A fantastic ride from the high peaks of the Maritime Alps to the beaches of the Ligurian Riviera, along the legendary road used for centuries by merchants and smugglers to transport salt – a real “white gold” in the past – and other goods from the coast to the rich markets of the Piedmontese plain.

Fairy tale scenery alternate along the almost 100 km of dirt roads between Italy and France: the Colle di Tenda, our starting point, welcomes us suspended between the rugged peaks of Maritime and Mercantour parks and the sea, that on clear days you already see it glistening.

Climbs and descents follow one another without interruption, with the road that runs between the pastures or close to the rocks, between the karst sinkholes of the extraordinary “Conca delle Carsene” or between the larches of the “Bosco delle Navette”, which once provided wood for Genoese ships.

The first day of riding takes place entirely on a dirt road, while for the second one DR cycling Tours offers the possibility to choose between different alternatives with different technical difficulty.

The classic descent from Colla Melosa in Val Nervia gives us the opportunity to visit Dolceacqua, medieval gem few kilometre far from the coast, while the incredible “Alpine Trail” on the slopes of the Monte Toraggio offers adrenaline single-tracks discretely challenging and reserved track for the best prepared bikers, arriving at the gates of Ventimiglia fully surrounded in mediterranean nature.

Physically demanding but of great satisfaction is the ascent from the valley floor of the Nervous torrent to the “Gola di Gouta“ – over a thousand meters of elevation gain – to enjoy then the long descent on white road to the sea. An excellent alternative to the asphalt, with the possibility of using our support vehicle to avoid the long climb.

In all cases, the arrival to the sea after two days of hard work and emotions will be unforgettable and will pay back for every single effort!