Alpes

Café-cycliste, a category we didn't include in our guide! In the old Duingt railway station, along the cycle path that circles the lake, it's impossible to miss Le Bon Wagon. A multi-faceted venue with one common denominator: bicycles. Terrace and refreshment room with a café - delicious small dishes, quality coffees, craft beers, cold drinks - a boutique (everything for bikes), a bike rental service and a host of services to help you get back on your bike with peace of mind, such as a tool kiosk and an inflation station.

In the Pré-la-Joux area of the Portes du Soleil, you'll find a mountain paradise dedicated to downhill mountain bike enthusiasts. Open all summer long, this area offers access to 6 exceptional zones, 5 of which are accessible via the Blues & Rock green trail. With a total of 20 trails, including 3 green and 4 blue runs, as well as numerous variants, there's something for everyone. Châtel's DH runs are distinguished by their extreme technicality.

In the Queyras, opportunities for exploration abound, but a good level of fitness is essential due to the significant differences in altitude. If you're interested in this prospect, an excellent starting point would be to acquire the "Promenades VTT dans le Queyras" topo-guide, available from all the region's Tourist Offices. This guide features itinerary sheets at different levels, with detailed descriptions. For mountain bikers, the Saint-Véran and Col d'Izoard climbs are exciting challenges.

Mountain biking is the trendy sport that replaces winter skiing on the steep slopes in the summer. You will be able to exercise while enjoying the fresh air and the beautiful landscapes of the resort which blossoms in the beautiful days. The terrain of Montgenèvre is mostly suitable for this and the ski lifts play the game, with a gondola for example. You can easily access to various downhill runs (1 bike park with 12 trails) adapted to all levels. You can get information by phone : 04 92 21 91 73.

Recognized as a mountain bike site by the French Cycling Federation, the Pays des Écrins offers 200 km of marked trails, with no fewer than 15 circuits suitable for all levels, whether you're a beginner or an experienced rider. These varied routes, some with higher levels of difficulty, offer access to exceptional natural sites. Among the options on offer, the Vallouise "trans-territoire" offers a 36 km loop starting from Argentière, passing through Ailefroide, with a brown grading.

More and more machines with no motor, bikes but not really…, travel through our trails. Riders don't just attack the powder, but the dirt of the paths! On our super-equipped Commencal ATV, we're proud. For the lovers of the descent, all summer nights, Méribike organizes a 1 km descent to Brides-les-Bains from the hotel. The ball!

With the mythical Col de la Colombière often visited by the Tour de France, Le Grand-Bornand is a paradise for sport cycling. The resort also has its freeride mountain bikers who swap their snow equipment for their downhill and speed bikes in summer. In summer, discover 8 itineraries (75 km of marked trails) at the top of the Rosay gondola, and 2 trails from the Châtelet chairlift! The Aravis ski pass is 200 km of slopes in 3 resorts. Possibility to learn or ride with a guide in the freeride area.

A forerunner in Europe in the promotion of mountain biking as a new-generation sport, and a recognized leader in the field of mountain biking, Les Gets boasts a Bikepark covering 128 km of marked trails. This area includes zones suitable for families as well as more adventurous riders. Access to the vast Portes du Soleil ski area offers the opportunity to enjoy downhill mountain biking on 650 km of marked trails, catering for a varied public ranging from enthusiasts to families.

Whatever your level, you will find the best advice to practice this sport or leisure activity from these passionate people who have been in place for over 10 years. Bike rental for all uses - road, trail, nature - and even electric mountain bikes to make your outings more fun. Descending the Semnoz, hiking in the Bauges or through the Crosagny pond: from small to large, there is something for everyone. Moreover, the Maison du vélo offers training courses for young people, from training to competition, and organizes raids over several days.

The beauty and variety of the landscapes of Savoie and the Mont-Blanc massif are characterized by a wide range of gradients. As a result, the difficulty levels of the cycle touring routes encountered by cycling enthusiasts are just as varied. If the great Alpine passes of the Tour de France are still the stuff of dreams, the kilometers of véloroute, some sections of which are part of the famous "Léman-Méditerranée", are a hit with everyone. The region offers an increasingly varied range of cycling activities for all levels.

L'Alpe-d'Huez is famous for its emblematic climb, which is a recurring feature of the Tour de France, even though it is not the steepest. The Tour's regular visits, and the often decisive importance of this stage, have contributed to its international renown. Every day, some 300 cyclists of all nationalities tackle this climb. Every July, the resort is also the venue for the finish of the La Marmotte cyclosportive, bringing together some 6,000 to 7,000 participants.
The climb has 21 bends, a vertical drop of 1,121 metres, an average gradient of 7.9% and a maximum of 14%. Alpe-d'Huez also offers an exceptional mountain biking area, with over 250 km of marked trails, including 5 downhill runs, and the Mégavalanche, the world's longest downhill run over 30 kilometers, linking the resort to neighboring villages in the Grandes Rousses massif.
Alpe-d'Huez hosted the first Tour de France finish in 1952, won by Fausto Coppi. It took almost a quarter of a century for the Oisans resort to return to the Tour schedule. Since then, the finishes have multiplied, building the legend of the climb, with memorable duels such as those between Bernard Thévenet and Hennie Kuiper, or Greg LeMond and Laurent Fignon, as well as the famous photo finish of Bernard Hinault and Greg LeMond hand in hand. Since 1995, Italy's Marco Pantani has held the record for the fastest climb in 36 minutes and 40 seconds, at an average speed of over 23 km/h!

What better way to explore the trails of Savoie than on an electrically assisted mountain bike? Go on an adventure thanks to Alpes In Bike, which proposes you to rent beautiful VTTAE which will allow you to ride on the steep paths of the surrounding mountains. Available for half a day or for several consecutive days, think of booking a little in advance, the Alpes In Bike team will deliver the bikes where you want them! Definitely the best way to discover the region and its best kept secrets.

A network of exceptional mountain bike trails offers routes to suit all levels, from the green trail, ideal for beginners, to the black trail, reserved for experts. The kilometre-long green trail is specially designed, offering gentle descents and magnificent panoramic views. Lifts make it easy to climb to the top, although some may prefer to pedal up the slopes. Itineraries such as the 7 chapels route allow you to discover the surrounding heritage.