Comps by bike
Nested on the first step of Pre-Alps, the tiny and picturesque Comps-sur-Artuby is the last refill (liquid and solid) village if you plan to cycle the Great Verdon Grand Canyon left hand side.
Off season when restaurant are closed it means almost 40km in a gorgeous but potentially hostile desert-like landscape before you reach Aiguines.
If it is peak summer season and you want to blow your mind, hit the road at crack of dawn to keep away from rush hour tourism (motorbikes, car and also campers too wides for these small twisty mountain roads).
Otherwise, from snowmelt (usually April) to June and from October to first snowfalls (maybe December) all the roads around are law traffic, demanding but unforgettable.
Comps - Cycling Routes nearby
Distance : 130 km
Difficulty Rating : 3/5
Early morning departure by train for Cagnes-sur-Mer (75mn along the coastline - time table for line 03_Les_Arcs_Frejus_StRaphael_Cannes_Nice) then on the bike to climb le Col de Vence (alt. 963 m) as a starter for this exceptional 130 km ride through Les Pré-Alpes de Grasse, Verdon area and Les Villages Perchés.
Distance : 136 km
Difficulty Rating : 4/5
136km unforgetable with a section along the Corniche Sublime in the Gorges du Verdon (Verdon Grand Canyon). Start with long uphill section of which the 5 last are quite steep before you reach Le Cirque de Vaumale (alt.1241m). Long downhill from le col du Bel Homme then back via Draguignen.
Please read Tips for cyclists touring Provence, French Riviera and hinterland before you hit the road for this nice ride.
Distance : 150 km
Difficulty Rating : 4/5
150km unforgetable with a section along the Corniche Sublime in the Gorges du Verdon (Verdon Grand Canyon). Start with 65km uphill of which the 5 last are quite steep before you reach Le Cirque de Vaumale (alt.1241m). The tour ends with a long 50km almost non stop downhill by Les Villages Perchés (hilltop villages).
Please read Tips for cyclists touring Provence, French Riviera and hinterland before you hit the road for this nice ride.
Distance : 200 km
Difficulty Rating : 4/5
200km offering amazing diversity of landscapes including Les Villages Perchés (hilltop villages), Les champs de lavande (lavender fields), Les Gorges du Verdon (Verdon Grand Canyon) with waypoint at Le Point Sublime (outstanding view over the canyon and its 2000-foot cliffs).
Quiet or even savage empty roads except from mid-june to mid-september on the Verdon stretch from Castellane to Moustiers-Sainte-Marie where crowds of tourists with motor homes have problems to cross each other.
Height major climbs but no heavy difficulties as gradients are generally kind (total ascent is 3450 m)
Start with 40km uphill to warm up then up and down for about 100 km. And finally 50 km mainly free-wheel back down to Les Arcs.
Do not forget to read Tips for cyclists touring Provence, French Riviera and hinterland before you plan this delightfull raid.