Tour de France
July in France is synonymous with the electrifying Tour de France. With sunny skies and stunning landscapes, France is a dream destination for any cyclist.
At Bikestyle Tours, we’ll guide you through charming villages, quiet roads, and the chicest French hotels. We’ve hosted groups in all of France’s beautiful regions and ridden all the best roads and mountains. We’ll show you the best of France on our action-packed Ultimate Tour de France tours.
For years, we’ve been hosting specialty cycling tours across the country’s most breathtaking regions. Whether it’s the iconic Alpe d’Huez, Mont Ventoux, or a loop through Paris, we’ve ridden them all and are ready to show you the best of France.
Our expertise and close relationship with the Tour de France allow us to provide VIP access to the race. We offer the largest selection of both cycling and spectator trips so you can find the perfect trip to fit your timeframe and budget.
Join us for the ultimate Tour de France adventure in 2026. Experience this world-famous event’s sights, sounds, and festivities while enjoying action-packed rides and unforgettable moments.
We can’t wait to welcome you to France!
Ride Tour de France routes and conquer bucket list climbs in the Alps and Pyrenees. Spectator and cycling trips to Le Tour – watch the race, ride the famous roads, or do both!
UPCOMING TRIPS
About our Tour de France tours
We’ve been organising cycling tours for over 20 years. Book your holiday with Bikestyle Tours and enjoy the cycling tour of a lifetime!
Spectators
Watch the tour up close while exploring and sight-seeing some of the worlds most charming and amazing locations. Every year we host a range of tours suitable for spectators.
Social Riders
Aside from watching key stages of the race, you’ll enjoy guided rides with fellow riders as you cycle through beautiful routes along the tour. We design rides in a variety of difficulty levels so you can choose the type of ride you want each day.
Experienced Riders
The ultimate cycling holiday for the avid. Watch the famous races while cycling through many of the same roads as the pros. Designed for experienced and seasoned riders, these tours offer epic rides and plenty of miles and challenging climbs along the way.
About the Tour de France
The Tour de France is unquestionably the most prestigious cycling event in the world.
21 day-long stages spread over 23 days. All the best riders in the world competing in one race. Millions of cycling fans around the world watching every bend and turn.
In cycling, it simply doesn’t get any bigger than this.
For avid cycling fans, the Tour de France is the pinnacle of cycling competition and it must be experienced in person at least once in their lives.
30 years of experience
The Most Experienced Tour Operator at the Grand Tours
For more than 30 years, Bikestyle Tours has been designing and delivering premium cycling experiences around the world.
From the iconic climbs of Europe’s Grand Tours to spectacular coastal routes, alpine passes and culturally rich regions across multiple continents, we create cycling holidays that combine exceptional riding with unforgettable travel experiences.
With decades of operational expertise, we offer a range of thoughtfully crafted itineraries to suit different riding abilities, interests and holiday styles. Each journey is supported by professional guides, quality accommodation, premium transportation and seamless logistics, ensuring every detail is taken care of from start to finish.
Our tours go beyond the standard tourist experience. We connect guests with authentic local culture, regional cuisine and the unique character of each destination, all while enjoying some of the world’s most rewarding cycling routes. Whether you join us in Europe, Australia or further afield, Bikestyle Tours delivers world-class cycling adventures built on experience, passion and a genuine love for the sport.
Learn all about the Tour de France
The Tour de France Explained
Each July, around 176 riders roll out for cycling’s biggest event, the Tour de France. Over three weeks and more than 3,000km, the race travels across France, finishing on the iconic Champs-Élysées in Paris.
What starts as a tightly packed peloton quickly turns into a daily battle. Flat stages bring high-speed sprint finishes, while the mountains in the Alps and Pyrenees stretch the race apart, where the strongest riders fight for overall victory.
The atmosphere builds with every stage, especially in the mountains, where crowds line the roads and the race passes within metres.
It’s a race of endurance, strategy, and moments that can change everything in an instant.
What Makes the Tour de France Special
The Tour de France is at the top of the sport.
It’s the scale of it. Three weeks, over 3,000km, and the world’s best riders competing across every type of terrain, from flat sprint stages to the high mountains of the Alps and Pyrenees.
But it’s the French culture that brings the race to life. Each stage passes through regions proud of their identity, local food, wine, and traditions on display as the race rolls through. Villages turn out in full, roadside picnics appear, and the event becomes a celebration of summer.
Then there’s the atmosphere on the climbs. Fans line the roads for hours, creating a wall of noise as the riders pass within metres.
It’s not just a race, it’s a travelling showcase of France itself.
What Do the Different Jersey Colours Represent?
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Yellow Jersey (Maillot Jaune): Overall race leader
Awarded to the rider with the lowest cumulative time across all stages. It is worn by the leader each day and ultimately by the winner in Paris.
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Green Jersey (Points Classification): Best sprinter
Points are awarded at stage finishes and intermediate sprints throughout the stage. Flat stages offer more points, favouring the fastest riders.
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Polka Dot Jersey (King of the Mountains): Best climber
Points are earned by reaching the summit of categorised climbs first. The harder the climb, the more points available.
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White Jersey: Best young rider
Awarded to the highest-ranked rider under a certain age, based on overall time in the general classification.
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Key Highlights of the Tour de France
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Sprint Finishes
High-speed finales where teams work to position their sprinter in the final kilometres. Lead-out trains and tight finishes make these stages fast and unpredictable.
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Time Trials
Riders race individually against the clock, starting at set intervals. There is no drafting, making these stages a pure test of strength and pacing.
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Paris Finish
The final stage traditionally ends on the Champs-Élysées. While largely ceremonial for the overall leader, it finishes with a prestigious sprint in the heart of Paris.
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Tour de France FAQ's
1. Is the Tour de France worth seeing in person?
Yes, it’s one of the most iconic sporting events in the world. The atmosphere, roadside access, and ability to see the riders up close make it a unique experience.
2. How hard are the Tour de France climbs to ride?
The climbs are challenging but achievable for most cyclists with the right pacing and support. Many guests ride famous climbs like Alpe d’Huez at their own pace.
3. What is the best way to watch the Tour de France live?
Mountain stages offer the best experience, while finish lines give you more structure and build-up to the race.
4. How crowded is the Tour de France?
Popular stages can be very busy, especially in the mountains. Local knowledge and planning are key to getting the best viewing spots.
5. Can you follow the Tour de France as a spectator?
Yes, but logistics can be complex due to road closures. Structured tours make it much easier to experience multiple stages.
6. When should I book a Tour de France cycling tour?
Ideally 6–12 months in advance, as accommodation and access during July are in high demand. See our offerings for Tour de France tours on our tours page.
Seeing the Tour de France live is unforgettable, and completely different to watching it on TV.
The day builds slowly. Roads close, fans line the route, and the atmosphere grows as the publicity caravan rolls through, music, giveaways, and a real sense that something big is coming. Overhead, helicopters signal the race is close, and then suddenly the peloton arrives, moving at incredible speed, gone in seconds.
But it’s the moments around that which make it special.
On the mountains, you can claim your spot hours in advance and watch the entire race unfold. Breakaways pass first, followed by the main contenders, each rider climbing at their limit, close enough to hear every gear change and breath. It’s raw, loud, and incredibly personal.
You also experience more than just the race. You’re riding the same roads in the morning, sharing the climbs with other fans, and then watching the world’s best take on the exact same terrain.
From roadside viewing to finish line energy, and everything in between, being there puts you right inside the event, not just watching it from the outside.
