Gruissan to Sète Along the Canal du Midi
- 102 km
- 131 m
- Moderate
- Mixed
Elevation profile
- 131 m
- 102 km
Route overview
This flat 102 km ride with moderate ascent suits riders comfortable with mixed surfaces and a long distance.
Cycle 102 km from Gruissan to Sète along the Canal du Midi in Languedoc, France, with 150 m ascent on mixed surfaces including cycle paths and minor roads.
Starting near Gruissan at 0.5 km, the route follows the Canal du Midi towards Sète over 101.8 km with a total ascent of 150 m. The profile is mostly flat, with 95% flat sections and gentle climbs totalling 3% of the ride. The highest point is 19 m at 93.5 km. Paved roads cover 76%, while 23% is gravel or unpaved. The ride includes 31 km of cycle paths and lanes and 24 km of minor roads. Other road types are quiet streets, paths, and tracks. Main roads without cycle lanes account for 2.3 km. The named Voie Verte Canal du Midi is followed for 10.5 km. Places along the way include Le Bouis, Narbonne-Plage, Valras-Plage, Agde, Marseillan, Mèze, Bouzigues, and Balaruc-les-Bains. Facilities include multiple bakeries, cafés, shops, bike shops, petrol stations, toilets, and drinking water points. The longest stretch without a café, shop or water is 9.8 km from 67.5 to 77.3 km. Bailout points exist at Lily Passeur ferry at 29.8 km, and train stations at Agde (53.2 km) and Marseillan-Plage (61.1 km).
Highlights
- Follow the Voie Verte Canal du Midi for 10.5 km
- Highest point 19 m at 93.5 km
- Longest no service stretch 9.8 km from 67.5 to 77.3 km
- Bailout points at Agde and Marseillan-Plage stations
Along the route
Places passed
What this ride is like
- Roads
- 31% cycle path · 25% minor road · 16% quiet street · 14% path
- Main roads
- 2.3 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Cycle paths
- 33.6 km on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane
- Main roads used
- Voie Verte Canal du Midi (11 km)
- Surface
- 76% paved · 23% gravel or unpaved
- Gradient
- 3% climbing · 2% descending · 95% flat
Along the way
Food, water and shops
- 0.5 kmToilets · 30 m off route
- 1.7 kmLe briochon · bakery · 60 m off route
- 9.2 kmToilets · on the route
- 11.9 kmTotal Contact · petrol station · on the route
- 13 kmBubble Café · café · on the route
- 24.1 kmWater point · 180 m off route
- 29.5 kmToilets · on the route
- 34.4 kmMaison Garcia · bakery · 30 m off route
- 39.5 kmDrinking water · 70 m off route
- 54 kmLa Vague Gourmande · bakery · 60 m off route
- 54.1 kmCasino · supermarket · 50 m off route
- 56.7 kmTotal · petrol station · 210 m off route
- 65.5 kmLa Glacerie · ice cream · 110 m off route
- 82.2 kmStation Charvet · petrol station · 70 m off route
- 83.7 kmDrinking water · on the route
- 88.3 kmDrinking water · on the route
- 91 kmSpar · supermarket · 80 m off route
- 91.6 kmPharmacie des Thermes · pharmacy · 80 m off route
Need to bail out?
- 29.8 km — Lily Passeur (ferry), 50 m off route
- 53.2 km — Agde (station), 190 m off route
- 61.1 km — Marseillan-Plage (station), 360 m off route
Worth a stop
- 0.1 km — La tour Barberousse (castle)
- 11.8 km — Fun WaterGliss (attraction)
- 53.5 km — Cathédrale Saint-Étienne (attraction)
- 65.2 km — L'Etoile de Thau IV (attraction)
- 71.2 km — La Bellonette (castle)
- 81.4 km — Aire de Loupian Sud (viewpoint)
At the start
- Ma'thé · café · 140 m
- ronde des pains · bakery · 280 m
- Café de la Paix · café · 220 m
- Boulangerie Pâtisserie Bernard · bakery · 190 m
- Le Lamparo · restaurant · 80 m
At the finish
- La Pyramide · restaurant · 30 m
Stay after this ride
- Le Central · hotel · 3.6 km from the finish
- Azur Hôtel · hotel · 3.6 km from the finish
- Hôtel du Golfe · hotel · 3.6 km from the finish
- Le Neptune · hotel · 3.5 km from the finish
- Hôtel Bel Air · hotel · 3.6 km from the finish
Practical information
- Mixed
- Point to point
- 6–8½ hours riding
- September, with recorded temperatures around 23 °C.
- Apr to Sep — daily highs of 17–29 °C in those months
Know before you go
- 9.8 km without café, shop or water between 67.5 and 77.3 km
- 2.3 km on main roads without cycle lane