Nice is the capital of road cycling on the French Riviera and home to more professional riders than almost anywhere in Europe. The appeal is the rare combination of a real Mediterranean city, an international airport within the city limits and serious mountains that start within minutes of the seafront. You can ride the Promenade des Anglais to warm up and be climbing a col within half an hour.
The roads above Nice are the stuff of cycling legend. The Col de la Madone, the climb pros have used as a fitness benchmark for decades, rises from the coast at Menton, while the Col d'Èze, La Turbie and the balcony roads toward the Alpes-Maritimes offer endless climbing with the sea always below you. Head further inland and the high cols of the back country open up for the biggest days. Between them, the coastal roads toward Monaco and Italy give easier rolling terrain.
The Riviera climate keeps the riding open almost all year, mild in winter and saved from real heat by the sea breeze in summer. Nice suits riders who want world-class climbing with the comforts and connections of a major city, plus the option of a cafe and a swim at the end of every ride. The road and gravel bikes listed above come from shops based in and around Nice.
