THREE TOP SPOTS

THE MAURIENNE VALLEY

Home to the legendary

Tour de France climbs of

Col du Telegraphe and Col du Galibier, the Maurienne Valley holds its second weeklong road biking camps this summer. Allowing everyone from beginners to more experienced cyclists to make the most of the region’s worldclass climbs, camps include workshops, group meals, stretching recovery sessions, cultural events and planning tips, as well as a race. Register by email at sejours@ffc.fr

MONT BLANC

Start and finish a 124-mile tour around Mont Blanc from the village of Megève. Get as close to the big mountain as possible via small wild paths and secondary asphalt roads crossing eight mountain passes (including two climbs over 8,200ft) on a route created by record-breaking cyclist Nicolas Roux. But be warned: this tough event, held over the first weekend in September, is not one for the faint hearted. megeve-tourisme.fr

CYCLE PATH AROUND ANNECY LAKE

After several years of work, the Voie Verte cycle path around Lake Annecy is completed. Following one of the oldest greenways in France, the 22mile biking trail now makes an entire loop of the lake, following part of the route of the old railway connecting Annecy to Albertville.

It’s a great one for families, being mainly flat except for the climb between Talloires and Menthon-Saint-Bernard, and the entire route takes between 1h and 2h30 to complete and is perfect for cyclists of all abilities. en.lac-annecy.com