Lake Geneva stays close for the first stretch out of Nyon: vineyards, small villages, the Jura behind, the pale wall of the Alps ahead. South of Geneva the rhythm changes. The road passes the Salève and climbs over Mont-Sion, the day’s high point, before dropping towards Annecy. From there the route becomes almost unfairly scenic: bike path beside Lake Annecy, clear water, Bauges limestone above the shore. Past Faverges and Ugine, the valley of the Arly leads into Albertville, where the Alps stop being a view and start being the route.
