La Tranche-sur-Mer – Mareuil-sur-Lay-Dissais
A flat 82 km road cycling loop from La Tranche-sur-Mer, Pays de la Loire through La Terrière, Les Côtes and Le Petit Châtelier, with 200 m of climbing.
At a glance
- Best for
- Flat, steady riding
- Distance
- 82.2 km
- Elevation gain
- 200 m
- Riding time
- 3½–4½ hours
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Bike
- Road bike with sturdy tyres, or gravel bike
- Surface
- Mostly paved
- Traffic
- Some main roads
- Food & water
- Regular
- Best months
- Jun to Oct
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start and finish
- La Tranche-sur-Mer
Map and elevation profile

Elevation profile
- 200 m
- 82 km
Route description
- La Tranche-sur-Mer
- La Terrière
- Les Côtes
- Le Petit Châtelier
- La Haute Duttière
- La Garmitière
- La Saiverie
- La Couture
- Place des Martyrs de la Resistance
- La Tranche-sur-Mer
This 82.2 km loop starts and finishes at La Tranche-sur-Mer. The route passes through numerous small places such as La Terrière at 2.8 km, Saint-Vincent-sur-Jard at 16.1 km, Moutiers-les-Mauxfaits at 30.7 km and L'Aiguillon-sur-Mer at 70.4 km. Elevation varies from sea level to a high point of 59 m at 27.2 km, with the first half containing 64% of the climbing. The profile is mostly flat with gentle climbs, the steepest 500 m section rises at a 2.2% gradient around 23.5 km. The longest descent stretches 1.7 km after 35.9 km.
Surface is 89% paved with 9% gravel or unpaved trails. Roads include 46% minor roads, 28% main roads without cycle lanes, and 11% cycle paths. Main roads total 22.3 km with 3.3 km at 80 km/h or higher speeds. The longest named roads are the D19 ridden for 22.1 km, D44 for 12.3 km, D60 for 7.1 km and D2046 for 6 km.
Food and drink options appear regularly with bakeries at 2.8 km, 16.3 km, 20.5 km, 30.4 km, 37.4 km, 51.9 km and beyond. Shops include supermarkets at 0.4 km and 37.9 km and convenience stores at 14.1 km, 20.5 km and 30.4 km. Drinking water is available near 15.9 km and 37.6 km. The longest stretch without a café, shop or water is 10.7 km from 51.9 to 62.6 km. Bike shops and repair stands appear at 7.6 km, 71.2 km and near the finish.
Highlights
- Start and finish at La Tranche-sur-Mer
- Highest point 59 m at 27.2 km
- Cycle paths for 8.8 km
- Longest no café/shop/water stretch is 10.7 km
Along the route
Places passed
Traffic, surface and gradient
Expect stretches on main roads without a cycle lane (22.3 km in all) between quieter sections.
- Roads
- 46% minor road · 28% main road · 11% cycle path · 8% quiet street · 9% other roads and tracks
- Main roads
- 22.3 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 3.3 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Cycle paths
- 10.2 km on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane
- Main roads used
- D 19 (22 km), D 44 (12 km), D 60 (7 km), D 2046 (6 km)
- Surface
- Predominantly paved: 89% is mapped as paved, 9% as unpaved or gravel.
- Gradient
- 4% climbing · 4% descending · 92% flat
Food, water and services
No stretch is longer than 15 km without a café, shop or water. Along the route: 81 cafés and restaurants, 15 shops, 4 water points, 3 petrol stations, 24 public toilets and 5 bike shops.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 0.4 kmSuper U · supermarket · 60 m off route
- 0.4 kmStation U · petrol station · 90 m off route
- 2.8 kmBonnin & Frères · bakery · 270 m off route
- 7.6 kmRepair stand · 240 m off route
- 14.9 kmToilets · 50 m off route
- 16.3 kmPense au pain · bakery · on the route
- 20.5 kmLa courolle · convenience store · 60 m off route
- 24.1 kmToilets · 90 m off route
- 30.4 kmBoulangerie Patisserie des Halles · bakery · 50 m off route
- 37.4 kmLa Vache à Lait · fast food · on the route
- 37.4 kmToilets · 30 m off route
- 37.6 kmPharmacie Faroux Jurquet et Danot · pharmacy · 70 m off route
- 51.9 kmLa Gourmandine · bakery · on the route
- 62.7 kmLa Mie Vendéenne · bakery · 50 m off route
- 71.2 kmRepair stand · 50 m off route
- 71.5 kmGuilbaud · bakery · 60 m off route
- 76.6 kmSpar · convenience store · 70 m off route
- 78.7 kmBonnin Frères · bakery · 80 m off route
Worth a stop
- 15.2 km — Aire vélodyssée - Saint-Vincent-sur-Jard (picnic site)
- 23.8 km — Menhir du Camp de César ou Menhir de Bourg-Jardin (archaeological site)
- 30.1 km — Les Halles (attraction)
- 37.2 km — Les Aurays (castle)
- 42.5 km — Menhir des Pierres-Folles du Follet (archaeological site)
Start and access
At the start and finish
- Bikes and repair
- Vélo & Company (260 m)
- Food and coffee
- Francisco (550 m), Le Bénèze Bar (550 m), Aroy Dee (550 m)
- Shops
- Super U (240 m)
Know before you go
- 22.3 km on main roads without cycle lanes
- 3.3 km on roads with 80 km/h or higher speed limit
- 9% gravel or unpaved surface
- No café, shop or water for 10.7 km from 51.9 to 62.6 km
