Mercier Rides - French Riviera
Once a year, Mercier brings together cyclists of all levels and friends of the brand for three days of exploration. This year, the destination is the south of France, on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea—a promise, at the start of June, of almost guaranteed sunshine. Coming from Paris, Lyon, and Annecy, the members of our temporary community gather at Domaine du Cap Nègre, located between the village of Le Lavandou and Saint-Tropez. 
The group includes ten riders: Edgar, Hugo, Mahaut, Louis, Charlie, Camille, Marc, Thaïs, Emile Mercier of course, and his friend Arnaud, who welcomes us to his family home. The program is simple: get to know each other—since few people are already acquainted—enjoy the local roads, and savor Mediterranean cuisine. That said, as the goal is also to take photos (thanks to Charlotte Lindet) and videos (well done Stéphane Adam), it is decided, on this Thursday evening, to plan two rides to take advantage of beautiful, contrasting light: one early in the morning, the other at the end of the day.
Day 1 - Friday
Wake-up at 5:45 am. Not necessarily an easy start after the drive the day before, but the excitement and strong desire to make the most of the day quickly dispel any fatigue. Breakfast is quickly eaten, kits are put on, bikes are set up, and the team sets off to discover the Massif des Maures, just as the sun begins to warm the asphalt.
Very quickly, we leave the coastal road to start the climb to the top of the massif, a little over 400 meters above sea level. The route is smooth and the elevation steady. Soon, we leave the last houses behind and immerse ourselves in the typically Mediterranean landscape, with rocky ridges, valleys, and pine forests. With every turn, the view of the sea becomes more and more spectacular. 
At the summit, we take a break before heading west on the Route des Crêtes to descend toward the village of Bormes-les-Mimosas. It's still early, our pedaling light: we descend back to sea level before climbing again on the Route des Crêtes, then head east this time and plunge once more toward the sea. 60 km and 1,300 meters of elevation gained. We return late in the morning to our headquarters for a good meal around the BBQ. 
Everyone then goes about their own activities: resting, reading, swimming. In the late afternoon, around 6 p.m., we get back on our bikes, still heading toward the Massif des Maures. This time, we venture further inland. The light becomes lower, and as the road winds, we alternate between sunset and shadow. 50 km and 1,000 meters of elevation. Back home, where Emile and Arnaud have been busy in the kitchen preparing dinner. 
It’s clear that this year, the atmosphere is sporty, as by 11 p.m., all the riders are in bed. Or maybe it's just fatigue? Only Charlie and Alexis, under the pretense of waiting for Camille, who drove from Lyon that Friday night, continue their exploration of the region’s vineyards over a few glasses. Cheers! 
Day 2 – Saturday
Wake-up at 5:45 am. Stéphane, our photographer, can’t stop repeating it. His goal? To torment the riders? To get the perfect light? We’ll never really know. 
Nevertheless, the cycling community gets moving again. We ride along the sea—at this hour, there are few cars—toward Le Lavandou, then head north, tackling the Col du Cague Ven and then the Col du Gratteloup. 
After 50 km, we arrive at the picturesque village of Collobrières. Here, time stands still. In the middle of the morning, a coffee and croissant break is a must. We chat with many cyclists passing through on this Saturday morning. Many of them know Mercier, and the name brings back childhood memories, their first bike, and the successes of the Mercier team in the Tour de France. 
Other members of the group, out taking photos with Charlotte, stumble upon a butcher shop. Conversation begins, and the owner starts slicing plenty of sausages for the riders to taste. They had a good nose—and a full belly. They return with their arms full of sausages for lunch. It will obviously be another BBQ. The support car now also serves as a pantry.
We head back but make a detour via La Londe-les-Maures to visit a vineyard and buy some rosé wine—important for the next part of the program. At the vineyard, we film some drone footage. We then meet the owner, who is somewhat annoyed to see us filming his property without having asked permission. We explain what we are doing and promise him that, thanks to Mercier, his vineyard will become world-famous. Reassured and laughing, he wishes us a good day and a great aperitif. 
Back home. 93 km and 1,300 meters of elevation. Lunch. Rest. Swimming for the sportier ones. 
In the evening, we all meet on the beach to enjoy the sunset, joke around, and have a glass of rosé. It’s the perfect opportunity to warmly thank Arnaud for his hospitality and to enjoy this exceptional setting.
Day 3 – Sunday
Wake-up at 5:45 am. Okay, Stéphane, we get it.
For this final morning, the group’s mission is simple: shoot footage along the coast, while car traffic is still almost non-existent. We head west, toward Cavalaire-sur-Mer. It takes several tries, as luck is also a factor: filming THE shot that will define the trip video, with no cars in sight.
Once the goal is achieved, we head back into the Massif des Maures, which we’re starting to know well, this time climbing the Col du Canadel.
With the last pedal strokes, we descend back to the house late in the morning, with 70 km and 1,000 meters of elevation on the clock.
After a quick pasta salad, unfortunately, it’s already time to say goodbye so everyone can head home. A Mercier gathering that lived up to all its promises: breathtaking scenery, the blue of the Mediterranean, smiles, jokes. Lots of good humor and new friends. Friends from the road.
Merci Mercier. 
