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 meters of alpine altitude.

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.

Route 01

The Three Corniches

Road Easy

Distance 46 km

Elevation 620 m

Start Port Hercule, Monaco

Best time Early morning

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.

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.

Route 02

Col d'Èze & La Turbie

Road Moderate

Distance 38 km loop

Elevation 950 m

Summit 507 m (Col d'Èze)

Bike type Road or gravel

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.

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.

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.

Route 03

Col de la Madone

Road Hard

Distance 55 km from Monaco

Elevation 1,750 m

Col altitude 927 m

Pro pedigree Lance Armstrong benchmark

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 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.

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.

Gravel 01

Col de Braus — UCI Gravel Circuit

Gravel Hard

Distance ~70 km

Elevation 2,100 m

Start Mixed tarmac / gravel

Best time UCI Gravel World Series

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.

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.

Gravel 02

Fort de la Revère Loop

Gravel Accessible

Distance 35 km

Elevation 780 m

Summit 50/50 tarmac & gravel

Bike type Views over Monaco & Cap Ferrat

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.

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.

Gravel 03

Via del Sale — Italian Border

Gravel Epic

Distance 99 km

Elevation 2,800 m

Col altitude Ancient military road

Pro pedigree Breil-sur-Roya (1h from Monaco)

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.

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

01

Col d'Èze

507 m

+

Avg gradient

5.5%

From Monaco

12 km

Type

Road

Monaco's home climb. A steady ascent with sweeping views of the Mediterranean.

02

La Turbie

480 m

+

Avg gradient

6.1%

From Monaco

9 km

Type

Road

Roman monument at the summit. Historic route with commanding coastal views.

03

Col de la Madone

927 m

+

Avg gradient

7.3%

From Monaco

30 km

Type

Road

Pro tour benchmark. The climb pros use to test form before major races.

04

Col de Braus

1,002 m

+

Avg gradient

6.8%

From Monaco

28 km

Type

Gravel

UCI Gravel World Series route. Technical gravel sections through alpine forest.

05

Col du Castillon

728 m

+

Avg gradient

5.2%

From Monaco

22 km

Type

Gravel

Above Saint-Agnès. Quiet gravel roads with panoramic mountain views.

06

Col de Turini

1,607 m

+

Avg gradient

6.4%

From Monaco

55 km

Type

Road

Paris-Nice & Rally legend. The region's most iconic high-altitude climb.

07

Fort de la Revère

900 m

+

Avg gradient

4.8%

From Monaco

18 km

Type

Gravel

Best views of Monaco. Gravel ascent to a historic fort overlooking the principality.

08

Col de Vence

963 m

+

Avg gradient

5.8%

From Monaco

50 km

Type

Road

Winter classic, well exposed. Reliable year-round conditions with exceptional light.

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.