Pricing:Price per rider: AUD 2,880 (approx EUR 1,780 / USD 1,990)Price per supporter: AUD 2,080 (approx EUR 1,285 / USD 1,440)Limited to 26 guestsStay for More, Save MorePlanning to join us for more than one program? Save when you combine programs:Book 2 programs: save AUD 300 per personBook 3 programs: save AUD 450 per personThe discount is applied once per person to the combined booking when booking two or more 2027 World Championships packages.(Guests travelling combining the Pre-Gran Fondo Retreat and the Gran Fondo Premium program receive a further discount of AUD 250 per person as they start their new program on the afternoon of 19 August)Inclusions:5 nights’ double/twin-share accommodation at Hotel La Montagne, La ClusazDaily breakfast and 3-course dinnerReturn transfers between Annecy Train Station and La ClusazRiders: 5 supported group rides, with GPX files, ride snacksRiders: Dedicated mechanic and support crew throughout the tourSupporters: Semnoz and Annecy visit Optional extras:Single share supplement: AUD 1,145Pre- and post-tour accommodation: Pricing & availability on requestBike rental: Pricing on requestTransfers outside scheduled group timings or locations: Pricing on request​Deposit: 30% of total cost due on confirmationBalance due: 60 days prior to travelAll packages and tours are subject to availability at time of booking. Rates are subject to change until bookings are confirmed and deposits received. Full terms and conditions are provided at time of booking, including payment schedule, cancellation & change fees, and general terms of service.​ Guests are required to complete a participation waiver which will be provided at time of booking.

Hotel La Montagne has been selected for its classic Alpine character and exceptional location. Situated beside the main roundabout in the centre of the finish village for the Time Trial and Gran Fondo courses, the hotel offers the perfect place to prepare ahead of race week.​The hotel features comfortable, generously sized rooms, along with a restaurant and relaxed bar area with a pool table — an ideal place to unwind and spend time with team mates and friends after a day in the Alps.​Just a short walk from the hotel is the village’s excellent aquatic centre, featuring a sauna, hammam, gym and water slides. The local supermarket and a selection of restaurants and cafés are also within easy walking distance, making it easy to pick up supplies or enjoy some time away from the team program.

Group arrival:Arrive in La Clusaz and settle into Hotel La MontagneThe afternoon is free to unpack, recover from your journey and explore the villageRiders:Our mechanic team will be on hand for bike assembly, set-up and post-flight troubleshootingAn optional warm-up ride (25km & 250m+) will take place at 4:00pmEvening:Welcome Dinner at the hotel — meet the support crew and fellow guests, plus hear about the week of riding, exploring and relaxing to come

Riders:Begin the week with a supported ride exploring the roads and climbs around La Clusaz and the AravisThe route will be selected to provide a good introduction to the region while building some useful riding volume ahead of the World ChampionshipsRide at your own comfortable pace, with regrouping points and support from the vehicle throughoutFocus: Alpine riding · Endurance · Exploring the AravisSupporters:La Clusaz is home to a range of experiences including spa and wellness, gondola rides, hiking and more. The Higher Ground support team will be in touch ahead of the event to coordinate different experiences for our non-riding guests based on personal interestsAll guests:Guests are invited to head to the Aquatic Centre for post-ride recovery activities and relaxation, or to enjoy time at leisure in the villageEvening:Group dinner at the hotel and a relaxed evening

Riders:A supported ride incorporating selected sections of the 2027 Gran and Medio Fondo routesThe emphasis is on becoming familiar with key terrain that will be useful on race day — climbs, descents, road characteristics and important sections of the parcoursFocus: Course familiarity · Key climbs · Descents · Race-day preparationAll guests:Recovery time at the aquatic centre, or in La Clusaz along with time to put the feet up for further relaxationEvening:Group dinner at the hotel

ITT Competitors:For those competing in the TT, join your ride hosts for a recon of the TT courseDescend 12km down the course directly from the hotel before a break in the start village of ThonesAt your own pace, ride the course through to the finish in the Place de l'Eglise, La ClusazThe ride is focused on learning the sustained climb that is the TT so that come race day you can ride steady and finish strongRiders:A change of scenery takes us towards Lake Annecy for one of the most scenic rides of the week and an opportunity to take the mind off the race aheadThe route will take in sections around the lake and into the Semnoz area hills. Riders can expect a combination of lakeside roads, steady climbing, alpine meadows and spectacular views across Lake Annecy We'll also spend time in Annecy, with an opportunity to stop for coffee or lunch and enjoy the atmosphere and beauty of the historic lakeside city Focus: Freshening up the mindSupporters:Our non-riding guests will be invited to join the visit to the Semnoz and Annecy region, taking in the stunning views, visiting local producers and time to relax and explore in Annecy Evening:Dinner at the hotel

Riders:The final morning ride will be selected around the needs of the group and the programmes that follow, providing an opportunity for some further course reconThe ride will be relatively controlled, with riders free to choose their own pace and distance.A shorter or more relaxed option will be available for those beginning to reduce their workload ahead of race weekAll guests:After the ride, return to Hotel La Montagne for lunch, recovery and an afternoon at leisure.Guests continuing into the Gran Fondo Premium Experience will transfer to Talloires and Hotel Les Grillons during the afternoonGuests staying for the Essentials programme (or moving onto own arrangements) remain at Hotel La Montagne and have the afternoon free to relax, prepare their bikes and settle into the next stage of the World Championship programmeEvening:Premium guests: Welcome dinner at Les GrillonsEssentials and guests moving onto own arrangements: Dinner at Hotel La Montagne

All guests:The tour program concludes following breakfastA rest day, or self-guided ride is on offer with the transition across to the Essentials programTransfers to Annecy Train Station are available for guests not staying on in La Clusaz

In 2027, the French Alps will become the centre of the cycling world.The UCI Cycling World Championships bring an extraordinary range of cycling disciplines together across Haute-Savoie from 24 August to 5 September. More than 15,000 athletes are expected to compete for 288 World Championship titles across 20 disciplines — from Road, Gran Fondo and Mountain Bike to Gravel, BMX, Track, Trials, Para-Cycling, E-sports and Indoor Cycling.It is far more than a single World Championship. For almost two weeks, the entire region becomes one huge celebration of cycling, with world-class competition taking place against some of the most spectacular scenery in the French Alps.Road, Gran Fondo — and everything in betweenFor road cyclists, the opportunity is particularly special. Amateur riders can compete for their own World Championship in the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships, taking on the spectacular roads and climbs around Thônes and La Clusaz.Then the world's best professionals arrive, with the UCI Road World Championships centred around Sallanches and the legendary Côte de Domancy — the same climb where Bernard Hinault won the 1980 World Championship.But the Super Worlds extends well beyond road cycling.Mountain bike racing takes centre stage at Les Gets, including Cross-country, Enduro and, most spectacularly, Downhill. Gravel heads to Châtel and the Portes du Soleil, while BMX, Trials, Pump Track and other disciplines bring their own unique style and atmosphere to venues throughout the region.Don't miss the DownhillFor cycling fans, the UCI Mountain Bike Downhill World Championships at Les Gets are likely to be one of the most spectacular events of the entire Super Worlds.Elite Downhill World Championship racing is scheduled for 27 August 2027, with the junior championships taking place the day before.Downhill is cycling at its most raw and spectacular. Riders hurtle down the mountain at extraordinary speeds, navigating steep gradients, jumps, technical sections and changing terrain, with the smallest mistake capable of deciding a World Championship.And unlike a road race that can disappear down the road in seconds, a mountain bike course creates an incredible atmosphere for spectators. You can get close to the action, hear the crowd, see the riders attacking the course and experience the intensity of a World Championship unfolding right in front of you.It is a completely different side of cycling — and that's what makes the Super Worlds so compelling.You can spend one day riding the legendary Alpine roads yourself, the next watching the world's best road cyclists fight for the rainbow jersey, and then experience the speed and adrenaline of Downhill at Les Gets.This is not simply a cycling holiday built around a race.It is an opportunity to experience cycling in all its forms, in one of the world's great cycling regions, while the world's biggest cycling event is taking place around you.

Higher Ground have a dedicated team of guides & mechanics based in Europe year-round that help design our programs and host our guests. Their local knowledge and love of what they do ensure that all our guests have a truly memorable experience and are immersed in great rides, incredible scenery and the local culture.The tour is managed by Will Maley from HGTE, Will has been running tours to the biggest cycling events in the world since 2010 and also spent three years managing the contracting, accommodation, flights, and on-ground experiences for all the men's and women's WorldTour teams competing at the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race.

Group rides and supporter activities will primarily take place in the morning, allowing free time for recovery & rest, enjoying the aquatic centre and exploring La Clusaz and the surrounding region during the afternoon.​Daily group rides are indicative only. Final ride details will be confirmed following review of the group size and composition. ​The program is designed around building on the fitness that you have developed at home, whilst also giving you the opportunity to learn the roads of the races and arrive to race feeling confident and ready. The ride routes will also take you away from the race course at times to keep the mind fresh, and just to enjoy some of the amazing roads of the region! All rides are optional. Guests may choose to shorten their ride via the support vehicle, or take the day off the bike depending on how they are feeling and their individual race preparation. Please note, if guests are riding independently of the group, mechanical and host support will not be present and guests will need to be self-sufficient as phone coverage can be limited.​Hosted rides will be supported by our riding and support vehicle team. They will generally be conducted at a comfortable pace, with the likelihood of sub-groups on climbs and longer rides to accommodate the mix of Gran Fondo and Medio Fondo riders, individual abilities and race goals.​Along the way, we'll incorporate a coffee stop, and regrouping where appropriate.​

Bringing your own bike:Our mechanic team is there to assist with bike set-up and on-site mechanical support for assembly, tuning, troubleshooting and base level repairs and maintenance. More complex repairs are subject to time available and the availability of parts (cost additional). Guests are recommended to bring their own spares such as hangers, chains, cables, tyres, tubes, bar tape, lube, hydraulic fluid and the like as the mechanic is not able to carry the breadth of parts required for all different bike types and bike shops in the area are quite limited.Bike rental:We have been working with Gippo Bike in Tuscany for over 10 years and their team provide both mechanical services and rental bikes for our tour programs. Gippo Bike offer a range of high quality rental bike options. Please contact us for further information. BYO bike versus Rental:Our recommendation is typically to get a rental bike as the hassle of lugging a bike around airports & train stations, the risk of damage, and often the extra baggage costs make the ease of the Gippo team turning up with a quality bike to suit very appealing and cost effective. We appreciate that for those competing at the Gran Fondo Worlds, having your own bike that you have trained on and are comfortable with will likely outweigh the hassles and is likely the best choice for you. Please do ensure that you have plenty of spares to suit though as sourcing parts can take time and the last thing you want is to miss out on an epic ride over a snapped hanger.Whichever you choose, we are happy to accommodate your preference and will support you with either.

Arrival TransfersTransfers will be provided from Annecy Train Station (pick-ups available from 12pm)Departure TransfersA group transfer is available from the hotel at 9:30am to Annecy Train Station (for trains departing from 11am) Guests transferring to the Gran Fondo Premium program will be transferred to Hotel Les Grillons on the afternoon of 19 August.Transfers outside of the scheduled times and locations are available. Please contact us for options and pricing.

An awesome experience on a cycling tour for the 2026 Gran Fondo World Championships in Niseko, Japan. My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed our stay. Will and the team were great. Highly recommend.— Jason SmithEverything was so well organised from start to finish, which made the whole experience easy and stress-free. Will was always helpful, responsive and went above and beyond to make sure everything ran smoothly.”— Debbie Taylor“From months out the communication was on point… In Niseko, we had great accommodation, mechanics that went above and beyond, shuttle buses, course recons, team dinners, and once again — great communication. I always felt informed, prepared, and if there was an issue with anything, they sorted it out promptly.”— Michael TurnbullThis was the smoothest tour I've experienced. Everything worked and it all appeared to work flawlessly. You have built yourself something that will be hard to better— Col Howkins (Gold Medal Winner - ITT, Niseko Japan)“Having the support takes the stress away knowing you are being kept informed of everything that is going on. A huge thank you to Will and the team for everything you did to make it a seamless experience.”— Glenda Signorini (2x Silver Medal Winner - ITT & Road, Niseko Japan)A really excellent experience on our trip to Siena - calm competent professionalism and flexibility from all staff - Will especially - careful planning, superb support in terms of cycles, support vehicles, and mechanical assistance meant everyone could relax and enjoy the cycling, culture and fantastic food. Top marks from us.— Andrew FritchiePlease find further reviews here