St-Malo to Nice: The Ultimate cycling route across France

Touring

St-Malo to Nice: The Ultimate cycling route across France

It’s the french version of Lands End to John O’Groats but with better riding, better wine and better weather.

Thousands of our readers each year cycle John O’Groats to Lands End, and now there is a new challenge St-Malo to Nice – probably the best route across France.

Some riding it for charity and others as a purely personal challenge but Lands End to John O’Groats is ridden by a huge number of cyclists each year. Whatever the motivation there is something hugely appealing about crossing the entire country by bike and appreciating at first hand the changes in terrain, food, scenery, accent and traditions.

St-Malo to Nice route
St-Malo to Nice route

However whilst there is undoubtedly a large amount of satisfaction in arriving at John O’Groats celebrating under a damp, grey sky its not the most inspiring or glamorous of ends. Imagine instead arriving at the glittering blue of the Cote d’Azur, warm sun beating down on your back and the vibrant town of Nice to welcome you. There is an alternative to a wet and windy End to End; instead of riding across Britain, ride across France.

St.Malo to Nice has been described as the ‘ultimate route across France’, it winds its way from the Channel to the Mediterranean, alongside rivers and gorges through a total of 19 different departments to give a rich and varied over view of this country so beloved by bike riders.

It crosses paths with the Tour de France, stopping in Sault at the foot of the iconic Mont Ventoux. The finish on the Promenade des Anglais has been used as a Tour de France time trial course and is a good place to spot pro-riders on their warm down cruise after a training ride in the hills behind Nice.

At 1000 miles it is a comparable distance to LEJOG, riders generally take between ten days and three weeks to complete the route. However it arguably offers better weather, better food and better wine. An over night stop in Chateauneuf-du-Pape for a glass of red is pretty much compulsory, even for those smashing out 100 miles a day, purely for its anti-oxidant properties of course!

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