Clermont-l'Hérault / Montagnac

On this last really sporty stage of the GTMC, you go slaloming along alternating tracks and paths taking you down the final southern slopes of the Massif Central. You then plunge into an ocean of vines as you ride to the lovely little town of Pézenas, closely linked to the great 17th-century French dramatist Molière. There are lovely views over to the Pic de Vissou, guardian hill at the centre of the French county of Hérault, plus panoramas across vine-covered plains to the Med, and even to the Pyrenees on clear days. What with the vines and olive trees, the lovely stone villages and the wineries, you really feel you’ve reached the South of France!

Leaving the town of Clermont l’Hérault, this stage begins with a short climb, then you pass close to Mont Caylus. On the descent, you branch off from the GTMC VTT mountain-biking route and take a series of stretches on tracks and minor roads to pass through the village of Nébian. Then from Cabrières, you frequently need to leave the GTMC VTT mountain-biking route in order to bypass sections that are too technically challenging for gravel bikes, but you do still have to tackle a string of climbs and descents to reach the village of Caux. Overall, it’s a fairly smooth ride along this stage, as you avoid the more technical stretches by riding along roads. After Caux, the route takes you slaloming through vines, along tracks and paths, plus the odd stretch of road, notably between Pézenas and Montagnac. All told, the landscapes fly by on this fluid stage.