(upbeat music)
- If you watched our video on the best cycling
quotes of all time, you'll know that
Earnest Hemingway once said,
- [Reader] "It is by riding a bicycle that you learn
the contours of a country best,
since you have to sweat up the hills
and coast down them."
- [Narrator] And it's true, there is so much more to see
when you explore a country on two wheels.
Cycling travel agents Bikecation have compiled their
ten best views in Europe from a road bike.
Let us know if you agree with them.
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It's one of the most feared climbs in all of Europe
among professional and amateur riders alike,
but that doesn't mean to say it's not pretty to look at.
From the top, you can see those 48 hairpin bends
snaking away back down the valley.
It's absolutely breathtaking.
Not least because you're 2,700 metres above sea level.
It's renowned as one of the toughest climbs in the Alps.
In fact, you have to climb a mountain
before even getting to the Galibier.
With a Telegraph to the north and the Lautaret to the south.
On a clear day, you can see for miles
with the climb often taking you up into the cloud line
with an elevation hitting over 2,600 metres.
Unlike the first two views on this list,
you don't have to do all that much climbing to take
in the peace and tranquillity of Lake Como.
In the springtime, the conditions are perfect
for bike riding and you beat the rush of tourists
that converge on the area in the summertime.
Situated in the Lombardy region of Italy,
there is no shortage of incredible cycling routes
that take you past one of your steepest
and most scenic lakes.
Certainly a climb to tick off your bucket list,
but it's the descent that you should look forward to.
As the road actually twists underneath itself at the top
before slicing through rock faces
as you drop down to the small ports at the bottom.
Sa Calobra translates as the serpent
and it's easy to understand why when you visit here.
It's definitely worth a few photos from the top
before you get on your way again
and explore the rest of Majorca.
It's a mountain like no other,
isolated from all the other Alpine ranges in the area,
it's summit can be seen for miles away.
Many will travel to the small town of Bedoin
just to ride Ventoux and it's certainly worth the trip.
The long forested drag at the bottom
leads all the way up to Chalet Reynard,
where the landscape transforms and gives away
to the bare limestone and black and yellow pillars
lining the roadside all the way up to the observatory
at the top.
All of these features making the views from here
so distinctive.
The brutal gradients and exposed landscapes
give this giant Provence a harsh beauty.
It really has to be seen to be believed.
Bikecation calls the St. Gotthard's Pass unusual.
And in closer inspection,
we presume it's meant as a compliment.
You don't see many mountain passes with cobblestones,
but that's just one of the amazing features
of the Old Tremola Road that ascends
all the way up to 2,091 metres.
Taking a glorious switch backs flowing mountain streams
and even a lake near the top.
With most of the traffic bypassing the Massif
by the numerous tunnels through the mountain,
this climb often feels like it's been reserved
especially for cyclists.
It's no secret that we love the Canary Islands here at GCN,
so we're pleased to see Mt. Teide on the
Bikecation list of greatest views.
Volcanic landscapes like this are hard to find in Europe
and the opportunity to literally climb
from the sea to over 2,300 metres is one not to be missed.
Near the top, you'll ascend above the cloud line
and through almost otherworldly lava fills.
You might even see the pros departing
from the famous Parador Hotel,
where countless pro teams have situated their ride
as a base for high altitude training camps.
The Yorkshire Dales were revealed to the
cycling world in the Grand Départ
of the 2014 Tour de France.
With the opening Tuesday just showcasing
Yorkshire's lush green valleys and picturesque villages,
as well as a real passion among the public
for cycling in the area.
Earmarked as an area of outstanding natural beauty,
be prepared for numerous steep climbs
and a rugged beauty that's hard to beat.
We've already had plenty of Alpine inspiration
in this video, so we'll finish with
a couple from the Pyrenees.
Jagged rock faces, greenery, fountains, and wildlife
all epitomise the Col d'Aubisque.
A climb with so much to see, it's hard to take it all in.
Once you climb out of the forest,
the road opens out towards the top
and gives you wonderful vistas of the surrounding peaks.
An unspoiled, UNESCO heritage site,
located deep in the Pyreneese National Park,
on the border of France and Spain,
the Cirque de Gavarnie offers one of the finest
mountain backdrops in all of France,
according to Bikecation.
The location's protected status has prevented
the Tour de France visiting here,
much to the frustration of race organisers ASO.
Once you've taken in the beautiful views of the Cirque,
you can make a day of it by continuing on
up the ten kilometre long Col de Tentes
How many views on this list have you sampled yourself?
And which ones should have been included?
Let us know down in the comments.
We've kicked things off with Europe,
but let us know some of the best views
in other continents too.
And you never know, there might be more videos like this
coming soon.
For some more cycling inspiration,
check out Simon and Dan's Ride to do Before You Die,
in Grand Canaria by clicking here.