Gravel N°24 - Discovering the Templar cities
A distance of 115 km, 2,000 metres of elevation gain, and a mix of roads and tracks: this sums up this gravel ride between the Larzac steppe and the Sorgues valley. Wide tracks, singletrack through scrubland and three fairly tough climbs (two on stony ground, one on tarmac) punctuate this long, physically demanding loop, where the villages offer plenty of opportunities for a stop
Description
- From the Place des Cygnes in L’Hospitalet-du-Larzac, head east and follow the old railway line as far as La Baraque Froide, then continue straight on along the track to reach La Couvertoirade.
- Carry on south to the village of Caylar, then head towards the village of Les Rives, passing under the motorway, and on to Mas Raynal. Continue along the D140 and the D493 towards Le Clapier, then take the D93. Cross the Bois du Rouquet to reach the Sorgue valley (stony climb at km 51).
- After the village of Latour-sur-Sorgues, continue northwards then eastwards to climb back up onto the plateau (stony climb at km 65) and, before Saint-Beaulize, turn left off the departmental road to tackle a lovely climb on tarmac. On the Larzac plateau, head for Viala du Pas de Jaux, then cross the plateau to descend back into the Cernon valley.
- From Sainte-Eulalie-de-Cernon, pass Mas de Roque and Le Frayssinet before reaching La Cavalerie and returning to L’Hospitalet-du-Larzac via a mix of tracks and minor roads.
Points of interest:
La Couvertoirade (Ramparts and refreshments)
View of St Jean d’Alcas and the Cirque de St-Paul des Fonts (km 80)
Sainte-Eulalie-de-Cernon (km 102)
Key features:
2 slightly stony climbs at km 51 and km 65
1 lovely climb on tarmac at km 75
A few singletrack sections through the scrub
50% roads and 50% tracks
Riding time depending on your ability: 7 h 30 min to 9 h 30 min
- Departure : L'Hospitalet-du-Larzac
- Arrival : L'Hospitalet-du-Larzac
- Towns crossed : L'Hospitalet-du-Larzac, Nant, La Couvertoirade, Sauclières, Le Caylar, Les Rives, Cornus, Le Clapier, Fondamente, Marnhagues-et-Latour, Montagnol, Saint-Beaulize, Saint-Jean-et-Saint-Paul, Viala-du-Pas-de-Jaux, Sainte-Eulalie-de-Cernon, and La Cavalerie
Forecast
Altimetric profile
Recommandations
Stay alert: there may be unmarked sections of fence, particularly on the second half of the route.
For bikepacking (2 or 3 stages) with accommodation options: Le Caylar (km 24) / the hamlet of Moulès (km 52) / Marnhages-et-Latour (km 64) / the Viala-du-Pas-de-Jaux tower.
Access and parking
25 km south of Millau via the D809.
Parking :
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