss francs a pop
Some mates are going in June, driving to Troyes in France via the Tunnel (they're leaving after work) then on to Sion to do Col du Sanetcsh.

https://grandtoursproject.com/story/col-du-sanetsch-most-beautiful-cycling-climb/?fbclid=IwAR1vuJYRbOFwnVYpTS2Q9eySjCtRWUgSmFqB3PrT_AQgJMeyKrp51iRJ3BE
Next day they are going to Andermatt to do the Furka Nufenen and Gotthard loop. A full day's ride!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zh8QhjZLoY&fbclid=IwAR1jw6vKSRsignyR-CAqPoygqF8OYAu3m2_wrqqmqTj36Gu65b1WnoODPH0

Next day they are doing the Furka Susten and Grimsel loop

https://www.cycling-challenge.com/alpen-brevet-passes-grimsel-furka-and-susten/?fbclid=IwAR1FDRChxMluhn0Hry7hNgUdafdgXlXRTWekK2SbpRewfJBE98N-3dIglKQ

Next day to Meirengen for Gross Scheidegg

https://www.cycling-challenge.com/grosse-scheidegg-both-sides/?fbclid=IwAR3lup5eJ3HB-zfo1CUQsp-MjQ2RUogmACIBk32zSHg6_zeUCyJL0DDSadg

and then start the journey home. They stay at cheap hotels with half board, usually 5-6 days costs them about £400 each. Half board makes sense, you get a breakfast (and/or a packed lunch) and when you get back having knackered yourself on the bike you know where the food is and you haven't far to go.

Longshot · March 2020

I did a few days in Switzerland 18 months ago. We drove down and back in one day each. It's do-able on the tunnel and from SE England but it's a long, boring drag down the autoroutes.

We spent two days in Lausanne doing the Cyclotour de Leman and then a couple of days in the mountains at Leysin where we had planned some circular routes.

davep1 · March 2020

Other ideas - Bormio or Prato in northern Italy for the Stelvio. There's also the Mortirolo and Gavia near by, and another climb that's like a mini Stelvio, up to the Lago di Cancano. I climbed the Stelvio from Bormio last year on a day when the road was closed to cars. it was magical!
I'm hoping to climb Colle del Nivolet this summer,north of Turin.

https://www.cycling-challenge.com/colle-del-nivolet/

Hopefully I'll have enough to also do Lago di Telecchio, but it may or may not be accessible

https://www.cycling-challenge.com/lago-di-teleccio/

Back in Switzerland, there's Lago di Naret

https://www.cycling-challenge.com/lago-di-naret/

It isn't far as the crow flies from the bottom of the Gotthard pass, but there's abig mountain in the way that takes over two hours to drive round. I want to try the climb one day but an additional 2 hours on a 20 hour drive is a bit much.

amrushton · March 2020

Col Collective has a few

Lovely roads but if the weather is bad it's grim!
Cancellara has a couple of Swiss routes

https://www.chasingcancellara.com/

Lugano lets you ride over to Como

daniel_b · March 2020

Cheers all, sorry still not used to the new forum and how to see replies to my posts etc.

Loads to look into above, much appreciated :-)

fenix · March 2020

When are you going ? We went to Bormio for the Giro. The year it was cancelled due to snow. Still great riding but not all routes open due to the snow. Bear that in mind if you're wanting to go high and plan accordingly.

daniel_b · March 2020

IF we get to go this year, pretty flexible, but likely to be May or June.
What time did you get to go when some routes were not available?

ugo.santalucia · March 2020

Don't book anything for May, unlikely to be able to go to Italy, France or Switzerland... June is more likely to go ahead, but at this stage, with hotels desperate for business, it's a buyers market and there is no need to rush. Travel insurance might not cover cancellation if there is no specific ban to the movement of people

davep1 · March 2020

daniel_b said:
IF we get to go this year, pretty flexible, but likely to be May or June.
What time did you get to go when some routes were not available?

Stages in the Giro are often cancelled in May due to the weather and the passes not being cleared yet. The later in June you go, the more likely you are to be able to ride any road. Bear in mind in the Alps, any weekend can be problematic, even in August. I went to Prato to do the Stelvio at the end of August in 2017. The weather on the Adriatic Coast had been sunny and 30-35 degrees all summer. As the time to head to the Alps got nearer I started looking at the forecast for the region, and didn't quite believe they were predicting 5-6 degrees and rain that weekend. When we arrived, the forecast was bang on, and overnight there was some snow. The officials closed the pass to all traffic at Trafoi, I didn't bother getting the bike out of the car!
If you do make it, it might be worth taking a small bag to carry extra clothes on the ride, it can easily be 25-30 degrees at the bottom and under 10 at the top, plus gale force winds.

Switzerland for cycling holiday?

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