A short but distinctive stage: it starts with a ferry crossing of the Gironde estuary between Royan and Le Verdon-sur-Mer, roughly thirty minutes with bikes loaded straight onto the boat. It’s one of the memorable moments of La Vélodyssée as a whole — you leave Charente-Maritime for Gironde while passing the Cordouan lighthouse offshore.
On the Verdon side, a forested greenway crosses the Pointe de Grave to Soulac-sur-Mer, marking a clean transition from estuary marshland to the big pine-backed ocean beaches. The route is flat and sheltered from the wind for much of the way thanks to the tree cover.
Check the ferry schedule before setting off: frequency varies by season, and missing a crossing can significantly delay your arrival. Soulac-sur-Mer, a family-friendly seaside town, makes a good break before tackling the Médoc.