The Most Beautiful French Cycling Area

A good reference to have a look at the best and worth experiencing sites is the Tour de France. The most famous cycling race in the world has always shown the best places in France. Take the roads where Bradley Wiggins and Mark Cavendish roll on!

Paris

Contrary to London, Paris has cycling areas in its parks and cycling ways on every street. If you don’t have space enough in your luggage to bring your bike, the city of Paris can provide you a Vélib’, which is exactly the same system as in London bikes. Indeed, Boris Johnson copied this idea from Paris!

Col d’Aubisque

Located in Midi-Pyrénées, the Col d’Aubisque is 30 kilometres long and is one of the great climbs of the Tour de France surrounded by a breathtaking landscape. This is the green mountain as you‘ve never seen it before. On the west-side, the Aubisque starts in Laruns. The first kilometres are quite easy until the spa resort Eaux-bonnes. Then as soon as you reach the Cascade de Valentin (the Valentin waterfalls), things get really harder with a piece of 13%.

Col du Tourmalet

The Col du Tourmalet is situated in Midi-Pyrenees and belongs to the Pyrénées. It is one of the major places in the Tour. Starting from Luz Saint Sauveur, the Col du Tourmalet ascent is 19 km long. Over this distance, you climb 1404 height meters. Tourmalet is a very regular climb at nearly 8%. Yet, it takes 18 km and 2 hours to reach the top at 2115 m, which is the highest road in the Pyrénées.

Mont Ventoux

Very distinguishable by its white stones, the Mont Ventoux is located in Provence. As a fan of cycling, you should reach the top in three hours while racers at the Tour de France could climb the Mont Ventoux in less than an hour.

Alpe d’Huez

This is the most legendary race in the Tour de France, taking place in the French Alps only once every two years to either make the end of a stage or to be used as a circuit against-the-watch. Each bend has its name referring to a famous athlete. Starting from the charming village of Bourg d’Oisans, racers at the Tour de France could reach the ski resort in only 40 minutes.

Col du Galibier

Set in the French Alps, this stage is famous for its small tunnel the whole world has already watched on TV, just a few metres from the finish line. The organizers often manage to make the runners pass in this area before a finish near the Alpe d-Huez for a spectacular and tremendous race.

Noirmoutiers

This time, the Noirmoutiers Island is not a stage part of the history of the Tour de France. However, the area is windy but it is a wonderful paradise for cycling fans as many cycling ways and tracks are available throughout this 48-square kilometre island. It is located behind the city of Nantes in the department of Vendée, which is the same department where the famous amusement park Le Puy du Fou is set.

Enjoy your ride!