Cycling Collection by Guillaume Favez
La Vélodyssée — From north to south via the ocean
21 days
3-4 h/day
1,293km
4,260m
4,270m
La Vélodyssée is aptly named: it’s a real cycling odyssey that will take you from the north of Brittany, in Roscoff, to Hendaye, on the Spanish border. Why these two towns? Because this is where the British and Spanish cycle routes connect, via a ferry to Great Britain, of course. La Vélodyssée is part of an even more ambitious itinerary, EuroVelo 1, from the far northern tip of Norway all the way to Portugal: more than 11,000 kilometres (6,840 mi) of cycle paths across six countries!
If we focus on France, the diversity of landscapes is already exceptional: the windswept cliffs of Brittany give way to the beaches, hillsides and pine forests of the south-west. The natural landscapes are exceptional but the cultural highlights are not to be outdone: the cities of Nantes, La Rochelle and numerous castles and villages are full of historical treasures and hidden heritage to discover.
All of this is offered in 21 Tours, or around three weeks of exploration, with average stages of 65 kilometres (40 mi) and only 200 metres (660 ft) of altitude gain. At the end of some of the Tours, accommodation is limited, so I advise you to book in advance.
I’ve outlined the itinerary from north to south but you can also ride in the opposite direction. The difference in altitude is similar and the wind, especially from west to east, does not really influence your direction.
To arrive at the start of the first stage in Roscoff by train, you can usually change at Morlaix, a town served directly from Paris. At the end of this route, you can go to Hendaye station, served by Bordeaux.
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The Vélodyssée
1,276km
4,150m
4,160m
Last updated: July 23, 2024
Activities
45.1km
03:19
500m
360m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
59.1km
04:48
380m
340m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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62.7km
03:57
220m
370m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
67.7km
04:01
220m
260m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
65.9km
04:13
130m
150m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.
65.9km
04:28
130m
120m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
64.1km
03:45
210m
230m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.
59.8km
03:38
300m
280m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
66.6km
04:03
140m
140m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
60.6km
03:40
90m
80m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
62.5km
03:52
140m
150m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
56.8km
03:19
140m
140m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
59.9km
03:26
90m
80m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
61.7km
03:32
240m
250m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
60.7km
03:28
110m
80m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
58.3km
03:21
220m
230m
Hard bike ride. Good fitness required. You may need to push your bike for some segments of this route.
60.7km
03:26
180m
190m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
62.3km
03:35
140m
140m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
61.2km
03:51
440m
450m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
Collection Stats
Activities
21
Distance
1,293 km
Duration
79:54 h
Elevation
4,260 m
4,270 m
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