Cycling hotspot Geneva

From Geneva, the capital of Switzerland, the world is at your feet. The city itself is actually nestled between the French Alps. This gives you a multitude of possibilities, not to mention the ones in Switzerland itself. Owner Sander spent a few days in this luxurious city and went out exploring. Here are some beautiful tips, not just for a nice route. Geneve Bike Spot does not disappoint. Cycling in Geneva offers many possibilities. In any case, we’re taking you to the Salève today.

Basecamp

Actually, Geneva isn't the most ideal place as a base camp. Most hotels are located right in the city center, which is busy and chaotic. I'm staying at the CitizenM, What a great hotel chain, and I was able to store my bike in the room. But there wasn't really enough space for it to be washed. If you want a good place to stay, you should look at the outskirts of the city, because that way you can easily get out of the city, towards the nicer, quieter hills. Choose a place to spend the night near the embassies, the UN, and the International Red Cross. From there, you can get out of the city very quickly and drive along beautiful, winding roads.

Huisberg Salève – Croisettes

From the city center you can see two mountain valleys. To the north you can see the Jura, to the south you have a view of the Alps. If there is a mountain, which is also called the ‘house mountain’ of Geneva, it is the Salève and the climb to Les Croisettes. It is the closest hill; you can climb it from four sides and each side has its own challenges. Do you want to climb painfully? Then you go straight up the Col de la Croisettes from the city. When you cross the French border, it goes almost straight up. 

If you want a slightly less challenging climb, take the eastern variant to the Telepherique de Salève. We have already described the western variant before, and the southern variant is a rival to Les Croisettes and offers beautiful views of the Alps and Mont Blanc in the distance. Cycling in Geneva is certainly not a chore.

Col de la Croisette

Freely excited, I put my bike in the hotel. After a few days of work for Princeton Carbon And for this site too, I have two days to explore the surroundings. Lovely. It’s early March and the weather is fantastic. Clear blue sky, sunny and a fresh breeze. Ideal conditions to get on the bike. Using Komoot, I plotted a route that should lead me directly out of the city. Since I’m in the middle of the city, you want to get out of the crowds as quickly as possible. Geneva is truly a metropolis. Slinking across the tram tracks and occasionally using the makeshift bike paths, I head south towards the city. 

Quickly calmer

After a few kilometers, I notice that the development changes and I enter a village-like setting. Before I know it, I’m driving through a meadow and out of town. It’s immediately a lot quieter on the road. A sign along the road says: France, that way. Because my goal is the top of Les Croisettes, the go-to climb for all the Genevois. The mountain is in France, in the department Haute Savoie. This department has a magnificent collection of climbs; many of them have also been featured in the Tour de France on more than one occasion. In 2022 and 2023, a tour stage also finished just across the border with Valais, on the eastern side of the department.

Across the border

When I crossed the border, I drove through a village and right there the climb began. Initially it was all gradual. I tried to get into a rhythm because the hardest kilometers were ahead. What also stands out: in the afternoon this part of the mountain, the northwest side, is completely in the sun. Despite the temperature of only 8 degrees Celsius, it’s very sweaty. I have my jacket open and think to myself: why don’t I ride in shorts? Bizarre. After a two-kilometer climb, I came to a sign that said: le Saleve, left. I followed the curve and then after a few hundred meters the first hairpin bend appeared. As I looked down into the valley, I saw the city of Geneva and the Lake of Geneva (the lake of Geneva). It’s a stunning view. But I’m not as able to enjoy it, because man, man, man, this is not cat shit. The climb from Les Croisettes is 10.6 percent average!

Pause

Since I am also busy preparing this piece today, I am taking a photo break for a moment. I notice that I might need it too. With only a few hundred kilometers under my belt and very few serious elevation meters, this is a challenge. I can get through it, though. I quickly forget about the steep road because the photos I can take are more than worth it. 

When I get back on the bike after the hairpin bends, we speed up at a rapper pace. Hairpin bends almost always mean steep! That’s right. I make another stop for photos, and in the meantime a woman comes up to me at a light pace. I’m jealous, but also looking for a fellow cyclist who can be in my photos. No matter how hard I pedal, I can’t get any closer. Ai. 

All the way up

The road winds up even more and slowly you turn with the sun. The rise gets steeper and I take another photo stop. The switchback where I stop is too beautiful not to photograph. Meanwhile, a few quads and a stray car are climbing up. With only 1.5 kilometers to go, the rise flattens out a little and I see the one I wanted to catch up with coming back again. So it’s not far now. 

The top

The forest you cycle through now offers little shelter and is slowly opening up. I see a few patches of snow and ice further on and also the sign that says ‘Les Croisettes 1125m’. The summit is in sight and above me I am greeted kindly by two men from Rochat. I shook hands with her in the morning. We chatted a bit and she told me about the beautiful challenge a cyclist is undertaking. 31 (!) times up and down the Croisettes. Respect. The energy drinks on a table will definitely be needed. After taking a photo and some local tips, I head a little higher towards the top of the Telepherique Salève. The view of the surrounding mountains is the most beautiful there. I let a few cheerful ladies take a photo of me and then I start the descent.

Cold

It’s already a bit cooler up on the mountain, but I don’t expect to need my gloves. That expectation can be thrown out the window after 2 minutes, because descending in the shade is ice-cold. The road surface of the Route des 3 Lacs has been damaged by the frost and there are a number of turns where you need to be very careful. It’s also not the steepest descent, so in the summer you can have a great time practicing your uphill skills here. The only downside is that some places are less clear and that this side of the mountain is popular with motorcyclists. They sometimes forget that there are other people in the world too. 

The rush of everything

When I arrive at the bottom of the village, I have two choices. I can turn right towards La Muraz and from there go up the other side of the mountain. I can feel the kilometers of climbing, so I choose the left turn back to Geneva. The first stretch after the village is like a traffic jam. The exit from the highway and the provincial road and I know a lot of other things that are coming together. On Friday afternoon, that’s not a good idea. I maneuver through the stopped traffic. On to the Voie Verte that I had planned in Komoot. Because that’s very relaxing. It’s a kind of incredibly wide, green bike lane that goes straight to Geneva. 

Voie Vert

The green strip is well paved, and the width also helps a lot for the cycling experience. The only downside is that you have to brake every 1.5-2 kilometers for a highway that crosses the bike path. Sometimes you have priority, usually not. What also stands out: on the way there, I pass a hard border between France and Switzerland, with flags, guard posts, the whole shabang. This time I don’t see that border, and before I know it I’m riding over the Route de Chêne in the heart of the Swiss capital. 

This route is really ideal for an afterwork ride, or just a nice Friday afternoon. You can climb the home hill in four ways, so if you have a little more time, you can do two variants and if you only have a short time, you can ride up Croisettes and straight back down. 

Route

Tips for mechanics, bike rentals and hotspots.

Geneva has no shortage of good bike builders. Two of them I would like to highlight. The rental bike I have from Bcyclet This is a great bike. The Scott Addict is in very good condition, it runs well and the service at this shop is of a high standard. It is a little out of the city center, but from there you can easily get out into nature. Basile, the owner is a true cycling enthusiast and he also organizes the Inferno Race from Annecy to Menton. It’s a great challenge.

Another option is to have your bike fixed at Rochat Cycles. Sylvain, the owner, has a beautiful boutique in the southeast of the city and a nice shop in the center with basically only clothing. His mechanics are professionals and the shop really breathes cycling. 

For a good bike coffee you go to Velosophe, Also known as bike beer. Want to join a ride? Check out these options.

If you are in Geneva, you can also make the trip to Nyon. Wave hello to our UEFA football friends and then make the obligatory stop at Tete de Course in Nyon.