Early Season Training Breaks

The Grand Canyon de Verdon

Our early- and late- season road bike adventure is a fantastic way to get some sunny kilometres in preparation for sportifs ahead or a perfect wind-down post season to carry some miles and memories into the gloomy winter ahead.

Starting along the foothills of the Pre-Alpes, rolling up and down to the sun-kissed Mediterranean, the route then takes us inland and uphill to the breathtaking Grand Canyon de Verdon, a 30 km gash in the Canjuers plateau plunging 700m nearly vertically to the river below.

Finally a series of cols brings us back to the Mediterranean.

ITINERARY

Day 1

Grasse

We collect from Nice airport and train station and transfer to our hotel in Grasse. Morning arrivals can hit the road to follow the gorges of the River Loup and over the Col de Vence (963m) before heading back to the hotel. Those wanting a gentler start can head downhill to Cannes for a spot of lunch on the seafront (and maybe spot a few movie stars!) 45km (optional)

Distance: 45km (optional)

Day 2

Riding out past the Chateau de Cabris, the morning starts with a climb along the gorges of the River Siagne up to the perched village of Mons (808 m). Carrying on we come another perched fortified village, Fayence, which makes a great coffee stop. An optional detour takes in the Col du Bel Homme (1032m). From there it's pretty much downhill for the rest of the day, a small climb bags the Col de Bougnan (154m) before reaching the coast and our hotel on the outskirts of Ste-Maxime.

Distance: 122km

Day 3

St-Tropez

Setting off along the bay of St-Tropez, the view is classic Cote d'Azur. We soon leave the millionaire's playground behind, and begin a long steady climb up to the Col de Gratteloup (199m) then the road steepens to the Col de Babaou (415m) . A drop into Pierrefeu-du-Var, which being the most famous of the Cotes-de-Provence wine villages, makes an ideal coffee stop.

After lunch there comes the day's major climb, to the Plateau de Siou-Blanc, (693m) offering marvellous vistas of the blue Mediterranean. From then on it's downhill to the sea at St-Cyr.

Distance: 124km

Day 4

Mont Sainte-Victoire

Say goodbye to the seaside as we head inland to the heartland of Provence. Today there is shorter but with more climbing, as we immediately get up to 440m cresting the ridge that divides the hinterland from the sea. A brief descent before we tackle the Col d'Espigoulier (728m) on the flanks of the Ste-Baume massif. Another descent then a gentle rise to the Pas de la Couelle (528m). After lunch is a gentle descent in the lee of Mont Sainte-Victoire, the subject of a celebrated series of studies by Paul Cézanne, to our stop in beautiful Aix-en-Provence. The shorter afternoon will give ample opportunity to check out this charming town.

Distance: 95km

Day 5

Moustiers-Ste-Marie

We leave Aix on the other side on Mont Ste-Victoire, passing through Vauvenargues where Pablo Picasso spent his last years in a beautiful chateau. The ride climbs the flank of the massif, reaching a high point of 600m before dropping into the Ste-Baume plain. We soon arrive at the pretty village of Rians, built on a spiral pattern around its 12th C bell tower. After coffee, it's rolling terain through vineyards of the Coteaux d'Aix appelation. A 6km climb from lunch in Aups sees us at 800m, the highpoint for the day, before we start the most spectacular section of the week, rushing down to the lac de Ste-Croix, marking the start of the Grand Canyon de Verdon. A short rise takes us to Moustiers-Ste-Marie, our stop tonight.

Distance: 110km

Day 6

The biggest day of the week, so we set off early. Straight away we com to the spectacular highlight of the trip, the Grand Canyon de Verdon. Up to 700 m deep, the 21-km-long canyon varies in width between 6 and 100 m at the bottom and 200 to 1500 m at its rim.

Although it's much smaller than Arizona's Grand Canyon, the Gorges du Verdon is deep, compact, wild and beautiful. Our route takes us to several viewpoints, including the Col de l'Olivier (711m) and the Col d'Aven (1,023m). Spectacular scenery follows all the way to Castellane where we stop for lunch.

In the afternoon, the cols come thick and fast as we head back towards the Mediterranean. First up is the Col de Barnabé (1367m), then in succession the Col de Bleine (1439m), the Col de la Sine (1108m), the Col de Ferrier (1041m) and the Col du Pilon (782m), before we roll into Grasse, 700km and 15 cols covered, and a celebration dinner well deserved!

Distance: 145km