Where to Ride from Nice – Getting High on the Bonette
It’s a lesser-known fact that ‘Europe’s Highest Road’ is within reach from the Café HQ on Nice’s Old Port. Two entirely different worlds within a short drive, or a longer self-made Audax if you want to go Beach to the Bonette
This ride is based on a 1.5 hour drive up the Tinée valley, to the town of Saint-Etienne-de-Tinée. Join the climb directly from the village and get ready for a day of zero flat riding by climbing and descending both sides of the mountain, each at 24km long.
Descend the north side and do a ‘démi-tour’ in Jausiers to climb the northern side. Open pastures and slightly more gentle gradients become steeper sections and Rocky Mountain-esque cliff faces that lead to the ‘Café 2,000m’. Take this chance to re-group before the difficult section to Lac de Eissaupres that marks the beginning of the last quarter of the climb. At the col, summon the energy to make the extra 1km steep climb to the Cime. Marvel at the panorama in front of you which will make the debate about whether this is actually the highest road in Europe seem inconsequential.
KEY KIT
Going this high it’s important to pack a jacket. Suzette is a light and packable yet fully water-proof cycling jacket to provide outer shell protection against high mountain weather possibilities.
2 - RENT AND RIDE
Travel light and book your bike. We offer a range of rental bikes, the R5 Cervelo road bike and the Aspero Cervelo gravel bike along with titanium road bikes from French marque Leon. Each bike is complete with pedals, tool bag and rear light while, if needed, each rental can also include Specialized shoes and helmet.
3 - THE CAFÉ
Located on the Old Port, our café is the prefect pre and post-ride meeting place. With some routes that begin almost outside, excellent coffee and a full range of our clothing collections for men and women. There are weekly rides as well if you’d like to discover riding on the Cote D’Azur with like minded companions.
When the ville of Nice decided to use #nicecyclingparadise to promote the grand depart of the 2020 Tour de France, there was definite method in the madness. If Paradise Lost has over ten thousand lines of verse, this cycling paradise found has almost as many routes, roads, stretches, views, climbs, cols, lacets, stops and starting points. Enough at least to satisfy even the most discerning cyclist.
NISSA ALL-ROAD
Linking two classic Alpes-Maritimes cols via a gravel ridge-line ride on a loop that takes you from portside to the heart of the mountains and back again.
MONT CHAUVE
Mont Chauve, known as Nice’s ‘bald mountain’, proves that nature constructed one of the best viewpoints the city has to offer.
Braus & Turini
Time to get serious. A ride that includes two of the majestic cols from our Montagnes a la Carte series and typical of what makes riding from Nice such an intoxicating mixture of pleasure and pain.
Gilette & Bonson
The extraordinary back country of Nice opens up behind the coast and this ride provides easy access. Enough climbing to be a challenge without being too daunting.
Éze & Madone
One of the classic rides of the region, which takes in two legendary climbs and hits you with a 10% slope right at the start. Ride out from our Café in Nice, take on the challenge and return to claim your badges.
DURANUS & SAINT BLAISE
Head up the valley to where three rivers meet, climb higher still and take the time to look around.
Mortola
Ride a portion of the famous F1 Grand Prix course in Monte Carlo, and then climb out towards Menton, the last town in France, and over the border. It may be short but it includes two countries and into one principality.
Vence
It includes a col from our Montaignes a la Carte series as well as unforgettable views and a route away from the madding crowds. Climb the side of the Var valley and over to the pretty artists’ town of Vence itself.
ESTEREL & ADRETS
The Esterel coast road starting from Théoule-sur-Mer is beautiful, winding through secluded coves and up and down into pretty village ports.
CAP D'ANTIBES
A Cote d’Azur roll-out that hugs the sea and arrives at one of the region’s most well-known towns.
Our Badges
To celebrate the local climbs and the roads we ride, we created a badge for each of our local cols, collected together in our Montagne à la Carte series. After that we raised our eyes and we added badges for some of the world's iconic climbs, creating our Montagnes du Monde series.
Ride the climb and claim the badge. From Col d'Eze on our doorstep to Alpe d’Huez, Wuling, Koppenberg and beyond.
