Experience the best of the French Riviera
Best Cycling Climbs of the French Riviera
From the Col d'Eze towering over the rich and famous play area of Cap Ferrat to the epic Col de la Madone, there is no shortage of epic climbing out in the French Riviera. #Lovevelo #LoveCycling #Ridefurther
Cycling Holidays to the French Riviera
What to Expect on This Trip
- Iconic French Riviera Climbs. Ride the legendary Col d’Eze and Col de la Madone, famous training grounds for professional cyclists and offering incredible challenges.
- Views of the Côte d’Azur. Soak in breathtaking vistas of the French Riviera, with sparkling Mediterranean waters and glamorous coastal towns below.
- Eze Village. Cycle to the enchanting hilltop village of Eze, known for its medieval streets, stunning gardens, and panoramic views.
- The Beauty of the Madone. Experience the allure of the Col de la Madone, a serene and scenic climb that rewards you with spectacular landscapes.
- Coastal Serenity. Cruise along the Côte d’Azur’s quieter roads, blending challenging climbs with moments of peaceful coastal beauty.
This is a trip based in a single location
From beach side hotels, to Nice city centre let us know what you want to make your stay perfect.
From full carbon with disc brakes and DI2s to e-bikes, let us know what bike you want in the south of France.
You have the flexibility to arrive and depart at any time. Just let us know the details and we will do the rest.
As part of your cycling adventure, we will provide you with our curated set of digital routes. Just download to your Garmin or Wahoo, or navigate from your phone.
Arrive & Depart At Any Time
A Typical Itinerary
Day 1
Arrive into Nice airport and we will take you to your hotel. We work with hundreds of hotels on the Riviera from Monaco to Nice to Cannes. Whether you're looking for inexpensive, boutique or grand, we can organise this for you.
Day 2
Your trip will be unique and bespoke to you. Today's recommendation is the climb up the Col D'Eze from Nice. The challenging ascent of the Col d'Eze (a gradient of up to 8.5%) contrasts with the lush vegetation as you climb out of Nice.
The tranquil view from the vantage point over Cap Ferrat and the quaint village of Eze are moments of inspiration as you top out at Eze le Col. Keep riding up to La Turbie, down to Beausoleil and then enjoy the coastal road back into Nice. This makes for a spectacular ride and a great introduction to cycling on the Riviera.
Stop at the water fountain in La Turbie to meet other cyclists and often you'll bump into the pros!Day 3
One of our favourite rides on the Riviera is the route from Nice out to Menton. You can choose the coastal route that heads through Monaco and whilst it's a little busier than the Moyenne Corniche, you can experience riding over the Formula 1 starting grid and through it's famed tunnel. Head round the cap at Roquebrune Cap Martin and stop for some lunch at Le Cigale overlooking the water.
From there, either carry on to San Remo or head straight up. The climb from Menton twists through forests, past streams and through the cobbled streets of hilltop villages, before you eventually reach Peille. The climb is not well known and it will only be a few locals and some pros who know it well for company.
Day 4
The Madone is the most infamous climbs in professional cycling. It's not its scenery, difficulty or hairpins or the fact that it has never featured in the Tour de France.
The Col de la Madone is infamous because it was Lance Armstrong's testing ground and it has become an integral part of the Armstrong myth. It demands attention and if you can get up it in 45 minutes, you're doing well.
Did you know the Trek Madone & Emonda (An anagram of Madone) were inspired by this climb?Day 5
Today we can take you to back to the airport or you can choose to extend your holiday.
Reviews
What our Cyclists Say
Awesome customer Service like it used to be. When planning my husband's 50th birthday and knowing very little about cycling I decided to try Love Velo and I can't recommend them, and the service I've received from James Danvers highly enough.
Read full reviewAbby
I booked through Love Velo because the reviews were so good. I wasn't disappointed. Right from my first contact with LV they were easy to talk to and although I dithered (my first cycling trip abroad) they didn't press me. When I eventually confirmed my booking they took care of everything.
Read full reviewStephen
Everything about Love Velo has been faultless. From the initial notification of them teaming up with Le Col and to the pricing being unbelievable and then the customer service, top class. James, if all the staff are as attentive to every detail as you are then everyone will be as lucky as I have been. 100% at some point, hopefully in the near future I will be booking again with you guys. Thank you again
Read full reviewIan
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Whether you're a keen road cyclist, enjoy riding an e-bike or hybrid bike, or want to get your family more active, we have the perfect cycling holiday for you.
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