How we did it

TRAVEL

Getting to the start is remarkably easy. Either take the Eurostar from London to Paris (2h 20min, from £52e/w), then the Tgv-lyria to Geneva (3h 5min, from €29e/w), or fly to Geneva. Transfers to Megève are readily available in the form of private taxis or shuttles, taking about an hour door-to-door.

ACCOMMODATION

Both Megève and Courmayeur are well served for hotels. Before the start of the ride we stayed in the Novotel Megève Mont-blanc (all.accor.com), which was big, comfortable, reasonably priced and right in the middle of town. On the following night we stayed at the Hotel Vallée Blanche (hotelvalleeblanche.com), a couple of miles outside Courmayeur. This rustic hotel is cosy, and perfectly set up to cater for skiers in the winter and cyclists in the summer.

THANKS

Many thanks to François Xavierblanc of Wish One for organising… well, everything, plus Gaby Thompson of Komoot and Nicolas Roux at Grupetto Megève for the physical, emotional and occasionally mechanical support.