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.

NICE RIDING GUIDE

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.

NICE RIDING GUIDE

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.

NICE RIDING GUIDE

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.

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

NICE RIDING GUIDE

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.

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
NICE RIDING GUIDE

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.