This is an excellent winter training loop from Geneva – with a decent amount of distance and elevation but never going over 700m above sea level. Perfect when there is snow in the big hills but you don’t just want to ride along the lakeshore.

We normally start with a run out along the base of the Jura mountains. Turn to the west in Versonnex and follow the road through Ségny, Chevry and up to Crozet. The rolling road takes you down to Sergy and Thoiry, with great views over the Geneva basin towards the Salève.

*Looking across the Geneva Basin towards the Alps*

The narrow gap in the Jura where the Rhône, the main road, and the railway all pass through gets closer and closer as we pass through Collonges and drop down to the river.

There’s a sharp climb back up to Chevrier and great views across to Fort d’Ecluse, as well as over the river and back towards Geneva.

Once through the Jura gap we’re out of the Geneva basin and often into completely different weather. The road is usually quiet as we climb for 4km to get fully round the backside of the Vuache.

The route passes underneath the motorway to Lyon and continues to climb up to the highest point of the ride at 820m above sea level. This part of the ride is on very quiet, wooded roads which then roll along the back of the Vuache – with occasional great views over towards the mighty Grand Colombier to the south west.

The southernmost point of the ride is a small village called Chaumont, where there is a ruined castle which was once the residence of the Counts of Geneva. This allows brilliant views in all directions – a great strategic position for a castle.

From Chaumont the ride heads back towards Geneva descending most of the way to Valleiry (where there’s a handy bakery if you’re running low on energy).

The route continues north and crosses the border near Chancy, at the very southwestern tip of Switzerland.

From here you are only 20km from the centre of Geneva and can enjoy the beautiful vineyards and small villages of Avussy, Cartigny and Aire-la-Ville as you run back into the city.

Tour du Vuache is a 97km ride, with just over 1,200m of climbing. Never too steep, and a perfect early season social training ride.

Leaving the Geneva Basin – Tour du Vuache

Geneva Vineyards