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Cycling Monaco & the French Riviera — The Complete Guide
Stajvelo — Field Guide
Cycling Monaco
& the French Riviera
From the seafront at Port Hercule to the legendary cols of the Alpes-Maritimes. Everything you need to ride this coast well.
Routes covered
6
Climbs profiled
8
Rideable season
Year-round
Written from
Monaco
Monaco is the only place in the world where you can begin a ride at sea level, reach 1,000 metres of alpine altitude, and be back for lunch on a terrace overlooking the Mediterranean. That compression of landscape — coast, corniche, col — is what makes this corner of Europe unlike anywhere else on a bicycle.
This guide was written by the team at Stajvelo, the only bicycle brand conceived and designed in Monaco. We ride these roads. We know where the light is best at 7am on the Col de la Madone, and which café in Peille deserves a detour. Consider this the guide we wish had existed when we first arrived.
Road cycling
The classic routes
Three tiers of difficulty, all departing from Monaco or within easy reach. Road surfaces are generally excellent year-round.
The Riviera's three coastal roads — Corniche Inférieure, Moyenne Corniche, and Grande Corniche — form the most cinematic cycling circuit in France. Each sits at a different altitude, each offers a different relationship with the sea below.
From Monaco, take the Corniche Inférieure east through Cap-Martin to Menton. Return via the Moyenne Corniche through Eze, then descend via the Grande Corniche past La Turbie. You loop back through Beausoleil and into Monaco having covered three distinct road personalities in a single morning.
Stajvelo tip — Start by 7am in summer. The Corniche Inférieure becomes a car park by 9am in July and August. In spring and autumn, traffic is negligible and the light off the water is extraordinary.
The Col d'Èze is Monaco's home climb — close, accessible and relentlessly beautiful. Less than 5 km from the coastline, it rises nearly 500 metres with views that take in Cap Ferrat to the west and the Italian border to the east. The road is part of the Route des Grandes Alpes.
From Monaco, climb through Beausoleil and follow the signs for La Turbie via the Grande Corniche. The Trophée des Alpes, a Roman monument at 480 metres, marks the halfway point. Continue to the Col d'Èze summit before descending via Èze village — one of the most dramatic descents on the Riviera.
Stajvelo tip — La Turbie has some of the best views of Monaco you will ever see — and almost no one stops there. The village café is open from 7:30am.
The Madone is a pilgrimage. Lance Armstrong used it as his benchmark before every Tour de France. Today, 40 World Tour professionals based in Monaco train on it regularly. There is no more storied testing ground in European cycling.
From Menton, head north from the seafront and climb continuously — without a flat metre of warm-up — for over 12 kilometres to the col at 927 metres. No shade. Exposed limestone. The gradient regularly touches 9%. Return via Cap Martin and the Moyenne Corniche for a total of 55 km from Monaco.
Stajvelo tip — Trek named their flagship aero bike after this climb. Do not attempt it in July without at least two bidons and sunscreen above factor 30. The limestone reflects the heat upward.
Gravel cycling
Off the tarmac
The Alpes-Maritimes have some of the finest gravel riding in southern Europe. These three routes reward riders willing to leave the coast behind.
The Col de Braus gained new prestige as a Tour de France stage climb in 2024, and hosts the Monaco round of the UCI Gravel World Series. The route climbs to the Col des Boeufs, descends with views over the Mercantour massif, then pushes through forest to the Farghet Plateau before the summit push.
The circuit returns via Col du Castillon and past Saint-Agnès — the highest coastal village on the Mediterranean at 800 metres — before finishing near Peille in the hills above Monaco. An exceptional day out for experienced riders.
Stajvelo tip — The gravel sections between Col des Boeufs and Farghet are wide fire road — accessible on a gravel bike. No need for a mountain bike. A 40mm tyre is comfortable; 35mm works fine.
A gentler introduction to the Riviera's gravel terrain. The route climbs gradually from the coast into wooded hills — Mediterranean pine, oak, clearings — before reaching Fort de la Revère at 900 metres. From here the panorama stretches south: Monaco, Cap Ferrat, the open sea.
The gravel tracks are non-technical and wide. Perfect for riders transitioning from road to gravel, or for a contemplative half-day away from the coast road traffic. The descent via the Parc de la Grande Corniche is a genuine pleasure.
Stajvelo tip — This is the ideal route for our Rocchetta or Nomades Gravel on a rest-day ride. The surface is forgiving; the views are worth more than the fitness cost.
The Via del Sale traces an ancient salt-trading road along the Franco-Italian border ridge — donkey tracks, fire roads and switchbacks above valleys that feel completely removed from the Riviera below. This is not a day ride; it is an experience that requires planning.
Start in Breil-sur-Roya (one hour by car from Monaco), climb to the border ridge via Col de Tende and Pas du Tanarel, then follow the ridgeline south with views over both France and Liguria before descending to Menton on the coast. One of the great gravel days in all of southern Europe.
Stajvelo tip — Allow a full day with an early start. Carry more food than you think you need. There are no cafés on the ridge. The descent into Menton at sunset is worth every metre of the 2,800 m climbed.
Quick reference
The key climbs at a glance
| Climb | Altitude | Avg gradient | From Monaco | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Col d'Èze Monaco's home climb |
507 m | 5.5% | 12 km | Road |
|
La Turbie Roman monument at the summit |
480 m | 6.1% | 9 km | Road |
|
Col de la Madone Pro tour benchmark |
927 m | 7.3% | 30 km | Road |
|
Col de Braus UCI Gravel World Series |
1,002 m | 6.8% | 28 km | Gravel |
|
Col du Castillon Above Saint-Agnès |
728 m | 5.2% | 22 km | Gravel |
|
Col de Turini Paris-Nice & Rally legend |
1,607 m | 6.4% | 55 km | Road |
|
Fort de la Revère Best views of Monaco |
900 m | 4.8% | 18 km | Gravel |
|
Col de Vence Winter classic, well exposed |
963 m | 5.8% | 50 km | Road |
Planning your trip
When to ride
The Riviera is genuinely rideable year-round. Each season has a distinct character.
Winter
November — February
The best-kept secret on the Riviera. Roads are quiet, skies are often clear, and temperatures on the coast sit between 10–16°C. The cols below 1,000 m stay open. Ideal for volume training or relaxed exploration. Pro teams descend on Monaco in January.
Spring
March — May
The premier season. Paris-Nice passes through in March. Wildflowers on the col roads, warm enough for a jersey without a gilet by April, and the light on the sea is extraordinary. Traffic is manageable and the mountains are beginning to clear of snow above 1,500 m.
Summer
June — August
Demanding but rewarding with the right approach. Start before 7am to beat the coast road traffic and midday heat. The high cols — Turini, Bonette — are at their best in July. Gravel routes in the forest offer shade. Carry two bidons minimum above 500 m.
Autumn
September — October
A quieter, golden version of spring. The tourist traffic dissipates after mid-September, temperatures drop to cycling-comfortable levels, and the cols stay open until November. September is the month most resident riders consider their finest riding month of the year.
What to ride
Stajvelo for every route
Three bikes for three ways of riding this coast.
For road routes
Beau Rivage
Full carbon road bike, designed for climbs like the Madone and descents like Èze. Available with Shimano Ultegra Di2 through SRAM Red eTap AXS.
Discover →For gravel routes
Rocchetta
The Riviera's gravel terrain demands versatility. The Rocchetta handles fort roads, fire tracks and asphalt descents with equal composure.
Discover →For e-assist rides
Nomades Gravel
The cols of the Alpes-Maritimes without the suffering. The Nomades Gravel opens every route in this guide to a wider range of riders.
Discover →Getting here
- Nice Côte d'Azur Airport is 22 km from Monaco — most airlines serve it year-round
- Train from Nice to Monaco takes 20 minutes, bikes allowed on regional TER trains
- Monaco's Stajvelo showroom can arrange a rental or delivery if you'd rather not travel with your bike
- The Fontvieille area of Monaco is the most convenient base for early morning departures
What to carry
- Two bidons minimum in summer — there are no reliable water points above 600 m on most routes
- A windproof layer for descents — temperatures drop 6–8°C per 1,000 m, even in summer
- Basic repair kit: inner tube, CO₂ cartridge or pump, tyre levers, multi-tool
- Cash — the village cafés near Peille and La Turbie often don't accept cards
- Sunscreen above factor 30 on exposed southern-facing climbs
Rules of the road
- French traffic law: ride single-file on roads with significant traffic
- Helmets are not legally required in France for adults, but strongly advised on the cols
- The Corniche Inférieure is a public road — motor traffic has right of way
- Monte-Carlo city centre is not a cycling environment: use it as a start/end point, not a route
Service & support
- Stajvelo Atelier in Fontvieille, Monaco: full-service workshop for all brands
- Partner workshops in Nice and Menton for longer-trip riders
- Bike rental available from the Stajvelo showroom — road and gravel
- Route GPX files available on request at our showroom or by contacting us
Stajvelo — Monaco
Ready to ride?
Visit our showroom in Fontvieille to see the bikes in person, discuss the right build for your riding, or book a rental for your stay on the Riviera.