recommended route
FFC cycling circuit no. 24: Tour des 2 vallées
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Cyclists - passing through Saint-Martin Vésubie
A tour de force that will take you over a number of legendary passes, including the ascent of the road to the sanctuary of the Madonna d'Utelle. At Paris-Nice 2016, the stage was won by Ilnur Zakarin ahead of Alberto Contador.
The village of La Tour sur Tinée, the first ascent of the day, is well worth the diversions. Entering the narrow streets of the village and discovering the square with its fountain is a pleasure to share.
Reaching the sanctuary of the Madonna d'Utelle is a real reward, but the main attraction of this climb is to go further up the road to reach the orientation table and discover an exceptional panorama from the Mediterranean Sea to the peaks of the Mercantour.
On the way down, the village of Utelle is also worth a visit. You can also fill up your water bottles at the fountain in the square.
All the outdoor activities in the Nice Côte d'Azur region can be found at https://outdoor.nicecotedazur.org
Author’s recommendation
Circuit for experienced cyclists - FFC colour: Black
Track types
Safety information
BASIC RULES
-Choose a route suited to your physical condition and do not overestimate your abilities.
-Before setting off, find out about the weather in the mountains and when the passes open.
-Carry identification and a number to call in case of danger
-Respect traffic lights
-Preferably use cycle paths when they exist, in other words: a sign may require you to do so.
- If the "cycle path" sign is square: you decide.
- If it is round, you must use the lane.
-Respect the environment and other road users
THE RIGHT REFLEXES FOR RIDING IN A GROUP
-Riding two abreast is permitted, but you must keep to a single lane:
- at dusk or when visibility is poor
- when a vehicle wanting to overtake announces its approach.
-In the event of a breakdown, move to the side of the road, not the carriageway.
- Come to a complete stop for the whole group at stop signs, yellow lights and fixed or flashing red lights.
-Communicate within the group and use verbal language and body language to signal an obstacle or a vehicle. A simple gesture or word is all it takes to avoid a fall or an accident.
Tips and suggestions
To find out more about our destination, visit the Tourist Office website
Start
Destination
Turn-by-turn directions
- The route starts from the square in Avenue Philippe Corniglion (RM 69), heading towards Saint-Martin Vésubie.
- Once you have crossed the bridge over the Vésubie river, at the junction with the RM 2565, the ascent to the Col Saint-Martin begins.
- In fact, for the purists, the real ascent of the Col begins on the outskirts of the village of Saint-Martin at 970m and finishes at the summit at 1,500m in 7km 6, a positive difference in altitude of 530m.
- From the heart of La Colmiane resort , at the top of the pass, a long, fast descent takes cyclists down into the Tinée valley. At the bottom of the descent, turn right onto the RM 2205 towards Nice.
- Once past Pont de Clans, at Km 49.4 turn left for the climb to La Tour-sur-Tinée(RM 32), which has a good surface.
- This is a fairly easy climb, with a few twists and turns that will give you plenty of time to recover. The road after the village leads up the slope of the Vésubie after two tough climbs.
- At theUtelle et de la Madone junction(Km 38.2), the most courageous will choose to take the diversions to the sanctuary of the Madonna d'Utelle, a few kilometres away, via the RM 132.The less adventurous can go directly to the village ofUtelle, taking the route de la Vésubie and continuing on the RM 32 as far as Saint-Jean la Rivière.
- From here, head for Roquebillière on the RM 2565.
- At the exit for Le Suquet, take the RM 373 to the village of Pélasque, a climb discovered during the 2019 Paris-Nice stage.
- The descent leads directly to the village of Lantosque, where you rejoin the RM 2565 in the direction of Saint-Martin Vésubie and Roquebillière, the starting point of the loop.
Directions
Nice is served by the A8 "La Provençale" motorway, coming from Aix-en-Provence to the west and from the border to the east.
To reach the starting point, take :
Exit 52: Saint-Isidore
Take the RM 6202 towards Digne
After Plan-du-Var
Take the M2565 - Vallée de la Vésubie (55 km / 1h10) ( http://www.vesubian.com/roquebilliere/OT-ROQUEBILLIERE/acces_roquebilliere.html )
Parking
Parking spaces available in the village centreCoordinates
Equipment
-Wear an approved helmet
-Check the condition of your tyres
-Take a repair kit with you in case of a puncture
-Prefer at least one flashing LED light to be fixed to the seatpost so that you can be seen by other motorists.
Localization
Weather at the route's trailhead
Statistics
- 23 Waypoints
- 23 Waypoints
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Route
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Gradient
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