RIDE OF THE MONTH : AUGUST The Secret Vésubie Climbs Dead end climbs are often overlooked and undervalued. Until you try them. Sure, cols are beautiful and going over the top gives a real sensation of conquering a mountain. Not to mention the practicality of linking one valley to the other. But. Maybe that is the beauty of the dead-end climb – it’s not for practicality but rather for the sheer hell of it. And experience shows, at least here in the Alpes-Maritimes, that actually they are some of the most interesting ascensions to be found. August’s ride of the month is one such folly. So we go back towards the Turini, the location of June’s Tour de France themed ride of the month and base ourselves further up the Vesubie valley in Saint-Martin-Vésubie. Saint-Martin-Vésubie is also known as the Suisse Niçois. It has long been a base camp town for alpinists, who are to thank for the first climb because it goes to La Madone de Fenestre. You may confuse that name for ‘fenêtre’ - the French word for window - but that would not be inappropriate. The top of this road offers a window view into the heights of the Mercantour National Park. First you have to get up there, and the road to La Madone de Fenestre is described by local riders as one of the sternest tests. As is often the case, the statistics don’t tell the full story. After leaving the town and being lulled into a false-flat sense of security, the road suddenly goes straight. And up. And up. A constant 10% average is noticeable. The only sensory distraction is the sound of the Vésubie river crashing beside you. It’s maybe because the road follows the river route so strictly that it’s difficult – the path of least resistance on the way down must mean the opposite for the way up? Breathing is… heavy. Criss-crossing the river, past landslides and through the alpine firs, you eventually pass a sign near the top to indicate you are entering the Mercantour National Park. Magic is just around the corner. After a couple of hairpins, the Refuge de les Madone de Fenestre comes into view. Not only is there a refuge, but also a chapel and an old hotel, now used as a communal base by randonneurs and alpinists who explore peaks that form an amphitheater above. The age of the group of buildings is a hint of the pioneering of the past when Count Victor de Cessole, the ‘inventor of the Alpes-Maritimes’ and his friends were the first to climb to the top of each of the Mercantour’s major peaks. Reach the top, stop and look up. Green disappears and is replaced by grey. If it’s a sunny but cloudy day the light and shadows dapple the granite peaks for a mountain view as good as you’ll get anywhere in the alps. There is a café at the far end of the refuge. Stop for an Orangina because you might need it for the second climb of the day. Back down the hill to Saint-Martin-Vésubie, then savour the 8km down the valley until you see the sign for Belvedère to the left. You might also notice signs for the Valley des Merveilles – the valley of marvels which holds Europe’s largest quantity of Bronze Age rock carvings. Knowing this adds a certain ambiance to the climb from Belvedère up the Gordolasque valley. It’s a valley known for its wild beauty. Before beauty comes effort. Leaving Belevedère it’s obvious you are on another side valley, dead-end climb as the road is narrow and the traffic is practically non-existent. The trees extend to the adjoining peaks but this road goes above the tree line. There are long fairly straight sections in the 8km, interspersed with a couple of switchbacks, that lead to the Cascade du Ray. Get some freshness from the Gorodolasque river that gives the valley its name, as the water tumbles over the big rocks, and use that to complete the final part of the climb. Pass the Hotel du Grand Capelet, named after one of the peaks above, and which with a bit of attention would not look out of place in a Wes Anderson movie. Picture-perfect chalets dot the last section of winding road that passes the Lac Long reservoir – a French tradition of exploitation of hydro-electricty that you may have noticed on the first climb. The end of the road is at the ‘Parking du Contet’, which is the depart for randonneurs in this valley. There is a bridge just beyond the car park where fly fishing and river swimming are possible – just cast your lines first before you scare the fish away by diving in. The valley almost resembles the American Rockies. Although this is a wild, lesser known climb it has some notoriety. Between Belvedère to here that they filmed the famous 1960s French TV show, Belle & Sebastien about the boy and his beloved Pyreneean mountain dog. It gained cult status, not least because of being shot in its authentic location and you can visit the ‘Cabane de Belle & Sebastien’ which is a mere 10 minute walk from the bridge. So when the climbing is done, stand once again at this dead-end road that provides a window on the highest peaks of the Alpes-Maritimes and simply appreciate the view and the fact that you are there by virtue of pedal power. Komoot Route Coffee stop : At the Refuge de la Madone de Fenestre Lunch stop : Saint-Martin-Vesubie has two boulangeries and the Brasserie Les Alpes serves salad, pizza, pasta and a plat du jour. Read about other Rides of the Month and find the perfect route by season. Or discover more details about cycling on the Cote d'Azur with our Riding Guide to Nice.

L’Étape du Tour Guide With Kong Fùfù - #1 COL DE LA COLMIANE L’Étape du Tour is one of the toughest one day challenges many riders will face. It’s the chance to ride the same mountainous parcours as the biggest race in the world, to imagine the pace and power of the peloton on the same roads and afterwards to compare normal rider statistics with the other-worldly performance of the genetically gifted professionals. The 2020 edition has been doubted, debated, postponed and finally re-scheduled. It’s still coming to Nice so for those riding the event (and equally those with wanderlust to come another time) we’ve put together a guide to the three main climbs by past-winner and Alpes-Maritimes cycling expert, Kong Fùfù First up is the Col de la Colmiane , aka the Col Saint-Martin. Kong Fùfù advises that, like any good story, every alpine climb of length has a beginning, a middle and an end. The beginning : “First of all, the ride to this Col is pretty long. Nearly 60kms in the valley means that wise riders will sit in the wheels and conserve energy, especially at the beginning whilst riding in the wider Var valley where the wind blows down from the mountains during early morning. The landscapes become more dramatic as you enter the Tinée valley where the rocks eventually turn to an iron red the deep gorge cuts its way towards the bottom of the climb itself. This Col is a long one at 16km – for most riders it will be around one hour of climbing. To deal with it mentally, you need to break it down into segments. The start is a stern introduction y as you leave the dramatic red rocks that quickly change to grey as you ride through the tunnels in the first few kilometres. After that, the road turns left to point up the valley at the end of which lies the summit. Here it’s important to quickly find a conservative rhythm, which is possible as the gradient stays fairly consistent. Try to find a good group that suits your abilities and take the draft. There is nothing to gain by forcing the pace on the first climb of the day.” The middle : “This climb is punctuated by four villages. Once I pass La Planet I know I’m in the middle section, joining the dots from here to La Bolline, then La Roche and finally Saint-Dalmas. Immediately after the first two towns the gradient goes up to an average of 7.5% - nothing too steep but it’s enough to notice the difference in required effort. Again, it’s not worth expending too much energy here. Towards Saint-Dalmas, the valley opens up and offers great views of the peaks that tower above. At the end of August wind should not be a problem, it normally blows north to south rather than east to west. The end : “Saint-Dalmas is a picturesque medieval town, and after the road squeezes itself through the old stone buildings and around the dominating church spire, the high mountain feeling begins to really kick in. This last section to the col is the most consistent at 6-7%. I previously raced time trials on this section and the non-climbers can compete with lighter riders because it is not too steep, but they use of a lot of energy in doing so. The last two switchbacks of the climb take you in between the fir trees that give that alpine fresh feeling, which is a welcome distraction on the long straight that leads to the summit. As ski stations go, La Colmiane is a small one so before you know it you will be on the descent. The descent is enjoyable as the road is wide and the surface good. Still, there are sections where there is nothing but a small parapet wall between you and a big fall so caution is always advised. Half way down the descent there are spectacular views up to the 3,000m peaks of the Mercantour National Park. Although the descent feels like it finishes in the town of Saint-Martin-Vésubie, in truth it’s downhill almost the whole way to the next climb, the Col de Turini. Clever riders will take advantage of this before what might be regarded as the hardest climb on the route.” Stay tuned for Kong Fùfù’s guide to climb #2, the famous Col de Turini Café du Cycliste have created a badge for each climb of L’Étape du Tour. If you ride it the event you can claim all three badges by visiting the café after the event and presenting a record of your ride. Anyone who has ridden one of the three climbs can also claim a badge here Discover more about Col de la Colmiane here .

THE PERCHED VILLAGES RIDE LOOKBOOK Hopping from hilltop to hilltop, linking the perched villages makes a shark’s teeth parcours that peaks on the remote but remarkable Col St Roch.   See the full ride here See all Rides of the Month

Take Me To The River #4 : Col St Roch If you ride the Route du Soleil in the South of France in July, the writing is on the road. You are going to get hot. Thankfully, freshness is never far away if you keep your eyes peeled and your ears open. Listen for the sound of tumbling water, look for the greens that get greener, spot a few randomly parked cars and, chances are, you're not far away from another Côte d'Azur swim hole. The climb of Col St Roch is a testing 24km climb from Contes, but as we said in July’s Ride of the Month it's a game of two halves. The first half of the Col St Roch is the more gentle one, but also the most exposed. This is where the heat builds, regardless of your lightweight cycling jersey built for the Fournaise, such as the Fleurette. The swim hole comes after the roller-coaster of descents and short climbs after passing through Coaraze village and is accessible just after the bridge at the base of a tough climb to the Col itself. In road cycling, it's often tempting to push on. Road bikes are fast and encourage speed. But as a wise man once said; 'you have the right to go slow'. Not only that, but you also have the right to stop and enjoy the mountain and all of its features, should the need or the desire arise. Sometimes it's good to leave the racing to the racers. And whilst Col St Roch is a testing climb, it's also one of the quietest cols to cycle on from Nice. That means, most of the time the river should be the same. Follow the trail to a smaller lower bridge to find the pool of crystal-clear fresh water, the source of which is literally from the ridge-lines of the Alpes-Maritimes visible a few hundred metres above your head. The Amandine shorts will fit in the middle pocket of your summer cycling jersey, just. On the Côte d'Azur you don't need anything else as the daytime sun will dry you on the rocks beside the water in no time. But first you have to get wet. When river swimming, the temperature is always guaranteed to be fresh. How fresh is a question of how high you are and what the recent weather has been. Don't deliberate. The recommended technique for entry into the water is the shorter, sharper one. Without scientifically testing it (maybe we should), experience has shown that a river swim enables at least another two hours of riding, regardless of what's gone before. Submerging yourself in the water, surrounded by the mountain, is like resetting the Garmin to zero. So, by all means lounge like a lizard on the rocks just until dry but then it's time to kit up again and ride some more. Back in the saddle the mind turns firstly to the incredible rejuvenating effect of the water and, secondly, to the thought that in the mountains, there must be more of these places everywhere, if you can just find those accessible from the cycling routes. So maybe stop one more time at an appropriate vantage point and survey the landscape before planning the next dip in the ravines of the Alpes-Maritimes. Or, if you prefer some assistance, simply check out last year's series of Take Me To The River swim holes . See the full swim collection here.

Frequently Asked Questions We've tried to ensure that the process of claiming badges is kept as straightforward as possible. To claim your badge you need to connect your Café du Cycliste account to your komoot account and go out and ride. To help with any difficulties you may face we have listed below a number of common questions and step-by-step answers. If you do not find the answer to your query here please get in touch with our support team via email at service-clients@cafeducycliste.com HOW DO I CREATE / LOG IN TO MY CAFÉ DU CYCLISTE ACCOUNT? 1. Click on the “Account” icon in the top right-hand corner of the website. 2. If you do not have an account, click on “CREATE AN ACCOUNT”. a. Enter your details and create a password. You can also subscribe to our newsletter; L’Edition. Then click "CREATE MY ACCOUNT" b. Hover over the “Account” icon in the top right-hand corner of the website and click “Account”. c. You are now on your Account page. Click “Badges” to start claiming your badges. 3. If you do have an account, enter your credentials and click “SIGN IN” a. Hover over the “Account” icon in the top right-hand corner of the website and click “Account” b. You are now on your Account page. Click “Badges” to start claiming your badges. HOW DO I LINK MY EXISTING KOMOOT ACCOUNT? 1. From the “Badges” page on your Account click “CONNECT TO KOMOOT”. You will be redirected to komoot. 2. If you are already logged in, your account will be recognised, and you can click “Continue with this account” a. Click “Grant Access” and you will be redirected to the Café du Cycliste badge page. Please allow a little time for your tours to be analysed and badges connected. b. You are now able to claim your badges. 3. If you are not logged in, enter your email address which is linked to your komoot account and click “Continue with Email” a. Enter your password and click “Log In” b. Click “Grant Access” and you will be redirected to the Café du Cycliste badge page. Please allow a little time for your tours to be analysed and badges connected. c. You are now able to claim your badges. HOW DO I CREATE A KOMOOT ACCOUNT? 1. From the “Badges” page on your Account click “CONNECT TO KOMOOT”. You will be redirected to komoot. 2. Enter the email address which you want to link to your komoot account and click “Continue with Email” 3. Create a Username and Password and click “Sign Up” 4. Click “Let’s Get Started” and follow the komoot sign up steps to customise your account. 5. You will also receive an email prompting you to “Activate Account” and taking you to a confirmation screen within komoot. 6. Your komoot account is ready to go. HOW DO I UPLOAD HISTORIC RIDES TO KOMOOT? 1. Click the “Plus” icon in the top right hand corner of the komoot homepage. 2. Click “Import a GPS File” 3. Click “Upload File” and choose the GPS/GPX/FIT file which you wish to upload. 4. Choose “Import as Activity” and click “Next” 5. Select the correct Sport Type from the list. Please note that Sport Type will not impact badge eligibility. 6. Select the date that you completed the ride 7. Select who you wish the activity to be visible to. Please note that activity visibility will not impact badge eligibility. 8. Click “Import Activity”. 9. Name your Activity and click “Got It” 10. Your Activity is now successfully imported. Why No Strava? Following an update to their API our badges offer sadly no longer functioned with Strava. However, we've worked closely with komoot to revamp and improve the badges. You don't require a paid komoot account to access badges, and it's possible to upload completed rides directly into komoot. So even if you rode a climb a few years ago, you can still claim your badge. BADGES FOR COLS We've created a collection of badges in celebration of iconic climbs near and far. All you have to do is ride the col and claim your free badge. VIEW MORE MONTAGNES DU MONDE Explore some of the most celebrated cycling climbs globally. And a few less celebrated but no less good. VIEW MORE MONTAGNES À LA CARTE The cols of the Alpes Maritimes offer some of the best riding in Europe. Providing inspiration and perspiration in close to equal measure. VIEW MORE BADGES HIGH FIVE Kick start your badge collection. Claiming five cols in one ride means lots of distance and plenty of elevation, but when you're riding in the Alpes Maritimes you wouldn't want it any other way. VIEW MORE

RIDE OF THE MONTH : JULY July's ride of the month is one that joins the dots, linking together the perched villages of l'arrière-pays niçois. In French we'd call it a 'parcours des villages perchés'. There are pretty French villages, and then there are really pretty French villages. The sheer amount of them led to the invention of a system that categorized the cream of the crop as 'Les Plus Beaux Villages de France'. Only 20% of applicants are awarded such privileged status. In the Alpes-Maritimes department we have three, and two of them are on cycling climbs. Slap bang in the middle of this ride is one such village, on the less popular but no less beautiful climb to Col St Roch. First, to start the chain we ride to Falicon. Located directly north of Nice and sitting at the foot of Mont Chauve it's on the Route des Villages Perchés created by the local government to guide tourists on their own join the dot adventure. Cyclists however take a different route to find the empty roads. We descend from Falicon and follow the valley to Tourettes-Levens before turning on to the Col de Châteauneuf. The western side of the Col is a manageable climb at 5.5km with an average of 5% gradient. The village that gives the climb its name, Châteauneuf-VielleVille, is ironically a de-perched village of sorts. The ruins above the Col de Châteauneuf give an indication of a previous, higher life. Once the danger of more barbaric times had passed, the residents moved to farm the lower pastures where olive trees and citron groves bathe in the Mediterranean climate. Through the village, the hairpin with the croix de fer on the inside offers views back to the sea on the outside. It’s worth an Instagram moment. Further down the descent, the next habitation on a hill comes into view – Contes has a dominant position on the rocks in the Paillon valley. It’s from here that we follow the valley to La Route du Soleil. Those paying attention to the bornes at the side of the road just after passing under the cliff face on which Conte's sits will notice it is more than 20km to Col St Roch. That is a lot of up. Thankfully it is a climb of two halves, punctuated in the middle by Coaraze. Internet research doesn't throw up any explanations as to why the road to Coaraze is known as the Route du Soleil, but riding it provides more than ample evidence. In July, it's a hot road to ride. And it's that sun that provides the light that inspires the artists. In the village itself there are sundials designed by a number of artists including Jean Cocteau. The sun not only helps tell the time here but it also bathes and nutures the mimosas, olive trees, cypress trees, oaks, chestnut trees and pines. As Cocteau himself said, "The Côte (d'Azur) is the greenhouse where the roots grow. Paris is the shop where the flowers are sold." The village brasserie is a perfect stop for a cold Orangina, and just across the street is a fountain to fill bidons before the second half of the climb. Leaving Coaraze, the road enters a different, higher and more rugged mountain world. Rumour has it that this is Chris Froome's favourite stretch of road in the entire region. It is almost always quiet with minimal traffic. The road dips and dives for approximately 4km before the final climb starts. Up to the left somewhere is a trail that goes to the lost village of Roca Sparviera, which can be found riding the north side gravel of Mont Férion. But today is about the road and the 5.5kms to the Col du Savel is as a stern test of fitness, especially given what has already passed under your wheels. Look up and you might see the imposing wall that holds up the road as it hairpins left towards the summit. It's from that corner that most people stop to photograph the switchbacks below. Over the top of the Col du Savel and you get 1km of downhill to the Col St Roch. Col collecting has never been so easy. Take the right for the fast descent to Luceram, not so muchna perched village but rather a snuggled one, surrounded by the peaks that lead to Piera-Cava and on to the Col de Turini. From Luceram, if you've had your fill of climbing to hilltop villages you can descend the whole way to Nice. For those who want more, take the left opposite the boulangerie in L'Escarène to descend to Grave de Peille and climb to Peille village. It's a real testing climb that starts of with 3km of steep gradients, but Peille is maybe the village on this ride that is most deserving of entry into Les Plus Beaux Villages de France. When the climb is done, take the time to descend off the main road and venture into the small streets of the village. Somewhere in the heart of it is a beautiful fountain surrounded by shops and houses that have stood still in time. Do that yourself and savour the moment. Then wheelie your way back to Nice.   Read about other Rides of the Month and find the perfect route by season. Or discover more details about cycling on the Cote d'Azur with our Riding Guide to Nice.

The Art Of Being French If you search the internet for the history of Nice and the Alpes-Maritimes, you might come across the statement that our hometown and surrounding region was ‘Made in Italy’. Yes, la dolce vita may be alluring, but la belle vie is undeniable. In Nice at least. A quick history re-cap will tell you that Nice was exchanged between the Italian County of Savoy and the French government no less than six times before it finally returned to France in 1860. Borders move, governments change, populations flux. And even the promenade is English, right? The belle époque, the golden years brought the first form of tourism to Nice. Aristocracy from northern Europe came, bought, built and leisured on the beachfront. The Niçois lunchtime cannon to mark the most important part of the French working day, was started by a Scotchman. But. Walk through the marché des fleurs on the Cours Saleya loud with life and smelling literally of roses. Stroll past the Provençal pointu fishing boats that form a floating kaleidoscope of colours in the harbour outside the Café HQ. Stop and observe the boulodromes that buzz with the click-clack of metal on metal and the chit chat of tactics and competition. Sit at one of the brasseries that dot every corner of every quartier and observe the to and fro of the adjoining tabac, or the queue for baguettes at the boulangerie across the street. These are things that you can find throughout France. The flavour varies depending on the location, but the essence remains the same. The administrative divisions from big to small indicate the complexity of geo-specific eccentricities – quartiers, arrondissements, communes, cantons, départments, regions. A case in point : there are estimated to be somewhere between 1,000 and 1,600 different types of French cheese. Important note : they are all French. And so Nice doesn’t do cassoulet but it does do daube de sanglier. It doesn’t do a Bretagne crepe, but it does do the best socca in the world. It doesn’t do a heavy Bordeaux but it does do a mean rosé. Those regional variations of products come from one thing that unites the country, literally from the ground up – le terroir of the countryside. Rural France is what artists like Renoir and Matisse fell in love with and is what July holiday dreams are made of. Wide-open spaces, picnics in the pastures, getting lost in old town streets. The Niçois arrière-pays is awash with villages lost in time – pastel colours, fountains with adjoining stone laundry baths, and big church spires. In every town you’ll eventually find the Hôtel de Ville, each one with La Marianne inside. She is the symbol of ideals that the nation shares and aspires to. La Marianne is the antidote for the struggle to define the concept, introduced by our very own President, of “the art of being French”. To explore that concept would take a lifetime… which would not necessarily be time wasted. What can be assured though is that despite their history, Nice and the Alpes-Maritimes have mastered that art. Stop, sit on the street and observe - you will begin to get the notion. Or otherwise simply come and celebrate Bastille Day. Or, you can do so anywhere by wearing Marianne with pride as she adorns the Francine Limited Edition jersey. FOR HIM FOR HER

Follow the Tour de France routes through the arrière-pays to cliff-hanging balcony roads, the alpine freshness of Col de Turini and the classic coastal climb up Col d’Eze.  

RIDE OF THE MONTH : JUNE June was set to be the biggest month of the cycling year in Nice. The Grand Départ of the Tour de France, with its premium select from the World Tour peloton and the circus that follows, was set to kick off on the 27th of this month. Of course, global events took over, but the great news is that the Tour will go ahead at the end August. Being on our doorstep, having been planned for this month, it was as good an excuse as any to trace a parcours where the action will happen later this summer, on Cols Turini and Eze. The Tour de France Ride Without road closures, the smart option is actually to mix up both stages 1 and 2 to avoid the busy roads in the Var valley. We head north out of Nice via the Cimiez quarter, full of its belle epoque buildings that line the hill. Climbing already just a few kilometres from the city centre, it’s a big day for the legs. Leaving the city outskirts, the road traces the edge of the Var valley towards Aspremont which has one of the finest fountains stops in the region. This is not only the route of one of our arrière-pays rides but also the way the first stage will exit the city towards the arrière-pays no less than three times. It's a format designed for spectators to get more than one passing view of the peloton before the lead-out trains blast their way towards the finish line on the Promenade des Anglais. To link Stage One with Stage Two we use the beautiful small road that descends to Saint-Blaise. Here you skirt the town via the switchbacks above it before traversing the old viaduct bridge that leads to a climb through the olive groves back towards Levens. The boulangerie on the left of the entrance to the town offers a chance to fuel if you need it. Opposite here is the turning for the Mont Férion Riviera Gravel climb. Today is a pure road day however and what lies ahead provides good reason to continue on the smooth stuff. From Levens to Duranus the road clings to the rocks on the west side of the Vesubie valley gorges. The term ‘balcony road’ may have been invented just for this stretch alone. After the climb through the hamlet of Duranus there’s a sign on the left marking the ‘Saut des Français’. According to legend, it was here that militia defending the Savoy-governed Comte de Nice (not at that stage part of France), threw French republican soldiers over the cliff to certain death in the late 18th century. Don’t look down if you’re scared of heights. The balcony road rejoins the main valley road at Saint-Jean-de-la-Rivière, where you can also turn left to climb La Madone d’Utelle. But the Turini lies just ten false flat kilometers up the valley, passing through more deep gorges. Looking up at the surrounding peaks gives a sense of the riding possibilities in this valley - they are plentiful. The north western side of Turini that will be tackled by the peloton at the end of August is actually the shortest of the three main routes to the summit. Still, with 15km at 7.2% average gradient, this is hors categorie climbing. Just 2km into the climb, the town of Bollène-Vesubie used to be a mid-mountain, fresh air health retreat for Italian and English aristocrats. Now the visitors from those nations are usually either on motorbikes or bicycles. The labyrinth of routes on this mountain and its history in the World Rally Championship have turned Turini into a veritable playground for two and four wheels alike, thankfully without the crazy numbers to be found on the Ventoux and Stelvio. Climbing the western side could be broken into three parts – up to and past Bollène-Vesubie, into the middle section which is riddled with switchbacks offering views up and down the mountain, and then through the forest section to the Col. The fastest recorded Strava time is 43:55 by former Dutch pro Remmert Wielenga. A respectable amateur time is anywhere just below or above the one-hour mark. It’s worth visiting any of the three hotels located on the Col. Each has its own rally memorabilia pinned to the walls, one even has a spectacular pinball machine collection. And after the climb you should have no guilt whatsoever in tacking the blueberry tart that is often on offer at Hotel des Trois Vallées, where the patrons kindly stamp our Brevet cards each year during the Fête des Zinzins event. The descent back to Nice is via Piera-Cava, down the famous hairpins of ‘la Cabanette’ to Luceram and on to L’Escarène. At L’Escarène you’ll get one of the easiest col collections of your life – one kilometer out of the town takes you up and over the Col de Nice. That said, you’ll have already climbed around 1,800m at this point, so it’s still well-earned. Arriving back in Nice, it’s not natural to us to climb Col d’Eze instead of returning to the Café. However part of the point of all pilgrimages to pro parcours, such as L’Étape du Tour, is to put yourself through the same challenges. So we turn left up the Grande Corniche, aka Col d’Eze. The stage will actually visit the climb twice, with one full climb followed by a second ascent to the half way point, the Quatre Chemins junction. We find Col d'Eze is often under-estimated by first-time visitors who ride it straight from the Café. After climbing Turini, it really stings the legs, especially the first two kilometers which average an 8% gradient. For the Tour riders, the Eze loops will probably be where the GC contenders try to gain some time gaps. It's a tried and tested loop that ASO have used to make the Paris-Nice final stage a proper race to the line. For mere mortals after roughly another 15km and 700m of ascent, the plunge back to the sea will be a welcome finale to a substantial ride. From the alpine peaks of the Turini to the big blue of the Côte d'Azur, it really is a showcase stage for #nicecyclingparadise. Komoot Route Coffee stop : Boulangerie Alexis in Levens comes at around 1.5hours into the ride and is perfect to fuel up before heading into the Vesubie valley. Lunch stop : Hotel les Trois Vallées on Col de Turini has a nice terrace on the Col if the weather permits, or go inside and admire the rally memorabilia that covers every wall. If you want to fly and ride the Turini and Eze loop on a top of the range bike, you can rent one of Café du Cycliste fleet of Cervélo R5s HERE   Read about other Rides of the Month and find the perfect route by season. Or discover more details about cycling on the Cote d'Azur with our Riding Guide to Nice.

Pastel colours, wooden shutters, tall tenements, flower markets and artisan ateliers. The narrow and lively streets of Old town Nice offer not only shade from high-summer sun but also a kaleidoscope of buzzing life. As seen through the lens of Benedict Campbell.  

NICE GRAVEL GUIDE THE RIVIERA’S WILD SIDE As road cycling continues to merge with the outdoor adventure world, the search for unbeaten or simply unpaved paths has moved up every cyclist’s agenda. On the Côte d’Azur, before the classic cols came the double tracks of the ‘routes strategiques’ and the DFCI forest roads. Look on the map to find the vast network of dashed-white lines that climb to cols, traverse national parks and connect perched villages. Some of the ground work has already been done via our Riviera Gravel series but part of the fun is getting out there and getting lost and found yourself.   For those wanting to sample some Riviera Gravel our CAFÉ HQ on Nice Port now houses top of the range Cervélo Aspéro gravel rental bikes, together with the full gravel collection. Arrive and explore. GRAVEL STORIES When it comes to gravel, it's often about choice and the choice is almost endless. Where ever you are, wherever you go, there are new routes to discover. It is a big gravel world out there. ÇA PEAK Mont Ventoux is a double-edged sword because, it's Mont Ventoux. But what about its G-side? READ MORE BUNKER RESEARCH They are known as Routes Stratégiques - roads built for military purposes. And they are mostly gravel. READ MORE THE SALT ROAD Today, the salt roads have mostly disappeared without a trace. Ideal, therefore, for an adventure ride. READ MORE POINT IT TO THE BREAK Find the best roads and tracks that lead to the best bay with the best waves. READ MORE ARL – MRS They created something powerful; something that would make you addicted to gravel. READ MORE SUGGESTED GRAVEL RIDES From the some of the best road riding in the world, to some of the best gravel riding. The Alpes Maritimes is a place like few others. We can point you in the right direction but the route should be all yours. MONT FÉRION The gravel equivalent of Mont Ventoux. With three sides to climb and a chapel. VIEW THE RIDE L'ESTÉREL Green forests, red gravel, blue skies. The Route des Cols is a badly kept secret. VIEW THE RIDE FORT DE LA REVÈRE From the perched village of La Turbie and along the most spectacular stretch of chemin VIEW THE RIDE COL DE BRAUS One of the most iconic climbs anywhere in cycling but with a dark side. VIEW THE RIDE VIA DEL SALE One of the highest unpaved roads within reach of Nice and possibly the most impressive. VIEW THE RIDE ON STONEY GROUND It's not where you go but how you go. Gravel tracks stretch far and wide from those outside our door to those across oceans, all linked by the thread that is adventure and a desire to explore. View the COLLECTION. #WHATISGRAVEL Gravel riding is more than what you see. It's a state of mind, a work of art, a day in hell, a heavenly sunset. It takes us into new dimensions. But it's also more than that. What is it? Join the Search. 1 - THE CAFÉ Located on the Old Port, our café is the perfect 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. You can find us at: 16 Quai des Docks 06300 Nice 2 - CERVELO ÁSPERO Travel light and book your gravel bike. The Cervelo Áspero is new kind of gravel machine, built to explore personal limits as well as unbeaten tracks. Each bike is complete with pedals, tool bag and rear light while, if needed, each rental can also include Specialized shoes and helmet. BOOK AN ÁSPERO 3 - WHAT IS GRAVEL CYCLING? Gravel cycling is off-road and on-road. Gravel cycling is double-track and single-track. Gravel cycling is riding and not riding. Gravel cycling is racing and not racing. Gravel cycling is an old bike or a new bike. Gravel cycling is everywhere and nowhere. Gravel riding is a moving object and maybe a state of mind. READ MORE PRATICAL how to arrive With direct flights from around 30 European countries as well as further afield, Nice is well connected by air. The tram line now goes direct to the old Port, where our café is situated. For more information on flights, see the Aeroport de Nice website. Nice has two train stations. From Paris the journey is around six hours and brings you into the heart of the city. For more information on trains, see the SNCF website. where to stay Despite the exceptional riding on its doorstep , Nice is the fifth biggest city in France. Given its attractions, there are numerous place to stay while you’re here, from hotels through to guest houses and, of course, private appartment rentals. For more information on where to stay, see the Nice Tourist board website.

It’s the ‘Secret Weapon’ ride taking in all that the Riviera cycling playground has to offer. Sometimes you can have your cake and eat it.  

RIDE OF THE MONTH : MAY This is a ride we’ve used before to introduce people to everything that our region has to offer in one hit, and which became known as the ‘Secret Weapon’ ride. Our well-traveled friend from NYC, Donalrey Nieva shared the gravel section with CyclingTips editor, Caley Fretz, who promptly marked it 9/10. Parisian punks, PCR Gravier, unsurprisingly couldn’t get enough of it. The Deconfinement All-Road Ride After more than eight weeks of lockdown, when the rules were relaxed and riding within a 100km radius was allowed, it was the obvious choice to appreciate all that we’d been missing : classic Cols, mountain views, gravel segments, hidden backroads, and big descents. In the world of global cycling, the Col de Braus is a forgotten classic. It featured in the Tour de France in the 1930s but, like the entire region itself, fell out of favour mostly for logistical reasons. So, whilst it’s not a ‘celebrity col’ it’s one of those ‘once ridden, never forgotten’ roads. Having a perfectly laid set of switchbacks followed by a balcony view back down over their full glory helps the appreciation factor. Then there’s view through the mountains the whole way back to the sea, and the René Vietto memorial on the summit. Apologies, we could wax lyrical about Braus all day. The auberge at the top serves the cyclists, moto riders and sports car drivers alike – it’s like an informal road engineering appreciation club. A few winters ago, the proprietor told us his 90-year old granny was a downhill MTB champion and that he drinks one litre of olive oil direct from the bottle each week. One of those statements is true. Channel that eccentric energy as you turn right off the road and onto the gravel. The double-track road starts with a bit of a climb from the Col de Braus and after that it rolls its way along the ridgeline towards the Col du Farguet. It doesn’t take long to feel lost in the middle of the mountains. We meet a shepherd driving his flock back up to the higher pastures – this is the transhumance of summer, the return to the mountains. The symbolism is not lost on us. At the Col du Farguet stop and look backwards towards the higher peaks of Turini and Tende before continuing south on the gravel where, eventually, you can just sneak a peak of Sainte-Agnès in between the mountains. The gravel ends before the Col de Ségra but the fun doesn’t. This hidden road is almost totally deserted all year round. The most traffic we experience is during the hunting season, when the orange camouflaged vests dot the landscape, looking for the sanglier (wild boar) in between the trees. The road descends a series of switchbacks to traverse the Col des Banquettes – in case you weren’t counting, that’s four cols so far – before the arrival at Sainte-Agnès. It's one of France’s ‘beaux villages’ and apparently the highest coastal village in Europe. For road cyclists, it’s better known as the halfway point of the climb of the Col de la Madone from Menton. Leaving the junction below Sainte-Agnès, the second half of the climb is the most picturesque. Just 1km up the road, a steep ramp through the trees leads to a right-hand bend that delivers a panoramic view of the entire bay of Menton and beyond to Italy. If you’re riding during the day there’s a high chance you’ll meet a pro. Rumour has it that, no matter where he has been riding on any particular day, Ritchie Porte regards the Madone as his commute home to Monaco once his main work is done. Just don’t get sucked into trying to follow wheels on the false flats before the tunnels, because after that the gradient does not relent until the summit. Like many climbs, the summit of the Madone is slightly underwhelming – it’s about the journey to get there. The views improve as the descent begins and what a descent it is - 40 minutes back to the sea via the town of La Turbie. After two classic cols, 15km of riding through the wilderness and 1,600m of climbing, that’s almost as welcome as the drink on the Port at the end. Komoot Route Coffee stop : Pain d’Aqui, the boulangerie beside the bridge in L’Ecarène for coffee, pastries and lunch, if you want to take it up and stop on the gravel section. Or, if you prefer stop on Col de Braus at the Buvette de Col de Braus but check the opening hours before you leave. Lunch stop : Le Righi restaurant at Sainte-Agnès. It’s an extra climb through the village but it’s beside a WW2 bunker and has a terrace with spectacular views over Menton If you want to fly and ride the Secret Weapon all road ride, the all-carbon Cervélo Aspero is in equal parts rigid enough for the climbs and rugged enough for the rough stuff. Rent one HERE Read about other Rides of the Month and find the perfect route by season. Or discover more details about cycling on the Cote d'Azur with our Riding Guide to Nice.

NICE RIDING GUIDE NICE CYCLING PARADISE There’s a very good reason why the ville of Nice used #nicecyclingparadise to promote the start of the 2020 Tour de France. Or maybe a hundred and counting good reasons if you start to add up the plethora of roads, routes and rides that the region offers up to any visiting cyclist. And it is not just about the numbers, it’s about the sheer variety of riding that is available. From hors category climbs to spins by the sea, from breaks for the Italian border to gravel grinds, from classic Cols to unknown tracks.   CAFÉ DU CYCLISTE is based in Nice. Our clothing is inspired by where we ride and we ride every day. And even we regularly find something new to discover. ROAD RIDES With an almost endless choice, selecting our favorite rides isn’t easy. We’ve curated a selection that includes hills, mountains and the sea. Something for everyone, or something for every day that you’re here. ÉZE & MADONE Climbing Col d’Éze is following in the tyre tracks of some of the world’s best cyclists. VIEW THE RIDE GILETTE & BONSON The back country of Nice opens up behind the coast and this ride provides easy access. VIEW THE RIDE 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. VIEW THE RIDE DURANUS & SAINT BLAISE Head up the valley to where three rivers meet, climb higher still and take the time to look around. VIEW THE RIDE BRAUS & TURINI A ride that includes two of the majestic cols from our Montaignes a la Carte series. VIEW THE RIDE VENCE The Col de Vence is south facing and the rocky landscape reflects the heat all year around. VIEW THE RIDE ESTEREL & ADRETS The Esterel coast road starting from Théoule-sur-Mer is beautiful, winding through secluded coves. VIEW THE RIDE MORTOLA Pretend you're James Bond on a bike as you spin along the Basse Corniche out of Nice towards Monaco. VIEW THE RIDE BONETTE 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,. VIEW THE RIDE MONT CHAUVE Mont Chauve, known as Nice’s ‘bald mountain’, proves that nature constructed one of the best viewpoints the city has to offer. VIEW THE RIDE 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. VIEW THE RIDE GRAVEL RIDES The Alpes Maritimes is rapidly becoming as well known for its gravel riding as its historic road riding. Choose a new route up an old climb or find yourself away from it all with only sheep for company. Riviera Gravel is ripe for exploring. MONT FÉRION The gravel equivalent of Mont Ventoux. With three sides to climb and a chapel. VIEW THE RIDE L'ESTÉREL Green forests, red gravel, blue skies. The Route des Cols is a badly kept secret. VIEW THE RIDE FORT DE LA REVÈRE From the perched village of La Turbie and along the most spectacular stretch of chemin VIEW THE RIDE COL DE BRAUS One of the most iconic climbs anywhere in cycling but with a dark side. VIEW THE RIDE VIA DEL SALE One of the highest unpaved roads within reach of Nice and possibly the most impressive. VIEW THE RIDE MONT MACARON As you follow the contours of the mountain, you get treated to a balcony view of the Baie des Anges. VIEW THE RIDE COL D'ÈZE Yes, the roads of l'arrière pays are mostly car-free, but if you really want to get away from it all, gravel is your friend. VIEW THE RIDE OUR COLS AND SERIOUS CLIMBS The region is known for its high hills, as befitting the name Alpes Maritimes. There are the famous ones such as Col de la Bonette, often cited as the highest paved road in Europe, the soon to be famous one such as Col de Turini, with more switchbacks in less tarmac than Alpe d’Huez and the hopefully never famous ones such Mont Chauvre which rise above the town of Nice itself. Choose your climb and climb on your bike. MONT CHAUVE ‘Mont Chauve’ means the 'bald mountain' – it is the miniature Niçois version of the much better known ‘Mont Chauve’, Mont Ventoux, in Provence. It is hiding in plain sight, sitting there just to the north, right above the city. VIEW THE CLIMB COL DE BROUIS From Sospel the climb starts in the pleasant and open meadows in the valley of the small river Bevera. It ascends through deep gorges, though never too tight, and ends in open meadows again. VIEW THE CLIMB COL D'ÈZE Between Èze village and the Fort de la Revère runs the Route de la Grande Corniche. Starting almost at the Café, it takes you steeply out of town, winding up through the hills to a height of 507m. VIEW THE CLIMB COL DE LA MADONE It mounts the hill with the sharp gradients of Corniche des serres de la Madone which immediately plunges you into a series of hairpins through vine trees that help make the town famous for its gardens and greenery. VIEW THE CLIMB COL DE LA BONETTE The Bonette road was built by Napoleon III and is one of the best climbs in the Alps, of whatever height, and that the prodigious altitude just gives you longer to appreciate its charms VIEW THE CLIMB MADONE D'UTELLE Ride in the back country around Nice, and one of those reference points is the chapel of the Madone d’Utelle VIEW THE CLIMB COL DE TENDE If you turn right off the main road just over 1km before the Tende tunnel, you can add 17 more to make a dizzying total of 65 about turns. Plus the last 4kms are on gravel. VIEW THE CLIMB MONT VENTOUX Though geologically part of the Alps, Ventoux stands more or less alone, unencumbered by mountains of equal stature. VIEW THE CLIMB COL DE TURINI The thick forests of the Col de Turini are testament to the unpredictable weather on this, the highest of the coastal climbs near Café du Cycliste’s home town of Nice. VIEW THE CLIMB COL DE BRAUS About two kilometres from the top of the Col de Braus there is a section of 15% gradient. As this passes, the road takes a little turn to the right and the climb now invites you to look back over the valley. VIEW THE CLIMB COL DE VENCE It is the furthest west, and therefore the furthest of our favourite climbs from the great spine of the Alps, divider of peoples, trapper of clouds that lifts itself between France and Italy. VIEW THE CLIMB MONT VIAL Mont Vial is one of the few peaks of the backcountry behind Nice that is recognisable from the sea, and cyclists riding towards the Var valley can orient themselves by it, too. VIEW THE CLIMB COL DE LA COLMAINE The label of medium should not make the exploring cyclist underestimate either the physical challenge or the alpine beauty that it delivers. VIEW THE CLIMB COLS ON FILM Alpe d’Huez famously has 21 switchbacks, hairpins, or lacets - call them what you want. The Passo dello Stelvio has 48 on the classic eastern side but that’s in 16.5kms and all on tarmac. The Col de Tende manages the same number in 7.4kms CLAIM YOUR BADGE To celebrate the roads we ride, we created a badge for each of our local cols, the exceptional climbs featured in our Montaigne a la Carte series. To claim your badge you need to ride the climb then connect your Café du Cycliste account to your Strava account. 1 - THE CAFÉ Located on the Old Port, our café is the perfect 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. You can find us at: 16 Quai des Docks 06300 Nice 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. View our rental bikes 3 - THE RIDE OF THE MONTH Each month we choose a ride that particularly beautiful, tough or rewarding (or all three) during a particular month of the year. August. Sharing two almost secret climbs that take you up past the tree lines to provide a window on to the wild high peaks of the Mercantour National Park. VIEW THE RIDE PRACTICAL how to arrive With direct flights from around 30 European countries as well as further afield, Nice is well connected by air. The tram line now goes direct to the old Port, where our café is situated. For more information on flights, see the Aeroport de Nice website. Nice has two train stations. From Paris the journey is around six hours and brings you into the heart of the city. For more information on trains, see the SNCF website. where to stay Despite the exceptional riding on its doorstep , Nice is the fifth biggest city in France. Given its attractions, there are numerous place to stay while you’re here, from hotels through to guest houses and, of course, private appartment rentals. For more information on where to stay, see the Nice Tourist board website.

Riviera Gravel #7 - Mont Macaron It was riding Mont Macaron that actually coined the name ‘Riviera Gravel’ because near the top of this ride, as you follow the contours of the mountain, you get treated to a balcony view of the Baie des Anges. Seeing Nissa La Bella from the remote and isolated double-track gravel road is a privileged view and one that brought home the beauty and unique riding this network of unpaved roads provides. It’s possible to climb Mont Macaron from either the east or the west side. The west side has more single carriageway paved sections, whereas the east side has more gravel. So we go east, on the Piste de Ciauric which is a mere 12km ride north from the Café. The trade-off is that the east side is much steeper. It starts in the Paillon valley near Pointe de Contes and the first 400m average 18%. On the plus side, the steep gradient means you get elevation and therefore views relatively quickly. Look up and see if you can identify the peaks of Turini and, further west, the high ridgeline that forms the border with Italy. Closer up in the foreground, spot the perched villages of Contes and Berre-Les-Alpes. Eventually, after its last set of steep hairpins, the Piste de Ciaurac joins the Route de Mont Macaron. This is the sweet spot of the ride. The gradient is easier, the views bigger, hell there's even a bit of downhill. The road points it's way south, towards that stunning view of Nice before it passes a farmstead and then hairpins right up towards the summit. Up ahead you can see the bigger brother, Mont Férion – another Riviera Gravel special that could be tackled after Macaron if you want to make yourself an epic day in the saddle. At the top are the ancient ruins of the old medieval village of Châteauneuf. It's inhabitants had been pushed higher and higher to the safety of the top of the mountain when attacked. What is left of the buildings spark the imagination as the climb comes to an end. Passing the main fortification the gravel turns to a broken tarmac descent at the bottom of which you arrive at the Col de Chateauneuf, a regular on the final stage of Paris-Nice. That's just what Riviera Gravel delivers - remote, mountainous gravel climbs and free-wheel descents back to town in the wheel tracks of pro-racers. Read more about the unbeaten tracks that surround Nice in our Riviera Gravel series. KOMOOT ROUTE

RIDING WITH PURPOSE There are always positive stories to illuminate the world during bad times. Like the car companies making ventilators for hospitals, a world ‘hack-a-thon’ to solve supply shortages, even famous musicians broadcasting live shows from their living-rooms. Every little helps. Last week, a Whatsapp notification from Kong Fufu, aka Cedrick Dubois, showed up on-screen. His local pharmacist, Thibault, had asked if Cedrick would be willing to be part of a medical delivery service for the elderly, the vulnerable and the isolated patients in the area surrounding L'Escarène, 21km north of Nice. There was only one answer. We join Cedrick outside the pharmacy, waiting for the patient to be served inside to exit. Thibault is obviously a man with a sense of humour, there’s a sign on the door which warns pensioners to stay out and, if possible, send their younger family members – preferably females between the age of 24 and 30…. Entering the pharmacy, you find the visible references for the invisible enemy that we are facing. Thibault is wearing a mask and is behind the counter which sports those high, see-through plastic shields that prevent droplets of breath passing between us. His colleagues are in the backroom, preparing prescriptions. It may not be an apocalyptic hospital scene, but it's part of the front line and the truth is the drugs in this pharmacy, to be delivered to the people that need them will save lives. The pharmacy serves clients spread out in the valleys, crevices and lower peaks of the Alpes-Maritimes, in the small hamlets or out on their own, totally separate from civilisation. Sometimes up gravel roads. That is to say, roads which are deemed too risky to drive on at the current time. Thibault, like Cedrick, is a trail runner and a cyclist and so has an acute awareness of the topography of the region. Being aware of Cedrick's in-depth knowledge of all the available routes, and his ability to cover ground so fast, Thibault knew he could help. This is riding with purpose. Today there is only one delivery to a patient in Peille who suffers from a respiratory disease and therefore is a very high-risk profile. Compared to yesterday, this is an easy task : "In a single session of three hours I was able to go to seven people, making a tour of 70 km with an elevation gain of 2000m”, says Cedrick. The biggest surprise was a delivery to the castle on Col de Braus (yes indeed, there is castle on the Col de Braus, just to the left after the steep pitch that follows the famous switchbacks). Cedrick picks a low-profile road that connects L’Escarène to Peille. The Route de Très that leads the the Route du Col des Banquettes is a lesser-known local favourite that runs in between the peaks at the back (north-side) of the Col de la Madone. From L’Esacarène the road climbs from the valley via switchbacks under a pine tree canopy, plateaus through an olive grove before repeating itself up more switchbacks and then eventually descends on a cliff-hanger that could be mistaken for the Madone itself. In total it’s around a 45 minute ride that spits itself out on the last two hairpins of the Côte de Peille. Peille is a quiet town at the best of times, today you could hear a pin drop. We arrive, traverse the upper limits and exit via a super steep lane out the back of the town. These are the cul-de-sacs that serve the satellite houses of the village. At the top, the concrete with horizontal bands in the concrete surface means only one thing – gradients in excess of 10, but often at 15 per cent. The end of the chemin is our destination and it’s like the pharmacy at the beginning - the human interaction drives home the predicament we are in. Cedrick discards a 7,000€ gravel bike in the hedgerow at the side of the road as if it’s a worthless commuter and takes off his back-pack. He’s focussed. Thibault had been very clear about the delivery process. Take the package, place it at the front of the property, and go no further. Then step back at least five metres before anyone appears, otherwise we may be hindering rather than helping. A husband and wife emerge from their mid-altitude, Alpes-Maritimes retreat. They are friendly but cautious and, of course, masked. He asks if the bike is electric, because the road up is crazy-steep. He doesn’t know Kong Fufu. She stands behind, nervous and also masked, she’s had a lung-infection recently. The main concern is how to pay for the prescription. Cedrick says that is not a concern, Thibault has it worked out. And, comme ça, the job is done. It’s an interaction which, because of its required brevity, seems inconsequential. Cedrick won’t know the before and after of this delivery. Instead, he’ll ride home and tomorrow he’ll go back to the pharmacy and collect more packages. That’s what needs to be done. His bike has returned to what its predecessors once were - a tool of ultimate function - and one that is helping in its own small way.

A COASTAL CLASSICO Cross-border traffic to possibly the best cycling path in Europe that delivers you to the climbs of the Milan – San Remo. A spring classic.

RIDE OF THE MONTH : MARCH Did you know you can ride to the Poggio from Nice? It might seem like a relatively long ride to climb a relatively short hill, a bit like the Milan- San Remo itself. No-one ever said cycling had to be logical or sensible, did they? March : Poggio Pilgrimage La Primavera. La Classicissima. The Milan San-Remo. One of the five monuments of professional racing. The longest one day race in the pro-racing calendar, with a long history and global following it’s one that our Italian neighbours are rightly proud of. And it’s grande finale, the Poggio, is within riding distance from Nice. Italy doesn’t seem that far away when you can see it with your own eyes as you round the Cap de Nice. In fact, it’s 30km to the border and just over 50km to the start of one of Europe’s best bike paths at Ospedaletti. Admission no. 1 : it’s a frequently asked question as to whether the coast road is too busy to be enjoyable. The honest answer is that it can be busy but if you learn to embrace it, it’s a real experience ; a veritable feast of coastal riding and human life in many different forms across three different countries. Before the border, the French Riviera delivers some fantastic sights and sounds not least as you pass through Monaco, the country where carbon bikes can go faster than supercars when the tight streets that play home to the Grand Prix are open to everyone. After Monaco a quick up and over to Menton delivers an impressive view of the bay overlooked by the high mountains that include the Col de la Madone and Col de Castillon. Next stop, Italy. We’ve said it before that there is a tangible change in ambiance immediatley on crossing the border. Everything is just, well, faster. Jacked up on espresso is the obvious assumption. Ventimiglia is maybe the epitome of this, being a town that is literally buzzing. There may be a touristic side to the very front seaside road but cycling through the main street shows it to be a real Italian town. Independent shops dominate with hardly a global retailer to be found, cafés serve short espressos to standing clientele and vespas ‘vesp’ in every direction. Look up and admire the architecture if you get a free millisecond. It’s stunning. Apart from the traverse across the railway bridge beside the site of the old roman ruins, there is no real separation between Ventimiglia and Bordighera, which is a continuation of the theme and only after this is there chance to breathe before hitting Ospedaletti. It’s here that you can join the Italian cycle path, constructed on the old railway line, that runs the whole way through San Remo, past the Poggio to San Lorenzo al Mare and the bottom of the Cipressa climb. Not only is it known as one of the best cycle paths in Europe, entering the first tunnel a mere kilometre after Ospedaletti, below and above you are snippets of Milan- San Remo history. Past winners are immortalized above with photos and short texts about their victories and quotes on the path below show the local pride for the Primavera. Even the most casual of race fans can’t help get excited about the prospect what lies ahead : maybe two of the smallest but most famous climbs in professional cycling. Admission no. 2 : the Cipressa is a more interesting climb than the Poggio. Starting in San Lorenzo al Mare there is a steep beginning but that soon relaxes into a gentle climb through olive groves. The hairpin right halfway up points you back towards San Remo and then up toward the village with the church tower a good marker on the summit. And that summit is special. The road narrows into one lane between the church and the traditional houses above it. Don’t run the light just for the sake of a Strava time. There’s a new café on the Piazza Mazzini where good espresso and cheap paninis are guaranteed. The transfer from the Cipressa to the Poggio is one of anticipation. Kelly’s famous descent in 1992, Erik Zabel sitting up too early, Cav winning on his first go, Nibali’s roll of the dice that confused the race favourites. Everyone has memories of this race. The Poggio always has an effect on the result, whether its some of the fast legs being dropped on the 3.6km climb, or a puncheur splitting or completely escaping the peloton. On the coast road before you hit the climb look up, like the pros apparently do, to spot the lighthouse that indicates the junction is approaching. With form or fresh legs amateurs can ride it in the big ring. If you have been riding the classic cols of the Alpes-Maritimes it’s refreshing to be climbing at a faster pace. The hairpins take concentration and the writing on the road provides atmosphere. Through the green houses, up one of the steeper ramps, you reach the Poggio town sign, which wills you towards the summit. At the top, on the apex of the junction is perhaps the most famous public phone box in the cycling world, where the downhill starts. Poggio is nearly as famous for its descent as it is for the climb. As Sean Kelly showed, you need to be able to harness gravity and corner speed as well as watts to be able to win San-Remo. Enjoy the descent but remember the road isn’t closed. Admission #3 : you don’t have to ride all of this ride. There are train stations in San-Remo, Ventimiglia and Menton if, like us, you spend too much time enjoying espresso and pizza and find yourself running out of daylight. Komoot Route : https://www.komoot.com/ Coffee stop : Café Vergano Via Ernesto Chiappori, 6, 18039 Ventimiglia IM, Italy Lunch stop : Ristorante Antica Piazzetta in San Lorenzo Al Mare for any seafood dish. Fritture Mixta or Spahgetti Vognloé perhaps. If you want to fly and make the Poggio pilgrimage on a top of the range bike, you can rent one of Café du Cycliste fleet of Cervélo R5s HERE. Read about other Rides of the Month and find the perfect route by season. Or discover more details about cycling on the Cote d'Azur with our Riding Guide to Nice.

SPRING COLOURS WINTER Like a fireworks display on the ground, the mimosas of the Grand Duc forest offer an immersive experience and a primary colour reason to ride. Cycling on the Riviera when spring invades winter.

RIDE OF THE MONTH: FEBRUARY Introducing the Café du Cycliste Ride Of The Month. Each calendar month presents a new route, another reason to ride and a snapshot of some of the best locations to see by bike on the Côte d’Azur. February : The Mimosas & ‘Le Grand Duc’ Mark Rothko’s painting, Untitled (Yellow & blue), sold at auction for a jaw-dropping $46.5m. Look it up and you’ll find images of a canvas with the expressionist’s big and bold abstract combination of blue on yellow. Blurry lines and two striking primary colours. Much like the Côte d’Azur in February. On the hills behind the western Riviera, forests of mimosa trees deliver an explosion of yellow and provide the motivation for February’s ride of the month. The Route des Mimosas stretches far along the Côte d’Azur, starting in the aptly-named town of Bormes-les-Mimosas and ending in the famous perfume city of Grasse. Those searching for a cycling connection can quickly find it in Bormes-les-Mimosas. It was from here that Jean Bobet once experienced and so eloquently described “La Volupté”: that moment when everything just simply clicks on the bike and delivers a sense of complete souplesse and ease of effort. In late January and early February, the form to find La Volupté might not be there, but the mimosas provide impetus for later in the year by giving an early glimpse of what Spring will look like. From Nice, an aller-retour to Bormes-les-Mimosas is a bit of a stretch. Instead, niçois riders make the annual pilgrimage to the hills above Mandelieu. Here lies the famous climb to Tanneron. It is known by local cyclists as ‘La Montée du Grand Duc’. The Grand Duc is the forest that surrounds the upper half of the climb and which was infected with yellow after mimosa trees were first imported and planted here in the late 19th century. Today it’s referred to as the largest of its kind in Europe. Each year, around late January and early February the yellow flowered display takes over. To get there is simple. Leave the Café, ride west and keep the Mediterranean on your left. You can count the bays before turning north. Bay 1 is the Promenade des Anglais. Bay number 2 crosses Cagnes-sur-Mer to Antibes. There is the option to cut-straight through the town of Antibes but the diversion around the small peninsula, Cap d’Antibes, is worth it. Make sure to look left as you leave the ramparts of the old-town to get a view back across the bay to Nice which, from this angle, is set against the backdrop of the snow-capped peaks of the Alpes-Maritimes. It’s a perfect picture showing the diversity of cycling options in the region. Once Cap d’Antibes is navigated, bay number 3 takes you to Cannes and along to the Croisette. Look right at the haute couture shops before looking left to see the modernist shapes of the Palais des Festivals. After Cannes is the final bay number 4 to Mandelieu-la-Napoule. At the river bridge, take a right up the side of the Riviera’s oldest golf club and head directly north, following signs for the village of Tanneron. The mimosa trees dotted between the town’s buildings give a hint of things to come and eventually the importance of the plant to this area becomes increasingly apparent. The flower is celebrated here because it has helped boost the economy since its introduction, not least as a vital part of the perfume industry in Grasse. It has been referred to as the French perfume maker’s secret ingredient. You join the climb on a small back street that runs parallel to the main street. There is a recently erected cycling sign displaying the statistics of the climb and evidencing its importance to the local riding scene. It’s a good notification not to disrespect what, on paper, might appear to be a simple coastal climb. There is a reason why it’s used by local clubs to stage an uphill time trial : two kilometres in and the gradient stays at a constant 8-10% for another 4km. Testing. There are no hairpins on this southern side, just a sinuous series of lefts and rights between the trees. You pass junctions where the Grand Duc forest roads branch off into the undergrowth, ripe for exploration on a gravel bike. Next time…. The forest at the top almost feels Australian. It offers an faux-plat reprieve before the final uphill section to the summit. It’s an unremarkable finish but after passing through you immediately plunge into the northern side of the forest towards the village of Tanneron. The Fête de Mimosas here takes place on the first weekend in February. It’s a tiny village but has all the essentials : fountain and a coffee stop. There’s a borne decorated with the towns that form the chain along the Route des Mimosas and views north to Grasse and, above it, the mountain range known as the Préalpes d’Azur. Time to concentrate after the break in Tanneron for the sinous descent to Pégomas. This time of year it's in the shade, so whilst the climb may bask in the winter sun, a long sleeve jersey and gilet are a good idea for the darker side of the mountain. The surface is good but the corners are tight so caution is advised, especially as the flowers and pollen of the mimosa fall on the ground. Find your flow, but stay safe. The rest of the ride connects the natural source with the industry it helped create. Uphill to Grasse, known globally as the centre of the French perfume world. That industry previously required infrastructure, including rail links. The old railway line is now signposted as a cycle route, pleasantly named as the Route des Balcons d’Azur. It links Grasse to Tourettes-sur-Loup and eventually Vence and delivers exactly what the name suggests – a road perched on the side of the mountain, crossing viaducts in the shadows of the villages and offering views down to the sea. At Vence, all that’s left is to plunge back to the coast and have the warmth of the evening sun on your back for the return to Nice. THE ROUTE Coffee stop : Boulangerie & Patisserie Aux Délices Sucrés, 2 mins on the right after you leave Cannes Port. Lunch stop : Café des Voyageurs in Tanneron If you want to fly and ride the Grand duc loop on a top of the range bike, you can rent one of Café du Cycliste fleet of Cervélo R5s HERE. Read about other Rides of the Month and find the perfect route by season. Or discover more details about cycling on the Cote d'Azur with our Riding Guide to Nice.