FFC cycling route no. 14: Tour of the lower Estéron valley

To reach the cycle path from the starting point, take the RM 6202 for 1 km. When you reach the Pont de La Manda, on the left-hand side of the road, turn carefully left to cross to the other side of the Var. At the large roundabout, follow signs for Carros village- Le Broc. At the second roundabout, take the 3rd exit and keep right towards Gattières-St Jeannet on the RM2 210. At the top of Gattières(Km 6.1), at the roundabout, take the 1st exit towards Carros Village on the RM 1. Continue on the RM1 through Carros Village, then Le Broc and Bouyon. Below this village, at the junction of the RD 1 with the RD 8 (km 23.1), continue on the RD 1, turning right towards Les Ferres-Conségudes-Roquestéron. Once you have passed the junction with the village of Conségudes (Km 33.2), the road descends into the foothills of the Estéron river; the road is narrow and very winding. At the entrance to Roquestéron-Grasse, after passing through a hamlet of closely spaced houses, the road crosses the Estéron. Shortly afterwards, turning right onto the RD 17 towards Pierrefeu - Saint-Martin du Var(Km 43.3), the road joins the Estéron again and leads us towards Gillette, after crossing the Col de Colebelle. The narrow passage through Gillette (km 64) heralds the descent into the Var valley. At the bottom of the descent, at the roundabout (Km 71.2), take the 1st exit towards Nice-Carros-Le Broc on the RM 901. The route crosses 2 successive roundabouts and crosses the Estéron via the Pont Louis Nucéra, a writer from Nice whose passion was cycling, the subject of many of his books. At the end of the bridge(Km 73), turn right onto the RD 2209 towards Le Broc. At the end of a long straight stretch, at a place called Les Iscles, the ascent to Carros begins, 8 km long but easy especially in the last few km. Keep following the RD 2209, and at the junction of the 4 chemins de Carros village, the road turns left via Nice-Digne-Carros(Km 82.4). From here, a rapid descent takes you back to the Pont de la Manda and the starting point on the RM 6202.

BASIC RULES

Choose a route suited to your physical condition and do not overestimate your abilities. Remember to carry identification and a number to call in case of danger Respect traffic lights Preferably use cycle paths where they exist, otherwise a sign may require you to do so: If the "cycle path" sign is square: you decide. If it is round, you mustuse the lane . Respect the environment and other road users

THE RIGHT REFLEXES FOR RIDING IN A GROUP

Riding two abreast is permitted, but you must keep to a single file: at dusk or when visibility is poor when a vehicle wanting to overtake announces its approach. In the event of a breakdown, move to the side of the road, not the carriageway. Come to a complete stop for the whole group at stop signs, yellow lights and fixed or flashing red lights. Communicate within the group and use verbal language and body language to signal an obstacle or a vehicle. A simple gesture or word is all it takes to avoid a fall or an accident.

From Nice, take the Route du Mercantour (M 6202)

Served by the A8 "La Provençale" motorway, coming from Aix-en-Provence to the west and Italy to the east:

Exit 52: Saint-Isidore

Direction Digne

Bus routes can be found at: https://www.lignesdazur.com

A few free spaces are available around the Colomars roundabout, where the panoramic departure point is located, on the M6202 dual carriageway.

All the outdoor activities in the Nice Côte d'Azur region can be found at https://outdoor.nicecotedazur.org

Circuit for experienced cyclists - FFC colour: Black