PARCOURS PRO #3 : THE COL DE VENCE
Rubrique G4 parcours pro

Difficulty : ***/5

Average time : 3h

Distance : 80km

Climbing : 1320m

Throughout the year, G4 Pro rides allow you to discover the hidden roads and rides of the Côte d’Azur plus great places to stop for coffee. You’ll also discover great places as we travel many kilometers to share with you the cycling heritage of the Cote d’Azur. Indeed the Côte d’Azur is a home of cycling of all horizons for our G4 community.

In this article discover our new pro ride, as we take you on ride of discovery to one of the most beautiful climb in the region and the most popular for cyclotourists the “Col de Vence” often raced by the professional group at “Paris-Nice”, with its top at 1000 meters of altitude it will offer you breathtaking views and beautiful landscapes.

G4 parcours pro
Col de Vence

For the departure of this ride we propose to start from the hotel HOLIDAY INN in Saint Laurent du Var just next to our G4 offices. This hotel is perfect for a quality stay but especially because of its strategic location for bike rides, indeed the city of Saint-Laurent du Var is the crossroads of many different parcours.

départ parcours hôtel Holiday Inn

We will start by the cycle track located on the seaside of Saint-Laurent du var to Cagnes sur Mer. We will leave the cycle track towards the St Paul de Vence village standing on its rocky outcrop and surrounded by its ramparts. It is certainly one of the most beautiful villages of the Provence region, it welcomes visitors from all around the world. After the St Paul village we enter on the Vence community, and we approach the main difficulty of the day, indeed the clim of the Col de vence stands in front of us.

Col de Vence

Lets’go for 9km ascent at 7% average for a maximum slope of 9%, remember to fill your bottle at the fountain before you start. The beginning of the ascent is regular, after 3km of climb you will face a steeper slope with passages at 9%, but there is no panic for this portion extends for less than 1km, then you will find next gentle slope between 5% and 7% to the top of the climb. You will realize over kilometers that the landscapes is deserted as it offers a unique panorama. The stifling heat during summer, which cause lot of sweat can be dsiturbing and G4 adivses you so to equip yourself with a headband and anti-sweat gloves. In winter, however, due to the lack of vegetation and the arid landscape you will ride againt the wind, so don’t forget your windstopper and your winter cycling jacket. Then… Thats’it… you are at the top at 1000 meters of altitude you can enjoy the view with the sea that extends to your feet and breathe the typical vegetation of the region.

parcours pro col de vence
The fountain at the beginning of the climb

Once the Col de Vence climbed and a short break is well deserved. You will then take the road direction of Coursegoules. We will begin our loop back to Bouyon. Arriving in Bouyon we will just go down by Le Broc, here you will enjoy the beautiful lake of the Broc. We will then go through Carros and Gattières to reach the charming St Jeannet village and these famous Baous. If you have to eat, you will have at your disposal the “Café des Quatre Chemins”, well known by cyclists in the region.

G4 parcours pro

To finish this ride, we will follow the direction of Saint-Laurent du Var by the Corniche Fahnestock to come back to the hôtel.

Our ambassador, Moragne Moinard says about the climb of the “Col de Vence”:

“I live not very far from the climb, I often take it during my rides it is very regular except in its first part where the slop is around 8/9%. It is accessible to anyone who desires to test itself in mountain. The landscape is very beautiful, the road is in very good condition so no technical problems to predict. The view is beautiful from the top you can see the Cap d’Antibes and St Jean Cap Ferrat. Sometimes early in the morning it is possible to spot the Corsica. In winter, the top is snowy but it does not make it impractical and then ride on a snowy climb is a unique sensation. You got it the Col de vence is one of the most known and appreciate climb in the region so if you come in the south in order to ride i strongly advise you to discover this climb its worth it“

G4 VETEMENT CYCLISME ART
Our ambassador Morgane Moinard

For more information about the ride do not hesitate to consult the path on STRAVA and join the G4 TEAM. Many rides are coming : https://www.strava.com/routes/13795708

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