A guide to Cycling the Col de Turini, Col de Braus & Col de Castillon -3 amazing climbs in one ride.

This ride takes in no less than three summits and will see you cycling the Col du Turini, the Col de Braus and the Col de Castillon. The route we have mapped out below is a loop and you can choose to do it in either direction. From Menton we have routed the ride in an anti-clockwise approach which will see you take in the Col du Castillon first. With hairpins galore to negotiate on this route, these twisting mountain roads are just magical. No doubt you will be stopping many times along the way to take in the views and a sneaky photo or two! As with most roads in this region, once away from the main motorways you will be on quieter roads with little traffic.

Cycling the Col de Castillon

Straight out of Menton the first climb on this challenging route leads to the summit of the Col de Castillon. The average gradient for the climb is just over 5% however as with most climbs, you will come across more challenging sections. This would be a great ride in and of itself and you could easily choose to turn back and roll down to Menton once at the summit.

Cycling the Col du Turini

The official start of the climb from this approach begins in the village of Sospel. From here the summit is 24km / 15mi away with an average gradient of 5%. It is definitely worth stopping in Sospel to top up with food and water before taking the climb on. There are stretches which will reach double figures so make sure to measure your efforts.

Cycling the Col de Braus

You will actually reach the Col de Braus on a descent from this approach. Of course if you choose to do the route in the opposite direction than the climb will begin in earnest from Sospel. We have given the climbing stats below for the latter approach.

Discover our comprehensive guide to Cycling in Nice

This is just one of many great cycling routes near the city of Nice which you can enjoy. This area of the Alpes Maritimes is very popular with cyclists year round owing to the great weather and variety of terrain on offer.

If you are not familiar with this region then, our comprehensive guide will help you plan everything you need for your cycling holiday. The guide includes information such as:

• a map of the Alpes Maritimes with climbs and towns marked
• where to base yourself whist on your cycling holiday
• cycling hotels and lodges
• bike hire outlets
• getting to and from Nice
• non-cycling attractions and activities in the region

Click here to see a list of cycling routes available from Nice. Our cycling route suggestions start in Nice as we know from experience the majority of people visiting the area will stay in, or close to the city.

Author

Stephen

Stephen is an avid cycling enthusiast who enjoys various forms of cycling, including road cycling, cycle touring, mountain biking, and gravel riding. For more than a decade, he has been travelling to France for cycling holidays and has recently settled in the French Pyrenees. Having extensive experience in travelling with his bike, Stephen has learned how to navigate the logistics of transporting bikes via planes, trains, cars, and shipping methods.