GTMC – Traversée du Massif Central à VTT

Great Crossing of the Massif Central by MTB

GTMC – Traversée du Massif Central à VTT

A collection of 52 cycling routes.

  1. Bikemap
  2. Official routes
  3. Great Crossing of the Massif Central by MTB
  4. GTMC – Traversée du Massif Central à VTT

Overview

About this collection

The GTMC is the great crossing of the Massif Central by mountain bike: a long-distance adventure in the heart of France. About 1,300 km and ~35,000 m of elevation gain, enough to chain several days (or even weeks) of bikepacking. The terrain is varied and mostly off asphalt: lots of tracks and paths, plenty of gravel and trails, with long connections on quiet roads; some busier sections exist. Expect regular climbs, windy plateaus, deep forests, and great viewpoints. Ideal on a mountain bike (or sturdy gravel), solid tires and low gearing recommended. Weather varies with altitude: plan to be self-sufficient and manage water and stages well. Perfect if you're looking for a great wild crossing, away from main roads, with a good mix of off-road and rolling sections.

Translated, show original (French)
52
Routes
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Duration
1,417.8 km
Distance
---
Avg. speed
34,695 m
Ascent
34,558 m
Descent

GTMC – Traversée du Massif Central à VTT

Routes in this collection

All 52 routes in this collection can be opened on the map or in the Bikemap App for more details, where you can adjust them in the route planner, or download them as GPX or KML file. Use them as a template for planning your own rides, or let Bikemap navigate you along them directly.

Grande Traversée du Massif Central à VTT - Volvic / Laschamps
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Grande Traversée du Massif Central à VTT - Volvic / Laschamps

Cycling route in Charbonnières-les-Varennes, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France

On the GTMC, you link Charbonnières-les-Varennes (at the gates of Volvic) to Saint-Genès-Champanelle, on the Laschamps side. About 34 km and 675 m of climbing, with a mix of tracks and trails and beautiful views of the Chaîne des Puys. Some tough climbs but fun descents. Laschamps is near the Puy d…
33.7 km
Distance
675 m
Ascent
459 m
Descent
Grande Traversée du Massif Central à VTT - Laschamps / Murol
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Grande Traversée du Massif Central à VTT - Laschamps / Murol

Cycling route in Saint-Genès-Champanelle, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France

Short section of the GTMC around Saint-Genès-Champanelle (Laschamps area). 3.9 km with +127 m, mostly on unpaved tracks and trails, with a high point around 1,100 m. Ideal for stretching your legs or linking to the Laschamps-Murol section. Soil sometimes rocky: sturdy tires recommended.
3.9 km
Distance
127 m
Ascent
52 m
Descent
Grande Traversée du Massif Central à VTT: Aydat → Saint-Genès-Champanelle
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Grande Traversée du Massif Central à VTT: Aydat → Saint-Genès-Champanelle

Cycling route in Aydat, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France

Start from Aydat, on the shore of the volcanic lake, to reach Saint-Genès-Champanelle at the gates of Puy de Dôme. A stage of the Grande Traversée du Massif Central combining tracks and small roads, about 23 km and ~650 m of elevation gain. Some gravel sections and beautiful views of the Chaîne des…
23 km
Distance
645 m
Ascent
505 m
Descent
Grande Traversée du Massif Central à VTT – Aydat > Aydat
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Grande Traversée du Massif Central à VTT – Aydat > Aydat

Cycling route in Aydat, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France

Start and finish in Aydat, by the volcanic lake, on the GTMC. A mountain bike route of about 16.8 km with ~440 m of climbing, reaching up to 1,176 m in the heart of the Auvergne Volcanoes Park. Mostly tracks and trails (little road), a mix of dirt, gravel and some tarmac. Landscapes of domes and fo…
16.8 km
Distance
438 m
Ascent
408 m
Descent
Grande Traversée du Massif Central à VTT — Aydat → Aydat
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Grande Traversée du Massif Central à VTT — Aydat → Aydat

Cycling route in Aydat, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France

Heading towards the volcanoes of Auvergne starting from Aydat. A compact GTMC route of about 20 km and 490 m of climbing, alternating between trails and small roads, with some gravel sections. You ride through forests and volcanic flows, with beautiful viewpoints and, why not, a stop at Lake Aydat …
20.3 km
Distance
492 m
Ascent
475 m
Descent
Grande Traversée du Massif Central à VTT – Le Mont-Dore > Le Mont-Dore
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Grande Traversée du Massif Central à VTT – Le Mont-Dore > Le Mont-Dore

Cycling route in Le Mont-Dore, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France

Short section of the GTMC starting from Mont-Dore, a spa town at the foot of the Sancy. About 8.9 km with 344 m of elevation gain, mostly on trails and gravel, with some quiet road sections. It climbs a bit up to around 1100 m then descends towards the village. Ideal to get into the volcanic atmosp…
8.9 km
Distance
344 m
Ascent
140 m
Descent
Grande Traversée du Massif Central à VTT : Le Mont-Dore → Condat
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Grande Traversée du Massif Central à VTT : Le Mont-Dore → Condat

Cycling route in Le Mont-Dore, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France

From the spa town of Mont-Dore, at the foot of the Sancy, this stage of the GTMC heads towards Condat (Cantal). Approximately 31 km and 750 m of ascent, with a high point around 1,290 m. Trails and small roads, some gravel and tracks, with beautiful views of the volcanic plateaus when it opens up. …
31.4 km
Distance
758 m
Ascent
692 m
Descent
Grande Traversée du Massif Central à VTT – Condat > Allanche
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Grande Traversée du Massif Central à VTT – Condat > Allanche

Cycling route in Condat, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France

Beautiful stage of the GTMC between Condat and Allanche, in the heart of Cantal. About 27 km to reach the Cézallier plateau, with a generally descending profile and some climbs (approx. 435 m ascent, 615 m descent). Alternating gravel tracks and small roads, sometimes with a bit of traffic. Landsca…
26.8 km
Distance
436 m
Ascent
615 m
Descent
Grande Traversée du Massif Central à VTT - Allanche > Neussargues-Moissac
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Grande Traversée du Massif Central à VTT - Allanche > Neussargues-Moissac

Cycling route in Allanche, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France

Short stage of the GTMC between Allanche, at the gates of the Cézallier, and Neussargues-Moissac. About 13 km and ~300 m of ascent, on a mix of tracks (mostly), trails, and quiet roads. The volcanic landscapes of the Cantal unfold between plateaus and hedgerows, with a few small climbs for added ch…
13.3 km
Distance
304 m
Ascent
203 m
Descent
Grande Traversée du Massif Central à VTT - Chalinargues / Ruynes-en-Margeride
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Grande Traversée du Massif Central à VTT - Chalinargues / Ruynes-en-Margeride

Cycling route in Neussargues, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France

From Neussargues-Moissac to Neussargues-Moissac, this short section of the GTMC stretches for about 9 km, mostly on trails (63%), featuring a nice descent: approx. 355 m of negative elevation change for 84 m of climbing. A mix of asphalt and paths, highest point around 1,076 m. Cantal atmosphere be…
9.2 km
Distance
84 m
Ascent
355 m
Descent
Grande Traversée du Massif Central à VTT: Neussargues-Moissac → Saint-Flour
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Grande Traversée du Massif Central à VTT: Neussargues-Moissac → Saint-Flour

Cycling route in Neussargues, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France

From Neussargues-Moissac, head towards Saint-Flour on the GTMC: about 42 km with roughly 900 m of ascent. A mix of tracks and small roads, with some nice unpaved sections — mountain bike recommended. Volcanic landscapes of the Cantal, forests and plateaus, then the final climb to the upper town and…
41.9 km
Distance
886 m
Ascent
786 m
Descent
Grande Traversée du Massif Central à VTT: Saint-Flour → Le Malzieu-Ville
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Grande Traversée du Massif Central à VTT: Saint-Flour → Le Malzieu-Ville

Cycling route in Saint-Flour, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France

A stage of the GTMC between Saint-Flour and Le Malzieu-Ville. You leave the upper town for the Margeride plateaus, between forests and tracks. It’s short (34 km) but tough: about 1,130 m of ascent, sections up to around 1,490 m. Mostly tracks and trails, very little tarmac. Arrival at Le Malzieu-Vi…
33.9 km
Distance
1,131 m
Ascent
691 m
Descent
  1. Bikemap
  2. Official routes
  3. Great Crossing of the Massif Central by MTB
  4. GTMC – Traversée du Massif Central à VTT