Tentative day schedule:

8.00 Pick up at your hotel and transfer to Cafe du Cycliste shop.

8.30 Bike setting and coffee.

9.30 – 13.00 Ride to Cap d’Antibes and back.

13.00 – 14.30 Lunch in old Nice

15.00 Transfer to your hotel and check-in.

19.30 Transfer to Nice (15′)

20.00 Dinner

Ride Description:

Mileage: 57km / 115mt │ 35mi / 391ft

An amazing cycle path runs along the rocky coastline from Nice all the way to Cap d’Antibes. A perfect gentler first ride for those still fighting jetlag and overall a great way to kick off our bike retreat.

Once in Antibes, a medieval town with 16th-century ramparts and a star-shaped fortress,  Fort Carré, we will ride through the old town and the old market before heading out onto the Cap. Surrounded by the calm Mediterranean, the pine trees hide huge grand villas, luxury yachts, hotels, and smooth quiet roads. You’ll find a lot of local cyclists doing laps here.

After a must-do coffee break, we will head back to Nice but just before getting changed at CDC and transferred to the hotel, we will have a hearty lunch in the old Nice.

Tentative day schedule:

9.00 Meet up

9.30 – 13.00  Ride Col de La Madone loop

13.30 – Lunch in Eze close to our hotel

15.00 to 19.00 – Free time

19.00 – Transfer to Nice (20′)

19.30 –  Dinner in old town Nice

Ride description:

49km / 1500 mt │ 31mi / 5100ft

Col de La Madone is famed as a training hill, exactly where the pros commence their battle with the clock. Watch for goats on this climb! This climb became famous after Lance Armstrong chose it to test his form ahead of the Tour de France.

Trek named one of their model Madone after this pass so it cannot be bad! Once on the other side of the pass, we will do a short coffee break in Saint Agnes, one of the “most beautiful villages in France” and the highest coastal village on the Mediterranean. Breathtaking views of Menton and the sea are guaranteed. 

After a quick descent, we will start rolling up and down toward our hotel.

Tentative day schedule:

8.30 Start transferring to Levens (45′)

9.30-10.00 Preparation and coffee at Boulangerie

10.00 Start riding

12.00 Scenic picnic on top of Madonne d’Utelle.

14.00 Finish riding and transfer back to the hotel (40′).

15.00-19.30 free time

19.30 Start transferring to Nice (20′)

20.00 Dinner in Nice old town

Ride description:

58km / 1500mt │36mi / 5100ft

Madonne d’Utelle is one of our favorite climbing on the French Riviera. The panorama from the top is just amazing.

We will start our day with a short 45′ transfer to avoid the busy road that will take us to the countryside town of Levens. Every cyclist stops for a coffee at the local boulangerie and so we will do.

The first part of the ride is characterized by riding the Vesubie canyon. A narrow rocky road (but super safe and smooth) above the Vesubie river.

Later on, we will arrive at Saint Jean La Riviere where we will start the proper climb to Madonne d’Utelle Sanctuary. The first part climbs steadily through cool woodland until it opens up leaving the now-tired cyclist in awe. On one side are high mountains, on the other the sea.

After a hearty picnic with a view, we will start descending all the way down, this time we will use the road at the bottom of the canyon which will lead us to the town of Plan du var where we will jump on the van and transfer to our hotel.

Tentative day schedule:

9.30 Transfer to Beaulieu harbor (15’)

10.00 to 16.00 Private luxury cruise with lunch in Menton.

16.00 Transfer back to the hotel (15’)

16.30 to 19.30 Free time

20.00 Dinner at the hotel restaurant Le Ramparts

Cruise Description:

Tentative day schedule:

09.00 Meet Up

09.30 to 13.00 Riding Col de Braus 

13.00 – 14.30 Pic nic

14.30 Transfer to hotel

15.00 to 19.00 Free time

19.00 Transfer to Nice

19.30 Dinner int Nice old town

Ride description:

60km / 1600 mt │ 38mi / 5440ft

Pilots from the  Rally of Monte Carlo, pro Tour de France cyclists and not, locals and tourists, all agree about the beauty of the last switchbacks of Col de Braus.

But first, we will leave our hotel and start the gentle climb that leads to Col de la Madone. But just before attacking the climb, we descend on the other side of the valley riding down the famous Peille switchbacks.

Once at the bottom we start the long climb. Col de Braus is one of the best in France and definitely one of the highlights of our journey. Col de Braus ascent is about 10.3 km long. Overall climb is 660 height meters (2244 ft). The average percentage is 6.4 %. 

From the top of the Col we will start descending and descending until we get closer to the sea. We will enjoy a nice hearty picnic before jumping in the van and transfering home (20′).

Tentative day schedule:

8.30 Start transferring to Vence (45′)

9.30-10.00 Preparation, coffee at Boulangerie

10.00 Start riding

13.30 Lunch and wine tasting in a selected winery

15.00 Start transferring back to the hotel (45′)

16.00-19.30 Free time

19.30 Transfer to Nice

20.00 Final dinner in Nice old town

Ride description:

55km / 1000mt │34mi / 3400ft

The Col de Vence is different than anything we rode until today. Dry, open, mistic. from the top you’ll have a great view of the Mediterranean from Italy to Cannes and beyond. What a way to finish our bike retreat! (FYI, It is said that Alberto Contador rode this 9.6km stretch, which rises 630m and averages 6%, in less 24 minutes).

Once on the top we will descend and close the loop riding stunning country roads between rocky mountains first and forested roads later. We will end up in a selected winery where will taste local wine and enjoy well-deserved hearty food before transferring back to the hotel by van (45′).

Our bike retreat is over.

Today the guides are available to assist you with your logistics.

If you are heading to the airport or to a hotel because you decided to prolong your stay, we will transfer you there.

Thank you!