Cycle the 8 Alpine countries

[Cathryn]

My class are currently studying the Alps (fab topic) and it's made me wonder about cycling the 8 Alpine countries from Monaco to Slovenia or Italy. I've done some play-planning on Cycle.Travel but I'm fairly sure it's not the most efficient or realistic route (Col de la Bonette on a loaded tourer?). Has anyone seen an actual route that might work?

 

[bobzmyunkle]

Col de la Bonette on a loaded tourer?

The gradient is quite steady. There's a sign at the top of the col pointing to Nice. Being a simple northern person, the thought of such a sophisticated place and the lure of the Med spurred me onward. Which doesn't answer your question, but I'm wondering where my next trip will take me so will be interested to see what's suggested.

 

[roubaixtuesday]

Depends how long you've got!

I vaguely looked at a route to start in Geneva then skirt the Alps to the North, down to Slovenia, Croatia, then back going dolomites, Italian lakes then Lac du Bourget, Annecy. I thought I'd saved it but it appears not.

There are quite a few not too difficult crossings (Col D'Eze from France to Italy; the Brenner from Austria to Italy, Val Venosta from Austria to Italy etc) but I really fancy the Col d'Agnel.

Could probably be done one way with a train return from Trieste or Venice?

 

[matticus]

I didn't know there were 8 "official" alpine states!

You could save a fair bit of hassle (and money) by skipping Monaco and Liechtenstein - they're not real countries* - start in Nice instead, easy to get to, alpine crossing into Italy just as easy.

*Of course I'm joking. But only partly - they're pretty mickey mouse sizewise, hard to justify them defining a region, or a cycle tour. And they are in fact merely microstates
Oh, for Pete's sake - I've just checked and Monaco is only 170metres high! "alpine"?? hahahahaha
At least Liechtenstein gets over 2500m!

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Monaco is well known for its glaciers

 

[TheDoctor]

At least skiing is possible in Liechtenstein!
I'm not sure about my 'skiing=Alpine' definition, but I'm happy with 'no skiing = NOT Alpine'...