From Capdenac-Gare, we cycle away from the Lot towards the villages perched on the banks of the Diège river. A hint of authenticity emanates from the gradients. Before plunging down to the river for a majestic finish on the greenway that runs alongside the Lot from Bouillac to Flagnac. At the Livinhac bridge, a signposted alternative route leads to the village of Livinhac-le-Haut and its services, as well as the connection with the Cantal cycle route: La Grande traversée du volcan à vélo (V74).

This is where the unique character of the Lot Valley really comes into its own. Pleasant villages clinging to the banks, ancient river ports, provide a distraction from the ribbon of liquid that flows, peaceful or impetuous, between the shale hills and the Fel hillsides, offering a cameo of green or gold depending on the time of day and the season. A peaceful playground, shared with fishermen and kayakers, all the way to the confluence with the mighty Truyère! From Grand-Vabre, you can take the Voie de Conques, a variant that winds its way up the Dourdou valley.

Here, the Lot finds its way through the rocks of the last foothills of the Massif Central and the Monts d'Aubrac to the bottom of a valley flanked by sheer cliffs. The route winds its way up the steep, winding road to Golinhac, before descending the Chemin de Saint-Jacques (GR 65) to the Lot, Estaing and Espalion. A beautiful route, but only for strong calves. From Grand-Vabre, you can take the easier "voie de Conques", which also leads to Espalion. A detour via Estaing from Espalion is highly recommended.

As the Lot stretches into its wildly beautiful upper valley, the term "Olt", derived from the old Occitan language, is commonly used here. A splendid cycling route along the river to Saint-Côme, then climbs in long twists and turns over the causse overlooking the lake at Castelnau-Lassouts-Lous to rejoin the Lot at the delightful village of Sainte-Eulalie-d'Olt. With a choice finish at Saint-Geniez-d'Olt, whose quays were once bustling with tanneries and cloth spinning mills exported all over the world.

Ever higher, ever more beautiful. Cycling starts on the pretty D509 along the banks of the Lot as far as Pomayrols. From there, it's a seemingly endless climb through the green twists and turns of a wild chestnut grove to the approach of Saint-Laurent-d'Olt. The route is refreshed by the "boraldes", the powerful streams that flow down from the Monts d'Aubrac. The end of the stage is more leisurely, leading to the gateway to Lozère, to La Canourgue, the "little Venice of Lozère". Welcome to Lozère, the highest department on the route and the least populated in France. What a promise! The route to Mont Lozère is currently being defined.