2022 Cycle Season - Full Gas!

And still powering on into October and beyond

The Grand Tours Project team are still out running tours in Switzerland, France and Italy, but the head office team are back at our desks and attempting to adjust to indoor work again.

In the words of our CEO, Uri Martins, the 2022 cycle tour season has been 'Insane!'. Only now can we start to revisit, review, and revise the work completed, and continue our remaining tours. It seems like eons ago that we started the 2022 season, but only almost 5 months ago, we started in Budapest, Hungary for the Giro d'Italia.

#RideEveryKilometre was very popular this year with individuals and groups riding every kilometre of the Giro on the day of the Grand Tour ahead of the pros - sometimes 3 riding days, more often a week or more. Our #Experience tours were a success, allowing our guests to experience the Giro route and crowds, but at a relaxed pace and with local Italian excursions. Week 3 was epic as always, in the Dolomites and finishing in beautiful Verona.

Above: Our Giro d´Italia at the podium in Arena Verona after Riding Every Kilometre of the week 3 of the Giro a few hrs ahead of the professionals.

We know that Norway is epic and we were very pleased to showcase this beautiful country with 2 tours. First up a 3 generational family aged from 13 to 86 years, riding the Lofoten roads and bridges, hiking, Orca watching, museum visiting, enjoying a sauna and refreshing dip in the Norwegian Sea inside the Arctic Circle!

Above: Our Custom-made Tour with a 3 generational family aged from 13 to 86 years, riding the Lofoten roads!

Then in August, some hardy individuals embraced all that the weather threw at them - adventure plus and highly memorable. Dinner table stories forever.

Above: Our Norway Explorer Public Tour with epic weather!

The Tour de France is the biggest cycle race in the world and this year it was made all the more memorable because it started in beautiful Denmark and was won by Danish rider, Jonas Vingegaard. We supported one guest, Paul Harradine, to achieve his #RideEveryKilometre challenge of the whole tour and he was joined by other guests each week. It was tough but Paul made it and we are very proud to have been there to support him.

Above: Paul Harradine and his great achievement! Riding Every Kilometre of the TDF 2022

We also had weekly #Experience tours, allowing our guests to ride the epic cols and join the crowds as the pros passed by. And during this whole period, we had a big family with our youngest guests ever, riding and experiencing the full month of July following Le Tour!

Above: Our Taiwan group in Paris after 25 days of Tour following the TDF 2022

Maz from the UAE joined 3 GTP tours - one a personalised race training tour. Her aim was to enter the UCI World Championship series for amateur riders representing the UAE. This she accomplished and we are so very proud to be part of her team that enabled her to qualify, race and complete the race.

Above: Maz at the UCI World Championships Series in Trento, Italy 2022

Interspersed between the Grand Tours, we ran several private and customised epic cols tours in France, Italy and Switzerland. Organised for groups of friends or individuals who after 2 years of restricted international travel, needed to visit Europe and ride the legendary passes. For some, it was an opportunity to ride with friends, for others it was a pilgrimage to complete a ride and celebrate life with new appreciation.

Above: David Terry riding our Alpe d´Huez to Stelvio Tour 2022 after 2 years that he received a double lung transplant

One tour was one guest who carefully researched his cols and then proceeded to tick them off his bucket list… there are many more bucket list cols so we hope to see Greg next year to help him reduce the list! And also a couple of self-guided GTP Switzerland Explorer tours with GTP support.

Above: Greg´s Epic French Cols 2022

Right now we have a group of adventuresome Lithuanians finishing their customised 1000 Kilometre Challenge from Barcelona to Bellagio, Como. A mixture of varied terrain, including Ventoux and Alps cols - a real challenge for these men from a flat country where the highest altitude is 294 metres!! There are opportunities to enjoy celebratory meals, visit wineries and more.

Above: 1000 Km European Challenge 2022

UAE guests, women included, joined us with other guests from around the world at the Maratona dles Dolomites - ALWAYS a success no matter where you place. Truly one of the most beautiful places to ride in the world.

Our big group was supported by our former professional riders and everyone had a great time at Melodia del Bosco, our hotel.

Our next Grand Fondo is another favourite, L'Eroica in Gaiole in Chianti. Fantastic and unique. Our guests loved every single minute of the tour, exploring Tuscany by road bikes, crossing by Siena, San Gimignano and the Chianti. Then on Saturday, they had the chance to test their vintage bikes to be ready for next day... L´Eroica in Gaiole ride!

E-bikes are becoming increasingly popular and we have had guests on road and mountain e-bikes to keep up with friends and family, or even riding e-bike tours. In October we have a couple arriving for a customised luxury e-bike tour of Vaud with a range of excursions to showcase our beautiful part of the world.

So what's next?

A private and customised Tour in Hokkaido, Japan is coming up as Japan opens up; and knuckling down in the office to design more private tours, create Giro d'Italia 2023 tours and more.

If you feel inspired, check our site for 2023 tours or contact us for ideas for private and customised tours that tick your boxes.


The Grand Tours Project Team