Quite logically, the Grande Traversée VTT TransVerdon starts at the very source of the Verdon River, at the watershed separating it from the Ubaye Valley, at 2247m in altitude. Take in the deeply mountainous atmosphere on the 6km descent via trails through larch woods to Allos. A 350m climb by road allows riders to reach a stretch across high-perched Alpine meadows with ease, with, as backdrop, the Mont Pelat and further Mercantour peaks. Riding at such high altitude, cyclists should be in peak physical form!

Being in top physical shape is an absolute prerequisite on this mountain-biking stage, only accessible once the snows have melted. It involves a total positive shift in altitude of 1800m, leading riders up to the highest point on the Grande Traversée, La Baisse du Détroit (2472m). The long descent to La Colle St Michel, entirely by trails, crosses high-altitude Alpine meadows and forests. This is a great treat for testing your cycling skills!

A demanding stage through rewarding, varied natural settings, alternating between significant climbs and technically challenging, playful descents. Here, the mountain-biking route leads you away from the Verdon Valley for a lovely 30km detour into the Issole Valley, tackling the slopes of Cordeil and Maurel Mountains. This valley also presents a rich array of green hues, thanks to dense forest dominated by conifers, including Scots pine, black pine, mountain pine and larch.

The atmosphere changes markedly on the Grande Traversée VTT TransVerdon, as you explore Castillon Lake on the first part of this stage, up to Castellane. The route takes you through isolated villages. Reaching the village of Cheiron, you might enjoy a restorative swim. The second half of this mountainous mountain-biking stage keeps you on high, suspended above the Verdon Gorges, and guides you along an ancient Roman road to the villages of Chasteuil and Rougon.

After the high balconies above the gorges, the Grande Traversée VTT TransVerdon leads you through an area set a bit back from the Verdon Canyon to the historic village of Moustiers-Sainte-Marie. Midway, from La Palud-sur-Verdon, a 5km detour leads you to the first spectacular belvederes along the Route des Crêtes and vertiginous slopes. The climb to the Crête du Montdenier marks the end of the mountainous part of this Grande Traversée, affording you a unique panorama of the rest of the route, with Sainte-Croix Lake, the Valensole Plateau and the Lower Verdon Gorges visible.

The Grande Traversée VTT TransVerdon takes on a distinctly more Provençal look on this stage, with its bright colours and heady scents. After a brief pause at the Lac de Ste-Croix beach, maybe enjoying a quick dip, climb to the Plateau de Valensole, from where you get great views across the whole lake. A series of fields full of lavender, cereals, sunflowers and rapeseed, plus truffle oaks, line the way up to the village of Sainte-Croix. This bucolic stage then takes you down via smaller lakes (their waters colder) separated by a series of gorges to Quinson.

The final stage of the Grande Traversée VTT TransVerdon isn’t too challenging and sticks with the theme of lake and plateau. After a refreshing stop at Esparron-de-Verdon, perhaps taking a dip, continue towards St Martin-de Brômes and Gréoux-les-Bains. The latter is a reputed natural thermal spa town; here, it’s fun negotiating the steep cobbled lanes, or calades, on your mountain bike as a way of getting used to civilization again!