Skip to main content

Tour de France: Checking out this year's starting point

When you consider that Corsica offers views that take in the sparkling Mediterranean on one side and ragged mountains on the other, it seems ridiculous its two French 'departments' are the only ones – bar far-flung types such as Guadeloupe and Reunion – yet to host the Tour de France. This will be put right this summer when the first three days of racing in the 100th running of the Tour will take place on the island.

Naval history: Calvi, where Admiral Nelson lost an eye

The opening day, on June 29, will see the pack depart from Porto-Vecchio in the south before heading for a sprint finish in Bastia on the north-east coast. Corsica is shaped like a thumbs-up sign, or a club foot, depending on how many bottles of the local Pietra beer you've consumed.

  More... A blooming marvellous horticultural break to the Azores Active holidays: Get inspired here Bearing all on a New Zealand survival adventure

I was on the island for a cycling break but didn't have the time – or the fitness – to complete the entire route the competitors will take, so I chose the most appealing section, the mountainous stage from Ajaccio on the island's west coast to Calvi in the north-west.

Pedal power: Max on his tour of the island

Out of Ajaccio, famous for being the birthplace of Napoleon, I was soon cycling on narrow, twisting roads caressed by gentle sea breezes that cancelled out the strong whiffs of Corsican sausages and overpowering local cheeses.

Though the coastline is wild and rugged, the roads are smooth and make for sensational cycling. Soon the route headed towards the fishing villages on the Gulf of Porto and the spectacular coves at the World Heritage site at Piana.

The pack will gobble up this delightful stage in just a few hours, but for cycle tourists like myself there seemed no reason to rush when I was faced with such a delightful platter of remote mountain roads and stunning scenery, so I took two days. Between Piana and the village of Porto, I was greeted by the amazing spectre of a red granite landscape meeting the sea.

Later, I dismounted at the top of Col de la Croix, which overlooks the gorgeous Golfe de Girolata. Corsica is the most geographically diverse of the Mediterranean islands and I certainly experienced the best it had to offer.

The ancient citadel of Calvi looks down on a sumptuous bay and a marina full of luxury yachts. Some claim that Christopher Columbus hailed from Calvi – the notion is based on the fact that Columbus was Genoese and Corsica was once part of the Genoese republic.

  More... A blooming marvellous horticultural break to the Azores Active holidays: Get inspired here Bearing all on a New Zealand survival adventure

What is certain is that Admiral Nelson lost his eye nearby during a Royal Navy bombardment of the town in 1794. Napoleon and Nelson...now there are two historical figures the Tour cyclists – French or English – can doff their caps to.

Travel facts

EasyJet (0843 104 5000, easyJet.com) offers one-way fares from Gatwick to Ajaccio from £67.49. Corsican villa specialist directCorsica.com offers seven nights' rental of Apartment Carla, sleeping four in the 15th Century Citadel in Calvi, from €855 (£722).

It has teamed up with Europe Active to offer guided and self-guided cycling routes. The company will deliver/collect bikes from villas, including hybrid, road and mountain bikes, plus baby vans and 'third wheels' for children. Three days' bike hire starts from €50. Radisson Blu Resort & Spa, Ajaccio Bay (radissonblu.com/resort-ajacciobay), offers rooms from €114 B&B per night.


Popular posts from this blog

Study Abroad USA, College of Charleston, Popular Courses, Alumni

Thinking for Study Abroad USA. School of Charleston, the wonderful grounds is situated in the actual middle of a verifiable city - Charleston. Get snatched up by the wonderful and customary engineering, beautiful pathways, or look at the advanced steel and glass building which houses the School of Business. The grounds additionally gives students simple admittance to a few major tech organizations like Amazon's CreateSpace, Google, TwitPic, and so on. The school offers students nearby as well as off-grounds convenience going from completely outfitted home lobbies to memorable homes. It is prepared to offer different types of assistance and facilities like clubs, associations, sporting exercises, support administrations, etc. To put it plainly, the school grounds is rising with energy and there will never be a dull second for students at the College of Charleston. Concentrate on Abroad USA is improving and remunerating for your future. The energetic grounds likewise houses various

Best MBA Online Colleges in the USA

“Opportunities never open, instead we create them for us”. Beginning with this amazing saying, let’s unbox today’s knowledge. Love Business and marketing? Want to make a high-paid career in business administration? Well, if yes, then mate, we have got you something amazing to do!   We all imagine an effortless future with a cozy house and a laptop. Well, well! You can make this happen. Today, with this guide, we will be exploring some of the top-notch online MBA universities and institutes in the USA. Let’s get started! Why learn Online MBA from the USA? Access to More Options This online era has given a second chance to children who want to reflect on their careers while managing their hectic schedules. In this, the internet has played a very crucial in rejuvenating schools, institutes, and colleges to give the best education to students across the globe. Graduating with Less Debt Regular classes from high reputed institutes often charge heavy tuition fees. However onl

Sickening moment maskless 'Karen' COUGHS in the face of grocery store customer, then claims she doesn't have to wear a mask because she 'isn't sick'

A woman was captured on camera following a customer through a supermarket as she coughs on her after claiming she does not need a mask because she is not sick.  Video of the incident, which has garnered hundreds of thousands of views on Twitter alone, allegedly took place in a Su per Saver in Lincoln, Nebraska according to Twitter user @davenewworld_2. In it, an unidentified woman was captured dramatically coughing as she smiles saying 'Excuse me! I'm coming through' in the direction of the customer recording her. Scroll down for video An unidentified woman was captured dramatically coughing as she smiles saying 'Excuse me! I'm coming through' in the direction of a woman recording her A woman was captured on camera following a customer as she coughs on her in a supermarket without a mask on claiming she does not need one because she is not sick @chaiteabugz #karen #covid #karens #karensgonewild #karensalert #masks we were just wearing a mask at the store. ¿ o