WHERE TO RIDE FROM NICE – BRAUS & TURINI
Two of the big boys of the Alpes-Maritimes and two of the cols in our Montagnes à la Carte series – the beautiful Col de Braus and the imposing Turini. After warming up on the gentle Col de Nice, Braus takes you up sculpted switchbacks to 1,002m. Descend on the other side to Sospel, keeping an eye on the peaks over your left shoulder – if they’re obscured by dark clouds, it’s probably best you don’t head up.
Sospel is a good place to take stock, eat and refill your bottles before the 24km ride from 400 to 1,600m. It starts off gently, in a deep river gorge, and then gradually opens up, with some remarkable views of rock formations and forests to take your mind off the climb, as well as a chapel perched above the road. There are plenty of cafés at the top for more drinks and food, and then it’s an almost 50km descent down into Nice.
key kit
Mona Jersey
Climbing in the summer months is hot work and the sun can blaze even late Spring or early Autumn. A jersey that breathes and wicks is essential to make a hard task just a little easier.
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.
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,.
MONT CHAUVE
Mont Chauve, known as Nice’s ‘bald mountain’, proves that nature constructed one of the best viewpoints the city has to offer.
Cap d'Antibes
A classic Cote d’Azur roll-out that hugs the sea heading west and arrives at one of the region’s most well-known towns. Ideal out of season when the heat is lowered and the town itself is quiet.
Esterel & Adrets
The Esterel national park stretches between Saint Raphaël and Théoule-sur-Mer. Stay close to the coast and, early in the year, watch out for the mimosa flowers on the descent back towards Cannes.
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.
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.
DURANUS & SAINT BLAISE
Head up the valley to where three rivers meet, climb higher still and take the time to look around.
GILETTE & BONSON
The back country of Nice opens up behind the coast and this ride provides easy access.
claim your badge
To celebrate the local climbs and the roads we ride, we’ve created a badge for each of our local cols, collected together in our Montagne à la Carte series. The hard part of collecting your badge is climbing the col.
Braus and Turini includes three cols and two badges, unsurprisingly Col de Braus and Col de Turini.
