During winter and spring, my Twitter timeline is full of guys and gals spinning away down the gym, in their basements or garages. But it doesn’t have to be like this.

Azur Vélo offers customized trips and training camps for both competitive athletes and cycling enthusiasts, giving them the opportunity to enjoy the extraordinary roads and the incredible ambience of the Cote d’Azur. The company also makes pro training and support more accessible to cyclists of all abilities.

As an added bonus, you’ll probably find yourself riding with some of the many professional riders, such as friend of VeloVoices Ian Boswell (Sky), who call this area home.

Alternatively, you can combine riding with viewing one of the area’s many pro races, including Paris-Nice (8th-15th March). Azur Vélo is offering a week-long trip, including VIP race viewing and riding experience with former pro cyclist Nico Mattan, who’ll give an insider’s perspective on the race. You’ll enjoy access to prime race-viewing spots and to the departure village. In addition, you’ll be able to visit the pro teams buses and meet some of their star riders.

Azur Vélo is the brainchild of Diana Panchyk, a native New Yorker who now lives in a small Niçois village. She’s a lifelong athlete and Francophile with over 14 years’ experience of racing road and mountain bikes. A fluent French speaker, she now knows all the area’s best kept secrets, from a quaint café for a mid-ride coffee, a quiet back road, the most fabulous picnic areas, to the training hotspots and secrets of local pros. Her knowledge of the area and familiarity with the local culture will add an unforgettable touch to your trip. You might even see me soaring slogging up a col!

(Header photograph: The Hills behind Nice © Azur Vélo)