For non-motorcyclists, the famous French town on Lake Geneva is Evian, thanks to its bottled water. But for bikers, neighbouring Thonon les Bains is the place to be – because it’s the northern end of the Route des Grandes Alpes, the 450-mile mountain odyssey that’s be attracting tourists for more than 100 years.

 

But you don’t have to hit Thonon and move on… far from it! There’s great riding around here – and not just on the D902, which is the designation for (most of) the Route des Grandes Alpes. This northern corner of Haute-Savoie, by the Swiss border, is packed with mountains and that means a real mix of mountain roads.

 

In fact, this laid-back loop starts by hopping into Switzerland (but staying off the expensive toll motorways) before crossing back into France in the shadow of Mont Blanc. It does use a short stretch of the Route des Grandes Alpes – crossing the very pretty Col des Aravis – before peeling off to make its own way north.

 

So if you’re planning to head to the French Alps to tackle the legendary run from the lake to the Med, consider breaking the journey up with this ride around Thonon. It’s the perfect preparation for moving on to tackle the highest passes.