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Villefranche-sur-Saône to Chanas Down the Rhône

Villefranche-sur-Saône, Rhone-Alpes, FranceMixed

Route contributed by Marcus · Created from a ride on Friday 12th September 2025

106 km
Distance
39 m
Elevation gain
Moderate
Difficulty
Mixed
Surface
Download GPXMap
Hôtel de ville, villefranche-sur-Sâone, qui abrite la mairie de la ville
Photo: Dorian BESSON · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Elevation profile

Total ascent
39 m
Distance
106 km
050100150200m0 km255075106 km186 m · highest, at 50.5 kmStartFinish

Route overview

Riders seeking a flat, long-distance route with some unpaved sections and varied road types.

106 km flat ride from Villefranche-sur-Saône to Chanas in Rhone-Alpes, France, with 62 m climbing.

This route starts at Villefranche-sur-Saône and follows a mainly flat profile of 62 m elevation gain over 106 km. The highest point at 187 m occurs around 49 km, with the lowest at 136 m near the end at 99 km. The surface is mostly paved (86%), with 12% gravel or unpaved sections, including some track and path. The route includes 24.5 km of cycle path and 23.8 km of road with cycle lanes, but also 6.3 km on main roads and 7 km on main roads without a cycle lane. There is a 2.1 km stretch of faster roads with speeds above 80 km/h. Cyclists pass through numerous towns and districts, including Anse, Neuville-sur-Saône, Lyon and Vienne, among many others. Important named roads include D 51 for 15.4 km and the ViaRhôna for 13.9 km. There are frequent opportunities to refuel with cafés and bakeries at Villefranche-sur-Saône, Anse, Lyon, and Sainte-Colombe. There are shops, bike shops, petrol stations, toilets and water sources distributed along the way, with the longest stretch without a café, shop or water being 11.8 km from 90.6 to 102.4 km. Bailout points with stations are available at several locations such as Anse Pont (7.4 km), Lyon-Saint-Paul (35 km), and Vienne (68.2 km). The ride finishes at Chanas where there are restaurants and a pharmacy. Overall the terrain is consistently flat with occasional slight gradients and mostly reliable infrastructure for cyclists, combining paths, lanes, quiet streets, and some short stretches of main roads.

Highlights

  • Villefranche-sur-Saône start
  • Lyon city at 35-38 km
  • Vienne town at 67.6 km
  • Château d'Ampuis near 74.4 km

Along the route

Measured from the recorded track and OpenStreetMap.

Places passed

  1. Le Peloux 3.6 km
  2. La Logère 4.8 km
  3. Saint-Bernard 5.6 km
  4. Anse 7.3 km
  5. Ambérieux d'Azergues 8.6 km
  6. Grand Veissieux 10.4 km
  7. Billy le Vieux 10.6 km
  8. La Chapelle 11.2 km
  9. Varennes 12 km
  10. Quincieux 12.2 km
  11. La Sale 13.1 km
  12. Jérusalem 13.7 km
  13. Le Chanayron 14.8 km
  14. Port Maçon 15.1 km
  15. Saint-Germain-au-Mont-d'Or 16.8 km
  16. Champ Fleuri 18.6 km
  17. Four à Chaux 18.8 km
  18. Le Billard 19 km
  19. Villevert 19 km
  20. Neuville-sur-Saône 19.2 km
  21. Curis-au-Mont-d'Or 19.6 km
  22. Albigny-sur-Saône 19.8 km
  23. Fleurieu-sur-Saône 20.6 km
  24. Couzon-au-Mont-d'Or 22.9 km
  25. Rochetaillée-sur-Saône 23.1 km
  26. Saint-Romain-au-Mont-d'Or 23.3 km
  27. Fontaines-sur-Saône 24.9 km
  28. Collonges-au-Mont-d'Or 25.5 km
  29. Caluire-et-Cuire 29 km
  30. Le bourg 29 km
  31. Montessuy 29.2 km
  32. Saint-Rambert 29.5 km
  33. Cuire-le-Haut 30.4 km
  34. Cuire-le-Bas 30.4 km
  35. 4th Arrondissement 31.8 km
  36. La Duchère 32 km
  37. 9th Arrondissement 32.2 km
  38. Vaise 32.6 km
  39. Serin 32.6 km
  40. Valmy 32.8 km
  41. Gorge de Loup 33.4 km
  42. 1st Arrondissement 34.6 km
  43. La Croix-Rousse 34.6 km
  44. Pentes de la Croix-Rousse 34.6 km
  45. Terreaux 34.8 km
  46. Vieux Lyon 35.3 km
  47. Préfecture 35.3 km
  48. Cordeliers 35.3 km
  49. Lyon 35.6 km
  50. Bellecour 35.6 km
  51. Fourvière 35.9 km
  52. Saint-Just 36.3 km
  53. Ainay 36.3 km
  54. 5th Arrondissement 36.6 km
  55. Saint-Irénée 36.6 km
  56. 2nd Arrondissement 36.8 km
  57. Perrache 37.2 km
  58. Les Provinces – Chavril 37.9 km
  59. 7th Arrondissement 38.4 km
  60. Confluence 38.4 km
  61. Gerland 39.2 km
  62. La Mulatière 39.7 km
  63. Oullins 41.1 km
  64. Pierre-Bénite 42.9 km
  65. Irigny 46.7 km
  66. Charly 49.5 km
  67. La Carrière 49.5 km
  68. Vernaison 49.7 km
  69. Ternay 53.8 km
  70. Grigny-sur-Rhône 55 km
  71. Les Arboras 55.1 km
  72. Le Bouchage 58.5 km
  73. La Maison Blanche 58.5 km
  74. Le Marloty 59.2 km
  75. Le Savot 60 km
  76. Loire-sur-Rhône 60.6 km
  77. Le Marme 60.6 km
  78. Le Charnoud 60.6 km
  79. Bas de Seyssuel 61.3 km
  80. Le Perrin 61.5 km
  81. Melay 63.1 km
  82. Le Guigal 63.7 km
  83. Le Plat du Loup 63.7 km
  84. Le Meindran 63.9 km
  85. Barlet 64.1 km
  86. Chaumartin 64.3 km
  87. Les Granges 64.9 km
  88. Pommerieux 65.7 km
  89. Saint-Romain-en-Gal 66.1 km
  90. Vienne 67.6 km
  91. Sainte-Colombe 67.8 km
  92. Les Grands Airs 68.6 km
  93. Les Gagères 68.8 km
  94. Saint-Cyr-sur-le-Rhône 69.6 km
  95. Le Mont 70.2 km
  96. La Servonnière 70.6 km
  97. Vérenay 71.7 km
  98. Rozier 72.9 km
  99. La Roche 73.4 km
  100. Le Vieux Vaugris 74.2 km
  101. Ampuis 74.4 km
  102. Bas-Boucharey 75.8 km
  103. Tupin 76.2 km
  104. Pimotin 76.2 km
  105. Chipier 76.2 km
  106. Maison Rouge 76.7 km
  107. Tupin-et-Semons 77.2 km
  108. Semons 77.2 km
  109. Maisons Blanches 77.4 km
  110. Île des Pêcheurs 78.7 km
  111. Les Roches-de-Condrieu 79.9 km
  112. Condrieu 80.1 km
  113. Maladière 80.7 km
  114. L'Olivière 81.2 km
  115. Le Châtelard 81.2 km
  116. Rochebret 81.2 km
  117. Vérin 81.4 km
  118. Sympérieux 81.4 km
  119. Jeanraude 81.7 km
  120. Au Vianon 81.7 km
  121. L'Arnaude 81.7 km
  122. Saint-Michel-sur-Rhône 82 km
  123. Le Bardoux 82 km
  124. Aux Granges 82.4 km
  125. Saint-Clair-du-Rhône 83.3 km
  126. Saint-Alban-du-Rhône 84.1 km
  127. Verlieux 84.4 km
  128. Mève 85 km
  129. Chanson 85.4 km
  130. Montelier 85.4 km
  131. Chavanay 86.2 km
  132. Izeras 86.2 km
  133. Cuminaille 87.4 km
  134. Morzelas 87.8 km
  135. Petit Ruisseau 89 km
  136. La Bascule 89.6 km
  137. Saint-Pierre-de-Bœuf 90.2 km
  138. Bois Prieur 90.2 km
  139. Gonon 90.2 km
  140. Le Port 90.4 km
  141. Arcoules 91.9 km
  142. Sablons 97.9 km
  143. Saint-Sornin 98.1 km
  144. Peyraud 99.6 km
  145. Chanas 102.3 km
  146. Le Bouillard 102.3 km

What this ride is like

Measured from OpenStreetMap along the track and the elevation profile.

Roads
24% cycle path · 23% road with cycle lane · 16% quiet street · 16% path
Main roads
7 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
Fast roads
2.1 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
Cycle paths
48.4 km on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane
Main roads used
D 51 (15 km), ViaRhôna (14 km), D 315 (8 km)
Surface
86% paved · 12% gravel or unpaved
Gradient
0% climbing · 0% descending · 100% flat

Along the way

Within a few hundred metres of the track, from OpenStreetMap. Opening hours change — treat this as where to look, not a promise.

Food, water and shops

  1. 0 kmMarie Blachère · bakery · 90 m off route
  2. 7.7 kmLa boulangerie · bakery · 80 m off route
  3. 12.6 kmBoulangerie Gastaldi · bakery · 170 m off route
  4. 22.6 kmFarine & Chocolat · bakery · 70 m off route
  5. 22.7 kmCyclomontdor · bike shop · 60 m off route
  6. 29.6 kmJocteur · bakery · 100 m off route
  7. 30.7 kmDrinking water · 50 m off route
  8. 34.9 kmBiocoop · supermarket · 120 m off route
  9. 35.7 kmCafé de la Bibliothèque · café · on the route
  10. 38.4 kmLe Comptoir du Cycle · bike shop · 60 m off route
  11. 43.8 kmMarie Blachère · bakery · 50 m off route
  12. 49.8 kmPharmacie de la Mairie · pharmacy · 60 m off route
  13. 50 kmDrinking water · 70 m off route
  14. 60.9 kmTotal · petrol station · 140 m off route
  15. 65.6 kmToilets · on the route
  16. 69.7 kmDrinking water · 40 m off route
  17. 80 kmAu Plaisir des Saveurs · bakery · 70 m off route
  18. 81.1 kmCarrefour · petrol station · 90 m off route

Need to bail out?

  • 7.4 km — Anse Pont (station), 50 m off route
  • 16.4 km — Saint-Germain-au-Mont-d'Or (station), 140 m off route
  • 22.4 km — Couzon-au-Mont-d'Or (station), 210 m off route
  • 35 km — Lyon-Saint-Paul (station), 170 m off route
  • 41.2 km — Oullins (station), 420 m off route
  • 50.1 km — Vernaison (station), 70 m off route
  • 68.2 km — Vienne (station), 620 m off route
  • 80 km — Saint-Clair - Les Roches (station), 850 m off route

Whether bikes are carried depends on the service — check before relying on it.

Worth a stop

  • 29.9 km — Le Belvédère et les lanternes de l'île Barbe (viewpoint)
  • 35.7 km — Palais archiépiscopal (castle)
  • 46.4 km — Château de la Damette (castle)
  • 54.9 km — Château (ancien) (castle)
  • 67.3 km — Pressoirs (ruins)
  • 74.4 km — Château d'Ampuis (castle)

At the start

  • Marie Blachère · bakery · 90 m
  • Lidl · supermarket · 260 m
  • Mékong Saveurs (closed) · restaurant · 230 m
  • Courtepaille · restaurant · 420 m
  • Quick · fast food · 320 m

At the finish

  • Campanile · restaurant · 60 m
  • Courtepaille · restaurant · 160 m
  • Pharmacie de Chanas · pharmacy · 710 m

Stay after this ride

  • Initial by Balladins · hotel · 40 m from the finish
  • Campanile · hotel · 90 m from the finish
  • Mercure · hotel · 140 m from the finish
  • Camping Beausejour · campsite · 1.1 km from the finish
  • Camping Bois & Toilés · campsite · 1.8 km from the finish

Practical information

Surface
Mixed
Route shape
Point to point
Riding time
5–7 hours riding
Season
September with temperatures around 25°C.
Best months
Apr to Oct — daily highs of 17–28 °C in those months

Know before you go

  • Longest stretch without café, shop or water 11.8 km from 90.6 to 102.4 km
  • 7 km on main roads without cycle lane
  • 2.1 km of roads with speed limits over 80 km/h
  • 12% gravel or unpaved surface

Routes are for inspiration. Roads, surfaces and conditions change — check locally and ride within your limits.

12 photographs from the road

Photo: Dorian BESSON · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

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