The valleys of the Alpes-Maritimes are generally named after the rivers that either formed them, or that run through them.
The Gordolasque is not strong enough to have carved such a magnificent and dramatic valley. No river is. Bigger forces were at play when nature created this corridor of wonders.
It's a valley that is known more to hikers than cyclists, so many will not find it when searching for the best cycling routes in the Alpes-Maritimes. Take our advice and make the effort.
High summer means the mercury is high and that drives cyclists even higher. It’s in the genes, or the culture. Nature and nurture perhaps.
Gordolasque fits the bill perfectly. Its source comes from the feet of what locals and visiting alpinists call 'the great 3,000s' - that is the three summits that each stretch their jagged tips more than three kilometres into the sky. They are Mont Gélas, Mont Clapier, and Mont Malédie. What does that all mean? It means the water will be super fresh.
On a dead-end climb such as this, the directions are pretty simple. Go to the top. The road ends at the Parking du Contet, used by randonneurs as the base for their marching adventures. The swimhole is just beyond that parking at the bridge, which in French is called 'Le Pont du Contet'
The wooden construction is perfectly in keeping with the ambiance of the valley, known for its wild beauty. The bridge is the way for the randonneurs to get from the left bank to the right (we are so far from the world of Paris, analogies are impossible), and take the eastern path that climbs its way towards the Grand Capulet.
That same bridge also serves as the perfect place to hang your merino cycling jersey while you swim. Perhaps just use the nearby trees to change from bib shorts to swimming shorts, so as not to upset any nearby hikers.
Out of the heat and into the cool, the contrast is sharp and taking the plunge draws a big breath. But the literal immersion in such surroundings is a reward that is better experienced than described.
We might call it river swimming, but in truth, it's mostly a dip and a few splashes. Submerge your head and swim against the current for a few seconds. Let the river wash over you.
Pointing yourself up the river is pointing yourself up the valley so that when your head emerges and your eyes open, you look towards the source. State-of-the-art 4k cameras, dolby surround sound and the best cinematography in the world can’t replace being in the place and seeing it with your own eyes.
If you do this swim during the August ride of the month, then it is a fitting reward at the end of the testing second climb (the first climb is no easier). The work is done and all that is left is to dry off, kit up and follow the flow back down the mountain.
See the full swim collection here.
Or simply check out our series of Take Me To The River swim holes.
