WHERE TO RIDE FROM NICE – ÈZE & MADONE
This is 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 while you're still in the middle of town. The Grande Corniche is the highest road heading east from Nice, and is the scene of the Col d'Èze Time Trial, a traditional finishing stage of Paris-Nice. Sean Kelly held the record for climbing this for years, until Bradley Wiggins beat him in 2012.
At the top, grab a coffee or refill your water bottle in La Turbie, then descend to Menton where the climb to the Col de la Madone begins. The Madone has been the training ground of Tony Rominger, Lance Armstrong and many others, and is a tough yet beautiful climb, quiet and never too steep, with great sea views into Italy. From the top of the Madone it’s a technical descent to the T junction near Peille and then a gentle downhill back to La Turbie where, after another coffee perhaps, you take the Moyenne Corniche back into town.
key kit
Dorothée Gilet.
The road off the back of the Madone and valley ride back to La Turbie can be chilly at either end of the day. Pack a superlight gilet that will keep you protected on the long descent back to 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.
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.
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,.
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.
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.
Esterel & Adrets
This route takes you into the Esterel national park west of Cannes. Take a train to Cannes and ride out along the sandy beach – or, if you want a long (160km) ride, simply head out along the cycle path from Nice.
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.
BRAUS & TURINI
A ride that includes two of the majestic cols from our Montaignes a la Carte series.
DURANUS & SAINT BLAISE
Head up the valley to where three rivers meet, climb higher still and take the time to look around.
Our Badges
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.
Do the ride and claim the badges for Col d'Éze and Col de la Madone.
