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THE GT20 to discover! In slow or sport mode
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Starting in 2019, the Traversata Maio 20, literally the Grande Traversée 20, will take you from the tip of the island to its southernmost tip, all by bike.
It's an incredible story, the first chapter of which is written in Bastia and ends in Bonifacio (or the other way round for southerners).
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While the itinerary can generally be completed in around ten days, it can also be extended a little further, with some routes that are often steep, far off the beaten track but offering a real immersion through encounters.
Cyclosportive or cycle touring? To each his own GT20! On the one hand, local culture, traditions, identity values and know-how, and on the other, exceptional landscapes of crystal-clear waters, agro-pastoral land and prodigious mountains.
Whether you're in sport or 'slow' mode, the GT20 offers you the chance to discover a Corsica with a thousand and one bends, but with an infinite number of landscapes.
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Nota bene: if the journey is made by calf power, it can also be made with electric assistance. What's more, breaks are not outlawed - quite the contrary! In fact, they're highly recommended if you want to make the most of sharing moments in small village bars and refuges, as well as with local producers and craftsmen. It's time to take a breather!
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From Bastia to Centuri, a gentle start (or finish)
Bastia is Corsica's second-largest town, with a population of nearly 40,000, so it represents a full day's stage in itself. Although it's an ideal place to start (or finish) the journey, it's still some 56 km from the small port of Centuri, emblematic of the northern region with its fishing boats. Despite this, this stage is considered one of the easiest. Cycling through the town and its surroundings is a great way to make the most of its cobbled streets, the festive colours of its walls and its definitively Mediterranean atmosphere. However, beware of the false flats and steeper climbs than you might think (between 690 and 720 metres according to the GPS).
10 kilometres later, it's time for your first break! The little hamlet of Erbalunga is a godsend. Also a fishing village, the little houses perched on the inhospitable rocks contrast with the cobalt sea just below. An idyllic stop-off for those who love to relax. The road continues to wind its way gently and soon brings you to the hilltop villages of Sisco and Pietracorbara. The scenery unfolds between azure coastlines, Genoese towers, vineyards and picturesque villages. A breath of fresh air! Further on, a bluish horizon stretches to infinity just ahead. At the Col de la Serra, 400 metres above the sea, the view is breathtaking.
Turning right, you leave the main road and finally begin the descent to the village of Centuri. Fish, lobster, seafood and other delicacies await you on the terrace to comfort you after your exertions!
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From Calenzana to Galeria, a stage in cyclotourism mode
Head west! The D51 offers a long route through hills and streams as far as the Figarella bridge and the junction with the Bonifatu forest. The Marsolinu straight ahead, first its pass then its valley lined with fields of herbs, offers cyclists a gentle, fragrant breeze all the way down.
As the road continues to wind its way, rough folds appear on the surrounding mountains. With the sound of the derailleur as your only companion, your calves relax and give way to the awakening of your other senses. The breath comes in through the nose, the ears relax and the eyes are filled with wonder... When effort becomes experience, body and mind become one! Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1977, the valley is home not only to numerous herds but also to some of the world's oldest oak trees.
The village of Galeria is now a magnet for runners. With traditions preserved around a rich agro-pastoral history, it's yet another face of Corsica that awaits you!
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A word to the wise: From Zonza to Bonifacio: off to the far south!
Welcome to the last stage of this grand tour of Corsica, and also the longest! A 71km race with 1,000 metres of ascent, heading south! Here, comfort comes before effort, with a welcome 15km descent to the village of Levie, famous in the Alta Rocca for its not-to-be-missed event: the Levie Medieval Festival. A 3-day journey back in time to the Middle Ages, the event takes place in June and offers visitors the chance to discover the life of yesteryear through traditional arts, crafts and gastronomy.
A little further afield but much higher up, the Bocca di Bacinu in Carbini awaits cyclists. After 10.20 km and 463 metres of ascent, the 809-metre-high pass offers panoramic views of the Cagna massif and the east coast. The Gulf of Porto Vecchio below now accompanies travellers on a journey that stretches all the way to the coast.
Shortly afterwards, the road, lined with scrubland and granite boulders, takes a series of sharp bends that require you to keep your wits about you. A gentle pedal to a long straight stretch lined with pine trees, then head for the short but intense Sotta wall! At Bocca di Sardi, even the most athletic riders will recognise that it's a long way to the finish line! Once past the village of Chera, the descent begins in a long straight line to Saparelli. Speed control is compulsory on this 6km road.
Finally, Bonifacio and its mythical cliffs! The stage ends without too much effort, on a fairly flat road with very few crossings. Short of breath, the adventure ends in style at the tip of the island!
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