ULTIMATE TOUR DE FRANCE

Timeline #1:

For guests who are already at our Team Hotel i.e Day 0 – Pre Tour Arrivals

7:00am – 9:00am: Welcome group breakfast at our team hotel. Meet the team and other guests in the group

7:45am – 9:00am: Bike Building, and or Meet Your Hire Bike (if you haven’t already done this the evening prior)

9:00am Non-Cycling: Free Program to explore the old town area, enjoy morning tea prior to our ride, or vehicle departure

10:45am: Meetng in the lobby: Ofcial welcome

11:00am: 63km Ride starts from Hotel and non-cycling group depart from hotel in vehicle/s

3:00pm: Visit Tour of Flanders Cycling Museum

3:30pm: Transfer in vehicles from Oudenaarde to Ghent (approx. 30 minutes)

4:30pm: Canal Boatride in Ghent with your El Capitan, and Tour Leader Stefaan Rogiers

6:30 pm: Return transfer in vehicles from Ghent to hotel (approx. 30 minutes)

7:45pm: Meet in the hotel lobby / restaurant 3 Course Welcome Dinner and Drink

Timeline #2:

For guests arriving today

7:30am: Pickup Brussels Zaventem Airport, Belgium (Transfer Approx. 2h to Team Hotel – Trafc)

9:00am: Alternatvely we’ll meet you at our local train staton, Kortrijk [Cortrai], Belgium

9:00am – 10.30am: Bike Building, and or Meet Your Hire Bike, take some morning tea prior to our ride

10:45am: n the lobby prior to the ride start: Ofcial welcome.

11:00pm: Ride starts from hotel and non-cycling group depart from hotel in vehicle/s

3:00pm: Visit Tour of Flanders Cycling Museum

3:30pm: Transfer in vehicles from Oudenaarde to Ghent (approx. 30 minutes)

4:30pm: Canal Boatride in Ghent with El Capitan, and Tour Leader Stefaan Rogiers

6:30 pm: Return transfer in vehicles from Ghent to hotel (approx. 30 minutes)

7:45pm: Meet in the hotel lobby / restaurant 3 Course Welcome Dinner and Drink

Pick up – Arrival Information

Morning Pickup, Collection/Transfer options:

7.30am: Brussels Zaventem Airport, Belgium. Arrival Halls Meet Point: “Quick Restaurant/café”. We’ll meet you at the entry area to the “Quick restaurant/café”. Vehicle transfer to our Team Hotel approx. 2 Hours (traffic dependent)

9:00am: Local Train Station, Flanders Area Belgium: Meet at our local Train Station. Our Hotel is conveniently located a short diagonal walk across from the train station.

*NB. If you’re travelling with a bike (or a bike in a bike bag) ensure you book your bike on the train too.

We’ll all be connected via a WhatsApp chat group, we create the group chat just prior to your tour start so that we can all communicate and update each other.

More about our day – Welcome to Belgium and Tour de France “Grand Départ”.

An actioned packed first day, it’s our Official Arrival Day and Tour of Flanders experience. Today we experience what it feels to be a Flandrien on and off the bike, yet in summer.

Today we go to the heart of the Tour of Flanders: Oudenaarde and indulge ourselves in the Medieval wealth of Flanders, and of course prepare ourselves for the official start of the Tour de France 2025.

Non-cycling options

Plenty of options today, the morning is yours to enjoy, options include yet aren’t limited exploring our immediate area and old town in Flanders. After lunch join the group in our vehicle/s and travel a sightseeing loop around the area it’s villages, it’s a unique and beautiful landscape, with lovely towns and places to explore. If time permits in the day, we’ll stop off to visit a few points of interest and meet up with the cycling group enroute to Oudenaarde.

Once in the town of Oudenaarde explore the Tour of Flanders cycling museum and town of Oudenaarde.

Or, If you’d like some suggestions for more active, walks, runs etc we can make some suggested routes, or relax and enjoy the comforts and spa of our hotel, sights and places of interest around our hotel. Alternatively ask us for some options based on your personal interests, we have some great recommendations for the region.

From Oudenaarde, we’ll travel further on to Ghent. To relive the Medieval days and to experience one of the most beautful and coziest cites of Belgium via a canal boat tour with our very own Stefaan Rogiers as your boat captain and guide. Afer our visit to Ghent, we’ll head back to our hotel in the comfort of our vehicles, approx. 45-minute transfer.

Our Rides: 28km – 63km [Optonal Additonal 25km/275m]

Climbing 250m – 800m

Today’s rides start from either our hotel – or enroute to the town of Oudenaarde, as its arrival day we may need a litle fexibility to ensure everyone’s bike is assembled and they are ready to depart on tme, yet we endeavour to start prompt – “on Swiss Time.

Today’s rides show case the Tour of Flanders, it’s one of the fve major One Day Classics races in cycling. Feared and loved by many cyclists all over the world. We endeavour to ride the famous Tour of Flanders hills, bergs/climbs of the Kwaremont, Paterberg and fnally the Koppenberg in our ride optons.

Opton 1: 28km -350m

Travel in our vehicle from our Hotel, join the non-cycling program for the frst part of the route then Opton 1 ride starts In Kerkhove, where you’ll join the riders from today’s longer ride.

You’ll ride a loop which climbs and descends our way to Oudenaarde, we’ll ride via the famous roads of the Tour of Flanders, on the Oude Kwaremont – Koppenberg and Paterberg.

Opton 2: 63km – 600m

From our hotel we head north-east on the Lys River bikeway toward the towns of Harelbeke, then onto Waregem. Our route takes us past the Flanders Fields American Cemetery and Memorial in Waregem.

We’ll pause briefly at the World War 1 cemetery and memorial. Originally a temporary battlefield burial ground, Flanders Field American Cemetery later became the only permanent American World War I cemetery in Belgium. The Cemetery commemorates 411 service members of the United States Armed Forces of which 368 are interred. The Walls of the Missing inside the chapel venerates 43 missing service members.

This cemetery occupies a six-acre (2.5 hectares) site. The government of Belgium granted its free use as a permanent burial ground in perpetuity without charge or taxation. At the centre of the cemetery is the small memorial chapel of white Pouillenay stone. Above its bronze entrance door is engraved “Greet Them Ever with Grateful Hearts”

From Waregem we head to Kerkhove [or start point for the 28km ride], from here our route experiences a slice of the Tour of Flanders. Think of cobbles, punchy climbs and lovely weather conditions in summer.

From the Koppenberg we head down to Oudenaarde with a litle detour: We go in search of one of Flanders’ fnest cycling legs. Tom Boonen’s. They are on top of his favourite ‘berg -mountain’: Taaienberg. We’ll end our ride in Oudenaarde at the Tour of Flanders Museum. To experience a true Flandrien feeling and understand where the heart of cycling is.

Opton 3: Additonal Extra: 25km – 300m [If tme permits]

At Oudenaarde if tme permits you’ll have the opton to discover more climbs and cobbles featured in de Ronde van Vlaanderen (Tour of Flanders). You can add a loop of 25km and 300m of elevaton to both ride optons.

Plenty of ride options today depending on your preferences, we’ll talk you through them on the day, depending how you are feeling

What to bring

Each day pack a day pack with additional cycling clothing, warmer type kit and warm layers to put in our vehicle, or in your handlebar bag. In Belgium and Northern France conditions can change quickly. From sunny, to wet and windy. Normally in July temperatures can be mild to warm. If the weather is looking to be cool, it’s best to carry warm layers – consider riding with a handlebar bag with warm and dry layers ready. Most cycling brands offer good compact 2-3 Litre capacity handlebar bags now – we use *Rapha or Scicon handlebar bags, they are compact yet have enough room to keep your jacket/s and snacks in.

Pack a daypack to put in our vehicle with any specific hydration and nutrition you need, a towel, change of off bike clothes, shoes etc for après bike. Today once off the bike we head to Ghent, so we suggest a full change of clothes, jackets etc if it’ll be cool in the late afternoon evening for our canal boat ride.

We’ll talk about the weather forecast prior to departing so you can be well prepared.

Aperitvo

On a day like today, where we need to get our system going, we would like to make a bold suggeston: a beer brewed with this purpose. Thrive Peak Beer to Reload is a refreshing and energizing alcohol-free beer crafed to support recovery afer physical actvity, ofering a functonal twist to the typical beer experience. Its favour is crisp and refreshing, ofen featuring fruity, citrusy, or herbal notes that make it easy to enjoy. The local university plays a crucial role in the development of Thrive, providing the research and innovaton behind its unique functonal ingredients. As part of the collaboraton, university researchers and brewers worked together to explore how certain ingredients can aid in recovery, hydraton, and overall well-being.

The university’s expertse in nutriton, science, and brewing helps ensure that the beer delivers both a great taste and functonal benefts for its consumers. This partnership refects the growing trend of blending science and lifestyle in the world of craf beer, with universites helping to push the boundaries of what’s possible in functonal beverages. Brewed in Ghent, Thrive beer is fantastc to reduce cramping. It will have you rehydrated quickly and ready to go again for tomorrow.

Tonight’s Soiree

Welcome to the “Tour de France Grand Départ” Dinner and Drink. Group welcome dinner tonight, our chef is preparing a special seasonal menu to highlight Flemish fresh seasonal produce. Dinner is a great chance to relive a superb first day in Flanders and talk about the days ahead. (Three course dinner and a drink Included).

Cycloslang – Bidon Collé

In a race it is hard to fnd recovery, but ofen a bidon collé can do the trick. A “bidon collé” (or stcky bidon) occurs when a cyclist grabs a water botle from the team car and ‘accidentally’ holds on for too long, allowing themselves to be pulled along by the car.

In the Spotlight – Gent

As a child of two rivers this city is a city of contrasts – where medieval towers meet modern energy, and history mingles with innovaton. Once referred to as the best kept secret of Europe, Ghent is a medieval gem with a lively soul. TBC –on the Ghent canals boat ride.

Accommodation

(1 of 5 nights)

Timeline

7:00am Breakfast room opens

8:00am Ride starts from our Hotel

9:00am Vehicle departs our Hotel (transfer approx. 1hour trafc)

1:00pm Race Start at Lille [TBC] Explore the town of Lille

5:30pm Race Finish at Lille

6:00pm Depart Lille, Return to our Hotel (approx. 30 min)

6:45pm Bike Spa once back at our hotel

More about our day

Tour de France Stage 1

This morning is the day we’ve all been waitng for; we’ll be witness to history in the making, afer three years of celebratng abroad, the Tour de France starts once again in France.

We experience the Tour de France Grand Depart in Lille. For Lille, it is not their frst rodeo as this city organised the Grand Depart in 1960 and in 1994.

We depart Kortrijk early either by bike or in our vehicles bound for Lille, we’ll arrive in plenty of tme to see this great city come to life under a Tour de France.

We’ll visit the areas around the race start, team buses, explore the old town –vieux Lille- and see the race as it departs Lille, it’s sure to be a truly memorable experience.

Afer the race start you’ll have plenty of tme for leisure throughout this lovely city, try some local cuisine, and explore the city sights before the race returns later today.

We’ll be keeping a keen eye on the TV screen to absorb everythin, it’s all about Tour de France today.

Late in the afernoon we’ll see who wins the all important frst stage and frst yellow Jersey for the 2025 Tour de France.

Afer we’ve seen the race fnish and presentaton, we’ll depart Lille and return to our homebase in Kortrijk.

There’ll be lots of great stories on the return drive afer a full immersion in Tour de France today

Non-cycling options

Experience the joy and festvites of the greatest cycling event in the world. Enjoy the start and fnish of the frst stage of this years Tour de France in Lille.

We’ll use the tme in between the race depart and fnish to explore the wonderful small streets of old town Lille, it’s a beautful center and to watch the race on TV.

Our Rides: 50km

Climbing 200m

This morning we’ll roll out of our hotel in Kortrijk towards Lille – following the river Lys in search of it’s source in France.

Arriving to the town of Armentères we’ll jump onto today’s Tour de France racecourse and ride the fnal 20km of today’s TDF stage to Lille.

We’ll experience for ourselves the twists and turns of the TDF course that will lead to a bunch sprint for today’s TDF Stage into Lille.

Our goal for today is to experience as much as possible of the festvites of the Grand Depart of the Tour de France. Hence we’ve limited the ride kilometres for today, yet as always extra additonal ride optons km’s are available – ask us how.

What to bring

Pack a daypack with your essentials to put into the vehicle with any specific hydration and nutrition you need, a towel, change of clothes, shoes etc for after your ride.

Pack additional cycling clothing, warmer type kit and warm layers to put in the vehicle, yet if the weather is looking cool, you’re always best to have some warm kit with you in a handlebar bag. We’ll talk about the weather forecast again prior to departing so you can be well prepared.

About the race: Stage 1: Lille – Lille, 185km, Flat And so it begins. The frst stage is one for the sprinters, startng from and fnishing in Lille. Or will the breakaway resist tll the end?

Notes from the Race Director:

This will be a perfect opportunity for the sprinters to contest the frst Yellow Jersey. There are three climbs – the frst in Artois (NotreDame-de-Lorete), shortly afer passing through Lens, then two in Flanders (the cobbled side of Mont Cassel and Mont Noir, around 40km from the fnish). These will produce a great batle for the King of the Mountains jersey.

Afer this loop around Lille, where vigilance will be needed as there’s the possibility of a cross-wind that could produce splits in the bunch, victory should be decided between the peloton’s fastest riders, with the fnish located at the foot of the Citadel and at the end of a wide and perfectly fat kilometre-long straight.

Aprés Bike

When we return from Lille to our hotel, we’ll host a bike Spa to double-check and tune everyone’s bikes, we’ll ensure each bike has managed our rides well, and your bikes are well prepared for the days ahead.

Tonight’s Soiree

Late today afer the race fnish, we return to our hotel in our vehicles. We’ve kept this evening as free program to encourage exploring Flanders, Belgium and indulge in some cultural immersion via food, wine and its bars, restaurants, and cafés.

We are in the centre of an old Flemish town; it’s a lovely city centre to explore. Ask us for some local recommendatons depending on your budget, preferences, food styles etc.

*NB, a favourite local place we visit each year in the centre of the old town is “Ribs n Beer”, it’s a great local restaurant where you can enjoy a vast range – styles of ribs, it’s all you can eat ribs, yet it’s quality, rather than a quantty place – a vast range of beers are also available.

Fun Facts!

In this ambiguity of Franco-Belgian infuences and constant hopping back and forth across the border, we need to make one thing clear: let’s talk fries.

The French and Belgians have an ongoing dispute about where fries were invented. From the Belgian standpoint, the popularity of the term “French fries” is explained as “French gastronomic hegemony” into which the cuisine of Belgium was assimilated, because of a lack of understanding coupled with a shared language and geographic proximity of the countries.

The Belgian journalist Jo Gérard claimed that a 1781 family manuscript recounts that potatoes were deep-fried prior to 1680 in the Meuse valley, as a substtute for frying fsh when the rivers were frozen. Gérard never produced the manuscript that supports this claim, and “the historical value of this story is open to queston”. In any case, it is unrelated to the later history of the French fry, as the potato did not arrive in the region untl around 1735. In any case, given 18th-century economic conditons: “it is absolutely unthinkable that a peasant could have dedicated large quanttes of fat for cooking potatoes. At most they were sautéed in a pan. Wathever it may be, just one advice: never say French fries to fries in Belgium.

Cycloslang – Chasse Patate

We stick to the potato for our cycloslang: Chasse patate originates from French and combines two words: chasse, literally “hunt” and patate literally “potato” but figuratively refers to a “fool” or “simpleton.”

In the context of road cycling, chasse patate describes a situation where a cyclist breaks away from the peloton (the main group of riders) and halfway through the effort, they get stuck without a realistic chance of catching the leading group. Essentially, they are chasing after the breakaway but remain stranded in no man’s land. Despite the considerable effort they put in to stay ahead, their pursuit becomes futile because they neither catch up with the leaders nor drop back to the peloton. It’s a somewhat comical and ineffective chase, akin to chasing after a potato!

Interestingly, in track cycling (specifically in the madison), the term has a different meaning. In this context, it refers to a race where the riders intentionally make it easier for each other during the competition. They ride at a noticeably slower pace, allowing demarred pairs to take laps on the peloton without much resistance. Again, it’s a situation where the effort expended by the riders isn’t taken seriously.

So, whether you’re chasing potatoes on the road or engaging in a leisurely pursuit on the track, chasse patate captures those moments when the outcome seems both elusive and amusing!

In the Spotlight – Lille

We visit Lille tomorrow, so it’s a good tme to brush up on Lille, it’s also known as Rijsel in Dutch it’s located in the northern part of France, near the border with Belgium. Lille is nicknamed the capital of Flanders.

It has a rich history and was once an industrial powerhouse, contributing to the preservation of a large and beautiful historic centre.

Lille is known for its vibrant cultural scene, delicious cuisine, Christmas markets and friendly locals. Whether you’re interested in history, art, or simply soaking up the lively ambiance, Lille has something to offer for every traveller. If you want to have a panoramic view over the city: climb the stairs to the top of the Lille Belfry, the iconic bell tower.

Timeline

7:00am Breakfast room opens

8:30am Vehicle departs our Hotel for Chartreuse de Neuville (approx. 2h)

11:00am Start of ride optons 2 & 4

12:00pm Start of ride optons 1 & 3

5:00pm Race Finish at Boulogne-sur-Mer

5:30pm Return to our Hotel (approx. 2h min)

8:00pm Meet in the lobby for dinner (approx. 5 mins walk)

More about our day

Afer the tour de France got underway yesterday, today promises to be another fantastc day. We start the morning quietly with a move towards Montreuil and Boulogne-sur-mer. The later is the arrival city [fnish] of today’s stage. We have quiet tme to explore this city and get a full breath of fresh air on the coast before following today’s denouement.

Afer the race fnish we return back to the hotel in the comfort of our vehicle. We’ll have plenty to discuss today’s stage during the return drive and dinner

Non-cycling options

Today we have a beautful day scheduled for you. Early this morning afer breakfast our vehicle/s travel towards the abbey of La Chartreuse de Neuville. While the cyclists in our group get ready for their ride, you can visit the abbey and its gardens. From there on we’ll transfer in our vehicle towards Frenq, we’ll hand out encouragement and support for our riders in the group and head towards Boulogne-sur-Mer.

In the afernoon you can explore this amazing litle town and watch the fnale porton of today’s stage unfold as the race hurtles towards us. Or you may even want to enjoy a walk along the Côte d’ Opale and view the clifs of Dover.

Our Rides: 40km – 65km [Optonal Extra’s Ride add 50km] Climbing: 500m – 750m {Optonal Extra’s Ride 50k – add 600m]

Another day with plenty of optons to choose from and best of all, you don’t have to decide right away. Throughout the day, you can see how the legs feel or how much you feel like exploring the immediate surroundings of Boulogne-sur-Mer, the fnish town of today’s TDF stage.

We leave our hotel –in Lycra [cycling kit] – this morning and transfer in our vehicle/s towards the abbey of La Chartreuse de Neuville [approx. 2 hour transfer]

Ride Optons #1: 65 Km: Climbing: 750 m [+ Optonal 50km]

Upon arrival in our vehicle, our 1st ride opton start locaton is at La Chartreuse de Neuville, here we jump onto the racecourse of the second stage of the Tour de France 2025 and ride the last 65 kilometres of today’s stage.

At the village of Frenq, afer about 25 kilometres and afer our frst punchy climb, we’ll be joined by the other riders on Ride Opton 2.

If tme permits once we arrive to today’s Tour de France fnish town of Boulogne-sur-Mer., you all have the choice for an optonal loop of 55 kilometres. See Ride Opton 3

Ride Optons #2: 40 Km: Climbing: 500m [+ Optonal 50km]

Once we arrive to Frenq in our vehicle, we join the other riders from Ride Opton 1 group and ride the fnal 40km of Today’s TDF route.

We try to fnd the puncheur within ourselves to ride the fnal secton of today’s TDF stage towards Boulogne-sur-Mer, with two punchy climbing tests on the coast, at Saint Étenne-au-Mont, where there are sectons at 15%, then at Outreau, with around 5km remaining, the fnish line will be located at the top of a kilometrelong climb.

Once at At Boulogne-sur-Mer [Today’s TDF fnish town] if tme permits, you also have the choice for an optonal loop of 55 kilometres. See Ride Opton 3

Ride Optons #3: 50 Km: Climbing: 600m [Optonal Extra’s]

Boulogne-sur-Mer – Cap Griz Nez Loop

Once the group arrives to Boulogne-sur-Mer, we have the opton of a loop takes us to the town of Wissant and towards Cap Griz Nez, barely 33 km from the Dover chalk clifs in England, before returning to Boulogne-sur-Mer. Where we’ll watch today’s TDF race fnish late in the day around 5pm.

What to bring

Pack a daypack with your essentals to put into the vehicle with any specifc hydraton and nutriton you need, a towel, change of clothes, shoes etc for afer your ride and transfer back to our hotel.

Pack additonal cycling clothing, warmer type kit and warm layers to put in the vehicle, yet if the weather is looking cool, you’re always best to have some warm kit with you in a handlebar bag. We’ll talk about the weather forecast again prior to departng so you can be well prepared.

About the race

Notes from the Race Director: Startng in the heart of the Douais region, this stage’s profle will almost certainly lead to a new name in the Yellow Jersey. If, as expected, the previous stage has been won by a pure sprinter, it will be difcult for them to cope with the constant wear and tear in the Artois and Boulonnais hills and by the incessant batle for positon as those climbs open out onto windy plateaus

The fnish, meanwhile, is tailor-made for puncheurs with two tough climbing tests on the coast, at Saint Étenne-au-Mont, where there are sectons at 15%, then at Outreau, with around 5km remaining, the fnish line will be located at the top of a kilometre-long climb. The favourites for the overall crown will need to have their wits about them.

Tonight’s Soiree

Late today afer the race fnish, we return to our hotel in our vehicles. We’ll meet in our hotel lobby then head out to enjoy dinner together, we’ll also go over tomorrow’s program

Fun Facts!

Cycloslang – Puncheur

A puncheur in cycling is a road bicycle racer who specializes in rolling terrain with short but steep climbs. These riders are aptly named, as they pack a powerful punch during the arduous ascents. Their defning characteristcs include explosive speed and stamina, allowing them to surge ahead of the peloton on challenging terrains marked by steep climbs. Unlike mountain specialists or sprinters, puncheurs excel in tackling short, sharp inclines—typically ranging between 1 to 2 kilometers in length with gradients of 10% to 20%. These riders thrive in races like the Spring Classics, renowned for their undulatng landscapes and ferce competton. Notable events include the Liège-Bastogne-Liège, the Flèche Wallonne (featuring the notorious Mur de Huy), and the Philadelphia Internatonal Championship (known for the Manayunk Wall). Timing is crucial for puncheurs; knowing when to make that decisive move ofen determines victory or defeat. Their physical atributes, honed through rigorous training, allow them to break away from the peloton with quick bursts of speed.

In the Spotlight – Boulogne-sur-Mer

Boulogne-sur-Mer is a coastal city in northern France, located on the English Channel. It’s famously known as France’s largest fshing port and a key center for seafood. The city has Roman origins and was once called Gesoriacum. Its upper town is stll surrounded by medieval ramparts built in the 13th century. Dominatng the skyline is the Notre-Dame Basilica, which also houses France’s largest crypt. Boulogne played a strategic role during Napoleon’s era as a base for his planned invasion of England. Today, one of its biggest atractons is Nausicaá, a massive natonal sea center and aquarium. The harbor area remains lively with fshing boats, seafood markets, and seaside restaurants. Boulognesur-Mer is a charming blend of history, maritme culture, and coastal charm. It’s a wonderful place for history bufs, food lovers, and sea enthusiasts alike.

Timeline*

7:00am Breakfast room opens

8:15am Vehicle departs our Hotel for Valenciennes (approx. 1hour transfer]

9:30am 105KM Ride starts at Valenciennes 75km Ride starts at Valenciennes

12.30- 1:00pm [Time TBC] Race Start at Valenciennes

1:30pm Transfer towards Templeuve (approx. 30min)

2:00pm Start of our ride at Templeuve (35km)

2:00pm Vehicle Transfer toward Velodrome Roubaix (approx. 30 mins)

3:00pm Explore the mythical showers and Velodrome Roubaix

3:30pm Transfer towards Dunkerque (1hour30mins)

5:30pm See race Finish at Dunkerque

6:00pm Vehicle departs for Ypres (Transfer approx 1 hour)

7:00pm Explore the town of Ypres, informal Dinner

7:45pm Regroup at Menin Gate

8:00pm Last Post Ceremony

* The schedule as well as the tmeline is very much subject to today’s ofcial start tme. The ofcial start tme is not yet known to date, as soon as we have the informaton we’ll provide clarifcaton in our fnal itnerary

More about our day

Tour de France meets Paris – Roubaix Experience.

Today we have a bold plan yet we’re going to require a lot more detail from the race organisaton in regards to the days stage tmings, stage route etc prior to confrming the fnal plan. Yet we’re going to try and pack a lot into a Tour de France day, our aim at this early stage is a very lofy goal, we’re going to put it out there and then re-asses this lofy goal when we have the ofcial tming of the days stage start, fnish etc are supplied to us.

The plan as it stands is to transfer to Today’s TDF stage start town of Valenciennes, here you’ll either depart on your bike for Ride Opton 1: 105km – Ride Opton 2: 70km, or explore the town of Valenciennes prior to seeing Today’s TDF stage start. Afer the stage start experience, we enjoy the Paris Roubaix cobbles, then transfer again to today’s stage fnish in Dunkirk. Should we need to adjust the program we’ll update everything in the fnal itnerary.

Beautfully cobbled, epic, iconic. Today we have our Paris-Roubaix experience planned for you, yet you have the chance to ride and experience it in summer.

Paris – Roubaix is perhaps the most known one-day Monument in cycling. This cobblestone Spring Classic, always ridden a week afer the Tour of Flanders, is sometmes referred to as “The Hell of the North”. On today’s longer ride you’ll experience the legendary cobblestone sectons: Troué D’Arenberg, Carrefour de L’Arbre, Mons-en-Pévèle.

We conclude an acton packed day with a visit to Ypres and atending the “Last Post”- Ceremony to the fallen solders of WW1, it’s held each day at 8.00pm under the Menin gate.

Non-cycling optons

Visit Valenciennes and experience the start of Stage 3. Afer the race start we’ll contnue towards Dunkerque at the Northsea. But before diving into the tragic history of Dunkerque we’ll pass by The Velodrome at Roubaix, where history is writen by many cyclists. If tme permits, we’ll make a quick visit to the iconic showers at Roubaix.

At Dunkerque we’ll watch the thrilling fnish of today’s sprint stage, while eatng a “Garnalenkroket”.

Afer the race we transfer to our hotel via Ypres and the Menin Gate to experience “The Last Post Ceremony”, a moving tribute to the fallen soldiers of WW1.

Our Rides: 35km – 70km – 105km

Climbing: 115m – 250m – 305m

Today is our “Hell of the North” experience. Although there is hardly any elevaton in our rides today, this day is defnitely a highlight for this tour

Ride Opton #1: 105 km – 305m

Today, our longer ride starts at Valenciennes, we’ll need to commence our ride prior to today’s TDF stage start, we’ve got a lot to get through, we’ll follow the fnal of the one-day monument: Paris-Roubaix.

Afer only 10 km we’ll hit the forest of Arenburg. Maybe the most known cobble secton in the world. From there, we zig-zag our way to the Roubaix velodrome. At Templeuve, the other riders of our group will join and ride the four and fve stars secteurs (Carrefour de L’arbre, Camphin-en-pévèle,…) to the Roubiax Velodrome

Ride Opton #2: 70km – 250m

Similar to Opton 1 Ride, we start our ride at Valenciennes, yet we take a more direct route towards Templeuve. We ride a similar course and tackle the forest of Arenburg. and ride the four and fve stars secteurs (Carrefour de L’arbre, Camphin-en-pévèle,…) to the Roubiax Velodrome

Opton #3: 35 km – 115m

At Templeuve we start our short ride opton for today, yet rest assured: there are stll plenty of stars that will fall from the sky in the form of sector ratngs: Carrefour de L’arbre*****, Camphin-enpévèle****, Gruson***,…

*Optonal extra ride optons aren’t available today – you’ll thank us for this.

What to bring

Pack a daypack with your essentals to put into the vehicle with any specifc hydraton and nutriton you need, a towel, change of clothes, shoes etc for afer your ride.

Pack additonal cycling clothing, warmer type kit and warm layers to put in the vehicle, yet if the weather is looking cool, you’re always best to have some warm kit with you in a handlebar bag. We’ll talk about the weather forecast again prior to departng so you can be well prepared.

About the race

Notes from the Race Director:

Startng on fairly sheltered roads, the route will cross the coalfelds initally to reach the intermediate sprint at Isbergues, a major cycling venue in northern France. Afer climbing Mont Cassel, the fnal 35 kilometres through the vast expanse of the Flanders countryside will be exposed to the wind. The leaders will need strong team-mates around them for protecton just in case echelons form.

The fnale will be decided by the strength and directon of the wind: the peloton will either split into several groups, or there’ll be a bunch sprint. If this second eventuality plays out, the fnish locaton, close to the Marcel-Tribut stadium, will provide the ideal setng for a showdown between the sprinters.

Tonight’s Soiree

Late today afer the race fnish, we head towards Ypres in our vehicles. We’ve kept this evening as free program.

Informal evening tonight for dinner in Ypres – prior to our visit to “The Last Post” ceremony. Time constraints considered, tonight may be a good opton for a quick and cheerful type dinner near to the Menin Gate so that you arrive in plenty of tme for the ceremony.

The Last Post memorial is every day atended by a big crowd. So, if you want to see the Buglers play from the front row it’s best to come at least ffeen minutes in advance.

Fun Facts!

The Paris Roubaix course is maintained by Les Amis de Paris–Roubaix, a group of fans of the race formed in 1983.

The forçats du pavé seek to keep the course safe for riders while maintaining its difculty.

Cycloslang – Echelons

In cycling, echelons are diagonal lines of riders that stretch across the road. They form when there’s a crosswind because the place to shelter from the breeze is no longer directly behind the rider in front, but rather behind and to the side of them. Due to their formaton, each echelon can only accommodate a limited number of riders.

Here’s how it works:

Crosswinds: When strong crosswinds hit during a race, they can dramatcally split the peloton, resultng in signifcant tme gaps between riders. Instead of the wind resistance coming directly from ahead, it hits at an angle, making the most sheltered positon to the side of the rider ahead.

Echelon Formaton: To take advantage of this, cyclists arrange themselves in an angled line across the width of the road. The lead riders positon themselves in downwind positons to protect from injury and reduce drag, while their teammates face the brutal horizontal forces of the crosswind. The cyclists at the front of the echelon ofen rotate, allowing them to exert maximum efort before recovering in easier positons within the formaton.

Tactcal Element: Teams can also use the entre width of the road to force others behind them to ride in the guter or form their own echelons further back. This can create gaps between echelons, leading to tme diferences over the course of the race. Failing to fnd the slipstream in an echelon requires riders to put in extra efort, which can lead to fractures in the peloton.

Crosswinds and echelons add excitement to races, but for riders, staying in positon and avoiding accidents can be challenging if they’re not part of the frontmost echelon.

In the Spotlight – Ypres

Although Ypres was already throughout the Middle Ages a thriving city, famous for its high-quality cloth producton. It holds immense signifcance due to its role in World War I.

Ypres was at the heart of several major batles during the First World War. The city became a focal point for both the Allied forces and the German army as they engaged in intense combat.

First Batle of Ypres (1914): This batle took place from October 19 to November 22, 1914. It marked the inital confrontaton around Ypres. Despite atempts at fank atacks, neither side achieved signifcant breakthroughs. The batle transitoned into the infamous trench warfare that characterized much of the war on the Western Front.

Ypres sufered immense destructon during the war the town was fatened, including iconic landmarks like the 13th-century Cloth Hall and the Cathedral of St. Martn were reduced to ruins by German bombardment. However, the city’s resilience and strategic importance persisted, everything you see in Ypres today has been rebuilt from the ground up, only piles of smouldering rubble were lef behind afer the war, it’s truly incredible on every level.

Ypres remains a poignant symbol of sacrifce and loss. Subsequent batles, including the Third Batle of Ypres (also known as Passchendaele), contnued to shape its history.

In summary, Ypres stands as a testament to the human cost of war, and the enduring spirit of those who lived through those tumultuous tmes. Its historic signifcance resonates even today.

Timeline

7:00am Breakfast room opens

8:30am Vehicle departs our Hotel for Amiens (approx. 2h)

12:00pm Race Start at Amiens

12:30pm Ride starts at Amiens

4:30pm Vehicles leaves Arras for Omer Vander Ghinste Brewery (approx 1h)

5:30pm Brewery visit

7:30pm Farewell dinner

More about our day

Today, as the Tour de France heads south, we bid farewell to the Tour de France afer we see the race start at Amiens. This stunning city is the startng place for stage four. The city is best known for its breathtaking Cathédrale Notre-Dame d’Amiens, the largest Gothic cathedral in France.

Afer the race has lef the city, we’ll start both of our ride optons for today.

Non-cycling optons

Today we experience the Tour de France one last tme and say goodbye to the Tour de France and to northern French culture. We visit some fabulous cites today: Amiens and Arras, and conclude with a visit to a Belgian Brewery, we head to Kortrijk’s home brewery: Omer Vander Ghinste.

Our Rides: 50km – 90km

Climbing: 450m – 715m

Afer we see today’s TDF stage start, both our ride optons start at Amiens.

Ride opton 1: 50km – 450m Maricourt

From today’s TDF start town Amiens, we travel eastward and follow the river the Somme.

At Maricourt, 50km upstream, our short ride fnishes, our longer ride contnues north.

Ride opton 2: 90km – 715m Arras

Afer leaving the river the Somme, our terrain becomes a bit more undulatng. We climb past Maricourt to a plateau on which we stay for a while. The last 25 km is slightly downhill to our destnaton for the day Arras..

[*Extra ride optons are available – ask us how]

What to bring

Pack a daypack with your essentals to put into the vehicle with any specifc hydraton and nutriton you need, a towel, change of clothes, shoes etc. Pack additonal cycling clothing, warmer type kit and warm layers to put in the vehicle, yet if the weather is looking cool, you’re always best to have some warm kit with you in a handlebar bag. We’ll talk about the weather forecast again prior to departng so you can be well prepared.

About the race

Notes from the Race Director

Seven years have passed since Dutch sprinter Dylan Groenewegen’s victory on the most recent of the Tour’s ten fnishes in Amiens and its metropolitan area. This will be the race’s 14th visit to Jules Verne’s adopted city, from which the riders will depart for Rouen.

The historic capital of Picardy, and the second-largest city in the Hauts-de-France region afer Lille, will showcase its majestc setng to race followers, spectators and television viewers. Lying at the heart of it is the Notre-Dame cathedral, the largest in the country and a jewel of Gothic art, which has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1981.

Aprés Bike

When we return from Arras to our homebase in Kortrijk, we’ll visit the brewery of Omer Vander Ghinste.

Post Race Pack Down

Late today – pre dinner. We return to our hotel from the brewery; our staf will be on hand to assist should you need help to pack your bike or remove accessories from your hire bike.

Fun Facts!

Cycloslang – Domestque

A domestque in professional road cycling is a rider who selfessly works for the beneft of their team and leader, rather than aiming to win the race. The term originates from French and translates to “servant”. These dedicated cyclists take on various critcal roles during races: setng the pace, chasing breakaways, mechanical and physical assistance, supply carriers.

In the Spotlight

Amiens

Amiens is a historic city in northern France, located in the Hauts-deFrance region. It sits along the Somme River and has long been a cultural and economic hub.

The city is best known for its breathtaking Cathédrale Notre-Dame d’Amiens, the largest Gothic cathedral in France.

This UNESCO World Heritage site is famous for its intricate façade and towering spires. Amiens was heavily damaged during both World Wars but has been beautfully rebuilt.

The city center blends medieval charm with modern touches. A unique feature of Amiens is its hortllonnages—foatng gardens on canals that can be explored by boat.

These gardens date back to Roman tmes and are stll cultvated today. Amiens has a vibrant student populaton, thanks to its universites and cultural life. The Musée de Picardie houses impressive art and archaeology collectons.

Writer Jules Verne lived in Amiens, and his house is now a museum open to the public.

He even served as a city councilor there!

The city also has a strong Christmas traditon, with one of the largest Christmas markets in northern France

Fun fact: The cathedral once had a colorful light show that recreated its original painted facade—bringing history to life in dazzling style.

With its canals, history, and literary tes, Amiens is full of charm and surprises.

Tonight’s Soiree

Farewell Dinner and drink

Tonight, we gather in the hotel lobby bar, then over dinner we’ll come together to celebrate a magnifcent Tour de France – Grand Départ together. Three course dinner and drink included.

Timeline

7:00am – 9.00am Farewell Group Breakfast

9.00am *Please check out and setle any personal room expenses

9:15am Train staton departure

Bring bags down if you require assistance to transfer to our local Kortrijk Train Staton, we’ll assist you and your bags across to the train staton

9.45am for 10:00am Departure Brussels (Zaventem) Internatonal Airport.

Bring bags down if you require a transfer to Brussels (Zaventem) Internatonal Airport.

More about our day

This morning, we have a nice, relaxed farewell breakfast. Afer breakfast we ofer the following transfer optons:

9.15am: Assisted Drop of to local train station: Trains are available to many European major centres, including . Brussels Zaventem Internatonal Airport [approx. 1hr15mins], Amsterdam, Paris etc.

*NB. If you’re travelling with a bike [or a bike in a bike bag] Ensure you book your bike on the train too.

Or alternatvely…

10am: Departure to Brussels Internatonal Airport

Our vehicle/s depart our Hotel to Brussels Internatonal Airport – approx. 2 hour drive for internatonal fights departng *afer 3pm.

Tour Finishes, thank you for joining us on the Tour de France – Grand Départ! à Bientôt! Bonne voyage.