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Welcome in Auvergne Volcanoes Regional Nature Park. Programme: four volcanic chains offering a variety of landscapes renewed after each pedal stroke. The chain of Puys: Volcanoes like in stories. We begin here the slalom around "mini-volcanoes", on single tracks of scoria, like in a dream ... We arrive at Sancy, our first worthy volcanic edifice: terrain turns steeper and offers us a beautiful downhill on green crests. The Cezallier appears: oh cow! Yes, here we find a basalt plateau with smooth and hilly reliefs where cows abound... Finally, we arrive in Cantal, the largest european volcano. A sweet country rich in contrasts: changing climate, relief between Mongolian plateaus and alpine mountains. Mythical single tracks to make us discover the massif: between Puy Mary and Plomb du Cantal, between airy ridges and smooth downhills on grasslands.
Itinerary start : Rendezvous with France Bike Trips is on day 1 at 9:30am in Clermont Ferrand. On request we can book an extra night for you in Clermont Ferrand.
We start our trip through the paved lanes of Clermont Ferrand... Let's go to a first volcano! Then we climb the "rift" of the Puys mountain range, towards Volvic, the media capital of the Auvergne volcanoes (famous for its water). The day is devoted to the northern crossing of the Puys chain, via the Puy de la Nugère, the Chopine and the Col des Goules. Then comes the spectacular Puy de Come and its very technical "cheer" (old lava slide), Puy de Pariou, and Puy de Dome (1465 m). The latter made legendary by the Tour de France. Last steep downhill to of the day to Laschamps village by the forest of Ceyssat.
Distance traveled: 40 km, altitude gain: 1300 m.
We leave the youngest volcanoes of Auvergne, including the two "Strombolian": La Vache and Lassolas. From the lake of Servieres we reach the Col du Guery (1268 m) and then Puy Gros (1495 m). We then pass by the Banne d'Ordanche (1512 m) before a nice downhill to La Bourboule. Last short climb to reach our destination at the foot of the Puy de Sancy (1885 m). Night at Mont Dore.
Distance traveled: 55 km, altitude gain: 1300 m.
Start in the direction of the Puy de Sancy, the highest point of the Massif Central. We then climb up the volcanic plateau of Cezallier, a sort of "Wild West Auvergne", where many herds of "Salers" (cows from Cantal) and "Aubrac" (cows from Aveyron) are grazing on pastures rich of gentian... Places of another age: Foirail of Brion, the village of Godivelle.
Distance traveled: 45 km, altitude gain: 1250 m
Still riding on the basaltic plateau of Cezallier, we reach Signal du Luguet (highest point of Cezallier with its 1551 m). Following are the glacial cirque of Artoux and the pass of Chamaroux. On the horizon, the peaks of the Cantal make their appearance. Downhill into the valley of Allanche, its capital is all made from lava. A last ascent allows us to take a foothold on the Cantal coulees in the Pinatelle forest. Night close to Dienne.
Distance traveled: 50 km, altitude gain: 950 m
After crossing Pinatelle and the first glacier valley: Santoire; great ascent on the program: Puy de Niermont (1620 m) by the vast plateau of Limon. Downhill via Pass of Serre to the nordic ski resort of Le Claux (1000 m). Night at Le Claux.
Distance traveled: 45 km, altitude gain: 1100 m
Let's go for the highlight day of the week on the crests of the mighty Cantal volcano: a paradise for singletrack lovers with breathtaking panoramas. At least if you have some breath left after the climb of Puy Mary (1785 m)! After a short hike-a-bike section to the Brèche de Roland, a technical singletrack takes us over the Rombiere Pass and Puy Griou. Final downhill section via the cols of Gliziou and Font de Cere. Night in Font de Cére.
Distance traveled: 40 km, altitude gain: 1500 m
Ascension of 600 m by cable car to the Plomb du Cantal (1855 m). This avoids the difficult ascent of the Pas des Alpins (1750 m). We still have to climb the last 50m of the Plomb du Cantal, before the descent to Vic sur Cère, former capital of Carladès. We continue with a long downhill track on the "Roman Way", which is also part of the way of St James from Puy-en-Velay to Conques . Successively, Puy Brunet (1806 m), Puy de la Cède, Puy Gros (1594 m), the chaos of Casteltinet, then the gorges of "Pas de Cére" before the final arrival at the SNCF railway station of Vic-sur-Cére. What a fantastic week it has been!
Distance traveled: 25 km, altitude gain: 800 m
Itinerary end : The trip ends in Vic-sur-Cère around 4pm. Return to Clermont Ferrand possible by train (ca. 2 hours, direct connection). On request we can book extra nights for you in Vic-sur-Cère or Clermont Ferrand.
Distances and altitude gain are an indication only and may vary.
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