The Voie Bleue has just won a prestigious title: European Cycle Route of the Year 2026. The award was presented in the Netherlands at the Fiets en Wandelbeurs trade fair in Utrecht, one of Europe's biggest events devoted to cycling and walking. The award highlights one of its most successful sections: the one that crosses the Ain département.
The verdict fell in the Netherlands, in front of an audience of cycling enthusiasts from all over Europe. The Voie Bleue®, the major cycle route linking Burgundy to the Rhône valley along the Saône, was named «Cycle Route of the Year 2026» by an international jury chaired by journalist and cycling specialist Bert Sitters.
To achieve this title, the route was assessed on a number of criteria: quality of surface, safety, legibility of signposting, richness of landscapes and accessibility by public transport. These are just some of the factors that have enabled this French cycle route to stand out from the many others in Europe.
One of the major assets of the Voie Bleue is its level of development. Around 80 % of the route is in dedicated lanes, away from car traffic, offering cyclists a particularly comfortable and safe experience.
An exemplary section of the Saône river in the Ain department
One of the sections most singled out by the jury is the one that crosses the Ain département. For 63.5 kilometres, between Mâcon and Genay, the route winds its way along the water, past peaceful riverbanks, historic villages and a remarkable heritage.
The route follows the Saône gently, inviting cyclists to make a number of stops along the way. The route takes you past Trévoux, the former capital of the Dombes region, with its narrow streets steeped in history overlooking the river, and the Château de Fléchères, an elegant 17th-century residence set in a vast park.
The route also passes through a number of picturesque villages and regularly offers gourmet breaks along the river, where cafés and restaurants welcome cyclists.
A route designed with cyclists in mind
The Aindenne section is a particular example of the attention paid to user comfort. The majority of the route is laid out on a very smooth stabilised surface, which makes pedalling easier and is suitable for both families and long-distance cyclists.
A number of recent improvements have also enhanced the continuity of the route, including the footbridge linking Saint-Laurent-sur-Saône to Cormoranche-sur-Saône, which provides a safe way to cross the river.
All along the route, cyclists will also find practical facilities: benches, picnic tables, repair stations and a host of services dedicated to touring cyclists.
Thanks to the Accueil Vélo® network, accommodation, restaurants and partner tourist sites line the route, making it easy to organise a stopover or an entire holiday.
Recognition for an entire region
This European distinction rewards several years' work by local authorities, tourist offices and local stakeholders to structure and develop the route.
Today, the Voie Bleue is one of the major routes for cycle tourism in France. Cycling along the Saône, it offers an experience that is accessible to all, combining nature, heritage and a gentle way of life along the river.
With this European title, the route confirms its status as a benchmark for cycle-touring enthusiasts, and offers the Ain département an ideal showcase for discovering its landscapes in a different way, at pedal pace.
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