Nice is a cycling city. Nestled on the southern coast of France, it has the pleasant climate and relaxed atmosphere of a Riviera beach resort, but turn away from the azure waters of the Mediterranean and your gaze is drawn upwards to the foothills of the French Alps. Is it any wonder that so many pro cyclists decide to call Nice home, or that the city is such a magnet for riders looking to escape the winter cold?
It’s mid-March when Cyclist visits. The morning sun is warm, and the bike path on the Promenade des Anglais – the road along the seafront so named because it was paid for by English expats in the 1800s – is a constant flow of cyclists. An unidentifiable rider in Team TotalEnergies pro kit flits past, followed shortly after by EF Education-EasyPost’s Neilson Powless.
Just in case anyone was still not convinced that this is a city dedicated to cycling, a large billboard has been erected that is counting down the days until the Tour’s final day has had to find a new home, and the place the organisers have chosen is Nice.
