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Trips > Switzerland: Cycling paradise in Gstaad

Switzerland: Cycling paradise in Gstaad

$9,950

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Switzerland is getting the full inGamba treatment and we’re very excited about it! This part of the world is underrated as a cycling destination, but with plenty of quiet and perfectly surfaced roads, pristine lakes and rivers, as well as challenging climbs amongst snowy peaks, it has everything a rider could dream of.

We’ll be based in Gstaad, a small but multicultural and multilingual town in the heart of the Alps that is well-known as an exclusive ski resort. Come summer, it transforms into a cycling paradise and a great selection of loops link the local passes, which are all regular features in WorldTour races such as Tour de Romandie, the Tour de Suisse and even the Tour de France. Expect all the Swiss clichés along the road: cows, dairy farms, mountain villages from another era, and we will ride through the gorgeous vineyards of Chablais and Valais, which produce some fantastic wines.

Off the bike, we’ll be living in luxury at the Gstaad Palace, a fairy-tale castle overlooking the village that has been run as a 5-star hotel by three generations of the Scherz family, offering the very best of Swiss hospitality.

Included With Trip:

  • All lodging*
  • All food and beverages**
  • Pinarello Dogma F Disk with SRAM RED eTap AXS
  • Daily Bike Wash
  • Custom Castelli × inGamba cycling kit
  • Daily post-ride massage from a professional soigneur
  • Laundry service for cycling clothing


*Pre/post-trip lodging is not included
**Beverages ordered by guests beyond normal amounts and away from group activities will incur additional charges

Trip at a Glance

Start Location:

Geneva

Finish Location:

Geneva

Days Riding:

6

Group Size:

8 – 12

Total Distance:

450km

Total Elevation:

8,485m

Longest Day:

Day 3. Jaunpass. 98km

Biggest Climbing Day:

Day 3. Jaunpass. 2,033m

...

Day by Day Breakdown

1

Lauenen Test Ride

Welcome to Switzerland. This short ride takes you through two typical villages near Gstaad: Lauenen and Turbach. Switchbacks, green pastures and rocky peaks in the distance: a perfect way to stretch the legs and get ready for a week in paradise.
2

Col du Pillon, Forclaz and Col des Mosses

This route leads us to the French speaking part of Switzerland. The false flat to Gsteig is the perfect warm up before the first pass: the Col du Pillon, at the base of the imposing Diablerets massif. The next climb leads to La Forclaz, a typical village in the Vallée des Ormonts. The Col des Mosses takes us back towards Gstaad, which we reach after an enchanting ride through the Pays d’Enhaut region, famous for its L’Etivaz cheese. None of the climbs is overly long or steep, making for an enjoyable day in the mountains.
3

Jaunpass

Another day, another region explored from the hotel doorstep: this time, we head north over the short but steep climb to Saanemöser. A 15km descent down the Simmental valley takes us to the bottom of the day’s main climb: the Jaunpass, with its many switchbacks in the middle of green pastures. After that it’s all downhill to Gruyères, home of the famous and eponymous cheese. We ride past its medieval castle before the long, gradual climb back to Gstaad which uses several sections of SuisseMobile routes, the national network of bike paths.
4

Chateau de Chillon & UCI, Aigle

Only one climb on the programme: the Col des Mosses, this time from its northern side. The 1000 meter descent into the Chablais vineyards is a nice reward and brings us to the Château de Chillon, a castle from the 12th century on the shores of Lake Geneva. From there, we are only a short and flat ride away from the World Cycling Center: a futuristic building that houses the UCI headquarters and a training center for young talents from emerging cycling countries. A good place for a coffee stop before the drive back to Gstaad.
5

Gruyeres & Mittelbergpass

This loop starts with part of the day 3 route, but in the opposite direction and mostly downhill for 35 kilometers. In Broc, you will ride past the Cailler chocolate factory. Can it get more Swiss than that? The second section takes on a little known pass: the Mittelberg, which culminates at 1633 meters. It is mainly used by farmers and cyclists, making it a very pleasant experience in spite of some steep ramps. The climb features in the Bergkönig, a vintage cycling event which takes place in Gstaad every year. After a narrow descent to the lovely village of Saanen, you will be just a few kilometers away from our hotel.
6

COL DU SANETSCH

We finish with a bang. The Col du Sanetsch is the most beautiful climb you’ve never heard of. The climb to the Sanetsch starts in the vineyards of Valais, Switzerland’s largest wine-producing province, and finishes at the base of the Tsanfleuron glacier at 2252m. In between: 1700 meters of climbing over 25km, the Swiss equivalent of Passo Stelvio on a quiet road that leads to a dam. The road ends there but we continue our journey: in a cable car that takes us down just a few kilometers from Gstaad. A truly unique experience to cap off an amazing week in Switzerland.
7

Departure

This is our final morning together and after a leisurely breakfast, it will be time to say goodbye 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!

YOUR Guides

Alain Rumpf

The Swiss insider

Born in Switzerland, Alain has been riding his bike in the Alps since he was 12. In previous chapters of his life, he was an enthusiastic (but mediocre) elite racer and worked 20 years for the UCI, cycling’s international governing body. He attended many meetings, wrote and rewrote countless rules and met awesome people – including inGamba's founder, João Correia. He also ran a bike race in China that everyone has forgotten about. In 2014 he decided to leave the corporate world to become a professional bike bum. An ambitious career change that sees him work as a guide, photographer, writer and consultant for brands, media and destinations. With his wife Lillie and their son Ben, Alain lives in Gryon, in the French speaking part of the Swiss Alps.  

Eros Poli

The Champion

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,” 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.

BIKE OPTION

PINARELLO DOGMA F

FRAMESET:

Pinarello Dogma F

COCKPIT:

ZIPP Service Course SL

GRUPPO:

SRAM RED eTap AXS

PEDALS:

Speedplay (or your own)

SADDLE:

Selle Italia

WHEELSET:

Zipp 303 S Carbon Tubeless

TIRES:

Vittoria Corsa

BOTTLE CAGES:

Elite Custom Race

BIDON:

Elite Corsa Team

COMPUTER:

Garmin Edge 1030