More than 5000 people each year tackle John O’Groats to Lands End, but now there is a new challenge St-Malo to Nice – the ultimate route across France.
Lands End to John O’Groats is ridden by a huge number of cyclists each year, some riding it for charity, others as a purely personal challenge. 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.
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!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_e156k4totc
France en Vélo – The Ultimate Cycle Journey From Channel to Med – St-Malo to Nice by Hannah Reynolds and John Walsh is published by Wild Things Publishing and is available from www.franceenvelo.cc rrp £16.99.
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Hannah Reynolds interest in cycling began while studying for a degree in Sports Science at the University College Chichester and surrounded by elite level cyclists. She is now undertaking a PhD at Sheffield Hallam University investigating the use of e-bikes by older people.
A committed dabbler whose passion outweighed her talent Reynolds has competed across all disciplines of cycling bar BMX. In the very distant past she has been south-east road race champion, southern cyclo-cross champion and finished third in the European 24hr Solo mountain-bike champs in 2011. She was also the Fitness Editor of Cycling Weekly for 15 years.
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