Day 14 – Castellane to Nice

Day 14 Castellane to Nice 57 miles 

Garmin file: https://connect.garmin.com/course/8759982 Elevation Gain: 950m

Overview

The final day on our French escapade sees us on a long climb away from Castellane and then a long undulating road through big country farmland which is quite hard psychologically as you know there is a big downhill further on today. Just before lunch the gradient eases and throughout the rest of the day you are treated to wonderful dramatic vistas which will distract you from the road. Stop for photographs, enjoy the last day, stay switched onduring the winding descents and stop for ice cream whenever possible. We will have a hectic, busy gathering on the packed Promenade de Anglais before we all set off together to bustle our way through the crowds to our finish point for our group skinny dip!!!

Practical Notes

• Early lunch at about 30 miles.

• There are a number of tunnels to go through so lights are essential.

• There is a 20 mile sweeping downhill towards the end of the day – superb!

• There are many wonderful views in the afternoon, please keep your eye on the winding road as it is bumpy in places, has no barriers, and has traffic, stop for photographs.

• Traffic into Nice is busy so extra awareness required.

• The cycle path coming in along the coast crosses the roads quite often, make sure to look both ways before crossing the little junctions in the path

• There will be a lot of distractions in Nice. Try to keep your concentration on the path in front and make sure you ding your bell!

• At 48.7 traffic will be heavy, it is Friday afternoon so please take care.

Map

Start point

In the car park at the side of the Hotel Du Commerce at 8.30.

Elevation Profile

Lunch

Just past Greolieres at around 29 miles. You will go over a roundabout at Greolieres and then the road rises up. After this the road descends. You need to look to your R for the van for the picnic lunch. If you don’t look R you will miss it.

The Last Supper

Meet at the hotel reception at 19.00

Restaurant Lu Fran-Calin,5 Rue Francis Gallo,06300 Vieux-Nice, 0033 493808181

Route Notes

Miles Route

0 Leave the hotel and go L and go over the bridge and continue straight on heading towards Grasse 64, Cannes 81 along the D4085. The first mile is quite flat then there is a long climb out.

3.5 Continue through the small village of Le Garde. 

After the top of the col de Luens there is a descent with some tight turns at the bottom

11.1 The road descends for quite a way and then at a sandwich shop and restaurant Le Grand Saule go L to St-Auban along the D2211.

12.6 Turn R to Valderoure, Thorenc & Greolieres along the D2

24.3 Continue straight over the small r-bout and continue to Nice.

Shortly after the road starts to descend and you will have a lovely view, please stay switched on and stop to take photo’s to prevent you getting distracted.

28.5 You will drop down to Greolieres, when you come to a r-bout go straight on (left) to Nice 45 & Grasse 27 along the D402. 

You will go up a short rise and pass some public toilets on your L

29.1 The road starts to descend just pass Greolieres and you will begin to notice a road down on your R, we need to go sharp R along this road, almost back on yourself and the van will be waiting along here for lunch. After lunch re-join the previous road and continue down the road.

30.7 The road descends and you will come to a r-bout. Go straight over (2^nd exit) along the D3 to Gourdon & Tourrettes, Grasse & Nice.

There are some tight turns and cracks in the road so please take care

35.9 You will go over a bridge over the river Loup and come to a fork in the road, keep L to Nice along the D6.

You will now cycle down hill for miles down the Gorges de Loup. There are a few tunnels to go through and a few tight bends and loose stone so please take extra care, it is also quite often wet on the floor in parts here too.

37.2 Get into an easy gear and when you meet with a busy crossroads, go straight over to Nice 24 along the D6.

43.3 You will meet with another road go L along the D6 to Nice. The traffic gets a little busier here.

45.7 You will come to a r-bout, continue straight over and continue straight on along the D6. Just after the R-bout there is a sign on your L, ignore this and keep straight on.

There is more traffic as you approach Nice so please take extra care.

47.8 You will come to another large r-bout with a statue of 3 silver figures in the middle. Continue straight over to centre ville.

48.1 At small r-bout continue straight over

48.7 Further along you will come to a set of traffic lights with a wall and barrier for the A8 motorway in front of you. Move safely into the L hand lane and go L at the lights to Nice and Centre Ville along the D136. If you need to overtake do it on the LHS and go steady.

Follow this road for a few hundred metres with the A8 motorway raised up on your R. Traffic is heavy here. 

You will go past Cagnes Sur Mer station car park on your R. Just after the station you will come to some traffic lights get into the RHL and go R signed Hippodrome & Cros de Cagnes and go underneath the motorway along Rue du Garigliano.

48.9 Just after the station you will come to some traffic lights and go R signed Hippodrome & Cros de Cagnes and go underneath the motorway and rail bridge.

At the next set of lights go straight on. When you come to another set of lights, go straight over. 

49.2 Further along continue over another set of lights using the cycle lane to your R. The cycle lane crosses over to the LHS. Cross over and stay on the cycle lane.

49.3 At the next set of lights you will be at the sea front. Cross over and go L along the cycle path.

Please take care as there are other cyclists going both ways, pedestrians and many other distractions to make your eyes wander! Keep to the R. Continue following the cycle path which crosses roads from time to time so please take care at these crossings and look for traffic. There are lamp-posts, cyclists going both ways and as you approach the Promenade, gross amounts of naked flesh so please keep your eye on what you’re doing!

52.2 Continue along the cycle path passing the airport.

55.2 Meet outside the iconic Hotel Negresco (look out for the pink dome). This is where we will finish our Gallic adventure. We will cheer everyone in as each person arrives.

Hotel Brice

44, Rue du Marechal Joffre, 06000 Nice

0033 4 93 88 14 44

The Malmaison Hotel is the block behind Hotel Brice opposite the Splendid Hotel

La Malmaison Nice

48, Boulevard Victor Hugo, 06000 Nice

0033 4 93 87 62 56 

Directions to evening meal

Walk down to the Promenade D’Anglais and go L, carry on past a large sculpture like rusty needles and continue past the part of the beach called Opera plage. A few hundred metres on you will see some brown signs on your L to La Palais Ducal etc.. go L over the road here between the Roman columns.

Continue straight on and you will come out at a square, carry straight on and then head towards the back R of the square and at the Centre Communal D’Action Sociale go R along a no entry road, follow it round to the L and then as the road bends round to the L again go R at Palais Immobilier estate agents and then immediate L in front of La Tapenade restaurant.

You will see a church up in front of you, walk just past the church and then look to the first street on your L and you will see:

Restaurant Lu Fran-Calin, 

5 Rue Francis Gallo

06300 Vieux-Nice. 

0033 493808181

The Fantastic Peak Tours, (slightly makeshift) Evening Meal Map

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