The proposed EuroVelo 17 (Rhone Cycle Route), extensions to EuroVelo 1 (Atlantic Coast Route) in Iceland and Portugal and EuroVelo 8 (Mediterranean Route) in Corsica have all become official ‘Candidate Routes’ following the decision of the EuroVelo Council at the end of June.  The applicants will now have until the end of 2015 to implement the four routes before a final decision is taken on whether they can formally become part of the network. 

Every three years there is an opportunity to apply to the ECF to make major changes to the EuroVelo network.  These can include adding brand new EuroVelo routes or significantly changing the itinerary of existing routes.  At the end of last year, a number of applications were submitted to the ECF to make such changes and at a meeting of the EuroVelo Council at the end of June, one new route and three extensions to existing routes were approved.  These will all now become official Candidate Routes.

The new route proposal was submitted by the French Region Rhône-Alpes (on behalf of 4 Swiss Cantons, 3 French Regions and other relevant authorities) and follows the course of the River Rhone from Andermatt in the heart of the Swiss Alps all the way to the Mediterranean Sea.  As the route is in a north - south direction it has been given the next available odd number, which is EuroVelo 17.  The route is already developed in Switzerland, whilst ambitious plans are in place to realise the French part. 

Two extensions to EuroVelo 1 – Atlantic Route have been approved.  The first brings the EuroVelo to Iceland at last.  An itinerary around the southern part of the island has been proposed between Seyðisfjörður and Keflavík, near the capital Reykjavík.  The application was prepared by the Icelandic Tourist Board (ITB) in cooperation with the Icelandic Cyclists’ Federation (IHM) and it will add 900 km to EuroVelo 1.

The second extension will bring the Atlantic Coast Route to Portugal’s Atlantic Coast!  Continuing the existing route from where it currently ends at Sagres northwards to Caminha on the country’s northern border with Spain.  This 700 km extension will at last connect Lisbon to the EuroVelo network and is being promoted by the Portuguese National EuroVelo Coordinator, Federação Portuguesa de Cicloturismo e Utilizadores de Bicicleta (FPCUB).

The final proposal to be selected as a Candidate Route will bring EuroVelo 8 – Mediterreanean Route to the French island of Corsica.  Submitted by the Comité Corse de Cyclisme, the scenic 320 km route would follow Corsica’s eastern coast connecting the ports of Bastia and Bonifacio.  It has received the support of the National EuroVelo Coordination Centres in France and Italy.

Over the next twelve months, all four applicants will need to realise the project plans included in their applications to the satisfaction of the EuroVelo Council.  All being well, there will be even more of the EuroVelo network for you to explore in 2016!    

We will be providing updates on how the Candidate Routes are progressing through the news section of the EuroVelo.org website.

 Want to find out more about the Eurovelo project? Click here.