The Great Crossing of the Massif Central by mountain bike Part 1

It’s the departure of your Great Crossing of the Massif Central ! You set off from Clermont-Ferrand, heading north towards Volvic, which you reach after a few challenging climbs. You gain altitude to discover the chain of Puys and all of its famous volcanoes. Be careful, the Puy de Dôme (1464m) is watching you! 
Riding along beautiful and lively paths, you climb a little more, crossing through some pretty villages. 
From Vauriat, staying under the gaze of the impressive Puy de Dôme, you pass between undergrowth and small single-tracks, before descending the slope towards Laschamps, for a first and well-deserved rest. 
Night in Laschamps.

Along superb trails, you slalom between the Puy Pelat, Mercoeur, Montellet and Pourcharet, before arriving at Recoleine and descending towards Orcival, a very pretty, well-known village with a Roman basilica. 
You arrive in the Massif du Sancy.
The next part of stage offers a climb along a path up to the Lac de Servières, the highest point of the stage (1212m), which merits a break. You then relaunch yourself along some lively tracks, through the forest, to reach Pessade. A succession of demanding climbs leads you to a beautiful descent towards the Lac Chambon, where a quick swim shouldn’t be missed! After that, a new climb along tracks leads you to the medieval village of Besse where you will be transported back in history. 
Night in Besse.

Setting off from Besse, we enter the Cézaillier, passing by the Lac and Puy de Montcineyre. Here, on the great plateaus, we can see the Puy de Sancy, the highest peak of the Massif Central (1886m).
After Jassy, you take on the standard ascension of the Col de Fortunier, switching between roads and tracks which offer you a magnificent view over the peaks of Sancy and Cantal. 
From there on, only happiness ! A long and technical descent, fast and playful, takes you into the department of Cantal and to Allanche.
Night in Allanche.

Today, the stage with the lowest altitude gains of the trip, takes you initially through the woods of Pinatelle towards Chalinargues. You descend first along a trail and then a single-track to quickly arrive at Neussargues. 
The next part of the stage is much less shady as you leave the forests to experience beautiful farmland, rich in history, where you can discover numerous dolmens and chateaux. You then cross the Planèze, an ancient place much-loved by the builders of megaliths, before arriving in Saint-Flour, city of art and history with 15 centuries of architecture to discover.
Night in Saint-Flour.

Stage 5 takes you into the Margeride. The first part takes you through various hamlets and rivers to arrive in Ruynes, at the foot of the massif of Margeride.
Via a physically demanding climb through the forest, you gain altitude and find yourself at more the 1400m! Along a ridge top path you cross through a high point of the French Resistance. 
From Mont Mouchet, you gain speed as you head downhill and arrive in Paulhac, entering the department of the Haute-Loire. A fairly standard but physical climb along a forest track takes you to 1400m altitude before a pleasant descent towards Chanaleilles. Night in Chanaleilles.
 

Laubert : 57km Profile : +1050m
Mende : 65km Profile : +1135m -1545m

For this final stage, you continue your crossing of the Margeride, taking the famous trail of Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle for a few kilometres of climbing in order to reach a plateau at 1400m of altitude, offering you several beautiful viewpoints of the surroundings, in the heart of the Margaride nature. Along beautiful forest tracks, then some technical paths from the Col des Trois Soeurs, you descend towards the typical village of Giraldès. 
Passing along a track, the route takes you up to the Truc de Fortunio, where you will pass above 1500m altitude before a great single-track descent towards the Lac de Charpal. In the heart of the Lozère, the final part of the stage takes you to Laubert, via a succession of descents, with Mont Lozère in sight.

End of trip in Laubert or Mende.