 Distance Nice - Col de Vence/return: 70 km Climb: 1.000 m+ Main routes: M118 from Saint-Laurent-du-Var, M2210 towards Vence, M2 Close to: Vence, Saint-Jeannet, Coursegoules, Gréolières, Tourrettes-sur-Loup, Gattières Level of difficulty: Moderate Season: All year, can get cold in February-March and very hot in July-September
 Col de Vence is one of the most popular climbs in the Côte d’Azur. It is a journey that takes you from the villages in the lower mountains and up to moonlike landscape. A gateway to amazing cycling routes in the massive of les Alpes-Maritimes and a must do climb when in Nice for cycling. When you start from Nice, you first of all have to cross the Var river in order to come up to Vence, where the official climb starts. Pass the airport and make your way to Saint-Laurent- du-Var. There are a few options for how to get to Vence. An easy way is to follow the main road through Saint-Laurent-du-Var and go left in a small round-about where you see a road sign towards La Gaude. Another option is to follow the bigger road along the river Var and make the turn towards La Gaude from here. This road has more hectic traffic, but less traffic lights. As you start rising up above Saint-Laurent-du-Var you get a view down to the valley (and the Allianz football stadium). You also start seeing the tops of the alps further inland. From November-March they are covered in snow and can make a super pretty landscape. Sometimes you can cycle in short sleeves and watch the snowy tops in the distance. The first part up the mountain is a gentle climb. You will pass through the village la Gaude where there are a few shops and a bakery. Feel like a coffee? When you reach Saint-Jeannet there is a very cyclist friendly café in the roundabout. You are now up at the M2210 and soon in Vence. As you pedal the curly road you can enjoy the view of green hills against the azur blue of the Mediterrenian Sea. In Vence, you make a sharp right turn when you reach a fountain. Any wise woman and man will fill up their water bottles here as the climb can be really warm on a sunny day (of which there are many). From here – the only way is up! As it is one of the most popular climbs in the region there are road signs every km telling you how many km you have left until the top and the average gradient of the road in the next km. The land will gradually become bare around you with bushes rather than than trees. Welcome to 1000 m above sea level. Tina Baltzer Lifesparkz Bike Tours   Distance Nice - San Remo/return: 120 km Climb: 1.000 m+ Main routes: The coast road to Italy, passing through Monaco Close to: Various French and Italian villages near the coast Level of difficulty: Easy-Moderate. Season: Recommended to cycle out of the main tourist season due to much traffic July-September. Tip: Bring lights as you pass through multiple tunnels. Do you dream of cycling cruising at both the French and the Italian Riviera?
It is absolutely a dream that can come true! Cyclists cruise these beautiful coast roads every day and cars are used to cyclists, although I do recommend that you avoid the crowds on the roads during the peak-tourist season in July and August. The route from Nice, if you follow the coast, is taking you through varied sections of uphills, flats and downhills: Bigger towns, small coast towns, amazing landscape stretches, world-famous beaches and a few tunnels before you reach the outer skirts of Ventigmiglia. You can read about the route from Nice to Ventigmiglia here. Every year in March, San Remo hosts the worlds longest one-day professional cycling race: Milan-San Remo. Love for cycling is integrated in the town that has created a 20 km long cycling path that follows the old train tracks along the coast and is closed off from 4-wheels traffic. On a warm day, it is like cycling through a cooling Spa, as you cycle through the iconic cycling/pedestrians' tunnel that is 1-2 km long and a part of the cycling path. Cycling stories from the region are displayed throughout the tunnel that has been designed by and for cycling lovers. The path starts near Ospedaletti. Look out for the sign from the main road as it is a bit hidden. In San Remo you find several pretty located beach-side cafés designed for cyclists and their bikes! :) If you want to combine the tour with more climbing - search for village routes in the back country or cycle from Nice-Menton via Col d'Eze and la Turbie. If you want to ease the cycling, you can easily make it shorter if you go back to Nice by train from Ventigmiglia (cycles are free to carry on the train - look for the special doors for bike-people). Bon courage! Tina Baltzer Lifesparkz Bike Tours  Distance Nice - Ventigmiglia - Dolceacqua: 100 km Climb: 1.000 m+ Main routes: The coast road to Italy M6098 Close to: San Remo, other villages across the Italian and French border, La Turbie Level of difficulty: Easy-Moderate. Season: Recommended to cycle out of the main tourist season due to much traffic July-September. Tip: Bring lights as you pass through multiple tunnels. Cycling through 3 countries in one day-ride you could also call this ride. Or the 3 C's carbonloading tour: Croissant in France to load your energy in the morning, a Cappucino in Italy after a pizza slize when you hit the village café in Dolceaqua and finish off with a glas of Champagne on a fancy bar terrasse in Monaco before heading back to Nice.
This ride is one to do in the winter or spring months, when the roads near the seafront are not overly crowded and the temperatures in the mountains are still a bit on the cold side. You can find your way quite easily by following the coast road all the way out of Nice, through Villefranche-sur-mer and the other small places to Monaco. Monaco can be tricky, I recommend cycling through on a weekend or out of rush-hours as traffic can be intense. Look here for an easy way through Monaco to Menton. Once you are back in France at Roquebrune, follow the road to Menton and the seaside all the way to the Italian border. Cross it - while remembering to smile to the young police guys, who have to stand there all day, as you pedal through towards Ventigmiglia via the tunnel. Ventigmiglia can be a point of return in itself - however if you pass through the town via the mainroad near the station, you only have a few kilometers to go, before you reach the pretty village Dolceacqua. Follow the road North when you reach a roundabout just out of the town - and follow the main road. I once tried to follow the signs of a cycling path - finding myself after one kilometer or so on a gravel road in the industrial zone that was not really made for roadbikes! :-) Ciao Italia. In Dolceacqua time has in general been standing a bit still. One of our guides recently found probably one of the last physical phoneboxes still standing in the world. We are not sure whether it stills operates? You can pedal back the same way as you came, making it a nice flat pedal with some distance and rolling hills. Or you can discover the mountain roads around the area a bit further to dwell into the Italian mountainside before your return to France. Happy cycling! Tina Baltzer Lifesparkz Bike Tours |
