{"id":161100,"date":"2017-09-06T12:08:07","date_gmt":"2017-09-06T12:08:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/wide\/?p=161100"},"modified":"2017-09-06T12:08:07","modified_gmt":"2017-09-06T12:08:07","slug":"ride-tested-7-trip-tips-beautiful-rides-around-europe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/wide\/2017\/09\/06\/ride-tested-7-trip-tips-beautiful-rides-around-europe\/","title":{"rendered":"Ride Tested: 7 Trip Tips for Beautiful Rides Around Europe"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you love cycling than this is your bucket list of European bike trips. There are some easy ones for when you want to combine biking with relaxation and good wine. Then there are more challenging ones that will take you to iconic places from cycling\u2019s history. And, of course, there are some hard but rewarding climbs to test your legs. And you can rate them on our interactive map after.<\/strong>
\n<\/p>\n

Alpe d\u2019Huez, France<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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You won\u2019t find a more iconic cycling route than the climb to the Alpe d\u2019Huez. The climb itself is only about 15 km (9,3 mi) long, but with more than 1100 m of ascent and the average of 7,9% gradient, it\u2019s a challenge for anyone. It offers beautiful views of the surrounding mountains and valleys below; but those 21 bends are what makes it a unique sight that\u2019s almost synonymous with the Tour de France. Each day during the summer, an average of 1000 riders climb this mythical ascent and you should be one of them, it\u2019s an unforgettable experience.<\/p>\n

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Click the photo for more details and GPS route<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Elbe cycling route, Czechia<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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The Elbe Cycle Route is a part of an international network of cycling routes all over Europe. It runs for about 980 km from M\u011bln\u00edk until it ends in Cuxhaven at the North Sea. It follows the river Elbe through a beautiful part of Czechia and Germany and is one of the most popular cycling routes for people from both countries. Our favourite part is 48,2 km (30 mi) long, going from Litom\u011b\u0159ice to D\u011b\u010d\u00edn. It\u2019s a relatively easy ride so you should not shy away from the ascent to the St\u0159ekov Castle at \u00dast\u00ed nad Labem, which offers a wonderful view over the Elbe valley and Bohemian highlands. The English Garden of Velk\u00e9 B\u0159ezno Palace and the Baroque Garden of D\u011b\u010d\u00edn Castle are remarkable and also worth a visit. It\u2019s a great bike trip to experience the heart of Europe.<\/p>\n

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Click the photo for more details and GPS route<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Glencoe – Ben Nevis, UK<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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This 83,3 km (51,7 mi) long route with more than 2100 m of ascent goes through one of the most impressive and history-packed areas in the north of the UK. You start in Glencoe, a place that might remind you of an Alpine pass even though it\u2019s only 300 m above sea level and surrounded by 1000 m peaks. It\u2019s the height difference that\u2019s outstanding and leaves an impression. From there you pedal towards the dark shape of Ben Nevis, Britain\u2019s highest mountain, rearing up 1,343 metres behind Loch Linnhe. The return journey takes you along the historic \u2018Road to the Isles\u2019, where you will see some of the most spectacular scenery in the world from sandy beaches to dramatic hills, green woodlands, and heather moors. It\u2019s just too good to miss.<\/p>\n

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Click the photo for more details and GPS route<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Loire Valley, France<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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Loire Valley is in located in western-central France. It is nicknamed \u201cle Jardin de la France\u201c, or the Garden of France, and it is characterised by beautiful landscapes and lots of good wine. The route we selected starts at Tours and continues for 107,8 km (67 mi) on a slight downhill along the Loira river to Angers. You will have plenty of opportunities to go for local wine tastings in quaint small towns and visit historical ch\u00e2teaux along the way. If you love to relax, bike, and drink good wine, it\u2019s a must.<\/p>\n

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Click the photo for more details and GPS route<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Passo dello Stelvio, Italy<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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Passo dello Stelvio is a mountain pass in Dolomites, the Italian part of Alps and it\u2019s known as one of the toughest climbs in Europe. There are several routes, all hard and all with one goal, to get to the summit. Our favourite route starts in a small Swiss town of Santa Maria Val M\u00fcstair and goes for 16,5 km (10,2 mi), climbing over 1400 m with an average gradient of 11 % to get you to the highest point at 2,758 m above sea level. There, you\u2019ll stand in awe of such sights as the majestic snow-clad Ortler mountain and the distant Zillertal Alps. After you fully soak in the astonishing view, get ready for a challenging descent. If you like a challenge then this climb will give you that and more.<\/p>\n

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Click the photo for more details and GPS route<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Via Verde de la Sierra, Spain<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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This stunning 37 km (22 mi) route is perhaps the best route for cycling in Spain, offering plenty of variety and places of interest even for a family ride. The route goes through some of Andaluc\u00eda\u2019s most beautiful and untouched countryside. You\u2019ll cycle through more than 30 tunnels, across bridges and viaducts, through lush valleys, along river banks, through meadows and fields, and past some of Andaluc\u00eda\u2019s most carefully protected natural monuments. Most people start the trip in the village of Olvera and cycle to Puerto Serrano which is a gradual downhill descending a total of 1000 m. If you want to make it a round trip, it\u2019s better to start Puerto Serrano, so you\u2019re fresh for the gradual ascent.<\/p>\n

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Click the photo for more details and GPS route<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Li\u00e8ge \u2013 Bastogne – Li\u00e8ge, Belgium<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Click the photo for more details and GPS route<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Li\u00e8ge\u2013Bastogne\u2013Li\u00e8ge, often called \u201cThe Old Lady”, is one of the oldest one-day classic cycling races in Belgium. The distance of this traditional race is usually around 250 km (155 mi). The race starts in the centre of Li\u00e8ge, and then goes a straightforward 95 km (59 mi) southwards to Bastogne, and returns via a winding 163 km (101 mi) route back to Li\u00e8ge. It\u2019s a long and tough route with many climbs on par with the hardest at the Tour de France, but well worth it. The Province of Li\u00e8ge is famed for its sheer energy; it\u2019s a region where you never get bored. Apart from its natural beauty, with its typical Mosan valley and green landscapes, Li\u00e8ge is worth visiting on a bike and off it too.<\/p>\n

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Click the photo for more details and GPS route<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

If you love cycling than this is your bucket list of European bike trips. There are some easy ones for […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":161121,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[329],"tags":[1292,1293,1294,1298,1295,1296,1291,1297],"global-categories":[],"class_list":["post-161100","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-road-cycling","tag-alpe-dhuez","tag-elbe-cycling-route","tag-glencoe-ben-nevis","tag-liege-bastogne-liege","tag-loire-valley","tag-passo-dello-stelvio","tag-ride-tested","tag-via-verde-de-la-sierra"],"yoast_head":"\nRide Tested: 7 Trip Tips for Beautiful Rides Around Europe - \u0160koda We Love Cycling<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"If you love cycling than this is your bucket list of European bike trips. 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