Welcome to Tours de France!

Since 2002, Tours de France has been offering cyclists a one-of-a-kind chance to find out what it's like to ride a week of the Tour de France.

Join us for our Climbing 101 or Etape du Tour Preparation camps in
Nice, France in spring 2008. Click here for more information.

What we do

Every year we put together a week-long trip that culminates with a race on one of the stages of the Tour de France. Starting in a different place each year, we ride through some of France's most scenic regions to arrive in time to participate in the annual Etape du Tour cycling race for amateurs. The Etape as it's known is the most prestigious of France's many cyclosportif amateur cycling events, drawing 8500 starters each year.

That's why we call this trip "The Etape du Tour and then some..."

Along the way we enjoy the great weather, food and accommodations the south of France has to offer. We're casual, we like to ride, and we don't mind the odd glass of wine, either! The idea is that we do our own, mini Tour de France - but in a much more civilized fashion! And maybe the hotels are nicer than for the peloton...and OK, we like the odd glass of wine too...and sure, we keep the pace modest.

Aside from these little compromises, this truly is your chance to take part in an epic point-to-point trip across France, and to finish it off with a race in a massive peloton along one of the stages of the Tour de France! Live your dream!

This year's Etape du Tour stage

This year's Etape trip takes us back to Pau for our final stage, where we join in the Etape du Tour for a classic 165km assault on the Pyrenees culminating in the epic climb to Hautacam, site of Lance Armstrong's famous double ascent in training during the April rains. It was this climb that had Miguel Induraine predicting that Armstrong would win that year's Tour de France. Come see where history was made with us by riding your own epic tour across the south of France to finish on Hautacam one week later!

The most significant point of the route will be the Tourmalet climbing, biggest summit of the Pyrénées with 23,4km of the Est side (average 7%) and the finish Hautacam climbing, more than 15km and average 7%.

Who is this trip for?

Our group participants are generally:

• Aged in their mid-20's to 60's...
• Have a strong passion for cycling, scenery, and good times!
• Are more into "soft pedaling and easy riding" than hammering away all day (save it for race day!)...
• Work or are retired and enjoy the laid back atmosphere of every trip!

How far does this trip go?

We begin our cycling trip six days prior to the race and cycle four days, followed by a rest day before the race. Each day's ride covers about 100 - 120km per day, with a day of rest before the race.

Race Day: Usually the Etape du Tour race covers 200km on one of the hillier stages of that year's Tour de France.

By the end of the week you will have done about 700km of point-to-point riding through the south of France! But don't worry — there's always van support for those who want to start the day a little ways down the road or wind it up a little early. Our accommodations are always spectacular so we like to enjoy each location to its fullest.

What's covered?

During your week with us you don't have to worry about a thing! The cost of your trip covers:

• Entry into the Etape du Tour cycling race
• 7 nights accommodations starting the evening prior to the start of our trip, in 3* and 4* accommodations
• 7 high standard dinners and breakfasts (alcholic beverages extra)
• All on-the-road lunch foods, nutritious snacks and drinks (mid-day restaurant meals not included)
• One Tours de France cycling jersey
• Sag wagon support with enough room for riders to opt for a ride back to the hotel en route should conditions warrant it. Our driver will ensure your bags are transported between our hotels and that all you need is available to you en route and at the end of each day.
• One French-speaking, on-the-road guide at all times
• A small group of no more than 12 like-minded riders so that we don't spoil the ambience of the places we stay at
• A carefully planned route and route guide taking in quiet roads and spectacular scenery from our starting point to our final destination
• Assistance planning your travel to and from our starting point and final destination

Note: Basic mechanical support and cleaning supplies, although cleaning and maintenance of your bikes is up to you. We'll have a small inventory of basic parts on hand and will hunt out a bike shop (never far away) should we need it.