aix en provence Archives - L'Equipe Provence http://www.lequipeprovence.com Cycling Stories, Trips and Routes Thu, 16 May 2019 12:12:15 +0000 en hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.9.3 http://www.lequipeprovence.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/cropped-lequipe_provence_badge_logo_teal-white-32x32.png aix en provence Archives - L'Equipe Provence http://www.lequipeprovence.com 32 32 L’Equipe Camp Report http://www.lequipeprovence.com/lequipe-camp-2018-report/ http://www.lequipeprovence.com/lequipe-camp-2018-report/#comments Wed, 06 Jun 2018 18:38:35 +0000 http://www.lequipeprovence.com/?p=5087 L'Equipe Provence prepares a group of friends for the season by hosting a cycling camp in Provence.

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Team Camp Report

Words: Mark Hagan / Images: Max Faschina, Tom Burton, Bori Toth, Chloé Lasseron and Mark Hagan

Earlier this spring we invited an international collection of cycling friends to Provence for a week of riding, rosé and recovery… maybe not always in that order. Our base of operations, outside of Le Luc in the department of the Var, gave us a jumping off point from our front door and iconic roads a short transfer away. Each of us had various personal motivations and experiences to draw from, and were united to support each other during our Spring L’Equipe Camp.

The team was completed with our very first custom jersey for the occasion, the L’Equipe Camp Jersey. The design of our team jersey was done by the talented Benjamin Andresen, a Copenhagen based cyclist and artist who was able to capture the elemental and spiritual pieces of Provence, combining a fresh take on classic cycling design. Handmade by our friends at Arrueda in Madrid, we were ready to explore in style.

 

 

 

Take a look at the new online shop!

Notre Dame de Anges

The first few days were meant to shock the system. Featuring a testing climb up to the Notre Dame de Anges, a personal favorite and lesser known climb. Tucked away in the Foret des Maures, this 9km long ascent snakes up the massif on a quiet side road averaging 6 percent. The top, a large radio tower teases you as it appears and disappears with each kink in the road.

Finally at the summit, a large sanctuary awaits you. On a clear day, you can see Mont Ventoux to the north west and the Mediterranean sea to the south. Descending down into the valley below, the steep cliffs peel away a wilderness that feels untouched for as far as you can see.

Day 1 Course
Day 2 Course

Day 3 Course
Day 4 Course
Day 5 Course

Col de la Madone

Day 6 Course

We spent 2 days on the Côte d’Azur. Skirting along the coast and taking on iconic mountains like the Col de Vence, Col d’Eze and the infamous Col de la Madone. The latter of which has already given me so many memories. From heat stroke in the July sun, to nearly getting run off the road by a charging Chris Froome and Team Sky training session! Topping out at 925 meters, it’s not the highest mountain, but the convulsive nature of the gradients prevent any kind of rhythm as you squirm in and out of your saddle. A deceptive climb that tests not only your physical fitness, but your mental toughness as well.

Day 7 Course

Our final day, we saved the best for last. The Gorges du Verdon is a natural wonder that needs to be seen to be believed. A gash in the limestone Earth, once an ancient seabed, created over millions of years of active geology. The pale blue vein of the Verdon River carves through the ancient canyon before filling the Lac de Sainte-Croix. We circumnavigated the gorge via the northern and southern rims to take in the entirety of the landscape and give our tired legs one last test.

 

Exhausted, we celebrated the week back at the house with records, pizza and a couple bottles of wine from just down the road. Since the beginning, we have felt that riding to your limit, day in and day out, with good company is the best way to see Provence. L’Equipe Camp 2018 was no different and throughout the week, we each became stronger riders, and closer friends. Thanks again to Tom, Bori, Max and Chloe, for making this adventure unforgettable!

Join the Team

Interested in your own private L’Equipe Camp or Cycling Tour of Provence? Email Mark and get your Provence adventure started today!

Join our Strava Club!

@L'EquipeProvence

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]]> http://www.lequipeprovence.com/lequipe-camp-2018-report/feed/ 1 L’Equipe Camp: Spring Preview http://www.lequipeprovence.com/lequipecamp-2018-teamannouncement/ Fri, 16 Mar 2018 09:22:47 +0000 http://www.lequipeprovence.com/?p=4957 Welcome to L'Equipe Camp, our first Spring training camp in Provence. Meet the new Team!

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Order our L'Equipe Camp Jersey

Team Camp Preview

Spring is here! Whether your motivation lays in racing, touring or just staying fit, we think Provence is the place to jump start, or finish your year.

Easy on the eyes and hard on the legs, Provence has a terrain for any discipline. From flat coastlines, rolling plateaus to hors catégorie climbs, a training camp here is a one-stop-shop.

We invited an international collection of friends to join us this March in the department of the Var in the south of France. It also happens to be our favorite region for Rosé , surely a coincidence…

We will also have proximity to the best cycling in Provence. Each rider will have different goals for the year and approaches cycling in his or her own way. So what drives these riders? Motivation can be a difficult thing to explain, but exploring it can be as rewarding as finding a new track on familiar roads. Let’s find out and meet the Team.

L’Equipe Provence proudly presents our roster for L’Equipe Camp, Spring 2018!

#lequipecamp2018

Meet the Team

Meet Bori

Meet Max

Meet Mark

Meet Chloé

Meet Tom
Follow and Join on Strava

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]]> Festive 500: Provence http://www.lequipeprovence.com/festive-500-provence/ Thu, 15 Feb 2018 19:18:07 +0000 http://www.lequipeprovence.com/?p=4848 Escaping to Provence for the holidays, we take on the annual Festive 500 challenge.

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Festive 500: Provence

Kilometers Ridden
Meters Climbed
Wine Bottles Enjoyed

For the annual Festive 500 challenge, there are few things left to say about a tradition for thousands of cyclists around the world. Countless stories and countless kilometers pour in annually for the endurance pilgrimage that pushes many to their limits. Dozens of factors can determine the completion of the 500 kilometer goal between the week of Christmas and New Years, including a bit of luck. The last two years, we have been fortunate to complete the challenge in the South of France. I just heard the entirety of Northern Europe, and large swaths of the US groan at this fair weather shortcut. But a busy family schedule around this time of year coupled with countless hours of driving, presented their own set of obstacles.

Planning was at the core of this years attempt, as we had backup plans for backup plans, squeezing in a ride anywhere it was possible. In fact, 2017 was the first year we needed every day of the challenge in order to complete it. Our journey would take us to 3 regions around Provence for various family obligations. Some areas we knew well, some we were excited to explore for the first time.

We kicked off the Festive 500 in the Luberon, the heart of Provence. The seasonal mistral, which can torment a rider at times was fortunately absent, replaced instead by lower than normal temperatures. If one had to choose, a few more layers for warmth is much more appealing than a soul draining headwind!

Festive 500 Luberon Day 1

Download Day 1 GPX

Festive 500 Luberon Day 2

Download Day 2 GPX

This is quintessential Provence. Hopping from one cliff-perched village to the next, we visited dormant vineyards and lavender fields which give this area its unparalleled beauty in the warmer months. The muted tones however took nothing away from the quality of the Luberon roads nestled in the shadow of the Ventoux, capped in snow and ice and stoic in the distance. Knocking out these first days are important to establishing a rhythm for the multi-day effort.

Our next family appointment was in Nice, along the Côte d’Azur, where we were hoping to get the feeling back in our fingers and toes. Unfortunately, the cold followed us for this section of the trip as well. The mistral also made a return as did some soggy weather. We did manage to catch a sunny ride on Day 4 and tackled the incredible slopes of the Col de Vence on Day 5. Overcast skies couldn’t dampen how much fun this mountain was. I am still wondering why it took me so long to have a go on it. I believe as of this writing, it is my favorite climb and descent not just in Provence, but maybe ever. A lunar and skree lined ascent morph into a descent with a pine tree canopy before winding you through the sinuous and breathtaking Gorges du Loup. It is a bucket list climb to say the least.

Festive 500 Nice Day 3

Download Day 3 GPX

Festive 500 Nice Day 4

Download Day 4 GPX

Festive 500 Nice Day 5

Download Day 5 GPX

We left the coast and made our way back inland to wrap up the challenge, and the year, on the outskirts of Aix-en-Provence. We plotted a number of shorter days, and found some terrific hidden gems that seem to have been forgotten on Strava heatmaps. Including a vicious Belgianesque berg near our house with pitches near 20 percent!

The finale of a Festive 500 should come with a celebration, not only of the achievement, but the year you are leaving behind. There was no better place to end our campaign than at the top of the Montagne Sainte-Victoire. A towering limestone massif which keeps watch over Aix-en-Provence and the surrounding region. Though not the highest, or most difficult climb to be had, the Sainte-Victoire Massif is an iconic piece of Provence. Unmistakable in its profile as documented by the likes of Cezanne and Picasso, who lived out his final years on the mountain.

Festive 500 Aix-en-Provence Day 6

Download Day 6 GPX

Festive 500 Aix-en-Provence Day 7

Download Day 7 GPX

It is also a perfect place to look ahead to our future and adventures in Provence. 2018 will be a new chapter for L’Equipe Provence, as we again bring a team to train in the region this Spring. We will also be growing the site to share more rides, more photos, more stories and more Provence! We will also be launching some very exciting products which we hope capture the spirit of this part of the world like never before. But before all of that, lets just enjoy the view 🙂

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