Nice Gravel Tour : 18th - 21st April 2024

It’s true, the gravel riding in Nice is nowhere near as popular or plentiful as its world-famous and world-class road riding - but that’s precisely why we love it. And it's this sense of adventure that has inspired this brand new trip format - our very first Nice Gravel Tour, taking place Thursday 18th - Sunday 21st April 2024.

On top of hosting the 2024 Tour de France final stages, Nice has also landed the 2025 Gravel World Champs, so its popularity as a gravel destination is sure to skyrocket in the coming years - and we’re here for it!

But in the meantime, this is your chance to discover the wild side of this spectacular corner of France, with steep climbs, sweeping descents and stunning views firmly on the menu, with no shortage of specialty coffee and sweet treats back at base camp in the beautiful old town.

The trip package includes your accommodation, breakfasts, coffees, welcome dinner and welcome pack, plus daily guided rides showcasing the very best of the rough stuff, right on our doorstep.

Trip Dates:

• Thursday 18th - Sunday 21st April 2024

Trip Itinerary:

• Thursday 18th April

  • Arrivals, bike set up, welcome dinner

• Friday 19th April

  • Eze-Turbie / 50km, 1,100m+. Approx 3 hours. 

    This is a classic loop and a perfect warm up ride. We’ll rise up above Eze, climbing with beautiful sea views all the way up, with a mix of terrain to sharpen the senses and a fast flowy descent back into Nice.

• Saturday 20th April

  • Col de Braus - Col de la Madone / 84km 1600m+. Approx 4.5 hours. 

    Today we’re heading into the mountains to discover some truly epic scenery with breathtaking climbs and awe-inspiring views. The terrain is a wide variety, rocky in patches but nothing too technical. We’ll take a well deserved bakery stop after 60km before flying back to the coast with amazing views to cap an incredible day on the bike.

• Sunday 21st April

  • Mont Ferion / 85km 1600m+

  • This iconic route is based around one major climb and it’s an absolute must for all gravel riders passing through Nice. As usual, there will be amazing mountain views to one side whilst overlooking the Mediterranean Sea on the other. A special ride to wrap up three epic days of exploring together.

  • Departures

What’s included:

• 4x nights at 4* hotel including breakfast

• 1x welcome dinner

• 1x welcome pack including The Service Course jersey 

• 3x guided rides

• 4x coffee and cake at The Service Course Nice

Optional extras:

• Additional Welcome Pack items

• Additional sports massage

• Airport transfer

• Hotel Upgrade

• Extended trip experience on adjacent days

• Pre-trip training program with M2M Ride - more info below

  • 4 weeks program: 200€

  • 8 week program: 250€

  • 12 week program: 450€

Pricing:

• €2,200 single occupancy

• €1,350 double occupancy

Please note:

• You have the option of paying a €500 deposit or paying in full upfront. If you pay a deposit the balance payment will be invoiced with payment due 10 weeks before your trip.

• Once you have booked your place, you will have the opportunity to upgrade your trip with the optional extras detailed above.

• Double room occupancy must be booked in pairs - either as a double or twin room

• Contact: nice@theservicecourse.cc

Pre-trip Training Programs with M2M Ride

This service provides cyclists with a fully customised training plan in the lead up to any The Service Course travel experience. The training plan is created by one of our experienced M2M Ride coaches and will get you prepared for your specific trip so you can get the most out of your experience. 

After getting to know your cycling history, goals, and needs, our coach creates your customised plan and is delivered via Final Surge for the predetermined number of weeks you select (4, 8, or 12 weeks) ahead of your travel experience.

Your training program will include the following:

• Training Plan for a predetermined number of weeks: you choose 4, 8, or 12 weeks

• Customized to your current fitness, needs, and goals

• Customized to The Service Course camp location, duration, and terrain

• Delivered via Final Surge

• Initial Consultation with coach (email or call)

• Bi-weekly check in with coach (email or call)

• Plan adjustments made at midway point of your plan, if necessary

Pricing:

• 4 weeks program: 200€

• 8 week program: 250€

• 12 week program: 450€

“Leaving the peloton at the end of last year has been a transition, that's for sure. As a pro cyclist, my life revolved around racing, training, recovering and traveling. And now I can focus that energy on new areas, and that's what led us to starting M2M Ride.
 
The M2M Ride story actually starts over 10 years ago. Mike (Woods) and I are both from Ottawa, and we started up in the competitive cycling scene around the same time.

We went from doing local rides together, to racing as teammates on a Canadian amateur team, and ended up racing monuments side by side in the WorldTour. And it is really this journey that inspired us to start M2M Ride. We have been at all levels of the sport, and now want to use our experience and expertise to help cyclists of all levels reach their goals.
 
In a nutshell, M2M Ride is personal coaching for cyclists of all abilities, from beginner to elite. We provide individualized daily training plans and unlimited communication for our athletes to reach their cycling goals, no matter what they may be. However, we also go above and beyond and use our experience of years in the WorldTour to give our athletes the best training possible, as well as support and insights into the other parts of the sport. These are things such as: tactics, race plans, mental support and many other things. We think of ourselves as coaches/mentors, and not just people writing training plans.

We strongly feel our services can help cyclists of any level. Whether it is just starting out on the bike, riding with friends, going for local KOMs or racing at the highest level, we have the tools to help you - our experience and expertise of the sport transcends all levels of abilities.

The most rewarding part of this project is seeing people's progression and successes. I also really enjoy helping people with the aspects of cycling outside of just training. Giving them advice and guidance on race strategy, riding techniques, nutrition, equipment and more. Sharing my experience, anecdotes and tips is really rewarding.” Alex Cataford