Itinérance No. 3 - 3 days - Stage 3 La Tour-sur-Tinée Nice

From the village square of La Tour-sur-Tinée take RM 32 towards Utelle

Turn right at the intersection of RM 32 and RM 132, take RM132 towards La Madone d’Utelle 6 km

The final arrival is at the sign indicating the summit under the Sanctuary

Push 500 m further up to admire from the orientation table a magnificent landscape turned 360° towards the sea and the Mercantour peaks

Descend carefully to the junction of RM 32 and RM 132

From this intersection, take RM 32 right towards Utelle 0.5 km and Saint-Jean-la-Rivière 10 km

Cross Utelle

At the bottom of the descent, cross the bridge spanning the Vésubie

At the exit, in the center of Saint-Jean-la-Rivière, turn right on RM 2565 towards Nice

At the crossroads of RM 19 and RM 2565 stay right to continue on RM 2565 towards Nice

Take the 2nd exit left towards Nice at the RM 2565 and RM 6202 roundabout,

Cross Plan du Var by RM6202

On RM 6202, 100 m after the roundabout, turn right on the Charles-Albert Bridge crossing the Var towards Z.I. Carros – Le Broc

At the bridge exit, take the 2nd exit left towards Nice on RM 901

At the Nucéra Bridge crossing the Estéron, at the roundabout, take the 1st exit towards Le Broc on RM 2209

At Les Iscles, the ascent to Le Broc begins continuing on RM 2209

At the intersection of RM 2209 and RM 101, turn right towards Le Broc

Cross the village of Le Broc through small streets, at the exit, on RM 1 turn right towards Bouyon

Below the village of Bouyon, at the intersection of RM 1 and RM 8, go straight on RM 8 towards Coursegoules 11 km, summit of the ascent

On RD 8, continue to the village intersection of Coursegoules (0.5 km) to take RD2 - Gréolières – Vence

At the intersection RD 8 and RD 2, turn left towards Nice – Vence (16 km)

After the summit of Col de Vence, start the rapid descent towards Vence on RM 2

At the entrance of Vence, take RD 2210 towards Saint-Jeannet-Vence

At Peyron roundabout in Saint-Jeannet, take the 1st exit right towards La Gaude on RM 18

At the roundabout with RM 118 and RM 18, continue straight towards Saint-Laurent du Var on RM 118

Continue on RM 118 to the entrance of Saint-Laurent du Var

At the first roundabout, take the 1st exit right toward downtown

At the intersection at the exit of square Bénes, turn left and immediately right towards the SNCF station – Nice on RM98

At the passage of the Saint-Laurent du Var SNCF station, take the underpass toward Nice

At the exit of the tunnel, turn left towards Nice and get on the cycle path up to the arrival point located opposite Verdun Avenue in Nice

-Wear a certified helmet

-Check the condition of your tires

-Take a repair kit in case of a puncture

-Prefer at least one flashing LED light to attach to the seat post to be seen by motorists, especially in the small tunnels that are numerous in the Métropole

-Remember to take a windbreaker or a raincoat for the descent of the pass

BASIC RULES

Choose a climb suited to your physical condition, do not overestimate your abilities

Check the mountain weather and pass openings before setting out

Remember to carry an ID and an emergency phone number

Respect the environment

Control your speed on the descent

GOOD PRACTICES FOR RIDING IN A GROUP

Riding two abreast is allowed, but single file is required:

At nightfall or in low visibility

When a vehicle wanting to overtake signals its approach.

ENCOUNTER WITH THE FAMOUS PATOU DOGS POSSIBLE ON THE LAST KMS OF THE MADONE ASCENT

These dogs tirelessly guard the flocks, threatening to attack anything that approaches. A recurring source of controversy, their presence regularly leads to incidents. Many of these can be avoided with some precautions.

Tip #1: announce your arrival

On the road, in the upper part of the pass, the presence of patou dogs nearby should be taken seriously and will encourage cyclists to be cautious and signal themselves from afar, without shouting, to announce their arrival, as the patous do not like to be surprised.

Tip #2: maintain a safe distance

For a patou raised among sheep, anyone approaching the flock is a potential threat. It is therefore important to keep as much distance as possible from the flocks. Move slowly and steadily.

Tip #3: accept confrontation

These dogs are trained to deter rather than to attack. If they detect an intruder, they will start barking and growling. It is common for them to approach the cyclist aggressively to sniff them. You must remain calm, speak in a soothing voice, move without sudden gestures, and try not to show fear to reduce tension. The cyclist is advised to get off the bike and walk calmly beside it.

Tip #4: do not be aggressive

In case of confrontation, the dog must not feel threatened. Avoid looking the dog in the eyes and lower your head.

Tip #5: do not become prey

All outdoor activities of the Métropole Nice Côte d'Azur are on https://outdoor.nicecotedazur.org