16 Jul 2023 - 24 Jul 2023
The start of week 3 of the Grand Tour of France, the world’s premier cycle race, remains in the French Alps. And the Grand Tours Project Ride Every Kilometre Week 3 tour will be there riding each stage before the actual race, on the same race routes.
Our Week 3 Ride Every Kilometre entails six full stages of riding, possibly more if you choose to ride further on Stage 16, the day of the 22 kilometre Individual Time Trial. However, you may also choose to conserve your legs as Stage 17 is the penultimate Queen stage with a total of 5,400 metres ascent! The finish entails a heartbreaking 18 percent ramp after a welcome descent from Col de la Loze, itself tortuously long and steep.
Stage 18, the next day, is ‘hilly’ which means it's not as arduous as the Queen Stage. Information for this stage has not been released but because it takes place in the French Alps, we suspect there will be category climbs included. Stage 19 is ‘Flat’ but the profile is pretty challenging with several low level climbs and one category climb.
Unusually, Stage 20 is a mountain stage in the Vosges with six category climbs over 133 kilometres. The last two climbs average 8 percent. A transfer to Paris and your opportunity to ride the flat Stage 21 from Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines ending with several loops around the Champs-Élysées (115 km). The tour remains an extra day to join in the spectacle of watching the pros arrive in Paris from VIP areas.
Some mountains, some hilly and flat routes, finishing in beautiful Paris and joining the fans on 23 July for the final stage. Add to that French cuisine, wine, aperitifs, summer and this will be a week to remember.
So will you join Grand Tours Project on Week 3 Ride Every Kilometre of France’s Grand Boucle?
Total price: From €4,590
ITT, the Queen Stage and to the Jura
DAY 2 - 17 JULY - Stage 16 - PASSY > COMBLOUX
22 km (hilly)
DAY 3 - 18 JULY - Stage 17 - SAINT-GERVAIS MONT BLANC > COURCHEVEL
166 km (Mountain)
DAY 4 - 19 JULY - Stage 18 - MOÛTIERS > BOURG-EN-BRESSE - 186 km (Hilly)
DAY 5 - 20 JULY - Stage 19 - MOIRANS-EN-MONTAGNE > POLIGNY
173 km (flat)