It's a diagonal like a breath of fresh air. An almost secret line that crosses the French Alps at human and heart level, far from the main roads, crowds and noise. From Thonon-les-Bains to Nice, the P'tites Routes du Soleil® Gravel route traces an original, raw and poetic path, over 845 kilometres of wild cycling, between turquoise lakes, forgotten ridges, hilltop villages and mineral silences.
Two years of work, fieldwork, scouting and discussions with the regions have produced a rare route: 40 % of gravel paths, 60 % of small roads, and more than 17,500 metres of positive gradient to reach the heavens - or at least, the Pre-Alps in all their richness.
A physical, sensory and collective journey
Gravel is that in-between spirit. Slower than the road and more flexible than a mountain bike, it adapts gently to the topography and opens up the trails to those dreaming of summits as well as seasoned sportsmen and women.
The route is classified as difficult, but it's becoming widely accessible thanks to the VAE (electrically-assisted bicycle), with identified recharging points at each stage. So you can enjoy the adventure as a group, with friends or family, each at their own pace, exploring and sharing the effort.
Along the way, you'll encounter powerful, unpopulated landscapes: Chablais, Chartreuse, Vercors, Buëch, Verdon... secret valleys, forgotten passes, timeless villages. Here, you're more likely to come across a herd of cattle than a car.
The accommodation is rare but precious, the mountain cafés authentic, the bell towers standing there like lighthouses. The journey lasts 10 to 15 days, in 15 sections of between 43 and 67 km, and sometimes reaches heights of over 1,500 metres. A physical expedition, yes - but also introspective, contemplative, deeply free.
A new way to experience the Alps by bike
Designed in the direction Thonon → Nice, the route follows a gentle descent towards the Mediterranean, and can be enjoyed from spring to autumn, depending on the snow conditions. But remember: nothing is set in stone. The route is alive and kicking. All cyclists are invited to send in their observations, variations or difficulties, so that the route can evolve with cyclists.
P'tites Routes du Soleil® Gravel joins the galaxy of exceptional Alpine itineraries available on www.routedesgrandesalpes.com. Following on from the legendary Route des Grandes Alpes, its more technical gravel version, and the classic road route of the P'tites Routes du Soleil®, this new route adds a new string to the bow of mountain lovers.
A free, sensory and demanding route that invites you to slow down, breathe and rediscover the Pre-Alps at pedal height.
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