Event recap · CycleSummit 2022

Chambéry

8–11 October 2022 · Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes (FR)

Back together, bigger than ever.

After two years shaped by the pandemic, the cycling travel business was booming again – “luckily we’re so busy, it’s almost better than 2019” was the sentence of that late summer. CycleSummit 2022 brought the community to Chambéry in the French Alps, a town of art and history with Italian influence, between Lac du Bourget, the Bauges mountains and the vineyards of Savoie.

Hosted by Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Tourisme and Grand Chambéry Alpes Tourisme, it was announced as the biggest CycleSummit so far: a ride to Aix-les-Bains, a boat across the lake to Chanaz, wine in Jongieux, a regional evening at La Base and two business days at Le Manège.

When

Sat 8 – Tue 11 October 2022

Marketplace

Le Manège, Chambéry

Participants

84 companies

Hosts

Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Tourisme · Grand Chambéry Alpes Tourisme

Day by day

Lake, canal and vineyards.

Saturday · Oct

Arrival and Le Savoyard

Participants checked in at the Mercure, Hôtel des Princes and Le Cinq, a bus brought the arrivals from Geneva airport, and a short guided walk through the old town of Chambéry ended at the restaurant Le Savoyard for an informal dinner.

Sunday · Oct

By bike and boat to Chanaz

In groups of ten everyone cycled 21 flat kilometres from Chambéry to Aix-les-Bains, with a coffee at the Grand Port. A boat then crossed the 18 km long Lac du Bourget and the Canal de Savières to Chanaz – while the CycleSummit team introduced all participants on board – followed by a French lunch at L’Écluse.

Sunday afternoon

Vineyards of Jongieux

A short bus ride led to the vineyards of Jongieux, explored on foot, and to the Château de la Mar, a 13th-century manor house, for a tasting of the local wines.

Sunday evening

Regional evening at La Base

The summit officially opened at La Base in the city centre with speeches by Fabrice Pannekoucke, President of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Tourisme, and the European Cyclists’ Federation, followed by a cocktail reception with local products.

Monday · Oct

Business day 1 and Domaine des Saints Pères

The first business day at Le Manège, opposite La Base, was all about 1:1 meetings – no pre-scheduled appointments, no workshops, no time pressure. In the evening a bus took everyone into the hills above Chambéry for sunset drinks and dinner at Domaine des Saints Pères.

Tuesday · Oct

Business day 2 and farewell

The meetings continued until the farewell speeches and the group picture in the foyer of Le Manège, lunch – and the buses to Geneva and the FamTrips.

The host region

Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, an outdoor playground.

French Alps, Rhône valley and the volcanoes of Auvergne: 16 cycle routes and greenways with more than 2,500 km of itineraries, the ViaRhôna (EuroVelo 17), more than 100 mountain passes from the Tour de France – Alpe d’Huez, Iseran, Galibier – and around 70 mountain bike areas.

Region

Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Tourisme

The regional tourism agency, positioning Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes as a European destination of excellence for cycling – with the ViaRhôna, the Via Allier, the V70, the Dolce Via and the great Alpine crossings.

Host

Grand Chambéry Alpes Tourisme

Chambéry Montagnes: 500 km of prepared cycling routes, the EuroVelo routes V62 and V63, the Bauges UNESCO Global Geopark and France’s largest natural lake, Lac du Bourget – less than three hours from Paris by TGV.

Partner

Savoie Mont Blanc

The tourist board for Savoie and Haute-Savoie, two thirds of the French Alps – from the shores of the Lakes Annecy, Geneva and Bourget to the high passes, with almost 300 “Accueil Vélo” partners.