The French Riviera is where the Alps meet the Mediterranean — and for road cyclists, that combination produces something extraordinary. Within minutes of leaving the coast, the roads climb steeply into a landscape of mountain villages, limestone gorges and switchback passes that have defined professional cycling for generations. Col de la Madone, Col de Turini, Col de Braus — these are climbs with history, and you can ride them all from the same base.
Region at a glance
All Routes in French Riviera
6 curated road-cycling routes in French Riviera.
Menton Cols Loop
A perfect introduction to the roads behind Menton. This 61km loop crosses two categorised climbs — Col de Vescavo and Col de Castillon — and takes you across the Italian border before returning through the medieval village of Sospel, with its famous 14th-century toll bridge.
Col de Turini & Col de Braus
Four categorised climbs. 159 kilometres. 3,360 metres of elevation. From Menton via Monaco to Col de Turini at 1,604m, descending through Nice and climbing Col d'Eze before returning along the Corniche. Also rideable from Nice — one of the finest cycling days on the French Riviera.
Col de la Madone Classic
Lance Armstrong used this climb as his personal benchmark for Tour de France readiness. Trek named a bike after it. Tadej Pogačar holds the Strava KOM at 31:38. Col de la Madone is 13km of spectacular climbing above Menton, passing through Saint-Agnès — one of the most beautiful villages in France — with views of the Mediterranean throughout. A route through Monaco on the return makes this one of the most glamorous days in cycling.
French Riviera Cycling — Col de Vence & Gourdon Loop
A 109 km loop from the coast at Cagnes-sur-Mer up to the clifftop village of Gourdon, then over Col de Vence at 962 m and back down through the medieval town of Vence. The two real climbs are spread far enough apart that the legs have time to recover, but the final ramps to the col bite. Best as an early-summer ride — the south-facing slopes catch the heat fast.
French Riviera Cycling — Vence & Gourdon Loop
A classic and demanding loop from the Mediterranean coast into the mountains behind Nice and Antibes — combining two of the most celebrated climbs on the French Riviera in a single day. From Cagnes-sur-Mer at sea level, the route climbs first to the medieval town of Vence, then continues to the spectacular perched village of Gourdon at the highest point of the route, before sweeping back down to the coast. Gourdon is one of the most dramatic viewpoints on the entire Riviera — a village on a clifftop with a 360-degree panorama stretching from the Alps to the Mediterranean. At 82 kilometres with 1,476 metres of climbing, this is a shorter but punchy alternative to the longer Col de Vence loop, and an ideal route for riders wanting to experience the best of the Riviera hinterland without committing to a full day.
Milano–San Remo Cycling Route — Cipressa & Poggio
Ride the closing kilometres of one of cycling's oldest and most prestigious Monuments. From Menton, follow the coast into Italy and return on the same roads that decide Milano–San Remo each March — including the Cipressa (where Eddy Merckx, Fausto Coppi and Giuseppe Saronni made their marks) and the Poggio, the decisive climb where Nibali, Mohoric and Pogačar have launched their winning attacks. A 24km converted railway cycling path along the Ligurian coast adds a unique dimension to the day.