It was last summer when I first heard the term “L’Hexagone” referring to that region of France located within Europe - as distinct from the country's overseas departments and republics. The name derives from the shape of mainland France, which resembles a hexagon. L’Hexagone was a prominent feature of the 2024 Olympic medals, whose design included an original piece of iron from the Eiffel Tower, formed into a hexagon.

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With these nuggets of information, an idea formed for a tour that would wind around the six sides of the hexagon, following closely along the borders of France. It was not to be a continuous tour but one interrupted by returns to Paris and/or other jaunts around the continent. It is certainly unlikely that I will complete this in a single year, but there is something appealing about a circumvélo around my favorite cycling country.

It was pretty easy to come up with a proposed route as there are many long-distance cycle routes already in place. Examples include: La Vélomaritime, the French section of EV4 along the English channel; La Vélodyssée along the Atlantic coast; and Le Vélosud along the Pyrenees. I doubt that I will strictly follow any of these routes, but each provides a good starting point for planning the journey.

Though I’m now on the cusp of the adventure, I’ve actually done very little planning. It was my intention to do an initial leg along the Alps, from Nice to Annecy. But a bike accident in Tanzania and subsequent complications pushed those plans to sometime in the future. When, I'm not sure, but I guarantee that some arcs of the circle will be completed this year. 

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Thanks in advance for coming along.