For riders who dream of crossing the Alps rather than simply riding in them, our Raid Alps is the ultimate challenge.
Unlike our single-base tours, this is a true point-to-point journey, starting in Geneva, Switzerland, and finishing on the Mediterranean coast in Nice, France. Over several unforgettable days, you’ll ride through three Alpine countries, conquer some of cycling’s most legendary mountain passes, and experience the changing landscapes, cultures and cuisine that make the Alps one of the world’s greatest cycling destinations.
It’s the most ambitious road cycling tour we offer.
What Is the Raid Alps?
The Raid Alps is a fully supported multi-day cycling journey linking the greatest climbs of Switzerland, Italy and France into one continuous adventure.
Rather than returning to the same hotel each evening, you’ll finish every stage in a new destination as you steadily make your way south towards the Mediterranean.
Every itinerary is custom built, allowing us to match the route to your available time, fitness level and the climbs you’ve always wanted to ride.
A Typical Route
While every Raid Alps is tailored to each group, a classic Geneva to Nice itinerary may include iconic climbs such as:
- The Col de la Colombière
- Col des Aravis
- Cormet de Roselend
- Col de l’Iseran, the highest paved mountain pass in the Alps
- Col du Galibier, one of cycling’s greatest climbs
- Col d’Izoard
- Col de Vars
- Col de la Bonette, the highest paved road in France
- Col de la Cayolle
- The legendary Col de la Madone
- A spectacular finish overlooking the Mediterranean in Nice
Every edition is different, with routes adapted to the group’s ambitions, weather conditions and desired daily distances.
Why Choose a Point-to-Point Tour?
Most cycling holidays are based in one location, allowing riders to explore nearby climbs before returning to the same hotel each evening.
The Raid Alps offers something completely different.
Every day brings new roads, new scenery and a new destination. Instead of riding loops, you’ll experience the satisfaction of genuinely crossing one of Europe’s greatest mountain ranges from north to south.
It feels less like a cycling holiday and more like a true expedition.
Fitness Requirements
This is our most demanding road cycling tour.
Expect consecutive days of long mountain climbs, significant elevation gain and limited recovery between stages. Riders should already be comfortable spending multiple hours climbing and ideally have previous experience riding in the Alps.
If you’re unsure whether it’s the right challenge, our Fitness Levels Guide can help you decide.
Full Support Throughout the Journey
A ride of this scale requires careful planning, allowing you to focus entirely on enjoying the cycling.
Throughout the tour we provide:
- Daily luggage transfers
- Professional support vehicle
- Mechanical assistance
- Nutrition and feed stops
- Carefully selected hotels
- Route planning and navigation
- Experienced local knowledge
With logistics taken care of, you can simply enjoy riding some of the world’s greatest roads.
Who Is This Tour For?
The Raid Alps is designed for experienced cyclists looking for the ultimate Alpine adventure.
It’s perfect for riders who:
- Have already completed several mountain sportives or Alpine holidays
- Enjoy long days in the saddle
- Want to experience multiple Alpine regions in one trip
- Are looking for a once-in-a-lifetime cycling challenge
Whether you’re riding with friends, a cycling club or organising a private group, every Raid Alps itinerary is built specifically for you.
Plan Your Own Raid Alps
Every Raid Alps tour is custom designed.
We’ll discuss your available dates, preferred daily distances, must-ride climbs and overall goals before creating a bespoke itinerary from Geneva to Nice that suits your group.
Our team handles the hotels, transfers, support vehicle and logistics so you can simply enjoy the ride.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many days does a typical Raid Alps take?
This varies significantly by route and group ambition, but most versions run 5-8 riding days to link a meaningful sequence of major climbs without excessive daily distances.
Do I need to have done a standard Cigala Alps tour before attempting this?
Not strictly required, but strongly recommended — the cumulative demand of consecutive major climbs is considerably higher than a single-base tour, and prior experience with at least one big Alpine climb helps set realistic expectations.
Does the Raid Alps cross international borders?
Depending on the specific route chosen, yes — versions incorporating the Swiss passes or finishing on the Italian side of the Stelvio involve border crossings, which we handle as part of the logistics planning.
Is this available as a fixed departure, or always custom?
Always custom, given the number of possible route combinations and the need to match the itinerary to a specific group’s timeframe and climbing priorities.
— Matteo Cigala
Former European Gran Fondo Champion, Vice World Gran Fondo & Gravel Champion, Italian Gravel Champion, Coach & Tours Director of Cigala Cycling Tours
