A wind of freedom is blowing through the Pre-Alps. After two years of passionate work, meticulous scouting, local consultation and even a crowdfunding campaign via Ulule, a new gravel route is ready to see the light of day on the P'tites Routes du Soleil.
This unprecedented diagonal, which links Thonon-les-Bains to Nice over a distance of 845 km, will go online in a few weeks' time on the legendary Route des Grandes Alpes website. Just a little more patience before diving into one of the year's greatest cycling challenges.
Designed for lovers of the great outdoors and committed bikepackers, this major gravel crossing offers a fine balance between unspoilt nature and comfortable riding: 40 % of unsealed paths and 60 % of minor roads, for total immersion in the French Pre-Alps, far from the crowds and classic asphalt.
It's a sporting and wild trip, to be enjoyed from spring to autumn, in 10 to 15 days depending on your level, with the possibility of making it more accessible by using a VAE.
Gravel explodes in France
From a technical point of view, this route fits in between two already well-established references: the road version of the P'tites Routes du Soleil, which is more gentle and family-friendly, and the highly committed Route des Grandes Alpes Gravel. This new, more balanced route completes the range of Alpine itineraries on offer, in response to the explosion in gravel riding in France.
The phenomenon is here to stay. Driven by a growing desire for adventure, disconnection and forgotten paths, gravel cycling - a hybrid bike designed for use on stony roads - is taking off spectacularly, with over 500,000 regular riders in France today, and a growth rate of 40 % in just three years.
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Conceived as a collective adventure, this crossing will evolve as cyclists return. Its forthcoming inclusion on www.routedesgrandesalpes.com will give it the visibility it needs to match its ambitions: to capture the hearts of all cyclists who love the great outdoors.
So get your panniers ready and your tyres sharp: the summer of 2025 promises to be a roaring one on the trails of the P'tites Routes du Soleil. Gravel will be taking on a whole new dimension.
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