Bike Odyssey, 356 WOODHILL MOUNTAIN Road, Broughton Vale (2026)

05/09/2026

Today we rode deep into the heart of Barolo country. 🍷🚴‍♂️

Rolling through the spectacular Langhe hills, we climbed and descended through vineyards, medieval villages and hilltop castles, with breathtaking views unfolding around every bend.

From La Morra to Barolo, this was Piedmont at its most beautiful. And after a day surrounded by some of Italy’s finest vineyards, there was only one way to finish: with a glass of Barolo.

How would you describe Barolo, you ask?

Barolo is one of Italy’s most celebrated red wines, made from the Nebbiolo grape in Piedmont’s Langhe region. Known for its distinctive aromas of rose and tar, it is renowned for its elegance, complexity and ability to age, developing a beautiful brick-red hue over time. By law, Barolo must mature for at least 38 months, including 18 months in wood, before release.

Salut! 🍷

04/09/2026

When we created Highlights of Hannibal, our revised Hannibal Odyssey, we deliberately changed the pace. Instead of following our familiar point-to-point route, we selected four exceptional regions and chose the very best riding in each.

And rather than packing up and moving to a new hotel every night, we settled in for three or four nights at a time.

We wondered how our guests would feel about the change.

The response has been extraordinary.

There is something deeply indulgent about slowing down. Riding magnificent roads with complete focus, then returning to the same beautiful hotel each evening. Long lunches. Exceptional food and wine. Time to relax. Time to recover. And, most importantly, no suitcase to pack.

Even our transfer days have become some of the most anticipated days of the Hannibal Odyssey. Unhurried journeys through spectacular landscapes, fascinating places to stop along the way, and the luxury of simply enjoying the day. Some guests have gone so far as to call them the BEST DAYS.

Today was one of them.

To Italy we go.

Our final stop in France was Briançon, where a private guided walk introduced us to Vauban’s extraordinary UNESCO-listed fortifications, rising dramatically above the Alpine valleys.

Then across the border and into Piedmont.

Lunch in La Morra, surrounded by the rolling vineyards of Barolo country, before continuing to our beautiful hilltop retreat in Monforte d’Alba.

Here, the Alps give way to vineyards, medieval villages and one of Italy’s great gastronomic regions.

Barolo. Nebbiolo. White truffles. Hazelnuts. Slow Food. Long lunches.

And, of course, Italian coffee.

Now this feels like an Odyssey.

Want to join us next year for this extraordinary journey? Go to our website - link in bio.

03/09/2026

Day 9 Hannibal Odyssey - COL DU GALIBIER

Today was not just a ride. It was a journey into cycling mythology.

From La Grave, we climbed the Romanche Valley toward Col du Lautaret, the road winding steadily upward beneath towering glaciers and vast alpine meadows. At 2,058m, Lautaret is impressive in its own right, but it is only the beginning.

Then the road narrows, the landscape becomes wilder, and the legendary Col du Galibier rises ahead.

8.5km. 7% average. 2,642m above sea level.

First conquered by the Tour de France in 1911, Galibier has become one of the most revered climbs in cycling. Only three riders made it to the summit without walking that first time.

More than a century later, we followed in their tyre tracks.

At the summit, the world opens into an immense panorama of the Écrins and beyond. The Henri Desgrange monument stands as a reminder of the mountain’s extraordinary place in Tour history.

And this is no ordinary summit. When Andy Schleck won here in 2011, it became the highest summit finish in Tour de France history. He described Galibier perfectly: “You just go up and it’s like you’re riding into the sky.”

Today, we rode into that sky.

Then came the reward. A thrilling descent from Galibier to Lautaret, followed by a glorious run all the way back to La Grave.

One legendary mountain. One unforgettable day. One very big tick on the Hannibal Odyssey.

Want to join us next year? Go to the link in bio!

02/09/2026

This day was nothing short of ALPINE EPIC.

We rolled out from legendary La Grave, dwarfed by the colossal 3,984m La Meije and its shimmering glacier, before plunging into the spectacular Romanche Valley towards Bourg d’Oisans.

Then the road turned skyward.

ALPE D’HUEZ

21 legendary hairpins. 13.8km of climbing. An average gradient of 8.1%. Every switchback steeped in Tour de France history, with the views becoming more spectacular with every turn.

At the summit, a well-earned lunch stop was the perfect reward. Good food, mountain views and time to savour what we had just conquered.

But for those still hungry for adventure, there was more.

Over the wild and remote Col de Sarenne at 1,999m, through high alpine meadows, past wandering cows and whistling marmots, with jagged peaks stretching endlessly in every direction.

Then a breathtaking descent through the high pastures and back towards La Grave.

Wow! Doesn’t get more legendary than that!

01/09/2026

A very special afternoon at Bistrot André in Valence. Anne-Sophie Pic ❤️

Our guests’ verdict? Absolute perfection.

Part of the legendary Maison Pic, Bistrot André pays tribute to André Pic, Anne-Sophie Pic’s grandfather and an important figure in French gastronomy, while celebrating the culinary heritage of the Pic family.

Stepping inside feels like entering a world of timeless French elegance. Warm, intimate and beautifully refined, with treasured family photographs and memories creating a wonderful sense of history and place.

And then there is the food. Beautifully presented French bistro classics, elevated with the precision and creativity synonymous with the Pic name. Exceptional Rhône Valley wines, impeccable service and that wonderfully unhurried French approach to lunch made the afternoon feel like a true occasion.

For our guests, it was the perfect combination of exquisite food, beautiful surroundings, outstanding hospitality and relaxed luxury.

A heartfelt thank you to the team at Bistrot André for giving our guests such a memorable afternoon.

Absolute perfection. ✨

01/09/2026

Day 7 - Provence to The French Alps

Yesterday was a spectacular transition from Provence into the heart of the Alps.

Before breakfast, a few keen riders slipped out of Mazan at 6:30am for an optional early morning ride. The sleepy Provençal roads rolled gently through vineyards and charming hamlets, with the warm scent of lavender and wild herbs in the air. The road soon steepened towards Le Roc Alric, winding through narrow, shaded lanes clinging to the rugged Dentelles de Montmirail.

Reaching the perched village felt like a fitting reward, a tiny stone jewel surrounded by dramatic limestone peaks. Then came the sweeping descent towards Beaumes-de-Venise, with magnificent views across the Rhône Valley and its famous Muscat vineyards. A peaceful return through olive groves and cypress-lined lanes brought everyone back to Mazan just in time for breakfast.

Then, into the mountains we go!

But first, a truly magnificent French bistro experience in Valence at one of our favourites, André. Beautiful surroundings, exceptional food and that unmistakable French joie de vivre made the perfect pause before continuing our journey north.

As Provence faded behind us, the landscape transformed dramatically. The Alps rose ahead, their immense valleys, rugged peaks and snow-dusted summits stretching across France, Switzerland and Italy.

This is mountain country. A playground for hikers and climbers in summer and one of Europe’s great destinations for skiing and snowboarding in winter.

And now, it’s our turn to experience these magnificent mountains from the saddle.

31/08/2026

Day 6 - Mont Ventoux

Yesterday was the ride we came to Provence for. The legendary, magnificent and utterly imposing Mont Ventoux. The Giant of Provence.

From the charming village of Bédoin, we rolled through idyllic vineyards and peaceful Provençal countryside before the road began to rise. Then came the forest. Long ramps twisted through the dark, dense oaks and pines.

And then, suddenly, the trees vanished.

Chalet Reynard marked the beginning of another world. Above us, the extraordinary lunar landscape of Ventoux stretched toward the stark white summit. Barren limestone, endless blue sky and that infamous Mistral wind created a wild, otherworldly scene.

The final switchbacks were tough, dramatic and breathtaking. At 1,909m, the summit delivered spectacular panoramic views stretching from the distant Alps to the shimmering Mediterranean.

A quick photo, an extra layer and then one of cycling’s most exhilarating descents.

The road plunges down the northern face toward Malaucène, with sweeping bends, dramatic valleys and thrilling, fast-flowing roads. From there, we meandered through gorgeous vineyards and olive groves to the beautiful hilltop village of Crillon-le-Brave, where a long, leisurely lunch came with an unforgettable view back to the mountain we had just conquered.

A spectacular mountain. An epic climb. An exhilarating descent. An unforgettable Provençal day.

Highlights of Hannibal - we weren’t kidding!

30/08/2026

After a day travelling from Girona to Provence, we wake to another incredible ride.

From the charming village of Mazan, we roll east through vineyards towards the spectacular Gorges de la Nesque. The road climbs gently into a wild landscape of towering white limestone cliffs, deep ravines and sweeping views. With almost no traffic, it’s just the quiet hum of wheels, the occasional hawk overhead and one breathtaking viewpoint after another.

Then it’s on to Sault, surrounded by Provence’s famous lavender fields, before descending through sun-drenched countryside to Venasque, one of France’s most beautiful villages. Medieval walls, golden stone houses and ancient towers make this a perfect place to pause for an ice cream or a glass of rosé beneath the plane trees.

The final kilometres roll through olive groves and vineyards, with the late afternoon sun turning everything golden and Mont Ventoux standing majestically above it all.

Pure Provence. Pure cycling magic.

30/08/2026

Thank you to Hotel Nord 1901 Girona for three wonderful nights in the heart of Girona.

From the moment we arrived, we felt genuinely welcomed and completely at home. The beautiful rooms, tranquil garden and pool, and the hotel’s perfect location made it an exceptional place to begin our Girona adventure.

What made our stay truly special, though, was the warmth and personal attention of the team. Every detail was thoughtfully taken care of, creating the perfect balance of comfort, character and understated luxury.

After days spent exploring Girona by bike, returning to Nord 1901 felt like coming home.

Thank you for looking after us so beautifully.

28/08/2026

Day 3 on Highlights of Hannibal - Rocacorba

Today’s ride had a choice.

Rolling out from the cycling heartland of Girona, we traced quiet country roads through fields and rolling Catalan farmland to the shimmering blue waters of Banyoles. Coffee by the lake, then the decision.

La Mota or Rocacorba?

La Mota offered a beautiful, tranquil ride home through peaceful rural Catalonia.

Rocacorba offered something rather different.

Steep, winding and brutally beautiful, this legendary climb has become a proving ground for the world’s best riders. Double-digit ramps, dense forest and switchbacks that seem to keep biting just when you find your rhythm.

It’s a climb that leaves nowhere to hide.

At the summit, though, comes the reward. A thrilling descent through the forest before rejoining the quiet roads back to Girona.

Two choices. One beautiful day in the cycling heartland of Catalonia.

Oh! And one of the best cycling shops in Girona!

Bike Odyssey

05/09/2026

04/09/2026

03/09/2026

02/09/2026

01/09/2026

01/09/2026

31/08/2026

30/08/2026

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28/08/2026

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