PROVENCE MOUNT BAUDON

Good morning bikers I insert an exaggerated sea view ride just across the border starting in Menton.

This tour with very high difficulty (Mt. Baduon) can be brought to a medium difficult level by excluding the climb to the summit by staying on easy forestry that remains on the slopes avoiding a nice share of backpacking bikes.

We start from a parking lot in the locality of Monti and by asphalt in the direction of Sospel we climb up to a hairpin bend where we will take a nice forest road that takes us to altitude with beautiful views. We descend slightly and take a section of singletrack and then at a junction we push the bike in a short section and return to the saddle and pedal only with leg until the col de Blanquettes.

From here, normals take the nice forest track that goes around Mt. Baudon and pick up the trail again further on.

For those in the mood for something exclusive, we start off on the shoulder immediately steep into the forest for the trail that will take us to the summit. In the central part there is a part to climb with small rocks that do not create particular problems and then with a long and rocky traverse we reach the summit.

Now begins a really difficult descent with difficult steps and rock. Very few will manage to have zero penalty. For yours truly and others (especially the middle section) you put your foot down quite a bit. Past the most extreme section the trail remains very challenging and then improves toward the finish where you can let the bike run a little.

Here you intercept the forest track that I mentioned as an alternative. We now climb towards the col de la Madone and then towards the repeaters. We now take a trail that will take us up to Gorbio.

The first section is easy and then below the Col de la Madone the fun begins with nice technical passages until the village, which is worth a visit.

Now we take a secondary paved road and with last stretch in forestry we reach the top of Mount Gros where the paragliders start. It is a balcony above Monaco on one side and Cap Martin on the other. Moved by the place we descend on hyper-panoramic trail over Monaco.

Easy steps in the first part and a free-range, technical finish. On asphalt and singletrack we reach Rochebrune de Cap Martin ( another beautiful village). On scenic asphalt and forestry secondary roads we move toward Menton for the last climb that will take us to another perched village overlooking the sea: S'Agnes.

From here begins the last fantastic descent that with a stepped path carved into the rock face makes us have fun and enjoy and adds another treat to an epic day!

At the car the satisfaction will be huge because the last two scenic spots reached and the related descents are truly a spectacle.