Around Nice, cycle routes are organised between the sea and the first hills. The Grande Corniche road connects viewpoints overlooking the Baie des Anges and Monaco, with a succession of short but demanding climbs. Further north, the valleys of the Vésubie, Tinée, and Var rivers offer direct access to mountain roads, where landscapes become wilder and more mineral. The coast, on the other hand, allows for smoother rides between seaside resorts, with urban continuity but constant views of the Mediterranean.
As soon as you leave the coast, the Maritime Alps take on a very marked alpine dimension. The Col de la Bonette, the Col de Turini, the Couillole or the Cayolle are among the most famous climbs in French cycling. These roads run alongside deep valleys and cross isolated villages, with significant gradients and very changeable atmospheres depending on the altitude. The Mercantour structures the whole, offering high mountain terrain where each climb becomes a true traverse of the massif.
The coastline of the Alpes-Maritimes offers continuous routes between towns and seaside resorts, from Menton to Cannes. The routes are generally smooth-rolling but very urbanised, with heavy traffic density in places. The main attraction remains the continuity of the seafront and the views over the bay, particularly around Nice and the Promenade des Anglais.
The valleys of the Nice hinterland offer wilder, more challenging terrain. The roads climb gradually towards high-altitude villages before reaching the major passes. These routes are among Europe's most renowned for mountain biking, with a distinctly alpine atmosphere despite their proximity to the Mediterranean.
