Our event-based cycling trips are listed here >>
Les Boucles du Verdon is a great sportive near a stunningly beautiful part of France, the Gorges du Verdon, Europe’s largest canyon, indeed second in the world only to the Grand Canyon in the USA. With 800-900 participants, it’s small enough to be friendly and accessible, but still big enough to create a sense of occasion, and with the long parcours running to 150km, it’s no trivial challenge.
On Saturday we ride the Gorges du Verdon itself, an astonishing natural phenomenon which draws cyclists from all over the world. One minute you are close to the bottom of the gorge looking up at sheer cliffs towering above you, the next you are climbing to stunning vantage points high above the river, looking down at the vivid blue-green water snaking through the gorge. The entire circuit is 115km long, starting and finishing in Castellane and with a few kms extra tacked on to reach Moustiers for lunch at the western end, but this can be easily shortened by missing out the 20km Route des Cretes loop (the loop includes one of the most challenging climbs of the day too), and where we have van support, it’s possible to ride just one side of the gorge.
We sign on for the sportive that evening and staynig locally overnight. On Sunday, we ride the sportive, returning to base later in the day.
Combine this event with an exploration of the fantastic cycling the Côte d’Azur has to offer, based in beautiful Beaulieu-sur-mer just down the coast near Nice…make it a long weekend to remember or extend to a full week of training which will pay dividends for the rest of the year.