- Who
- Destinations
- Cycle tours
- Epic Sardinia
- The North Sardinia Circle Tour
- Sicily's Baroque Ring Biking Tour
- On the Roads of Giro d'Italia in Sicily
- West coast Sicily by bike: In search of the 'real' island
- Epic Corsica
- On the roads of Tour de France
- On the roads of Giro d'Italia in the Alps
- Legendary climbs of the Alps
- Piedmont treasures
- The Majestic Climbs of the Dolomites
- How to Book a tour
- Bicycle rental
- Events
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Starting price
€ 1299
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Duration
8 Days
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Activity level
Challenge
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Departing dates
30 May 2021
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Guided group tour
Small group minimum 6 riders | Private groups, any size on requested dates
Day 2: Ride from Porto Vecchio to Zonza. 86km; 2100m.
Col di Bavella is one of the most famous climbs in Corsica, and for sure one of the most dramatic roads in the Mediterranean. And it's main course on this day. It's a 31km climb - interrupted by a few kilometers down in the middle. The climb starts in Solenzara, and is easy in the beginning. Then the incline increases progressively, with some 15% section in the latter 9km. Before the top, many little cafes and restaurants are in perfect position to enjoy some good local food or a cappuccino, with the stunning views given by the Bavella peaks. Zonza, our destination and a very neat and pretty mountain town, is close. Accommodation at three-star hotel.
Day 3: Ride from Zonza to Corte. 123km; 2600m.
Every tour has got a queen stage, and that's the one of Epic Corsica.
It's not all matter of distance of elevation, but of how you've put together those meters up at the end of the day. Two major climbs today. One is Col de Verde, 28km but with a pretty gentle - 3% - average incline. The second is Col du Sorba, about 10km, but nearly 7%. Col du Sorba is one third Col de Verde, in terms of distance, but a wrong effort management can turn it into a never ending climb. From the top, possibly one of the most beautiful views we had on our cycle tours (and for this reason chosen as main photo on top of the page). Past Col du Sorba, the way to hotel is relatively easy, and we can enjoy a lovely dinner in what we believe is the nicest and most authentic town in the island: Corte. Accommodation at a three-star hotel.
Day 4: Ride from Corte to Porto. 107km; 2700m.
We like those rides that mix up a lot of different ingredients, like short and long climbs, but also quick downhills and super long winding descents. Or mountains and sea as only the Mediterranean islands can grant. This stage is like that: it surprises us with sudden change of environment and it challenges our road riders' skills.
Out of the hotel we take a great opportunity: riding up the famous Restonica gorge, enjoying a coffee with (stunning) view, then beginning our journey back to coastline.
A short up will takes us on top of Col d'Ominanda and after a few kilometers down a thrilling panoramic downhill, past Castirla, we approach the longest climb of the whole trip: Col de Vergio. The tallest pass in Corsica at 1500m. But - most importantly - it's a 40km climb. As you can expect, it can't be a steep climb, otherwise it'd mean climbing a kind of Corsican Mount Everest. It's instead sub 4% all the time, with just the last hairpins near the top representing the most challenging part of the climb and of the whole ride. The descent is awesome, with a section onto one of the oldest roads in Corsica, deep inside a red granite gorge, with a lovely view of the sea in front of us. All the way down lays Porto, where we'll spend the night at a three-star hotel.
Day 5: Ride from Porto to Ajaccio (Porticcio). 102km; 1960m.
Sixth day on a lovely island and not a proper coastline ride yet? Well it's time for that. Left the hotel, we head south towards the largest town in Corsica - Ajaccio - and right after a few kilometers up, we ride amid Le Calanches of Piana, an unmissable natural monument: and sure we won't miss this ride! It's a 11km climb before Piana, but believe us when we say it's worth every single drop of sweat. Put in the pocket our smartphones after a ton of photos and selfies, we keep riding south and get closer to the coastline. From Cargese forward is a continuous up and down with shorter or longer climbs. We won't get into Ajaccio, as despite it's not a metropolis, the traffic is amazing and the riding not pleasant. We'll head instead right outside Ajaccio, on the small Porticcio beach. Accommodation at three-star hotel.
Day 6: Ride from Ajaccio (Porticcio) to Sartene. 113km; 2600m.
From Ajaccio we head south towards the touristic resort of Propriano. We enjoy the typical inner Corsica, a bit out of the mainstream locations, across small and lazy mountain villages. We ride past mainly long and progressive climbs.
As we approach Propriano, we head east and face the biggest challenge of day: Cole de Siu.
It isn't super steep, neither one of the classical super long Corsican climbs, but it's got a quite grainy and slow asphalt. The red-granite cliffs all around as well as the awesome view from the top makes you understand why we think Col de Siu is a must-ride.
Sartene, our destination, is not far from there. We stay there overnight, at a three-star hotel.
Day 7: Ride from Sartene to Porto Vecchio. 83km; 1500m.
The last and easiest stage of the trip. And the news is that it doesn't feature any of the most known Corsican cols.
And yet we've included something very special! At the end of a stage with many shorter climbs, we eventually find another top road: the thrilling descent from Col de l'Ospedale: 18 winding kilometers with stunning views on the Porto Vecchio gulf and on the eastern coast of the island.
There's no better way to say goodbye - or au revoir - to Corsica.
Overnight at a three-star hotel in Porto Vecchio.