5 good reasons to go mountain biking on the Côte d'Azur in winter

VARNISHED BY THE GODS OF HEAVEN

On winter’s arrival, when the snow buries the Alps and a great many of France’s trails are bogged down in mud and fog, the Côte d’Azur naturally positions itself as the El Dorado of winter mountain biking.

With its generous sunshine levels all year round, its Indian summer, which often extends until December, its sunny winter days and its temperatures that regularly fluctuate around 15 degrees in the middle of January, the Alpes Maritimes has a privileged climate that guarantees perfect riding conditions and dry trails.

As a result, mountain biking enthusiasts can enjoy their passion all year round between the southern coastlines and the Mercantour foothills, while the rest of France and a good part of Europe has no choice in this season but to leave the bikes in the garage all winter long, unless of course they take a trip to department 06.

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5-star trails

Forget the cliche that mountain biking is only practised in summer and in a bike park, in winter enthusiasts also have everything they need to enjoy themselves in the Alpes-Maritimes, and there’s something for everyone.

Forest paths for a trip as a family or a cross-country jaunt in the Côte d’Azur’s Alpine foothills, the hills of Nice and the Esterel; paths that criss-cross in the suburban forests of the coastal areas; expert-level Alpine trails in all the mountain ranges in the mid-country; iconic endurance tracks in the Nice hinterland; and even famous downhill runs for DH fans.

And the best of all this is that, thanks to the rocky or sandy surface that characterizes most of the paths, the water from the few winter rains is perfectly filtered, so it is rare to encounter mud, and even better, the grip in winter is often superior to that in summer (dusty and thus slippery).

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One does not exclude the other

Vous l’aurez compris, même si vous attendez chaque année l’hiver pour aller jouer dans la poudreuse, pas question pour autant de laisser votre VTT prendre la poussière, car cette saison vaut vraiment le détour : il y a moins de monde sur les sentiers, l’air pur rend les paysages encore plus beaux et les températures sont préférables pour aller s’amuser sur les spots du littoral où il fait trop chaud en été.

Et si entre les deux sports votre cœur balance, imitez ceux qui ont trouvé la solution ultime : ski le matin dans le Mercantour, VTT l’après-midi sur le pays côtier (et pourquoi pas un picnic sur la plage en fin de journée?!), ou mieux encore, allez rouler dans la neige !

You’ve got it, even if you wait for winter every year to go and enjoy the snow, there is no question of leaving your mountain bike to gather dust as this season is really worth the trip: there are fewer people on the trails, the fresh air makes the landscapes even more beautiful and the temperatures are better for going to enjoy yourself on the coastal spots where it is too hot in the summer.

And if you love both sports, do as those who have discovered the ultimate solution do: ski in the morning in the Mercantour, go mountain biking in the afternoon in the coastal region (and why not enjoy a picnic on the beach at the end of the day?!), or even better, go and ride in the snow!

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Une publication partagée par 1001sentiers (@1001sentiers)