Grand Tour of Spain - La Gran Salida in The Netherlands
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Location
The Netherlands
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Duration
5 days
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Length
70 km daily or Ride Every Kilometre
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Climb
70 m
17 Aug 2022 - 22 Aug 2022
Join us for Spain’s premier cycle race; come Experience the atmosphere on the race day or Ride Every Kilometre of this magnificent route across France, one day ahead of the pros! Grand Tours Project is an experienced tour operator and fully versed in delivering unforgettable tours, suitable for all levels of passionate cyclists.
There is a historical link between the Netherlands and Spain centuries ago the Spanish Hapsburg empire ruled over the Lowlands. In 1581, Willem of Orange revolted against Spanish rule and the Republic of the United Netherlands was born…and hence the Orange as the national colour.
In our Experience tours, we offer you the opportunity to ride the choice segments of the race, through the bucket list cycle routes of the Netherlands and Spain. Our "Experience" tours are designed to ride 70-100km on each stage of your trip of this Grand Tour.
You will have opportunities to watch the race start or finish or find a strategic mountain position to watch the teams tactically fight for their leaders, enjoy relaxing drinks at hotels, and explore the villages and towns we stay at each evening.
If you are looking for a more challenging tour, our unique "Ride Every Kilometre" tours are available - 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 an elite athlete ... ours is a journey, not a race, and we'll leave enough time on each day to enjoy our lunch breaks and photo stops. This tour is designed to ride some hrs ahead of the professionals.
To book an Experience or Ride Every Kilometre tour in Spain, get in touch to get the full itinerary and information. We require a minimum of 5 and a maximum of 14 riders on each tour in order to be able to depart. We will organise the logistics of accommodation, meals and transfers. Depending upon the number of participants, you’ll be supported by 1 or 2 expert guides and 1 or 2 drivers/mechanics. Your group will ride together and the GTP support van is always nearby – with drinks, snacks and dry clothing, as well as mechanical and moral support.
Join us for a cycling holiday of a lifetime with your friends, riding this incredible challenge, makes this an unforgettable experience.
Please note - Grand Tours Project is not an "Official Tour Operator" of La Vuelta a Espana. You can find these official operators on the Vuelta website.
Total price: On request
- Experience the spectacle of the race or "Ride Every Kilometre" of the first 3 Stages
- Ride a portion of the stage on the race day or the full stage ahead of the pros
- Fast and furious riding through the Netherlands
- Expert planning and support from our team (guides, mechanics, drivers)
- Minimum of 5 and a maximum group size: 7 (1 guide and 1 driver)
- Bike rental available
- Achieve one of the world's great "bucket-list" sports challenges
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Day 1 - Thursday 18 August
Welkom in Utrecht
Hotel in UtrechtWe will collect you from the airport and transfer you to your hotel. After setting up the bikes, our Experience and Ride Every Kilometre guests will test their bikes on the race route or somewhere nearby. Tomorrow is the 23 km Team Time Trial route and we start early.
Back at the hotel you can relax or explore old Utrecht's fabulous old town and canals.
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Day 2 - Friday 19 August
Stage 1 - Team Time Trial Utrecht
23 km / Flat
Hotel in UtrechtStarting in mediaeval Utrecht, the Netherlands, a lively city with canals and a beautiful old town. Dutch fans are renowned for their passion for cycling so today will be massive! The 23 km route passes on wide avenues and will be a spectacle not to be missed. Ride Every Kilometre riders and Experience groups will ride the route in the early morning of the race day. The GTP team will find an optimal place to watch the the teams along the route and surrounded by ornage clad fans.
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Day 3 - Saturday 20 August
Stage 2 - s' Hertogenbosch to Utrecht
Hotel in BredaThe full race route 175 kilometres and has a category 3 ‘mountain’ climb - the summit is 70 metres! This is the Netherlands so the route is flat, possibly windy. Think canals, windmills, grassy fields and pretty towns, finishing in Utrecht.
Our Experience crew will ride 70 km of the race route. The Ride Every Kilometre guests will ride the full route starting very early.
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Day 4 - Sunday 21 August
Stage 3 - Breda Loop
Hotel in Breda193 km of truly flat terrain, so the riding will be fast and furious. To confuse everyone, the race route will duck in and out of multiple Belgium and Dutch enclaves as the race passes through Dutch Baarle-Nassau and Belgium Baarle-Hertog, before heading back to the Stage 3 finish in Breda.
As our Experience riders, we will start early to ride a portion of the race route and return to Breda to watch the finish of Stage 3.
Our Ride Every Kilometre guests will ride the in one single pelotontrying to finish in time before the pros arrive to Breda. We will have some time to enjoy and celebrate the first 3 stages of La Roja in Netherlands. Tomorrow will be your departure day or rest and transfer day to Spain.
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Day 5 - Monday 22 August
Tot Ziens - Goodbye
A short sharp taste of riding in the Netherlands during Spain’s premier cycle race. If you are finishing this race, we will take you to the airport and wish you a safe onward journey. If you are continuing, we will transfer you to our next destination in Spain.
Those guests continuing the Ride Every Kilometre tour and Experience will start tomorrow their journey in Spain with the Stage 4.
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Stages 4 - 21
5 days, 7 days or 2 or 3 weeks !
18 August - 12 September
If riding the race route of Spain’s premier cycle race, and one of Europe’s three Grand Tours is on your bucket list, get in touch with us. We can help design an Experience of 5 days, 7 days or more or we can support you if you choose to Ride Every Kilometre of each day (5 days, 1 week or more) - that is, starting the day before to ride from the start to the finish of each stage.
#RideEveryKilometre or #Experience
We provide vehicle support and guides, accommodation, meals, and sports nutrition - and you get to see parts of spectacular Spain that you normally don’t see.
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With international travel regulations causing continued uncertainty, we have made it our priority to implement COVID-19 hygiene procedures to ensure you a safe and worry-free holiday. Here's what you can expect when you choose to travel with Grand Tours Project.
Hygiene Consideration on your trip:
- Hand sanitiser will be available at all times and located in convenient areas to ensure the possibility of regular disinfecting and washing of hands.
- All guests and staff will be provided with face masks that must be worn where necessary. (for example in vehicles, where a distance of 1.5m can not be obtained between guests etc.)
- The disinfectant spray will also be readily available to be used to sanitise physical equipment such as surfaces, boxes, bottles etc.
- Staff will disinfect all vehicles daily on tour and bikes will continue to be cleaned daily.
- Staff will prepare and serve any food with gloves and face masks.
Pre, during and post-trip measures:
- All staff will be tested 24 hours before each tour departure.
- Guests must comply with government rules set by the host country (This may include quarantine upon arrival).
- Regular temperature checks will be taken by staff and guests throughout the trip.
- If a guest or member of staff displays symptoms of COVID-19 they will immediately be put into an isolation point and a medical test will be organised at the earliest convenience.
