Safe, gravel or max-climb: choosing your route profile
Two cyclists can request a route between the same points and get two completely different itineraries. The reason? The route profile. It's the planner's most important setting — and the most overlooked. Here's how to choose it well.
In the VéloCore planner, each profile applies its own logic: avoid traffic, seek fast tarmac, prefer paths, or on the contrary pile on the elevation. Let's run through them.
🛡️Safe
The default choice for most rides. It favors quiet roads, cycle paths and greenways, even if it means a slightly longer route. Ideal for daily trips, family outings and anyone who wants to avoid major roads.
⚡Fast & 🚴Sporty
For eating up the kilometers on tarmac. These profiles seek the most direct, rolling route — perfect for road training, time efforts and racing.
🧭Touring & ➖Flat
The sweet spot for leisure rides. "Touring" balances comfort and quiet to enjoy the scenery; "Flat" limits elevation — valuable for long distances, loaded bikes or legs just getting started.
🪨Gravel & 🌲Forest & trails
The playground of gravel and MTB. These profiles favor rideable tracks, paths and singletrack over the road. To go further, read our complete gravel route guide.
🔋E-bike optimized
Designed for electric-assist bikes: it accounts for terrain and realistic distances with assistance, so you don't run out of battery 5 km from home.
🌄Max climbing
The opposite of the "Flat" profile: it seeks out hills. For climbers and anyone who wants to turn a ride into an elevation session.
The golden rule: profile first, tweaks after
Always pick the profile before drawing: it drives the whole calculation. Then fine-tune by dragging the line to force a specific passage, and keep an eye on the distance and elevation shown. In a few seconds, you go from a generic itinerary to your ideal ride.
Try the profiles live
Switch profile and watch the route redraw instantly. Free, no install.
Open the planner