With Christmas long gone and 2018 stretching ahead, it's time to plan your cycling calendar - and, if you're thinking of adding a European sportive to your diary, the Mercan'Tour series from French clothing brand Café du Cycliste is well worth a look.
Cafe du Cycliste have a London branch now, but they're based in Nice on the Cote d'Azur. The Mercan'Tour Series is named after the Mercantour National Park, within riding distance of Nice, and home to some famous climbs in the Alpes-Maritimes.
There are three sportives in the series: La Mercan'Tour Turini (3rd June), La Mercan'Tour Bonnette (17th June), and the Cafe du Cycliste Ladies Gran Fondo (8th May). All three rides promise spectacular scenery and plenty of climbing; famous cols include the Cime of the Bonnette - which lays claim to the title of highest paved road in Europe at over 2,800m - and other less well known, but equally picturesque climbs just a bidon throw from the French Riviera.
The Bonette Gran Fondo looks like the toughest of the three, in fact the organisers liken it to the Marmotte. With a long route packing 4,600m of climbing over a 190km parcours, the comparison seems apt.
The Turini edition tops out at 125km / 3,400m climbing, while the brand-new Cafe du Cycliste Ladies Gran Fondo is a point-to-point ride of 116km / 2,400m finishing with a 15km climb to Valbery (1,672m).
All three events offer a choice of shorter routes too, opening the beauty of this unspoiled landscape to riders of all abilities, or appetite for climbing.
Whichever ride you choose, stunning views are guaranteed - just look at these photos...
Tempted?
Nice Cote d'Azur is the nearest airport, and bike rentals along with advice on cycling in the region are readily available at Cafe du Cycliste's headquarters on the Old Port in Nice.
For more details and to sign up, visit www.cafeducycliste.com/lagazette/la-mercantour-series.
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