Your Opportunity To Cycle The Tour de France (Route)

Ride the Cols of Old for an exclusive Tour de France experience | Brendan Erskine

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Your Opportunity To Cycle The Tour de France!*

*The Route, Not the Actual Race!

It's every cyclist's dream: to experience the iconic trails of the Tour de France. On this very special cycling tour, Along the Cols of Old, you'll get to pedal the great Cols of the French Alps (thankfully, at your own pace).

This is an 8 day tour, with 6 days of guided cycling through Italy and France, led by professional coach Brendan Erskine.

If you have a love for cycling, have wanted to experience the Tour de France or simply want to take part in an iconic cycle in Europe, then this trip is for you!

Enjoying the solitude on the Tour de France Cycle

Cycling Route

This tour is designed to take in the best of what the Tour de France has to offer. You'll be cycling some of the most epic cols that have been pedalled by the Tour de France (for the uninitiated, a col is the lowest point of a ridge or saddle between two peaks, typically providing a pass from one side of a mountain range to another).

The trip starts in Cuneo, Italy, where the Tour de France began in 2008. From here you'll be winding through villages and valleys, including the Col de la Lombarde, the Tinee valley, the Col de la Bonnette and the Col du Galibier. All sections of the route have been featured in previous Tour de France races and you'll literally be riding along cycling history.

While the main attraction of this trip is to be able to cycle the Cols of Old, there's also the stunning alpine landscape. Spectacular waterfalls in the Tinee Valley, the viewpoint at Super Sauze, the beautiful mountains of the Hautes Alpes. Rest breaks have never looked better.

One of the descents on the TDF 2018 trip

It doesn't end there - of course, you need to experience the 21 hairpin ride on the final day from Bourg d'Oisans that sets many hearts racing. This will make you feel as though you have accomplished something epic and you'll probably be seeking a yellow jersey by the finish.

Note that this tour is separate from the actual Tour de France race and crowds, allowing you the time and freedom to experience the iconic race stages, at your own (or coach Brendan's) pace.

Cycling Leader

This tour has been lovingly created by Brendan Erskine, a former professional triathlete (and passionate Tour de France enthusiast) from New Zealand.

After successfully competing in the sport of rowing, Brendan carried on with a variety of endurance sports, beginning with cycling and multisport before moving into triathlon. In triathlon competitions, he has had many podiums and age group wins.

These days Brendan is a personal coach with a diverse background of excellence in Sport Coaching and Competing. Brendan has had great success supporting his clients through to their own achievements both at the National and International level.

Brendan hosted this tour in 2018. The tour was an incredible success, every member absolutely enjoying the adventure, the challenge and the camaraderie built over the 8 day tour in an environment that is surely the mecca of cycling.

Brendan is also the father of three boys that keep him on his toes, and despite being in his naughty 40's, he can still beat many of the top youngsters in his field. Brendan's passion for cycling and desire to discover new and interesting places make him a great host for this cycle challenge.

He is looking forward to being on this adventure with you and sharing what makes people so excited about the majestic mountain stages of the Tour de France.

There is also a bilingual local guide who will drive the support vehicle and run the day to day organisation.

Tour Grading

According to UTracks' honest trip grading system, this trip is graded as 'moderate to challenging'. The trip involves 6 days cycling between 50 and 80km / 31 and 50mi per day. In and out of the cities there will be some traffic. You need only carry your camera/rain gear and water bottle. Your luggage is transported for you between hotels/inns. Due to the long distances cycled you will need a good level of fitness to enjoy this tour.