Day 1:
Ride the training routes of the Pros and take in some of the spring races: Paris-Nice and Milan-St Remo The Nice area is well known worldwide for the sun and beaches and wealth that come here from all over the world. It is also famous, but less known for the cycling and the off season training that a lot of athletes do here. Warm weather makes it possible when a good part of Europe is still cold and wet and even snowy.
Day 2:
start with a trip to St Tropez (100+km) Nothing like a coastal ride in the early spring to start things off! This is a long ride for a first day and is not at all flat, but is not so hilly. We'll enjoy the coast, and get our legs, and include a stop for a picnic lunch. Arrive in St Tropez, time to visit, gawk, and people watch. Dinner out on your own. (B,L)
Day 3:
Ride back toward Cannes (120+ km) Going back in the direction of Nice, but on a different route, we'll aim to make this more of a challenging ride with more hills yet still in site of the coast at times, but more inland areas passing through Provence. Mimosa trees flower in March and we pass numerous charming villages. Arrival in Cannes and beach front hotel. Dinner on your own. (B,L)
Day 4:
Cannes to Menton (95+ km) This itinerary will have us skip around the city of Nice toward Vence and back to the coast at Menton near the Italian border. More hill climbing today and a bit of the back country feel in the hills of the Riviera. Smaller villages and routes today too. Group dinner in Menton tonight. (B,L,D
Day 5:
Menton to St Remo and Back. We cross into Italy today and go on to San Remo. During the tour where the race comes to San Remo we will stay to watch the finish and then return. The route isn't long on a direct line, so we'll ride into the hilly countryside to make an itinerary of about 80km. Back to Menton, dinner on your own. (B,L)
Day 6:
Loop Ride Menton (130 km) Loop ride into the Haute Provence, more climbing and quiet back country roads as we go far into the region we start to see the snow capped peaks of the Alpes. Return via another route, night out in Menton on your own. (B,L)
Day 7:
Ride back to Nice (70+ km) This ride takes us back to Nice but the actual itinerary will be in function of the Paris Nice route 2010. Normally the race arrives in the countryside near Nice on this day, before tomorrow's finish in Nice. Back in Nice, you can have dinner on your own tonight. (B,L)
Day 8:
Departure Day - Paris Nice Final No riding planned today. We use the morning to box up bikes and prepare for departure. Extra nights possible this night, please inquire. Your guides will depart by 12:00 noon, this is the end of services. (B)