Cycling Salzburg and Carinthia regions of Austria: climbing the Grossglockner High Alpine Road with Veloce full carbon road bike rental delivered at accommodations.

Our customer enjoyed cycling on Grossglockner High Alpine Road in Salzburg and Carinthia regions of Austria using our full carbon road bike rental service delivered at his accommodation. 

In this photos the customer climb the Großglockner High Alpine Road. 

The Grossglockner is, at 3,798meters on sea level (12,461 ft), the highest mountain in Austria and the highest mountain in the Alps east of the Brenner Pass. It is part of the larger Glockner Group of the Hohe Tauern range, situated along the main ridge of the Central Eastern Alps and the Alpine divide. The Pasterze, Austria's most extended glacier, lies on the Grossglockner's eastern slope.

The Grossglockner High Alpine Road (in German Großglockner-Hochalpenstraße) is the highest surfaced mountain pass road in Austria. It connects Bruck in the state of Salzburg with Heiligenblut in Carinthia via Fuscher Törl and Hochtor Pass at 2,504 m (8,215 ft). The road is named after the Grossglockner, Austria's highest mountain. 

Built as a scenic route, a toll is assessed for passage.

To receive information and bike rental quote please email your request to booking@velocerental.com 

Our customer enjoy Grossglockner High Alpine Road

Our customer enjoy Grossglockner High Alpine Road

Cycling in Portugal, high quality bicycle rental services at your accommodations by Veloce.

25 de Abril bridge in Lisbon, photo by Jason Briscoe on Unsplash

Our company extended the high quality full carbon road bike, mtb and e-bike rental services to main touristic towns of Portugal.

With Veloce you can enjoy your self cycling holiday, training, excursions, Triathlon, IronMan or sport competition using the high quality bike rental service with delivery and collection at your accommodations, also in different districts of the country: Aveiro, Leiria, Beja, Lisbon, Braga, Portalegre, Bragança, Porto, Castelo Branco, Santarém, Coimbra, Setúbal, Évora, Viana do Castelo, Faro, Vila Real, Guarda, Viseu.

To receive information and the bike rental quote please write your request to booking@velocerental.com

A majolica wall in Porto, photo by Dominik Kuhn on Unsplash

Veloce bike rental services are available with delivery and collection at customer accommodations in this towns:

Lisbona, Sintra, Vila Nova de Gaia, Porto, Loures, Braga, Cascais, Amadora, Gondomar, Oeiras, Matosinhos, Almada, Seixal, Guimarães, Odivelas, Coimbra, Santa Maria da Feira, Vila Franca de Xira, Vila Nova de Famalicão, Maia, Leiria, Barcelos, Setúbal, Viseu, Valongo, Viana do Castelo, Paredes, Barreiro, Vila do Conde, Torres, Vedras, Aveiro, Penafiel, Santo Tirso, Oliveira de Azeméis, Moita, Póvoa de Varzim, Santarém, Figueira da Foz, Loulé, Mafra, Amarante, Pombal, Felgueiras, Faro, Palmela, Ovar, Évora, Alcobaça, Castelo Branco, Paços de Ferreira, Marco de Canaveses, Fafe, CovilhãCastelo, Caldas da Rainha, Vila Real, Águeda, Ourém, Vila Verde, Portimão, Lousada, Ponte de Lima, Chaves, Guarda, Sesimbra, Tomar, Alenquer, Olhão, Abrantes, Montijo, Ílhavo, Trofa, Cantanhede, Marinha Grande, Torres, Novas, Albufeira, Beja, Silves, Bragança, Esposende, Espinho, Anadia, Fundão, Tondela, Santiago do Cacém, Estarreja, Peniche, Seia, Lamego, Lagos, Benavente, Mirandela, Odemira, Albergaria-a-Velha, Tavira, Montemor-o-Velho, Porto de Mós, Vale de Cambra, Portalegre, Arcos de Valdevez, Lourinhã, Cartaxo, Arouca, Póvoa de Lanhoso, Vizela, Vagos, Elvas, Lagoa, Almeirim, Oliveira do Bairro, Oliveira do Hospital, Rio Maior, Baião, Azambuja, Mealhada, Cinfães, Mangualde, Salvaterra de Magos, Soure, Coruche, Celorico de Basto, Entroncamento, Monção, Amares, São Pedro do Sul, Valpaços, Montemor-o-Novo, Vila Real de Santo António, Peso da Régua, Cabeceiras de Basto, Ponte de Sor, Lousã, Macedo de Cavaleiros, Castelo de Paiva, Caminha, Penacova, Castro Daire, Condeixa-a-Nova, Moura, Sertã, Serpa, Gouveia, Batalha, Vila Pouca de Aguiar, Estremoz, Alcochete, Nazaré, Alcanena, Nelas, Vieira do Minho, Grândola, Cadaval, Valença, Sabugal, Alijó, Bombarral, Ansião, Alcácer do Sal, Sines, Sátão, Miranda do Corvo, Arganil, Mira, Ponte da Barca, Sever do Vouga, Tábua, Santa Comba Dão, Montalegre, Resende, Vendas Novas, Vouzela, Reguengos de Monsaraz, Chamusca, Arruda dos Vinhos, São Brás de Alportel, Óbidos, Moimenta da Beira, Idanha-a-Nova, Mogadouro, Trancoso, Oliveira de Frades, Carregal do Sal, Pinhel, Mortágua, Vinhais, Aljustrel, Sobral de Monte Agraço, Melgaço, Murtosa, Proença-a-Nova, Paredes de Coura, Torre de Moncorvo, Ferreira do Zêzere, Vila Nova de Cerveira, Penalva do Castelo, Celorico da Beira, Vila Viçosa, Ferreira do Alentejo, Mondim de Basto, Santa Marta de Penaguião, São João da Pesqueira, Campo Maior, Tarouca, Vila Nova de Foz Côa, Alpiarça, Alvaiázere, Nisa, Mértola, Terras de Bouro, Vila Nova da Barquinha, Almeida, Mação, Vila Flor, Miranda do Douro, Castro Verde, Belmonte, Almodôvar, Borba, Arraiolos, Armamar, Vila Nova de Poiares, Ribeira de Pena, Carrazeda de Ansiães, Figueiró dos Vinhos, Portel, Redondo, Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo, Sabrosa, Tabuaço, Castro Marim, Murça, Monchique, Penela, Vila Nova de Paiva, Alandroal, Aguiar da Beira, Oleiros, Penamacor, Sernancelhe, Boticas, Vidigueira, Mêda, Ourique, Alfândega da Fé, Viana do Alentejo, Golegã, Sousel, Mora, Fornos de Algodres, Vila do Bispo, Aljezur, Vimioso, Avis, Cuba, Pampilhosa da Serra, Mesão Frio, Góis, Gavião, Pedrógão Grande, Freixo de Espada à Cinta, Crato, Sardoal, Manteigas, Vila Velha de Ródão, Constância, Castelo de Vide, Marvão, Alter do Chão, Castanheira de Pera, Fronteira, Alcoutim, Penedono, Vila de Rei, Mourão, Arronches, Monforte, Alvito, Barrancos.

Full carbon road bike and tribike rental in Cascais, enjoy IronMan or your cycling holidays in Portugal with Veloce.

Tribike rental services in Cascais, Portugal

We extended our full carbon road bike and tribike rental services to Cascais with which can enjoy the IronMan or your cycling training, excursions or holidays in Portugal using our services delivered and collected at your accommodations, also in different towns. 

Bicycle rental quote requests to booking@velocerental.com 
Up to 25% off on advanced reservations. 

Check the status of mountain passes of Italy, are open or closed?

Sometime people rented bikes from us ask if roads of the most epic Italian passes are open or closed. 

In this post we show you how to check if Italian mountain passes are open or closed. You can find this information at this helpful link to the Bormio website page with which check in realtime the status of Italian passes. 

If you desire rent a bike for your cycling experience on this passes email us your rental quote requests to booking@velocerental.com 

The Stelvio pass on Prato side

The Stelvio Pass on Bormio side

Discovering Fausto Coppi and Marco Pantani vintage bicycles at Bianchi factory. Italian legends of cycling.

Since we started our business we had the opportunity to give customers the possibility to enjoy private tours at the Bianchi headquarters in Treviglio village, Italy.

In this post we would share some photos of the original Bianchi bicycles belonged to Fausto Coppi and Marco Pantani, two Italian legends of cycling.

A vintage plate say "Bianchi bicycles, the best."

A group of tourist enjoyed private Bianchi factory tour with us. 

Private tour of the Bianchi factory.

FAUSTO COPPI 

Fausto Coppi (1919 – 1960) was an Italian cyclist, the dominant international cyclist of the years each side of the Second World War. His successes earned him the title Il Campionissimo ("Champion of Champions"). He was an all-round racing cyclist: he excelled in both climbing and time trialing, and was also a great sprinter. He won the Giro d'Italia five times (1940, 1947, 1949, 1952, 1953), the Tour de France twice (1949 and 1952), and the World Championship in 1953. Other notable results include winning the Giro di Lombardia five times, the Milan–San Remo three times, as well as wins at Paris–Roubaix and La Flèche Wallonne and setting the hour record in 1942.

Fausto Coppi 50s vintage bicycle

Campagnolo levers of Fausto Coppi 50s vintage bicycle

Campagnolo derailleur of Fausto Coppi 50s vintage bicycle

Campy derailleur of Fausto Coppi 50s vintage bicycle

Wooden brakes of Fausto Coppi 50s vintage bicycle

Leather saddle of Fausto Coppi 50s vintage bicycle

Water bottle of Fausto Coppi 50s vintage bicycle

Frame number of Fausto Coppi 50s vintage bicycle

MARCO PANTANI

Marco Pantani (1970 – 2004) was an Italian road racing cyclist, widely considered one of the best climbers of all time in professional road bicycle racing. He won both the Tour de France and the Giro d'Italia in 1998, being the sixth Italian after Ottavio Bottecchia, Gino Bartali, Fausto Coppi, Felice Gimondi and Gastone Nencini to win the Tour de France. He is the last cyclist, and one of only seven, to win the Giro and the Tour in the same year. He was known as "Il Pirata" "The pirate" because of his shaven head and the rakish bandana and earrings he always wore. At 1.72 m and 57 kg, he had the classic build for a mountain climber. His style contrasted with that of time-trialling experts such as the five-times Tour winner Miguel Indurain.

With our customers discovering Marco Pantani bicycle
with which won Giro d'Italia and Tour de France in 1998

With our customers discovering Marco Pantani bicycle
with which won Giro d'Italia and Tour de France in 1998

With our customers discovering Marco Pantani bicycle
with which won Giro d'Italia and Tour de France in 1998 

With our customers discovering Marco Pantani bicycle
with which won Giro d'Italia and Tour de France in 1998

A video recorded in occasion of our private tour at the Bianchi headquarters giving to customers the chance to discover the Marco Pantani bicycle with which in 1998 won the Giro d'Italia & the Tour de France.

Some Veloce bike rental Tripadvisor's traveler reviews. Now you can save money planning your next cycling holiday.

The quality and the reliability of the brand Veloce are strongly confirmed by all our photos of customers using our services, all references and the reviews received during the time. We’d like to share with our readers and with our future and possible customers this contents.

Remember, this is the best period to save money planning your next cycling holiday for 2020 summer/fall time or 2021 spring. 

For information and bike rental quote requests please email to 

booking@velocerental.com

Why is convenient to plan your next cycling holiday in Europe and close reservations during the Coronavirus?

In this post we would share with you some suggestions to save money on your next summer, fall or 2021 cycling holidays in Europe, simply closing reservations during the Coronavirus global crisis.

In this period you have few certainties:

More time available

The desire to enjoy activities outside your home will increase

Let's analyze the ‘travel to Europe’ market:

Airlines are applying even lower rates than their best rates on summer and fall flights

With the slowdown of sales will be easy to find accommodations at the best rate

What do I mean with this?

Many people have taken advantage of this moment planning and closing reservations

with us for next summer, autumn and 2021 cycling holidays all around Europe.

What if  will have an hindrance to travel due the Coronavirus?

Flight and accommodation policies give the chance to reschedule your travel

We suggest to create an alert on your mobile in case want cancel or change your dates.

How is Veloce bike rentals working during the coronavirus?

Since the beginning of its business, velocerental.com has always applied on advanced reservation booking a discount option, up to 25% off on bike rental rates.            

A planned business calendar offers to the customer good rates and helps the company to work better reducing costs.

In case of cancellations due the Coronavirus the Veloce Corporate company freezes the reservation deposit, without expiration, for future rentals in Italy and other European countries covered by Veloce services giving customers an easy way  to reschedule their cycling travel experience.

PLANNING NOW YOUR NEXT CYCLING EXPERIENCE IN EUROPE COULD YOU MAKE SAVE LOTS OF MONEY.

Rental quote requests to booking@velocerental.com

Things to do in Cantabria, Spain: cycling Santander, Picos de Europa and oceanic golden sandy beaches.

Cantabria is an autonomous region on the north coast of Spain.

In this post we would like to recommend some things to do and places of particular interest you can visit during your cycling experience in Cantabria.

Santander, the capital, is a port on the Bay of Biscay, known for the long curve of El Sardinero beach and the Cabo Mayor lighthouse. 

In the Cantabrian mountain range, full of forests, there is the Picos de Europa National Park, one of the places to be explored by bicycle, and it is precisely in this region of Spain we boosted our full carbon road bikes, ebike and mtb rentals with which you can ride in naturalistic places, along the coast and in the beautiful hinterland.

our customer enjoy cycling in the Picos de Europa

SANTANDER BICYCLE TOURING

Santander is the capital of the Cantabria region on the northern coast of Spain. The Palacio de la Magdalena, once the summer residence of the royal family, stands at the mouth of the bay of Santander, on the rocky Peninsula of La Magdalena. To the west, in the center is the Cathedral with its octagonal dome and the Gothic cloister. Not far away, the promenade of the Paseo de Pereda winds along one side of the Jardines de Pereda.

North-east of the gardens, El Sardinero is an elegant area where Primera and Segunda Playa are located, two sandy beaches. Near the promenade stands the Gran Casino del Sardinero in art nouveau style. To the west, the Biblioteca de Menéndez Pelayo belonged to the illustrious historian Marcelino Menéndez y Pelayo and contains more than 40,000 books. The majestic structure inside which the Museo de Arte Moderno y Contemporáneo is set up presents contemporary exhibitions. A little further east, the Museo de Prehistoria y Arqueología has a collection of archaeological finds from Cantabria from the Paleolithic to the Middle Ages

The Picos the Europa

CLIMB BY BICYCLE THE PICOS DE EUROPA 

Cycling the breathtaking beauty of the Picos de Europa, a protected mountain area with many forests and rich wildlife that includes deer, wolves and bears.

The Picos de Europa are mountain ranges that cross Cantabria, Asturias and Castilla Leon. If you want to admire a breathtaking view, we recommend reaching the summit. Once you arrive you will be amazed, bewitched by the beauty of the gorges and the vastness of silence.

Visit Potes, a stone town, with small hostels, clubs and taverns to eat "cocido" in its original recipe. Here nature is unspoiled, with paths that run through rocky valleys, lakes and woods. It is no coincidence that it is the perfect place to practice cycling especially in autumn and spring when the weather is more favorable.

Our customer enjoy cycling on coastline route of Cantabria

CYCLING CANTABRIA COASTLINE ROUTE, ENJOY LOCAL BEACHES

Golden beaches and breathtaking views: Cantabria is able to offer everything you could wish for to relax and do some healthy outdoor sports. Hidden among the green pine forests of the Parque Natural de las Dunas de Liencres, you can find the Playa de Valdearenas. Three kilometers of beach full of nuances, it represents a real Earthly Paradise. Impossible not to be enchanted by its beauty.

Laredo is almost 50 km from Santander, a very popular seaside resort in Spain, thanks also to a lively nightlife. If you happen to be here you will be conquered by the nightlife of this beach, bars, restaurants, surfers and thrilling panoramas. 

Don't miss the Playas de Langre: two magnificent golden sand beaches frequented both all year round. The most famous is Langre La Grande, where sportsmen often gather, while Langre La Pequeña is more protected, surrounded by rocky walls and dense vegetation.

The beaches of Cantabria are particularly varied, almost all awarded the Blue Flag, which indicates quality and excellence. Along the coast there are numerous natural parks and ecological reserves, places where human intervention is not visible to be reached by bicycle where to practice diving, surfing, windsurfing, sailing or rowing.

There is no shortage of beaches where you can simply relax and spend a day of fun and relaxation with the whole family. Among the most touristic (and loved) areas we find Castro Urdiales, Suances and obviously Santander. The city is not only the capital of the region, but also has a beautiful bay protected from the winds with shallow waters and crystal clear waters.

The coast is dotted with numerous promontories, beaches and fishing villages. One of these villages, San Vicente de la Barquera, is characterized by a stone bridge dating back to the 16th century; the bridge crosses a local estuary.

The history of bicycle touring.

Bicycle tourism, an alternative way to enjoy in safety the beauty of places, far from the big cities, off the beaten path of classical tourism.

All this and our family story are our heritage to be preserved and which must be handed down over time.

1928 - The Velo Club in Naples, Italy
My grandfather first on left side of this photo.

Our family has cycling origins as early as 1928, pioneers of cycling in Italy, more precisely in Naples, in southern Italy and was part of a large cycling club, the Velo Club Napoli.

My grandfather and his 2 brothers were part of this club and in our family some grandchildren have cultivated over the time this passion for cycling, someone continuing to ride like an amateur while I created Veloce, an Italian brand born to support with rental services delivered at accommodations people who desire to ride a bicycle everywhere in Europe. 

To give an idea of the era when my family started to be in cycling society, they were 11 years before the Second World War, before the great successes of Fausto Coppi and Gino Bartali at the Giro d'Italia, tour of Italy challenge.

The club united cycling enthusiasts and organized road cycling competitions and velodrome challenges where competed clubs from various regions of southern Italy like for example Campania and Apulia.

To write this post I did a historical research, surfing the web it was very exciting to find an old photo where I recognized my grandfather in Naples in the presence of the cyclist Vincenzo Trigilio, a professional cyclist of the first era of the Giro d'Italia (1921-1929) who participated in numerous local challenges such as the Coppa Caivano to which my grandfather also cycled, a trophy won also by Learco Guerra.

The second from the left, before the WWII my grandfather take a photo
with Mr. Trigilio, pro cyclist on first era of Giro d'Italia

This club also organized cycling training and bicycle touring experiences, in fact, on Sundays picnics were often organized in green areas far from the city, to create moments of aggregation and friendship.

Doing a historical research I was able to discover some information that I want to share with you readers of our site.

Sundays picnics in green areas with club friends,
My grandfather with Velo Club Napoli jersey.

The first question I asked myself was: when was cycle touring born?

Some historical indications indicate that the first cycling experiences were in France around 1820, but the greatest interest in cycling was in England where 3 people cycled from London to Brighton in 15 hours and from Liverpool to London in 3 days like a modern cycling touring, was in 1869.

Over time the travels became more adventurous, someone started traveling for two years like the San Francisco Chronicle writer, Mr. Thomas Stevens who in this occasion wrote articles included into a 1021 pages book.

The first bicycle tour around the world in 1896 made by John Foster Fraser who with two friends cycled 19237 miles crossing 18 countries in two years and two months.

In Europe, the bicycle was one of the favorite means of the rich aristocracy, who used it for recreation.

Some sources indicate that a bicycle in those years in France had a price between 200 and 500 francs and that a worker had a daily wage of 3.3 francs.

THE CYCLING SOCIETY IN UK

Surfing the web the first cycling club was born in UK at 1878, the Bicycle Touring Club, later renamed Cyclists' Touring Club.

Among the curiosities about this club, had an official tailor who made an official green uniform for the members, the colour changed to grey when green proved impractical because it showed the dirt.

THE CYCLING SOCIETY IN USA

In US the first cycling league was the "League of American Wheelmen in the U.S.", founded in Newport, Rhode Island on 1880. It soon became the leading national membership organization for cyclists in the United States.

The board of directors consisted of two from each state having regularly organization clubs. Membership of this league in US peaked at 103,000 in 1898.

THE CYCLING SOCIETY IN FRANCE

Paul de Vivie washe was an intermediary in the silk industry and often traveled to the UK where he became member of the British Cyclists Touring Club which inspired him in 1881 to create a first club "Les Cyclistes Stéphanois"and after the creation of the Fédération Française de Cyclotourisme, the world's largest cycling association.

Paul de Vivie coin the French word cyclo-tourism and created the Touring Club France, founded on 1889.

1928 - Velodrome Challenges at Velo Club Naples, Italy
My grandfather second from left side of this photo.

Paul de Vivie's first bicycle was a penny-farthing, he understood the importance of the bicycle in the society and founded a factory for the production of "safety bicycles" called  "Gauloise" over importing and reselling the English bicycles "Rovers". To support his business activity Mr. Paule de Vivie had created a magazine denominated  "Le Cycliste" which over time became one of the most influential cycling magazines in history.

In this magazine Mr. Paule de Vivie wrote articles signing up with his nickname, Vélocio: which should mean "the one who goes fast by bicycle".

This makes us smile because his nickname is very similar to our brand, Veloce which translated into English means "Fast"!

Mr.Paule de Vivie used to discuss hot topics such as the animated debate with Mr. Henri Desgrange, creator of the Tour de France, on the use of the gear on bicycles.

Mr. Henri Desgrange on 1902 has declared to L'Équipe sports newspaper: 

"I always believe that the change of speed is for people over 45 years old. Isn't it better to triumph with the strength of your muscles rather than thanks to the mechanical artifice of the derailleur? We are softening for me ... give me a fixed gear bicycle!"

In fact, the Tour de France forbade the gear on bicycles until 1937.

Mr. Paul de Vivie was a supporter of every technical innovation related to the bicycle, also proposing double chain or triple chain bicicles, he was one of the first (1897) to use a kind of connecting link that allowed him to manually open and move the chain from one sprocket to another, at least until the enthusiastic adoption of the freewheel (1900), then created the first rudimentary gear with levers (the 1908 Prével d 'Arley) until the almost definitive Chemineau which was the last gear he could pedal (1930).

Mr. Paul de Vivie, who used to do even 40hours on bicycle, shared on his "Le Cycliste" magazine his commandments of bicycle touring: 

7 COMMENDMENTS OF BICYCLE TOURING 

1. Short and infrequent stops so as not to lose concentration

2. Light and frequent meals: eat before you are hungry and drink before you are thirsty

3. Never go beyond your possibilities with efforts that lead to lack of hunger and sleep

4. Cover yourself before you are cold and unclothe before you are hot. Don't be afraid to expose your skin to the sun, air and water

5. Eliminate, at least during the cycling, tobacco, wine and meat.

6. Never force, stay within your limits, especially in the early hours when you are tempted to spend too much because full of strength.

7. Never ride for self-love, vanity.

Paul de Vivie, known as Vélocio, died on March 4, 1930 in Saint-Etienne, due to a fractured skull after being hit by a tram when leaving his house on his bike.

Today, for those who want to pay homage to his memory, it is possible to visit a monument dedicated to him on top of the Col de la République climb, outside Saint-Etienne or taking part in the Flêche Vélocio, a 24-hour team randonnée with a free course where you have to travel the maximum number of km in 24h. Organized annually by the Audax Club Parisien.

1930 - The Velo Club in Naples, Italy during a local challenge
my grandfather indicated with cross sign on asphalt

THE CYCLING SOCIETY IN ITALY

In Italy bicycle tourism arrives in 1894 with the Touring Club Italia, founded by a group of 57 speed riders, with the aim of spreading the ideal and practical values of cycling and travel.

The touring club Italy in 5 years reaches 16,000 members. This was an innovative club, proposes the first cycle paths in 1895, installed repair boxes and medical first aid along the streets and opposes the tax on the velocipedes.

He collaborates in the drafting of the first Traffic Police Regulations and contributes to the embellishment of the railway stations.

In 1897 he began the construction and installation of tourist road signs. With the advent of automobiles, the Touring Club Italia topened up to all forms of tourism.

The pleasure of the bicycle is that of freedom, perhaps better than a liberation. To go everywhere, at any moment, stopping at the first ambition of a whim, without worries as for a horse, without servitude as in a train. It is not the journey or its economy in doing it that satisfies us, but the faculty of interrupting and changing it, that instinctive poetry of a carefree improvisation, while a proud force swells our hearts to feel so free.

The bicycle acquires its first political and social connotation transforming itself into a link between aristocracy, bourgeoisie and people, between city and countryside, in a flywheel for the emancipation of women.

Over the years, cycling has always proved to be a good alternative to traditional travel because it can be easily customized under disposable income and physical fitness, although e-bikes have made this type of tourism accessible to a greater number of people, reconsidering everyone's limits.

Cycling Côte d'Azur, French coast. A travel diary from French coast to discover Massif de l'Estérel, let's go! Veloce carbon road bike rental in France.

Ready to start the cycling excursion to the Massif de l'Estérel on French coast.

Today we will let you discover a stretch of French coast enclosed between Sainte Maxime, a small village close Saint Tropez, and Mandelieu la Napoule, a small village close Cannes and Nice, France.

FYI: 
Veloce company provide high quality full carbon road bike, touring and ebike rentals with delivery and collection at accommodations in South France including Côte d'Azur, Pyrenees and Provence.

Information and quote requests to booking@velocerental.com

Now, it's time to start our ride!

We begin our bicycle excursion starting from a fraction of the village Roquebrune-sur-Argens where we head towards Frejus / Saint Raphael to continue towards Mandelieu-la-Napoule, the arrival point of our experience.

Our goal is to discover the Massif de l'Estérel, let's go!

Gold beaches on the road to the Massif de l'Estérel

This coastal route is particularly interesting because it crosses several panoramic stretches and seaside villages where it is possible to experience the atmosphere of the French blue coast lifestyle.

Obviously, like all seaside villages in the summer season could be possible to find busy roads, for this reason we recommend pedaling on sunrise or sunset. Best periods to enjoy this area are spring, fall and winter time when the weather and temperature are pleasant and the roads aren't busy.

The average temperature in winter time is about 13°C, in spring 22°C, summer 28/30°C and in fall about 20°C.

The road D559 to Frejus and Saint Raphael direction

Pedaling the road D559 can stop for a break in one of the golden beaches that you can find along the road, take photographs of the coast from the many panoramic parking points or enjoy a soy cappuccino in one of local beach clubs.

Gold beaches on the road to Frejus and Saint Raphael villages on French coast.

A spectacular journey of about thirty kilometers by bicycle that connects Frejus to La Napoule. An itinerary that runs alongside the promontories of the Estérel massif and seaside villages with their Roman remains and contemporary art museums.

Much of this stretch is occupied by the Massif de l'Estérel, a volcanic rock formation that extends from the coast to the hinterland. 

The massif is crossed by nature trails to explore on foot, by bicycle and in some limited areas also by car. Estérel alternates its red rocks with the Mediterranean maquis and is the habitat of deer, hares, partridges and wild boars.

Break at the touristic port in Frejus

Crossing Frejus on the road to Saint Raphael and the Massif de l'Estérel

FREJUS VILLAGE
Along the way we cross Frejus, an inland village extended to the sea.
This village has several ruins that refer to its Roman origin. Founded under Julius Caesar, its port welcomed Antonio's ships after the defeat of Anzio in 31 AD. Remains of the Roman period are the arena, some arches of the aqueduct and the theater where home to events. Frejus also has a medieval center, the Episcopal Cité, with the Gothic Cathedral and the episcopal palace. Among the most beautiful buildings of the Cité there is the Baptistery, in front of the Cathedral, of early Christian origin.

Like all seaside towns on the Cote d'Azur in this village there is a lot of vitality in the marina and in the promenade.

Break at the gold beaches in Saint Raphael, the port and the old church.

leaving Saint Raphael the road continue to the Massif de l'Estérel

SAINT-RAPHAEL
The second village we cross on the road is Saint-Raphaël, the corniche to the massif de l'Estérel.

Next to the touristic port of Frejus you can find the Saint-Raphaël village, known for its sandy beaches and the beautiful palm-lined promenade that runs alongside the sea and the whole city. Some interesting sites are the old town with the 12th century St-Raphaël church and the Provencal open air market who run in the morning where you can buy cheeses, fresh fish and olives flavored with peppers and the omnipresent Provencal garlic. Do not miss the fish restaurants on the pier and the beautiful villas hidden among the thick gardens in the hinterland. These are the luxurious residences built by wealthy English and French who at the end of the nineteenth century chose Saint-Raphaël as a vacation spot.

Saint-Raphaël is the gateway to the Estérel corniche.

Local cyclists enjoy cycling on Massif de l'Estérel coastal route

Natural cliffs on the road to Massif de l'Estérel

Let's continue the cycling excursion to the Massif of Esterel coastline panoramic route.

Estérel was born 250 million years ago. First attached to Africa, this piece of land separated from it during the formation of the Mediterranean. In the tertiary era, a part of the Esterel even drifted away, Corsica was born!

The Massif de l'Estérel on French coast, France

The Massif de l'Estérel on French coast, France

The Esterel massif, between the Mediterranean and Provence, represents a massif of 32,000 hectares over Saint-Raphaël, Fréjus, Bagnols-en-Forêt and Les Adrets de l'Estérel villages, officially protected in the Forêt domaniale de l'Esterel (National Forest of Esterel).

The Massif de l'Estérel on French coast, France

This panoramic road is particularly interesting because it crosses stretches where you can enjoy natural coves full of Mediterranean bush and descents to the sea where you can stop to rest or swim into the blue. 

cycling the coastal road on the Massif de l'Estérel on French coast, France

Natural coves full of Mediterranean bush

Crossing the Esterel massif the road go down to Cannes direction crossing Théoule-sur-Mer, with the beach very popular with the inhabitants of Cannes, and La Napoule with its fourteenth-century crenellated castle on the coast.

La Napoule is part of the municipality of Mandelieu-La Napoule at the foot of the Tanneron massif. We finish our cycling excursion in Mandelieu-La Napoule, this village is famous to be the town of the flowered Festival of the mimosa, which has participated in the development of the economy of the area, is celebrated every year by the inhabitants.

Officially celebrated for the first time in 1931, since then the Festival of Mimosa has always had great success, with its parade of flower floats.

The road continue to Mandelieu La Napoule
break at the panoramic point to see Alps and the coast

We would share this video we have known in one of our Cycling in Europe Reddit community conversations. From the middle of the video Mike cycled the same coastal route we showed you in this post.