Bourbon-Lancy / Decize

This stage tackles the hills of the Bourbonnais area, and runs with the Loire River, taking you towards the Canal du Nivernais. You ride past meadows with grazing white Charolais cows, enjoying beautiful views and lovely places to stop beside the Loire. The tranquillity of the countryside is only broken by the odd mooing, or the sound of a tractor. Having plunged into the heart of the Nivernais countryside and the wilder side of the Loire, you reach the stage’s destination, Decize. The historic centre of this town is on an island in the Loire, set between the Canal Latéral à la Loire, the Canal du Nivernais, the Aron River and the Vieille Loire, an old branch of the great river. It makes for an extraordinary confluence to explore, by foot, to get to the top of the ramparts.

The Route

From Bourbon-Lancy to Cronat, you ride along small quiet roads through the Bourbonnais hills. Having left Bourbon-Lancy, there are some significant slopes to tackle, but between Cronat and the Canal du Nivernais, there’s just one slope, just before Devay. As you’re crossing a bustling agricultural area, at times the roads may be dirty or gritty. 
After leaving the Canal du Nivernais, take care approaching the town of Decize via the county roads of the D981 and D978A, which are sometimes very busy with traffic. 

Link
To la GTMC near Bourbon-Lancy

Don't miss

• Bourbon-Lancy: the thermal spa; the medieval quarter, including the Tour de l’Horloge (a belfry with views), Museum Saint-Nazaire
• Port de Thareau: for its iconic picnic area, with loos and views of the Loire! 
• Charrin: its Relais Vélo, a bike stop with all the facilities and comforts a cyclist could need  
• Decize: the vieille ville, or historic centre; the 12th-century fortifications; the Promenade des Halles and Promenade de la Vieille Loire; the river port, or port de Jonction; unusual accommodation in caravans