WORLD ON WHEELS HAVE
WORLD ON WHEELS HAVE BIKE, WILL TRAVEL Classic cycling destinations for every biker’s bucket list BURGUNDY, FRANCE Renowned for wine, Burgundy also delivers the ultimate leisure cycling holiday with 1,000-plus kilometres of mostly flat roads set against a backdrop of vineyards and châteaux. THE PYRENEES, FRANCE AND SPAIN This region’s legendary climbs such as the Col du Portillon and Col du Tourmalet have humbled riding greats in the Tour de France and Vuelta a España. THE ITALIAN DOLOMITES Grind it out on the highmountain passes featured in stages of past Giro d’Italia races while experiencing three distinct cultures – Italian, German and Ladin. THE CALIFORNIA COAST If you think a road trip along California’s picturesque coast is epic, wait until you take in the sweeping Pacific views, rolling vineyards and mighty groves of redwoods by bike. THE FRENCH ALPS Home to climbs made famous by the Grand Tour, including Alpe d’Huez and Col du Granon, this is a proving ground for cyclists looking to test their stamina. HOW TO EXPERIENCE IT Butterfield & Robinson offers a six-day trip capped at 16 guests that complements cycling with barrel tastings at prestigious spots like Domaine du Comte Armand in Pommard. butterfield.com HOW TO EXPERIENCE IT Trek Travel hosts group and private 10-day trips with daily routes averaging over 100 kilometres and 2,500 vertical metres. Your efforts are rewarded with hearty Basque and Catalan cuisine. trektravel.com HOW TO EXPERIENCE IT Dolomite Mountains has curated a seven-day Legendary Giro d’Italia Climbs itinerary that includes the opportunity to conquer the 48 switchbacks of Passo Stelvio. dolomitemountains.com HOW TO EXPERIENCE IT The annual six-day Coast Ride hosted each March by California-based outfitter inGamba begins in San Francisco and covers a 650 kilometre route to Paso Robles passing by famous Cali spots like Half Moon Bay, Santa Cruz and Monterey Bay. ingamba.pro HOW TO EXPERIENCE IT The Haute Route Alps is an organised, supported ride from Megève to Nice which covers 750 kilometres and nearly 21,000 metres of climbing over seven days. hauteroute.org FROM LEFT: JOSIAH Q. ROE, ANDREA COSTA, ADOBE STOCK 52 NetJets
Feel like an insider and visit these up-and-coming cycling destinations. MALLORCA, SPAIN This sun-drenched Balearic Island is a pro-cycling training playground thanks to demanding climbs like Sa Calobra, which gains nearly 670 metres of elevation in almost 10 kilometres. TUCSON, ARIZONA In winter, when temperatures hover in the mid-60s, pros base themselves in this southwestern US city so they can ride the paved roads that wind through nearby Saguaro National Park and tackle the ascent up Mount Lemmon in Coronado National Forest. SUNNMØRE, NORWAY Most people experience Norway’s dramatic fjords from the deck of a cruise ship, but the steep, icecarved valleys are even more spectacular when viewed by bike on the region’s trafficfree roads. NOTO PENINSULA, JAPAN One of the least populated areas in Japan, the coastal roads of this protected quasinational park take in terraced rice paddies, rural villages and rocky ocean cliffs. PUERTO VARAS AND CHILOÉ ISLAND, CHILE Chile isn’t just a paradise for hikers. If you want leisurely riding on gravel roads with jaw-dropping views and a serious dose of culture, check out the Lake District and Chiloé Island. FROM LEFT: KLEMENS KOENIG, MATTIAS FREDRIKSSON, KLEMENS KOENIG HOW TO EXPERIENCE IT DuVine Cycling’s six-day bike tour is geared to intermediate cyclists who want to challenge themselves on ascents through the UNESCOprotected Tramuntana Mountains while also enjoying the island’s luxe hotels, like La Residencia, and indulging in super fresh seafood and local wine varietals such as callet. duvine.com HOW TO EXPERIENCE IT A four-day itinerary from Backroads combines cycling and hiking in Saguaro National Park with cultural stops like a visit to the excellent Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. backroads.com HOW TO EXPERIENCE IT Family-run travel company 62˚Nord recently introduced a six-day bike adventure that breaks up 65- to 100- km days with RIB boat or helicopter transfers and farmto-table lunches. 62.no HOW TO EXPERIENCE IT On a nine-day trip with Spice Roads Cycling you’ll average 70 kilometres a day in the saddle and get a serious dose of local culture including overnights in historic farmhouses and soaks in traditional mineral hot springs. spiceroads.com HOW TO EXPERIENCE IT Cari Gray, the intrepid founder of luxury active travel company Gray & Co., is always the first into a destination. She’s scouted the top stays in these remote regions, like &Beyond Vira Vira, set near the foot of Villarrica Volcano, and architectural stunner Tierra Chiloé Island, and uses them as bases for daily 32km rides on her bespoke trips. grayandco.ca NetJets 53
