Gravel races in Vaud

Vaud gravel enjoys an ideal playground: the vineyard paths of Lavaux, the farm roads of the Gros-de-Vaud, the forest tracks of the Jura and the alpine pastures of Villars 🌄. Lake Geneva serves as a landmark, with possible starts from Lausanne, Morges or Vevey. A gravel race in Vaud blends quiet roads and trails where the scenery invites you to slow down, among vineyards, forests and alpine pastures.

Rides adapt to the altitude. By the lake, farm tracks run alongside the fields and are rideable from March 🌸. Higher up, the alpine pasture tracks clear from June onwards, calling for wider tires and a bit of patience. Autumn brings vivid colors, with russet forests and clear skies, and ideal temperatures for long rides. In summer, dawn starts avoid the heat of the Lake Geneva basin. For a first ride, choose a route of less than 60 km with little elevation gain, so you can get used to pedaling off-road. A spare inner tube, a pump and a small repair kit spare you many worries far from the village.

The Vaud gravel race calendar remains modest. UCI The Majestics, in Villars, offers a gravel race in July in the heart of the Vaud Alps, in a high-mountain setting 🚵. While waiting for more events, Vaud gravel riders fill out their season with the cyclosportives in Vaud, or broaden their horizons with the gravel races in Switzerland. The canton's quiet secondary roads lend themselves to discovery loops of a few hours, a way to get started without pressure.

The villages of Lavaux, such as Cully and Lutry, line the vineyard paths and invite you to photo stops facing the lake 📸. Tomme vaudoise and Vacherin Mont-d'Or, specialties of the canton, reward a day of riding 🧀. Choose your route, load up your bike and let Vaud amaze you, from the lake to the alpine pastures. For a change of terrain, also discover the trails in Vaud.