recommended route
FFC cycling route no. 32: The 2 valleys loop from St.Sauveur/Tinée
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UtellePhoto: Métropole Nice Côte d'Azur
The village of La Tour sur Tinée, the first ascent of the day, is well worth a visit. Entering the narrow streets of the village and discovering the square and its fountain is a pleasure to share.
Reaching the Sanctuary of the Madonna of Utelle is a rewarding experience, but the best part of the climb is to push on a little further along 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, you can also explore the village of Utelle. This is also a good opportunity to fill up your water bottles at the fountain in the village square, known as Place de la République.
Author’s recommendation
04/05/2021 : Please note that the circuit was affected by storm Alex in October 2020. Reconstruction work is underway in the Vésubie valley.
On leaving Le Suquet, the route includes a diversion via Pélasque. This difficulty can be avoided by continuing on the RM 2565 from the village of Lantosque to Roquebillière, the start and finish of the loop.
Circuit for experienced cyclists - FFC colour: black - Very difficult
All the outdoor activities in the Nice Côte d'Azur region can be found at https://outdoor.nicecotedazur.org
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.
Start
Destination
Turn-by-turn directions
- Start on the RM 2205 towards Nice. At Km 19.7, turn left for the ascent to La Tour-sur-Tinée (RM 32), which has a good surface and is fairly easy going, with some 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 and La Madone junction(Km 38.2), the bravest will choose to make the diversions to the sanctuary a few kilometres away, while the less adventurous can join the Vésubie road(RM 2565) and Saint-Jean la Rivière.
- From here, head towards Roquebillière. At km 63.1, at the exit for Le Suquet, take the RM 373 to the village of Pélasque, a climb you discovered during the 2018 Paris-Nice stage.
- The descent leads directly to the village of Lantosque, where you rejoin the RM 2565 towards Saint-Martin Vésubie Km 87, the starting point for the final climb, the Col Saint-Martin (1,500 m) and the heart of the La Colmiane resort.
- The end of the descent joins the Tinée valley(RM 2205), and from the crossroads heading for Nice, you return to the starting point at Saint-Sauveur.
Public transport
Public-transport-friendly
Bus routes can be found at: https://www.lignesdazur.com
Directions
The village of Saint-Sauveur-sur-Tinée, at an altitude of 500 m, on the Route de la Tinée M 2205, 64 km from Nice, offers a privileged location from which to set off on unusual itineraries.It's the ideal place to start new itineraries, which would not always be possible from Nice, unless you had to cover a lot of kilometres.
Nice is served by the A8 "La Provençale" motorway, coming from Aix-en-Provence to the west and the border to the east.
To reach the departure from Nice :
Take Exit 52: Saint-Isidore
Take the RM 6202 towards Digne
Then take the Route de la Tinée (RM 2205)
Parking
A few spaces are available near the panoramic departure point on the edge of the RM 2205. However, prefer the car park below the RM 2205, on the banks of the Tinée, in the direction of the gendarmerie.
Coordinates
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, particularly in small tunnels.
Localization
Weather at the route's trailhead
Statistics
- 22 Waypoints
- 22 Waypoints
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Route
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Gradient
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