Col de la Madone from Menton Ride
A serious Riviera climbing day built around Col de la Madone from Menton. Less casual than Col d’Èze, more demanding and more mountain like.
- Distance
- 45 to 85 km
- Elevation Gain
- 1,200 to 2,200 m
- Ride Time
- 3.5 to 6 hours
- Difficulty
- Very Challenging
- Surface
- Road
- Start
- Menton or Nice
- Best Season
- March to June and September to November
Col de la Madone is the Riviera climb for riders who want something more substantial than a city side loop. From Menton, it climbs long enough and high enough to feel like a proper mountain effort, while still keeping the coast close.
The cleanest version starts in Menton and makes the Madone the main objective. If you start in Nice, the ride becomes much bigger and the coastal transfer needs careful planning. Either way, this is a climb to pace, not a climb to rush.
How to Build This Ride
- Start in Menton for the direct version.
- Climb Col de la Madone as the main effort.
- Use the upper roads to shape a loop if conditions and road choice make sense.
- Return to Menton, or continue back towards Nice if you started there.
- Plan food and water before the climb, not halfway through it.
Climbs Included
Villages & Coffee Stops
- Menton is the best start point for this ride. Nice works as a bigger base, but adds complexity. The safest plan is to use Menton for pre ride coffee and post ride recovery, then keep the climb itself focused.
Make it shorter
Start in Menton and ride Madone as the main out and back effort.
Make it harder
Link Madone with Col d’Èze or additional inland roads. This becomes a serious Riviera day quickly.
Local Notes
Heat can be a major factor, especially in summer. The gradients are not absurd, but the length, exposure and temperature can make the climb feel much harder than expected.
This is a flexible ride idea, not a turn-by-turn route. Use the climbs, villages and notes above to build your own GPX in Komoot, Strava, Ride with GPS or another planner before you ride.
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