You’ll need stamina and skill if you want to tackle this week-long mountain bike race, but in return you’ll be rewarded by some incredible riding in wild, rugged and stunningly beautiful mountain terrain.

The Maritime Alps provide the background (and indeed the trails) for this race, and as it’s at the end of the season it often attracts some of the big names. Last year, Anka Martin was overall winner in the female category, having battled through some wild muddy conditions, as well as bright dry days.

The riding is varied and technical, enduro style, with long climbs and traverses mixed in with timed descent sections for maximum gravity-fueled fun. It’s hard going, but its end point on the Cote D’Azur provides the perfect finish line – a perfect spot for cooling off (and cleaning off!) in the sea.

Date: 20th – 27th September 2014
About: Mavic Trans-Provence
Find out more: Anka Martin tackles the Trans-Provence
Watch it: Trans-Provence Day 4 on BikeMagic