We wanted a challenge. A challenge where we not only had to pedal, but also enjoy new landscapes and, as always, soak up the culture and enjoy the gastronomy of the places we go to. We had always had Corsica in our sights and now, with the recent launch of the GT20 route, it was the perfect time to embark on this adventure.
We have always felt that the islands have a "something" different that really appeals to us. In this case we crossed Corsica from north to south in 5 days, and whether you are an expert or just starting out in cycling, it is a perfect destination to practice your passion. The GT20 (La Grande Traversée) is a new cycling route of 600 km with 9,500 m of elevation gain that crosses the "Island of Beauty" from north to south, starting in Bastia and ending in Bonifacio.
It is a route with which you can see breathtaking landscapes, and at the same time the amazing contrasts of sea and mountains that the island has. Cross authentic inland villages, discover the cultural heritage and taste local products such as wine, honey, "brocciu" (goat and sheep milk cheese) and olive oil, among others.
The GT20 is accessible to everyone, with any type of bicycle, and, although it is designed to be done in 12 stages, the most ambitious cyclists can do it in less. It is an open route, everyone can adapt it to their tastes and needs. We did it in 5 stages, as we wanted a tough challenge, and we were not disappointed.
With each stage we did, our perception of the island changed. Before going we thought that there were only white sand beaches, turquoise blue and transparent water. And it was not like that at all. In the first part, in Cap Corse, we rode along the coast with roads touching the sea, through fishing villages and villages on cliffs.
We passed by the viewpoint of Molino Mattei where you can see the west side of Cap Corse. From there, you continue to see the sea, but from the height of the cliffs, to the village of Saint-Florent, to finish around the Cap Corse and go into the interior of the Balagne, an area where you can enjoy small villages with lots of history and full of artisans that the road crosses.
In the last part of this area, before reaching Porto and Piana, the GT20 runs along a road that goes up and down, enjoying the views of the Gulf of Porto, and letting you see between curve and curve the Capo Rosso and the "Calanches de Piana", a Unesco World Heritage Site, where the next day we would make a boat trip to see them up close.
From this point, the GT20 enters the island and we would only see the sea at some points, but in the distance. On the third day we faced the longest and hardest pass of the entire route, Puerto de Vergio, 32 km and 1,450 m of positive elevation gain, passing through areas that reminded us of landscapes from Avatar, to reach the final part, where autumn was imposing dyeing the landscape of yellows, oranges and browns. From there we descended to the Niolo region by a fast and fun road, to finish in a gorge of granite rocks with ocher tones that reminded us a lot of Morocco.
In the penultimate stage we were surrounded by mountains, we crossed the Regional Natural Park of Corsica, the forest of Marmanu, and passed through inland villages such as Corte, Zicavo or Zonza, from which you can have a spectacular view of the massif of Mount Incudine (2,134 m).
The last day we made the Col de Bacino pass, the last of the GT20, to descend to Sotta and finish the route in Bonifacio: a beautiful village perched on white cliffs, preserving the medieval atmosphere of when it was founded. An essential village to visit and an unbeatable place to end the route.
During the days we were there, we came across "bikepackers", cyclists with electric bikes, road bikes, mountain bikes, and even touring bikes, all of them following the GT20.
The GT20 runs largely on secondary roads, so you can not only enjoy the quiet and safe cycling, but also the scenery without losing any comfort: accommodation to sleep, restaurants to eat, and museums and historical heritage to visit, which is great for a few days of sightseeing by bike, without missing out on everything the island has to offer.
The entire route is marked with signs at all intersections with which it is very easy to follow the route without getting lost at any point, so you do not even need the GPS, it is very practical in this regard.
One of the things we appreciated the most was the weather. Corsica is a destination that can be enjoyed all year round, and for cyclists the spring and autumn seasons are great. During the first and last hours of the day it cools down a bit and then, with the sunrise, temperatures stay between 20 and 26 ºC, perfect for sports. In addition, at this time you can enjoy the island with fewer tourists and fewer cars.
