Tour Type
Tour de France REK
Riding Level
Avid
Location
Spain & France
Duration
10 nights | 11 days | 9 stages
Length
1,465 km
Climb
17, 750 + km
The Tour de France is not just a cycling race; it is THE premier sporting event on the global calendar. The Ride Every Kilometre tour is the ultimate way to experience it, designed for serious riders committed to conquering 1 week of the official route of the 2026 Tour de France the day before the professional peloton.
Your monumental journey begins with the Grand Départ in the amazing Catalan city of Barcelona, featuring a spectacular Team Time Trial (TTT) – a discipline returning for the first time since 2019. From there, the race immediately punches into France and the high Pyrenees, offering a mix of flat stages and epic mountains, including the legendary Col d’Aspin and Col du Tourmalet. The Pyrenean block culminates in a dramatic mountain-top finish at the stunning natural amphitheatre of Gavarnie-Gèdre. The route then traverses into central France featuring dynamic flat and hilly stages, passing through Bordeaux into the mysterious volcanic region of the Massif Central and the Limousin region.
You will ride every single kilometre of the official course the day before the professional peloton – this provides access to routes that may otherwise be closed, you still experience the exuberant support of TDF fans on the epic climbs, and whenever possible, you will also gain access to the exclusive VIP hospitality zones and experience the inner workings of the Tour de France, all while being supported by the expert GTP Team of former pro riders and dedicated crew. You don’t need to be an elite athlete to take on this challenge – BUT you do need to be a strong cyclist. Our REK tours are about the journey, not the race. Each day, we’ll ride the full stage of the Tour de France route, just 24 hours before the pros, leaving time for lunch breaks, photo stops, and to soak up the atmosphere.
Choose one week, two weeks, or all 21 stages – as close to the pro experience as it gets.
We are a global cycling business, welcoming guests from all over the world, offering a diverse community and the chance to forge new friendships. We are also proud supporters of women’s cycling and consistently welcome a growing proportion of female guests.
This is a true Tour de France experience – demanding, exhilarating, and unforgettable. Are you ready to ride every kilometre?
Shorter Option
Your short tour experience begins in the captivating city of Barcelona. We will meet you at Barcelona-El Prat Airport and provide a dedicated transfer to your luxury hotel.
After arrival and check in, the team will assist in the assembly of your personal bike or fine tune the fitting for your high-performance rental bike. If time permits, we will conduct a short, restorative welcome ride to stretch the legs and confirm the setup.
The day culminates with pre-dinner drinks, where the team will present your Grand Tours Project cycling kit and provide a detailed logistics briefing for the stages ahead. As a Grand Départ guest, you can also watch the electrifying Tour de France Team Presentations, fully immersing you in the opening atmosphere of the world’s greatest race.
Today is your exclusive opportunity to ride the official Stage 1 Team Time Trial (TTT) course the day before the professionals. This short, intense 19-kilometre loop through the iconic avenues of Barcelona offers a little adrenaline rush, marking the first time the Tour has featured a TTT since 2019.
As a Ride Every Kilometre participant, you will ride the course and finish with the Montjuïc finale, where the technical, fast circuit culminates in a dramatic short climb to the finish. We will ensure all logistics are handled, from early morning preparation to reaching the finish. The rest of the day is dedicated to soaking up the sights and energy of the Grand Départ city.
Today you trace the official Stage 2 route from the historic coastal city of Tarragona back toward Barcelona. This long, 182 km stage is categorised as hilly, demanding significant endurance and careful pacing. An early start, for the 90 minute transfer to Tarragona, is required. The route features a constantly undulating profile as it skirts the beautiful Mediterranean coastline before transitioning inland through the challenging Catalan hills. You will be testing yourself over the exact roads where the sprinters’ teams and breakaway specialists will launch their decisive moves the following day.
Today is also the day to join the TDF fans near the finish line of the TDF Stage 1 TTT!
This stage presents the true mountain challenge of the Grand Départ segment. The team will transfer you to Granollers, where you commence this 196 km journey that transitions dramatically from the Catalan plains into the formidable French Pyrenees.
With an enormous 3,950 metres of vertical ascent, this stage demands sustained power and resilience. You will conquer multiple categorised climbs and navigate the border crossing, feeling the immediate shift in landscape and gradient. The day concludes with the long, relentless final ascent to the ski resort of Les Angles, providing a spectacular high-mountain finish that will push your limits and reward you with monumental views.
Beginning beneath the imposing walls of the medieval cité of Carcassonne, this is a classic transitional stage that connects the foothills of the Pyrenees. Covering 182 km with 2,750 metres of ascent, the day is characterised by sustained climbing across the beautiful, rugged terrain of the Aude and Ariège departments. While not featuring the climbs of the previous day, this stage demands continuous effort over numerous categorised ascents, providing constant vertical gain and testing recovery. The route culminates in the historic finish town of Foix, known for its dramatic castle overlooking the region.
The pace shifts to a long, undulating Ride Every Kilometre route that transitions out of the high mountains. Beginning in Lannemezan, you will cover 158 km characterised by rolling terrain and consistent, challenging hills, accumulating 1,600 metres of ascent. The stage culminates in Pau, a city steeped in Tour de France history. Pau has hosted more stages than any city outside of Paris and Bordeaux, making the arrival a deeply satisfying moment and a ride into cycling history.
Back in the Pyrenees – in the first week! Starting in Pau, the route is a monumental 186 km journey designed to be decisive, sending you straight over two giants of the Pyrenees. With an immense 4,150 metres of vertical ascent, you will conquer the legendary Col d’Aspin and the mighty Col du Tourmalet – climbs that are pivotal in any Tour de France and will test the limits of your endurance.
The stage culminates in the awe-inspiring finish at Gavarnie-Gèdre. The final kilometres lead into the spectacular natural wonder of the Circuit de Gavarnie, providing an unforgettable backdrop and memory of a TDF stage in the Pyrenees.
After Day 8, a dramatic change in tempo. This Ride Every Kilometre stage is a fast-paced transition from Hagetmau to the legendary finish city of Bordeaux.
Covering 175 km with a minimal 850 metres of ascent, this is the flattest stage of the entire tour. It provides a strategic day for the legs to recover after the day before. The stage profile is perfectly designed for the sprinters in the TDF the next day, leading to a high-speed conclusion. The highlight of the day is the finish in Bordeaux, a city recognised as a true cathedral of cycling.
Day 9 delivers a true sprinter’s stage, serving as the official transition into central France. This route takes you from the historic city of Périgueux to the wine capital of Bergerac. With only 1,150 metres of gentle, rolling ascent, the day’s focus shifts from climbing endurance to sustained speed and teamwork.
The ride culminates in Bergerac, a beautiful town on the Dordogne River famous for its vineyards and literary connections. Now is perhaps the time to enjoy famous bergerac some wine tasting.
After a brief respite in the plains, Day 10 plunges you into the demanding, rugged terrain of the Massif Central. This 185 km stage is a classic puncheur test, featuring a significant 3,300 metres of vertical ascent across the Limousin’s constantly undulating profile. Unlike the long, steady Alpine climbs, this stage is defined by relentless, punchy ramps and hidden valleys, demanding constant power and concentration. The route concludes in Ussel, near the Millevaches Regional Natural Park. This challenging day marks the end of the first week of the Tour route.
The transfer will take you to Aurillac for a final dinner with the All Stages riders; the next day the team will transfer you to Clermont-Ferrand.
Day 11 marks the successful conclusion of the Grand Depart & Week 1 of the Ride Every Kilometre tour. Following a final group breakfast, the GTP team will provide transfers to Clermont-Ferrand TGV station for your onward journey. You will depart armed with the unforgettable memories of the Catalan and Barcelona Grand Depart, conquering the spectacular Pyrenees, and tackling the challenging routes into the Massif Central.
The team bids you farewell as you travel home, having secured your own personal victory over the first nine stages of the 2026 Tour de France.
If this appeals to your sense of adventure, a desire for a real challenge, don’t hesitate to contact us.
The “Ride Every Kilometre” tours give you the opportunity to ride the entire journey – every single kilometre – with your friends. You can choose to ride 3, 6, 9, or even all 21 stages of the race. You and your companions will need to be strong cyclists to achieve this challenge, but you don’t need to be a pro athlete — ours is a journey, not a race, and we’ll leave enough time each day to enjoy lunch breaks and photo stops. This tour is designed to ride 24 hours prior to the official stage.
