Corsica, the fourth largest island in the Mediterranean, is around 184 kilometres long and 85 kilometres wide. The island is a veritable mountain range. The highest peak is Monte Cinto (2706 metres). Outside of the urban centres of Bastia and Ajaccio, Corsica is only sparsely populated.
Journey
Take the train to Toulon or Nice and get on the ferry there. www.corsica-ferries.de
Lufthansa flies from Berlin-Tegel to Bastia. Air France flies to Bastia via Paris.
Characteristic
Our Tour de Corse is very undulating to mountainous. However, it only very rarely has gradients in the double-digit range. As a rule, it is around 5 per cent when it goes uphill over longer distances. A mountain transmission (24/32) or an e-bike, physical fitness and kilometres of descents ensure that pleasure and effort are in balance. In late summer, you can expect changeable weather: While the sweat is pouring down on the coast, you can get quite shivery in the mountains. The roads are mostly in good condition, apart from the "rumble strip" between Calvi and Galeria. There is very little traffic outside the urban centres. In the centre of the island, you are often alone for miles on end. Only "mountain goats" will succeed in completely avoiding the busy main traffic arteries (e.g. Ponte Leccia - Bastia). We have not managed this. The needs of cyclists have so far - unfortunately!!! - hardly taken into account by Corsica's road planners.
Best time to travel
Between May and October. In the holiday months of July and August, the coastal resorts are packed and the car traffic is correspondingly heavy. The well-known swimming pools in the centre of the island are also very busy then. It is also very hot for cycling during the day.
Eating and living
Accommodation with breakfast from 60 euros in a double room. Campsites around 10 euros. We booked spontaneously (in the afternoon by mobile phone) and always found a room. A "menu corse" (3 courses) costs around 30 euros including a drink. Corsica is not cheap!
Literature & Maps
Michelin Local, No. 345, 1:150,000, 7.50 euros
Michelin - The Green Travel Guide: Corsica, 24.99 euros
Marco Polo - Corsica, 11.99 euros
Bike specific
E-bike: Borgo, Europe Active (also touring bike hire), www.location-velo-corse.com
Ajaccio: http://appebike.com/fr/
Bicycle workshop:
Cycles 20, Place Fort Lacroix (behind the Palace of Justice), 20200 Bastia, tel. 0495323064,
www.cycles20.fr
The owner Peter Loeschmann is German.
The complete article was published in Trekkingbike issue 1/2018. You can download the issue in the MYBIKE app (iTunes and Google Play ) or in the DK-Shop order.
