In Puy Saint Vincent, in the middle of the Ecrins Massif, lies mountain hotel Saint Roch. This hotel is run by outdoor sports and cycling enthusiasts. And they work here for good reason, as the Ecrins is known as one of the most beautiful natural parks in France. Add the Col du Galibier, Col d'Izoard, Col Agnel and the Col du Granon in the immediate vicinity and your cycling holiday is complete.

The hotel is located in the sunny southern French Alps, a few kilometres from Briançon. This is worth noting, because unlike the other sides of the Alps, the sun shines here more than 300 days a year. No wonder this hotel is annually the base for active winter and summer holidays.

The hotel's surroundings are wonderfully beautiful and scream to be explored on a bicycle. This Collection features 15 diverse Tours, with rides over the most famous cols, such as the Galibier, Izoard, Agnel, the Bonette and the Italian Finestre. Conquer the Alpine cols and follow in the footsteps of great Tour winners such as Anquetil and Hinault, Merckx and Zoetemelk, who all wrote cycling history here.

But there is so much more to discover here. For it is precisely the smallest and quietest roads that are the most fun to cycle. Take, for example, the bike ride to one of the three valleys around Puy Saint Vincent. The route takes you to the heart of the Ecrins, where nature is at its most beautiful. You only really feel that you exist when you climb up Pre Madame Carle and are surrounded by snow-capped 4,000-metre peaks, giant glaciers and roaring rivers. Or how about touring Lac de Serre Ponçon, with numerous panoramic views of this azure-blue reservoir.

Apart from mountains and nature, you will also come across culinary highlights in this Collection. So you combine your cycling trips with visits to the tastiest restaurants, boulangeries, ice cream shops and cafés for coffee and cake. Because you can count on cycling towns like Briançon, Embrun, Guillestre, Barcelonnette and Bardonecchia to take care of your inner man. And of course, no cycling collection is complete without a proper Coffee Ride. Santé!

Finally, some practical notices. Always make sure you have enough warm and windproof clothing with you. Especially if you plan to ride one of the cols. Always check the weather forecast, because there are days you would rather not be on top of the Galibier. Obviously, make sure you have enough food and drink. In addition, there are many opportunities to refill water. Also, almost every village has fountains where you can tap delicious mountain water.

Hotel Saint Roch is open from June to September and December to April. The hotel features spacious rooms, sauna, jacuzzi, swimming pool and a sunny terrace. Chef Anne Pekelharing prepares a feast on your plate in the kitchen: local, nutritious and colourful. Moreover, the team is cycling- and route-savvy, so you really only have to think about cycling itself.