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A DREAM TOUR THAT FEATURES ALL THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS CYCLING PARADISE IN THE HEART OF THE MEDITERRANEAN
Corsica is the third largest Med island after Sicily and Sardinia and what we judge a very special environment for cycling: in a small scale, it features a great environmental variety. But what has made us enthusiasts about riding there, are the amazing mountains that make you change from Med environment to Alps in the space of half of a stage. Two thirds of the whole territory are mountains. Plus, nearly half of the island is National Park: Parc naturel régional de Corse. This, and the very low population density, characterize the inland, making for glorious mountain rides.
As tour designers and tour leaders we believe that the relevant daily elevation gains produce some specific consequences when it comes to design a tour: first, if you'd like to explore a significan part of the island you cannot reasonably offer tours with less than challenging level; second, to include all the top spots the trip will feature necessarily long stages, and average elevation gains typical of the Alps. We're describing a pretty hilly cycling context, we know, but believe us when we say that what you'll see and experience here worth the effort and the additional training to get ready for it!
The tour is shaped like a ring, starting and finishing in Porto Vecchio. Along this ring we'll do the most famous Corsican climbs such as the 30km long Aiguilles de Bavella, the spectacular and wild Cold de Siu, but also Col de Verde, the impressively long (40km!) Colle Vergio, Col du Sorba and so many top spots that would make this introduction text way too long.
...LONGER THAN A CORSICAN LONG CLIMB!
Ride Highlights:
Col de la Bavella
The Col de Bavella is a mountain pass at an altitude of 1,218 meters on the French island of Corsica. The mountain pass connects Solenzara on the east coast of the island with Zonza in the Alta Rocca. The col is the most southerly of the four great Corsican mountain passes that cross the main ridge of the island. The pass forms an important connection between the southwest of the island and the northeast.
 | Total distance: 614km |
 | difficulty level: Challenge |
DAY 1: ARRIVAL DAY
Arrival at Figari airport and transfer to Porto Vecchio. Accommodation and dinner at three-star hotel.
DAY 2: FROM PORTO VECCHIO TO ZONZA
86KM | 2,100M | 2,100M | 5,00H
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: FROM ZONZA TO CORTE
123KM | 2,600M | 2,100M | 6,00H
DAY 4: FROM CORTE TO PORTO
107KM | 2,700M | 2,100M | 6,00H
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: FROM PORTO TO AJACCIO (PORTICCIO)
102KM | 1,960M | 2,100M | 5,00H
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: FROM AJACCIO (PORTICCIO) TO SARTENE
113KM | 2,600M | 2,100M | 6,00H
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: FROM SARTENE TO PORTO VECCHIO
83KM | 1,500M | 2,100M | 4,30H
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.
DAY 8: FAREWELL AND DEPARTURE DAY
Transfer to Figari airport and end of services.
Travel arrangements
The best airport for arrivals is Figari airport(FSC): from there we arrange the group transfer. Other options are possible and we can help you select the best one.
Food & Drinks during stages
During the rides we plan at least one longer food stop in the middle of the stage plus one or more coffee stops. In the assistence van we have bars, gels and water.
Necessary Gear
Our guests will get a pre tour info kit that gives useful suggestions on how to enjoy our trips in full. Here is a quick selection that might be useful at this stage.
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We suggest renting a Canyon bike with us. But feel free to bring your own bike. Just consider bringing along a selection of model specific spare parts (ie. derailleur hangers).
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Some hotels have a room for the bikes, and we will have a selection of tools to perform basic maintenance.
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Bring along a wide selection of clothes, including some full arm jackets, rain coat, leg and arm warmers: there are a lot of mountain areas where the weather is never completely predictable.
