Bouillabaisse from the Marseille coast, socca flatbread fresh from the griddle, tapenade with local olives, slow-roasted lamb with herbes de Provence, ratatouille made the right way, cheese from the mountain villages, tarte tropézienne for the road.
Côtes du Ventoux from the vineyards we ride through, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, rosé from the Luberon, pastis at a village café in the afternoon sun, espresso before the climb.
There is one climb that every serious cyclist has on their list. The Mont Ventoux towers above French Provence, a vast white pyramid of barren rock rising above the lavender fields and vineyards below, visible for miles in every direction. It has no peers. It has broken careers and made legends. And in the summer of 1994, it made Eros Poli immortal.
Poli’s solo win on Ventoux that day — attacking midway through the stage as the peloton wrote him off, and riding away from everyone over the most fearsome climb in the Tour de France — is one of cycling’s great underdog stories. He is our lead guide on this trip, and riding up Ventoux with the man who conquered it, who knows every meter of the ascent from the inside, is an experience no other cycling company in the world can offer.
But this trip is about far more than one mountain. Provence in August is Provence at its most intoxicating: the light golden and thick, the lavender in full bloom, the roads quiet and fast. Over six days, you’ll ride through the Vaucluse, thread through the dramatic gorges of the Nesque, and pass through the vineyards of Beaumes-de-Venise. The week builds deliberately toward its finale: a summit finish on the climb known as the Giant of Provence, each day adding another layer of the region before the Ventoux demands everything you have.
The inGamba program runs alongside all of it. Your Pinarello Dogma F is prepared every morning. A professional soigneur takes care of your legs every evening. The dinners are at restaurants we know well, in villages that know how to eat and drink properly. This is Provence done right — with pace and purpose, and in the best possible company.
Big days, big elevation, big reward. These routes take you into proper mountain terrain — sustained climbs, dramatic landscapes, and descents worth every metre gained. For cyclists who measure a great ride in altitude as much as distance.
Our own 15th-century property in Lecchi — a haven of calm, comfort and smiling faces surrounded by rolling countryside.
The latest DOGMA F engineered for any road, equipped with the lightest electronic groupset available. E-bike option also available.
Every breakfast, lunch and dinner — from handmade pasta to Fiorentina steak grilled while you watch. Wine, espresso and aperitivi included.
Pick-up from Porta Romana (10:30) or Florence Airport (11:00). Drop-off arranged on departure day at 8:30am.
High-tech performance meets luxury for the optimal riding experience with our Custom 36.5 kit.
Professional soigneurs with peloton experience ease sore muscles and prepare you for the next day.
Five mechanics work meticulously to ensure your Pinarello is race-ready every single morning of your trip.
Don't worry about chores whilst you're away, all cycling kit is cleaned overnight, so it’s fresh, dry and ready to go each morning.
Make use a beautiful day bag from Ideal & Co. Yours to keep after the trip.
Fill your pockets with fresh snacks, or make use of an entire Enervit collection.
Bienvenue en France! Our week begins with a fun little ride to get us settled in Provence. The loop will take us south to Mazan and through the outskirts of Carpentras, where our host Eros Poli won one of the most famous Tour de France stages ever. There is a gentle climb in the second half of the ride, but nothing too challenging. This is the time to make adjustments to your bike fit, so if something isn't quite right please talk to one of the mechanics.
Today we'll explore more of the Vaucluse region, which was known to the ancient Romans as Vallis Clausa, the Closed Valley. The route begins downhill for a few kilometers, followed by a short climb and a quick descent. From there, the climbing begins in earnest, taking us up past Monieux and then south to the outskirts of the Luberon park and a long, picturesque descent to home.
We start pedaling east until we reach Bédoin. Then it's all the way up to our first peak in the Notre Dame de la Consolation. After a slight descent towards the little town of Sault, we climb again all the way up to Le Chalet Reynard, a col with a length of 18.2km. This is a category 1 col. The average grade of this col is 3.9% with a maximum of 6.4%. Enjoy the views on your way down to our home.
It's a day of ups-and-downs as we head north toward the Baronnies provençales Natural Regional Park. There will be undulating terrain from start to finish, and a number of charming old towns, including Entrechaux, Suzette, and Beaumes-de-Venise.
This ride takes us to Murs, a quaint village in the Luberon park dominated by a restored chateau from the 15th century. The town is set amongst the vineyards of the Cotes du Ventoux, and orchards of cherry trees. In other words, expect some quintessentially Provencal scenery.
Get ready for one of the most famous routes in all of cycling. Our ride will be up and over the summit, just like the pros have traditionally done. At the '94 Tour, our very own Eros Poli found himself in a solo breakaway from the gun and the rest, as they say, is history, as he rode to one of the most iconic victories in living memory.
This is our final morning together and after a leisurely breakfast, it will be time to say goodbye, or at least arrivederci, until we meet again. Transfers to the airport will be arranged by our hard-working crew but if you’re planning on staying a few extra days, let us know if we can help with reservations or a few recommendations.
The night before Eros Poli took victory atop Mont Ventoux he couldn’t sleep. It was not like he was dreaming of victory or even had the slightest idea the next day’s stage would change his life forever. It was just that it was hot. Unbearably, unsleepably hot in his less than stellar French hotel. His roommate had taken his mattress off the bed and was sleeping on the small balcony outside their room. And the man who would shortly become known as Monsieur Ventoux was watching football, Italy vs. Brazil in the World Cup final, to be exact. Italy lost.
The following morning as Eros dragged his weary, tired legs out of bed and down the stairs, as there was no lift, James Brown came into his head. “I feel good, I knew that I would now,” he started to repeat over and over in his head. As it would the rest of the day. He felt good, and the rest, as they say, is history.
”"We're specifically trying to give our guests the closest experience of what it means to be in a pro team, at any speed."
With years of experience in the professional peloton, our mechanics and soigneurs bring WorldTour-level care to every detail of your ride. Up to five mechanics work meticulously each day to ensure your Pinarello is perfectly tuned and adjusted for you alone—not just race-ready, but dialed to your precise preferences. Meanwhile, our soigneurs draw on their own experience as professional riders to anticipate your needs before you voice them: bottles filled and positioned exactly right, ride food prepared and timed to fuel you through the hardest climbs, post-ride massages that ease tired muscles, and the kind of quiet, confident support that prepares you mentally and physically for whatever the road brings next. This is the care that once belonged only to the pros. With inGamba, it’s yours.
For the final two nights of the week, you’ll be staying at the Grand Hotel Palace Ancona, a beautifully restored boutique property sitting right on the waterfront in the heart of the city. Housed in a 17th-century palazzo and fully renovated to a high modern standard, it strikes exactly the right balance between historic character and contemporary comfort.
The location is hard to beat. From the hotel you look directly out over the port and the Adriatic beyond, and the old city is on your doorstep. After two days of riding through the hills of the interior, arriving here feels like a genuine reward — the sea air, the buzz of a proper Italian city, and a hotel that knows how to take care of its guests. It’s a TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice award winner, and it earns it.
Rooms are elegant without being fussy, and the wine bar is a natural gathering point for the group in the evenings.
”"An amazing travel experience. They make you feel like a star. I was blown away by the treatment that can only be likened to a professional athlete — just without the race."
Daniel B.Guest in 2024
”"The whole experience is magical. The rides are stunning. The care and attention to detail is first class. The massages are a lifesaver."
Lyn K.Guest in 2018, 2019 & 2023
”"The best in the industry. A once in a lifetime experience every time! The people that make inGamba are the reason you will want to travel with them again and again."
Victoria P.Guest in 2024
Single Supplement: $1,200 per person · Private Trips: Available on request for groups of 6+
Guests of inGamba are passionate cyclists who love the sport and the lifestyle that surrounds it. Most of our community are experienced riders of all ages and various abilities, who appreciate great roads, fine food, and unforgettable company.
While everyone enjoys a challenge, no one’s chasing a pro contract here. Instead, the focus is on sharing incredible rides at a comfortable pace, soaking in the scenery, and enjoying the journey. You’ll find more “middle of the pack” and “social” riders than hard chargers at the front, and with our exceptional staff-to-guest ratio, every rider is fully supported, no matter their speed or style.
Fly to: Bologna
Pick-up: Bologna Airport 11:00
Drop-off: Bologna Airport, departure day 8:30am
We recommend arriving the night before. Our concierge can help with hotel recommendations.
Gratuities are customary if you feel the staff delivered an exceptional experience. Most guests find 10-20% of the trip cost appropriate. All tips are split evenly among the entire team.
We recommend purchasing travel insurance to protect your booking. View our cancellation policy →
Need to change dates? Contact us as early as possible and we’ll do our best to accommodate.
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