How we did it

TRAVEL

Cyclist flew with Swiss airline from London Heathrow to Geneva. Expect to pay £90£130 each way. Swiss is one of the few airlines that still provides complimentary drinks and snacks (plus Swiss chocolate) on board, and Geneva is one of the best-served airports in the world so there’s an abundant choice of airlines and flight times. Ugine is around a 1.5-hour drive by car.

ACCOMMODATION

We stayed at the superb, cyclist-friendly Hôtel les Chalets in Brides-les-bains (brideslesbains.com). There’s a secure garage with workshop facilities for bikes and a breakfast that caters for hungry riders.

Huge thanks to Adrian and Shelley of

Alp Cycles (alpcycles.com) for helping to organise this ride, and especially Adrian for looking like he was suffering on climbs when really he had plenty left in the tank. Also to Nadine Carle-edgar and Montagnes Representation in the UK (montagnes. uk.com) for their support, without which this trip would not have been possible. Thanks to Lili Mclean too for being great company.