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.
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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MADONE D'UTELLE
Ride in the back country around Nice, and one of those reference points is the chapel of the Madone d’Utelle
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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.
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MONT VENTOUX
Though geologically part of the Alps, Ventoux stands more or less alone, unencumbered by mountains of equal stature.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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 CLIMBCOLS 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.
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 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.
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.
