What is your Grand Tour Project?
Are you passionate about cycling?
Do you want to escape your busy everyday life to live a unique and meaningful experience on your bike with like-minded friends? Do you want to get inspired and challenge yourself on famous Alpine passes where the glorious history of cycling was made? Or ride off the beaten path and explore roads only known by the locals in the most beautiful regions of Europe?
In 2013, I rode every stage, and every kilometre of the three Grand Tours (Giro d’Italia, Tour de France and Vuelta a España), on the same day as the professional riders, just a few hours ahead of the peloton. In 100 years of Grand Tours history, this was the first time an amateur cyclist had achieved this, and even now only 34 pros have completed all 3 Grand Tours in one season. That was my Grand Tours Project (see the website here). It was not just a personal challenge, but also a journey to share the spectacle of the Grand Tours and promote the cause of environmental sustainability through various initiatives along the route. In 63 days, I rode through hundreds of villages, discovered some incredible scenery, made friends for life and pushed myself beyond my limits more than once.
Then came the idea to share this experience with fellow passionate cyclists ... you. How? By riding every kilometre of every stage of the Giro, Tour de France or Vuelta for a week, just hours before the pros. By participating in the most prestigious granfondo in the world. By exploring the Swiss Alps, the place we call home - an unheralded cycling paradise. And by tackling the Géant de Provence with style. We believe this must all be done with outstanding support: from the friendliest and most competent guides to vehicle backup and mechanical assistance throughout the trip.
Join us for the ride of a lifetime. We’ll celebrate the culture of cycling. We’ll push ourselves. We’ll stop for pictures, coffee and (too much) gelati. We’ll make new friends. We’ll smile while climbing, and laugh when descending. We’ll taste the local cuisine - and wines. We’ll reinvent ourselves on two wheels.
What is your Grand Tours Project?
Keith Tuffley