Alpine Maritime Weekend · part 1

Scenic road chapters

Waypoint introductions and full write-ups

1. 1. Fuel stop in Le Cannet

   Le Cannet climbs the hills directly behind Cannes, and from its upper streets you look down over the rooftops of the city to the bay, the Lérins islands and the red Esterel mountains to the west. The old village at its heart, with narrow lanes, painted walls and small squares, still has a Provençal charm that the busy streets below have largely lost.

   Read the complete Fuel stop in Le Cannet write-up.

   Recorded stop-planning note

   May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.

   Planning note

   Alpine Maritime Weekend is where the day begins. Next is High point near Mandelieu-la-Napoule.

2. 2. High point near Mandelieu-la-Napoule

   Mandelieu-la-Napoule sits at the western end of the bay of Cannes, where the river Siagne meets the sea, and behind it rise two very different massifs. To the south-west, the Esterel is a jagged range of red volcanic rock, plunging into the sea along one of the most dramatic stretches of coast in France. To the north, the Tanneron is a softer range of hills famous for its mimosa, which blooms in brilliant yellow in late winter.

   Read the complete Food stop near Mandelieu-la-Napoule write-up.

   Recorded stop-planning note

   May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.

   Planning note

   You top out here; the road stops climbing. Next is Alpine Maritime Weekend checkpoint 8.

3. 3. Vence

   Vence is where the Riviera stops pretending to be the seaside and starts to become the mountains. The old town sits on a rocky spur about ten kilometres inland from the coast, still largely enclosed by its medieval walls, and behind it the land rises in steps of limestone, the baous, towards the high plateaus of the Préalpes. Finishing a ride here means ending among fountains, narrow lanes and terraces in the shade.

   Read the complete Vence write-up.

   Recorded stop-planning note

   May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.

   Planning note

   The route ends here after 218 km. Next is Scenic stretch near Roquebillière.

4. 4. Scenic stretch near Roquebillière

   Roquebillière sits in the valley of the Vésubie, one of the deep valleys that cut into the Alpes-Maritimes north of Nice. The river rushes down from the high peaks near the Italian border, and the valley is steep, wooded and dramatic, with villages perched on the slopes and mountains rising on every side.

   Read the complete Scenic stretch near Roquebillière write-up.

   Recorded stop-planning note

   May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.

   Planning note

   Scenic stretch near Roquebillière, late in the day. Next is Photo stop near Roquebillière.

5. 5. Photo stop near Roquebillière

   Roquebillière has had to rebuild itself more than once. In 1926, a landslide swept down onto the old village, killing many of its inhabitants, and much of the population moved to a new site on the other side of the river. Then, in October 2020, Storm Alex unleashed catastrophic floods down the Vésubie valley, destroying roads, bridges and houses, and leaving scars that are still visible today. The resilience of the valley's people is remarkable, and the road has been rebuilt with new bridges and protections.

   Read the complete Photo stop near Roquebillière write-up.

   Recorded stop-planning note

   May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.

   Planning note

   Finish at Photo stop near Roquebillière. That is the ride.