Tour Europe with the Tour de France
Rebecca’s first visit to Italy was a coup de foudre and her affection for Il Bel Paese has only grown over almost 30 years of living here, during which time she has mastered the art of navigating the sampietrini cobblestones in heels but has yet to come away from a plate of bucatini all’amatriciana with an unsullied blouse. She covers Italy travel, culture, and cuisine for a number of print and online publications.
Rebecca’s first visit to Italy was a coup de foudre and her affection for Il Bel Paese has only grown over almost 30 years of living here, during which time she has mastered the art of navigating the sampietrini cobblestones in heels but has yet to come away from a plate of bucatini all’amatriciana with an unsullied blouse. She covers Italy travel, culture, and cuisine for a number of print and online publications.
Hi, I'm Rebecca!Rebecca’s first visit to Italy was a coup de foudre and her affection for Il Bel Paese has only grown over almost 30 years of living here, during which time she has mastered the art of navigating the sampietrini cobblestones in heels but has yet to come away from a plate of bucatini all’amatriciana with an unsullied blouse. She covers Italy travel, culture, and cuisine for a number of print and online publications.
Hi, I'm Rebecca!Rebecca’s first visit to Italy was a coup de foudre and her affection for Il Bel Paese has only grown over almost 30 years of living here, during which time she has mastered the art of navigating the sampietrini cobblestones in heels but has yet to come away from a plate of bucatini all’amatriciana with an unsullied blouse. She covers Italy travel, culture, and cuisine for a number of print and online publications.
Part bike race, part scenic jaunt through the European countryside, the Tour de France has become one of the most watched cycling events in the world since its first edition in 1903. The finish line is always the Champs-Élysées, but the overall route (known as La Grande Boucle) changes each year, winding its way through France and neighboring countries over about three weeks.
You don’t have to be a champion cyclist to take in the alpine vistas and chocolate-box villages for which Le Tour is famous, though. Just mark your map, grab a bike, and pedal your way along one of the 21 stages from Denmark to Paris.
Copenhagen
Denmark
The 2022 edition of the Tour de France begins with the Grand Départ in Copenhagen, a cycling wonderland. One look at the bursting bike parking area outside the city’s main train station is all you need to guess the preferred method of transportation is in this flat and bike-friendly country. Explore the seaside city on two wheels with a guide or take a break from pedaling with a foodie cycling tour that takes breaks for top tastings.
Calais
France
The first stage of La Grande Boucle on French soil this year begins in Dunkirk and ends in Calais, the historic port town that acts as gateway for many visitors to Hauts-de-France and the Côte d'Opale. Strike out south along the coastline to pedal along the sandy beaches and windswept coastal cliffs from Cap Blanc Nez as far as Boulogne Sur Mer, admiring the play of blues and greens of ocean and sky that give the Opal Coast its name. History buffs can also cycle between Atlantic Wall coastal fortifications dating from WII, such as the impressive Todt Battery.
Lille
France
Cyclists in Le Tour this year don’t skirt the coastline from Calais, but instead head inland to Lille. One of the most captivating cities in northern France, Lille offers a vibrant old town (Vieux-Lille) with striking Gallic and Flemish architecture, excellent museums, and an enviable shopping and dining scene … all ideal for exploring on two wheels. Meanwhile, the nearby countryside is known for its WWI battlefields, poignant sites now surrounded by peaceful wildflower fields and farmland that make for a scenic bike route.
Binche
Belgium
The Tour de France circuit briefly crosses the border into Belgium, setting off from the storied city of Binche to cycle through the first rolling hills of the race back into French territory. This medieval walled town is best known for its unique Carnival festivities each winter (the local International Museum of Carnival and Masks is a top sight), but also offers a charming base for cyclists wanting to explore the lush Wallonia countryside in the summer.
Lausanne
Switzerland
The alpine slopes of Switzerland are where Le Tour athletes start to show their mettle, but lakeside Lausanne offers bike routes for all levels of cyclists. Pedal through the elegant city center, take a leisurely ride along the shores of Lake Geneva, or head to the vineyard-covered hills of Lavaux to break up your bike tour with wine tastings overlooking the lake. You can also use Lausanne as a base for exploring the pretty lakeside towns of Vevey, Chaplin, and Montreux on two wheels.
Related: 10 Magical Towns in Switzerland That Are Straight Out of Fairy Tales
Carcassonne
France
After a few tough stages in the Alpine peaks between France and Switzerland, the Tour de France circuit heads south towards the Mediterranean coast—but not before stopping off in the storybook town of Carcassonne. This UNESCO-listed walled town is ringed by crenelated battlements and soaring turrets, making it a dramatic jumping-off point for pedaling to nearby Lastours Châteaux and Canal du Midi, or winding your way by bike through the surrounding vineyards to sample premier French wines.
Lourdes
France
Lourdes is a famous pilgrimage destination, but cyclists flock to this town for its convenient location just north of the spectacular Pyrenees. Skilled riders can follow the route of the Tour de France stage and set off through the wooded foothills to admire views of the Pic du Midi de Bigorre or circle Lac de Payolle, in the heart of the Hautes Pyrénées. The routes here are challenging even for trained athletes, but the panorama over the dramatic peaks is worth the effort.
Paris
France
After more than three weeks of toil, Tour de France riders are rewarded with a hero’s welcome on the Champs-Élysées. Paris may not be the first place that comes to mind as a cyclist-friendly city, but this relatively flat metropolis is thick with bikers out to train or simply to get around the center quickly and easily. A bike tour is a great way to cover more ground and see the main sights in a few hours or explore quieter arrondissements.
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