The 65 Ride 20222
65 NEW CCC stages (in seven separate events) to celebrate Phil’s 65th year and his retirement from the “CCC stage”. Starting in February 2020, details of stages 1-65 will be revealed here. One stage per week (Elevation stats will often read incorrectly on the ridewithgps.com links.) Dates and booking details will be released in August 2021.
The events will cover Piemonte, Southern Alps, Northern Alps, Vercors, Provence, Ardeche, Cevennes, Haut-Languedoc, East & West Pyrenees, Andorra, Basque Country, Cantabrico, Picos d’Europa and Asturias.
EVENT 1: Piemonte—Stage 1
Verona–Verona
180kms / 4300m
Main climbs:
Passo Fittanze
The Veronese "hills" (north of Verona) in the Veneto region make a perfect place to start this journey. Less well known, full of surprises and some very tough climbs. The beautifully harsh Passo Fittanze, climbed from Avio, will be the undisputed centrepiece of this opening stage.
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EVENT 1: Piemonte—Stage 2
Verona–Iseo
199kms / 3900m
Main climbs:
Passo del Piccon, Passo di San Rocco, Passo del Termine, Passo del Santellone, Passo dei Tre Termini,
The journey starts it's crossing of the region of lakes and mountains so well known for defining the true beauty of Lombardy and Piemont. As well as some fabulous new climbs, this stage also includes a ferry crossing on Lake Garda.
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EVENT 1: Piemonte—Stage 3
Iseo–Brogno (Bellagio)
201kms / 4750m
Main climbs:
San Fermo, Gallo, San Pietro, Ganda, Agueglio, Bellagio
Into the heart of Lombardy via some of the real classics of this region, ending the stage on the Bellagio climb after another ferry crossing (Lake Como).
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EVENT 1: Piemonte—Stage 4
Ghisallo - Varese
204kms / 4700m
Main climbs:
Muro di Sormano, Plan del Tivano, Oratorio San Antonio,Alpe dei Fiori
The Best of the Lombardia finale (to start this one!) before heading over (hills) to Lake Lugano for a couple of Swiss climbs before heading down (up) to Varese. Quite a menu!
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EVENT 1: Piemonte—Stage 5
Varese – Biella
193kms / 4060m
Main climbs:
San Antonio, Cucco, Colma
The double-whammy finale of Passo's Cucco and Colma make this stage truly exceptional. (This is a new version of stage 3 of CCC Piemonte.) It will bring us to Biella, a beautiful town, for our first Rest Day.
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EVENT 1: Piemonte—Stage 6
Biella – Pinerolo
204kms / 4310m
Main climbs:
Croce Serra, Monte di Belmonte, Forcola, Lys, Braida
The formidable Colle di Lys is the centrepiece but more 'religious climbs' such as the Monte di Belmonte maintain the intensity of the ride throughout the day.
EVENT 1: Piemonte—Stage 7
Pinerolo – Cuneo
218kms / 5850m
Main climbs:
Sampeyre, Dei Morti
Leaving Lombardy behind us and hitting the first climbs of the 'Italian Alps' : two real classics will prepare us for the Giants to follow next.
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EVENT 1: Piemonte—Stage 8
Cuneo – Valberg
193KMS / 5500M
Main climbs:
Lombardia, Coulliole, St Leger, Valberg
Via the "best" side of the Col de Lombardia, we exit Italy and explore some of the best scenery in the High Maritime Alps : the Gorges de Dalius, for example, taking us up towards our mountain-top finish in Valberg.
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EVENT 1: Piemonte—Stage 9
Valberg – San Remo
214KMS / 5300M
Main climbs:
Sinna, Turini, Termini di Baiardo
A superb descent section to open then over the Cols de Sinna and Turini and into Liguria (back into Italy) to check out some exciting new roads on our way down to the wonderful town of San Remo. Pure Mediterranean magic!
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EVENT 1: Piemonte—Stage 10
San Remo To Carros
180kms / 45750m
Main climbs:
Passo Ghimbegna, Madonna di Giorbio, Chateauneuf.
The first 100km explores the best of Liguria before we plunge down to Ventimiglia. Arriving then in Monaco, of course the Madonna climb has to be on our path. A real Classic Climb to end Event #1!
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EVENT 2: Alps—Stage 11
Carros – Carros
206kms /4450m
Main climbs:
Mont Vial, Blaine, Pierrefeu (gravel).
The Classic loop stage that has opened the CCC S Alps forever. I just love this route. But with a cheeky gravel climb bonus this time!
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EVENT 2: Alps—Stage 12
Carros – Castellane
186kms / 4400m
Main climbs:
Ecre, Demandoix
Features the mighty 20km climb to the Col d'Ecre, one of the most reputed in the Var region. From there crossing typical Provencal hills towards the stupendous Gorges de Verdon, with a tasty loop round the lac Verdon to end the stage.
EVENT 2: Alps—Stage 13
Castellane – Digne Les Bains
209kms / 4500m
Main climbs:
Pas d'Abauc ( Gorges du Verdon), Illoire, Corobin
The Mighty Gorges du Verdon are the stars of this dramatic stage, followed by a complete tour of the emerald Lac de sainte Croix. The final climb, Col du Corobin, has often featured in the Paris-Nice race. A tough wooded climb with a glorious descent into Digne -les-Bains.
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EVENT 2: Alps—Stage 14
Dignes Les Bains – Barcelonette
189kms / 4750m
Main climbs:
Allos, Champs, Cayolle
On our way north the "Trio Terrible" loop (Allos,Champs,Cayolle) cannot be missed. Surely one of the best combo's road riding in the mountains can offer.
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EVENT 2: Alps—Stage 15
Barcelonette – Valloire
179kms / 5300m
Main climbs:
Vars, Izoard, Granon, Galibier
Four Mighty Giants make the profile of this epic stage pretty simple. The first time the 'up & back' Granon climb will feature in a CCC.
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EVENT 2: Alps—Stage 16
Valloire – St Jean De Maurienne
182kms / 4800m
Main climbs:
Telegraphe, La Toussuire, Croix de Fer, Beau Plan, Sapey.
A tough but majestic loop around St Jean de Maurienne is the centrepiece of this typical CCC take on these Classic climbs.
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EVENT 2: Alps—Stage 17
St Jean De M – Moutiers
161kms / 5100m
Main climbs:
Madeleine, Valmorel, Naves,La Plagne
Totally new parcours here amongst the highest roads. The Col de la Madeleine via the "old road" opens the stage, then we take on the best climbs around Moutiers.
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EVENT 2: Alps—Stage 18
Moutiers – Albertville
198kms / 5680m
Main climbs:
Col de la Loze, Saisies, Arpettaz, Vorger.
Another stage up there with the Giants. La Loze, a new climb for the Tour de France in 2020, will be the main attraction.
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EVENT 2: Alps—Stage 19
Albertville – Belley
180kms / 5000m
Main climbs:
Marocaz, Mont Revard, Chat
Superb views over Alpine peaks and lakes and the infamous Col du Chat. Mountain bliss!
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EVENT 2: Alps—Stage 20
Belley – Grenoble
191kms / 4400m
Main climbs:
Granier, Coq, Porte
The picturesque Chartreuse region makes this a perfect way to end this Alpine chapter of the 65RIDE.
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Event 3: Alps / Ardeche—Stage 21
Grenoble – Crest
208 kms / 4450m
Main climbs:
Col de la Machine and many other Vercors treasures
Pretty much the best of the Vercors climbs, plateaux and gorges here. Not much missing!
Event 3: Alps / Ardeche—Stage 22
Crest – Malaucene
190kms / 4300m
Main climbs:
Pennes, Soubeyrand, Mont Ventoux
The remote and rugged beauty of the Drome region leads us due south to the unmissable Mont Ventoux "en finale". Nice day out.
Event 3: Alps / Ardeche—Stage 23
Malaucene – Ales
195kms / 2200m
Main climbs:
Col de Champ Paga, Col de Bourrico
Crossing the Rhone means less climbing, more time to wander and explore like a 'cyclo-tourist', maybe?! Could be more café stops than usual?!
Event 3: Alps / Ardeche—Stage 24
Ales – Ales
208kms / 3200m
Main climbs:
Many of the Ardechoise favourites
This is the first of two stages which explore the best roads of the extremely popular, multi-day "Ardechoise" sportive. Although the collective total of climbing is not excessive, the road is rarely flat. It's tough terrain, full of such charm and character. This remote area of France is one of the most genuinely surprising areas to ride in you can find. It needed a loop stage such as this to have time to explore its dense network of narrow roads.
Event 3: Alps / Ardeche—Stage 25
Ales – Aubenas
204kms / 3900m
Main climbs:
Pendedis,Tranchée de Malons, Tastavin.
Part Two of the best bits of the Ardèche. Its beauty is equal to its remoteness. Simple as that.
Event 3: Alps / Ardeche—Stage 26
Aubenas – Chaumont Le Bourg
200 kms / 3900m
Main climbs:
Mezilhac, Mont Gerbier
Another feast of remoteness. This stage will take us from the northern reach of the Ardeche, around the town of Le Puy ( capital of the very special volcanic Puy region) and into the vast wooded region of the Livardois. We rode this in 2017, but here we ride a new version in the opposite direction.
Event 3: Alps / Ardeche—Stage 27
Ch –Le-B – La Bourboule
184kms / 3600m
Main climbs:
Mont Dore ( Col de Croix St Robert)
The second of the original CCC Cevennes stages ridden 'backwards'. The spectacular road up onto the Mont Dore will undoubtedly provide a superb finale to a stage which takes us to the northern tip of our journey, a mere 80 kms south of Clermont Ferrand.
Event 3: Alps / Ardeche—Stage 28
Bouboule – Laguiole
203kms / 4100m
Main climbs:
Puy Marie ( Pas de Petrol)
My favourite part of the Massif Central. New stage-end in the best "knife town" in Europe!
Event 3: Alps / Ardeche—Stage 29
Laguiole – Florac
204kms / 3700m
Main climbs:
Aubrac, Trebatut,Montmirat
The Aubrac National Park is a wild, desolate place populated mainly by its very distinct rusty-coloured cows. It's an impressive place to ride through. This stage ends in Florac, close to the Gorges du Tarn, which offer more drama of a different kind.