As anyone who watches Top Gear must already know, the finest driving roads in the world are to be found in the Alps. While no-one can disagree with the quality of the Davos-Stelvio road as being one of the finest, the Top Gear team do appear to have made one glaring mistake (not for the first time!) in their ignorance of what must surely be Davos-Stelvio's most credible competitor, the incredible Col de Vence.
It runs roughly from Malamaire to Vence and in topography it is similar to the Davos road and can be split into two main sections. If you join the D2211 from the Route Napoleon and remember to then turn onto the D2 you will be treating yourself to the most majestically varied and challenging road you can find.
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The first section is a fast-paced undulating section which sweeps across the plateau that towers above Cannes and Nice. While the word plateau may conjure up images of dull camber-less terrain, this part of the road is anything but.
It peaks and crests as if flowing over a series of static waves, creating a demanding, smooth road blessed with clear sight lines, allowing you to use all the road and place your car exactly where you want it.
After 15 glorious miles this part of the road then starts to descend through a series of deep gorges, carved out by the river the road follows, clinging to the side. While the sight lines are not quite as clear as they were before, the change of scenery and rock faces leaning over the road create a glorious natural amplification of your exhaust!
The road then passes through the side of the mountain and clings to the side of the cliffs which soar high above the coast, creating incredible unobstructed views of the beautiful, if overcrowded, coastline below.
This part, as used in the Monte Carlo Rallye, is precariously placed between sheer rock face above and below so care is recommended when tackling this part of the road. Here the views are only broken by intermittent tunnels (and the promise of even more noise!).
It then plunges down in a series of tight bends and hairpins, but unlike the Stelvio Pass, the road is not too steep and represents a brilliant challenge and affords plenty of opportunities for a bit of playful oversteer, given that you can see whether anything's coming the other way.
Overall the road serves as a reminder of days past when the roads weren't so crowded, so if you ever find yourself in the area and have even the slightest amount of petrol flowing through your veins be sure to visit this little gem.
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