La Mercan'Tour
The Mercan'Tour National Park is one of France's most untouched and most highly protected nature reserves. The Gran Fondos that share its name have exclusive access each summer to traverse this alpine architecture that lies just a beach pebble's throw from the Riviera.
The mountains are calling. Pick your parcours for a summer of curated col collecting.
TWIST & TURN ON TURINI, 3rd June 2018
The collection of roads that climb to Col de Turini are a living museum that displays the art of route laying. The fabled switchbacks stack themselves in engineered beauty so cyclists can scale all 1,607m of the col any direction.
La Mercan'Tour Turini is based in the mountain village of Saint-Martin Vesubie - 'la Suisse niçois' - and follows a parcours that wraps itself up and around every side of the mountain.
Climb the north side, descend the south side and remount from the west in a col-collecting ascent that takes in the Braus, L'Orme and L'Ablé passes, before the second arrival at Turini.
Finish with a 12kms drag up the valley before deciding whether or not to make the climb to La Boréon where the wolves of the Alpha Parc des Loups lie in waiting.
RIDERS' NOTES: Date - 3rd June 2018
Distance - 85kms / 115kms / 125 kms
Elevation - 2,200m / 2,900m / 3,400m
TAKE ON TURINI
EUROPE'S HIGHEST SPORTIVE
17th June 2018
The Col de la Bonette is the silent giant at the centre of the Mercan'Tour series. With the additional height of the Cime (the bitumen lassoo that reaches 2,802m) it's the highest paved pass in Europe. Ride to the roof of the Alps.
Starting from the mountain resort of Valberg, traverse to the Tinée valley via the Col de la Couillole before making your way up the valley to the base of the 24kms ascension of Bonette. And if the Cime is cleared of snow, be ready to reach for the sky.
Col de la Cayolle is the definition of untouched beauty. Totalling 28kms from Barcelonette, with the third hors catégorie climb done, savour the source of the Var and descend with the river to Guillaumes to face to the final 15kms climb of the Col de Valberg, if you dare.
As tough as La Marmotte, possibly more beautiful than any other mountain granfondo in the world.
RIDERS' NOTES:
Date - 17th June 2018
Distance - 99kms / 175kms / 190 kms
Elevation - 1,800m / 3,700m / 4,600m
LADIES' GRAN FONDO, 8th May 2018
Following a path north from l'arrière-pays Niçois, from the rolling hills to the mountains in Valberg, the Ladies' Granfondo is a celebration of female cycling.
Take in the perched villages of the collines before descending to the upper Var river valley. Enjoy the wide open landscapes before turning right up the Gorge du Daluis.
Ride through the dramatic red rock of the Gorges on a balcony road that clings to the cliff edge with views of the perilous drops to happily distract you from the final kilometers to Guillaumes. The strong and the brave will continue up the 15kms alpine climb to Valberg.
A stunning point to point ride tracing the path of the Var river to a mountain resort finish offering alpine culture and post-ride tranquility.
RIDERS' NOTES:
Date - 8th May 2018
Distance - 102kms / 116kms
Elevation - 1,500m / 2,400m
GO AGAINST THE FLOW
LOGISTICS
Nice Côte d'Azur airport is the third largest in France with great international links provided daily by large and low-cost airlines alike.
Travel to each of the towns hosting the Gran Fondo series in the Alpes-Maritimes mountains is best by car or van rental from Nice.
There are plenty of accommodation options in each of the host towns, which are mountain resorts with tourist services provided readily.
Bike rental, workshop and advice on each of the events and cycling in the region generally is all available at our headquarters located on the Old Port in Nice. Please feel free to email booking@cafeducycliste.com if you have any questions and we will be happy to help.
