london to paris bike trip

• Route planner

Cycling the Avenue Verte – a beautiful adventure from London to Paris

Mighty rivers, green rolling countryside, iconic landmarks, and quaint towns – the Avenue Verte cycle route leads from London to Paris through delightful corners of England and France. This Collection leads you 252 miles (406 km) through gorgeous scenery in both the South of England and North-Western France. You follow some of Europe’s most infamous rivers, cross luscious valleys, and pass ancient woodlands along the way. I've broken down the route into eight stages that are suitable for all levels of riders, young and old. If you want to cover longer distances, you can simply combine the routes together to ride more at once. You mostly ride along former railway lines and traffic-free paths, so the route is fairly flat. However, there are some gravel and sandy sections at times, so you thin tyres could be problematic. Although the route is well signposted in both England and France, some parts are unmarked, so be sure to turn on your komoot navigation. In England, look out for the National Cycle Network signs for routes 20 and 21. In France, you follow the Avenue Verte Paris-London signs. Starting from St Paul’s Cathedral and finishing at the Eiffel Tower in Paris, you explore the rich cultures of England and France, visiting medieval fortresses, impressive aristocratic castles, and fascinating museums. In between, you can fill up on delicious local delicacies too. There are plenty of towns, villages and cities en route where you can refuel, stock up on supplies and spend the night. London has excellent rail connections with the rest of the UK, just bear in mind that you may need to reserve a space for your bike. Making a reservation is free, but trains fill up fast in the summer so make sure you book early. With its combination of culture, history and stunning scenery, the Avenue Verte is an ideal cycling adventure for everyone from novice families to avid cyclists all year round. For more information about the Avenue Verte, visit: avenuevertelondonparis.co.uk

Do it yourself

Ready to get going? Create and customize your own version of this adventure using the full Tour below as a template.

L'Avenue Verte à vélo — Tour complet

Last updated: September 20, 2023

Plan your own version of this adventure in the multi-day planner based on the stages suggested in this Collection.

Stage 1: London to Horley – Avenue Verte London to Paris

St Paul's Cathedral’s iconic dome and pale stone facades, the impressive London Eye, crossing the Thames River, and discovering London’s diverse boroughs – your first day of cycling the Avenue Verte from London to Paris takes you past some of London's most iconic landmarks.

Stage 2: Horley to Mayfield – Avenue Verte London to Paris

Thick green forests blanketed by bluebells, quaint honey-colored villages with historic black and white timber houses, smooth cycle paths flanked by ancient trees – your second day cycling the Avenue Verte takes you through beautiful British countryside and centuries of history.

Setting out from Horley … read more

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Stage 3: Mayfield to Dieppe – Avenue Verte London to Paris

“Allez!” – on stage 3 of the Avenue Verte, you leave the British Isles and continue your adventure on the other side of the Channel in France.

From Mayfield and Five Ashes, you ride on quiet country lanes and cycle paths, passing through idyllic farms, over meandering streams and through pristine woodland … read more

Stage 4: Dieppe to Forges-Les-Eaux – Avenue Verte London to Paris

Bienvenue en France! Stage 4 of the Avenue Verte from London to Paris is your first full-day pedaling in France. You can expect glorious white stone cliff faces, magnificent Renaissance castles, and beautiful villages.

Today, you cover 39 miles (63 km) through the pretty region of Normandy. Famed for … read more

Stage 5: Forges-Les-Eaux to Gisors – Avenue Verte London to Paris

Stage 5 of the Avenue Verte takes you deeper into the heart of Normandy, revealing more of the region’s culture, history, and beautiful nature. You ride through quaint villages with historic monuments and straw-coloured fields and along quiet country lanes to the historic town of Gisors.

Today’s route … read more

Stage 6: Gisors to Conflans-Sainte-Honorine – Avenue Verte London to Paris

Stage 6 takes you further into the Epte Valley, showcasing some of the region’s finest castles, churches and mansions. The comfortable ride takes you 29 miles (47 km) down quiet country lanes and bike paths, gaining a total of 1,181 feet (360 m) in elevation throughout the day.

From Gisors, you continue … read more

Stage 7: Conflans-Sainte-Honorine to Maisons-Lafitte – Avenue Verte London to Paris

Stage 7 of the Avenue Verte leads along trickling streams and through nature reserves with an abundance of wildlife before joining the River Seine, one of the world’s most famous rivers, as it flows through Paris.

On your way to the French capital, you pass many interesting towns and villages, each with … read more

Stage 8: Maisons-Lafitte to Paris – Avenue Verte London to Paris

The final leg of your journey following the Avenue Verte from London to Paris is the shortest of all eight stages, allowing you to soak up the atmosphere of one of the greatest cities in the world – Paris.

Beginning the day from Maisons-Lafitte, you cross the River Seine and cycle through Satrouville … read more

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• Distance 332 mi
• Duration 30:42 h
• Elevation 8,675 ft 8,675 ft

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Home » Adventures » London to Paris Bike Ride

London to Paris Bike Ride – cycling 275 miles from one iconic city to another, all in four days. It’s a wonderful feeling heading down the Champs Elysees on the final stretch with the Eiffel Tower looming ahead!  This is a fantastic group cycling experience, whether individually, with friends or whilst raising money for charity.

“One of the best things I have ever done. Amazing cycling, really well organised and so much fun. I enjoyed every minute and we booked another adventure as soon as we got back home!  If you are thinking of doing a challenge, do it with More Adventure – I promise you won’t regret it”

Colette, 2018

We do not require sponsorship for this ride. You can secure your place on one of our open trips below by paying a small deposit. Please scroll to the bottom of this page to view our open trips, or alternatively  get in touch  if you have a small group of people who may be interested.

Want to go it alone ? If you want a tried and tested four day route, GPX files, hotels and trip notes for a self-supported London to Paris, click here .

Adventure Facts

Accommodation:

Itinerary Download:

Difficulty Level:

• Trip Suitability

Not Included

Cycle from London to Paris in four days – an epic journey of 275 miles through southern England and Northern France.

This London to Paris Bike Ride is a fully supported and guided trip between two iconic capital cities and begins in Blackheath where you’ll cycle south-east into the Garden of England, Kent. We then catch a ferry from Dover to Calais where we spend our first night.

Over the next three days you’ll cycle through quintessentially French countryside, quaint villages and beautiful roads to one of the most romantic cities in the world, finishing up under the legendary Eiffel Tower.

After a celebratory meal on Day 4, we’ll spend a night in Paris after which you’ll have a day to spend sightseeing in this incredible city. In the afternoon of Day 5 you’ll catch the Eurostar back to London where you’ll be met by the More Adventure team with your bicycles and luggage.

There is no minimum sponsorship on this trip, if you are raising money for a charity that is fantastic and we can assist you with that however, if you just want to ride for the experience then book on, turn up and ride! For some videos of previous trips, please click here .

Single room option is an additional £200 which can be added upon booking.

Want to go it alone ? If you want a tried and tested four day route, GPX files, hotels and trip notes for a self-guided London to Paris, click here .

Our Star Ratings

Here is an explanation of our cycling trip grades. Please bear in mind that total ascent, wind, rain and  general riding conditions can play as important factors as the daily distances involved. Whilst we  have stated some example distances, the overall difficulty assigned to each trip will encompass a range of these factors. If you are at all unsure of whether you think the trip is suitable, please contact us .

Easy:  ​ Suitable for those new to cycling seeking an introductory and very relaxed yet active  experience on two wheels. Easy riding on short, flat and/or gently undulating routes. ​ Approx 20 – ­40  miles a day

Relaxed: ​ Undulating terrain with occasional minor undulations for semi­-regular novices who wish  to develop fitness and ability. May include a few short steep climbs. ​ Approx 40 – ­50 miles a day

Moderate:  Designed for cyclists with a good level of riding experience and fitness, and are  comfortable riding for full days in the saddle. Routes will include some steep and/or sustained  climbs. Not for those completely new to cycling. ​ Approx 50 – 80 miles a day

Challenging:  Routes with multiple steep and sustained climbs and technical descents and/or long  distances. Riders need to be have a high level of fitness and stamina in addition to experience in  riding over extended distances and/or tackling long ascents and descents. ​ Approx 70 – ­110 miles a  day

Advanced:  Designed for experienced cyclists with an excellent level of fitness and stamina. Routes  are consistently long with multiple serious and steep ascents and descents throughout. High  altitude ascents may be undertaken followed by technically demanding descents. ​ Approx 80 – 120  miles a day

Day 1: Join tour in London, cycle to Calais (77 + 4 miles)

We meet early at Blackheath Common and after a short cycle through the outskirts of London, our route passes through Kent to the port at Dover. We will arrive at the ferry for a late afternoon crossing to Calais during which we’ll have dinner. Once in Calais it is a short cycle to our hotel for a well-earned rest.

Day 2: Calais to Arras (74 miles)

After a good nights’ rest we begin our second day cycling through the picturesque region of Pas-de-Calais. Numerous War Cemeteries echo the area’s troubled history but today much of the land is now used for agriculture. There are a few hills but nothing too strenuous.

Our overnight stop is in the historic town of Arras, which survived front-line action in both World Wars. Heavily damaged in the Second World War, much of it was rebuilt in the aftermath, and the cobblestone streets, fantastic squares and white stone buildings are, quite simply, delightful.

Day 3: Arras to Compiègne (76 miles)

We head directly south along small country lanes, most of them undulating with few serious climbs. We cross the Somme River today and cycle through an area rich in nature and wonderful food. Our destination for the evening is Compiègne which is located alongside the Oise River. Compiègne Forest is famous as the location of the signing of two wartime armistices and the spot where Joan of Arc was captured. It is also the start of the famous Paris-Roubaux cycle race!

Day 4: Compiègne to Paris (58 miles)

It’s a relatively short final day into Paris. There are a couple of short, steep climbs but by now you will be ready and prepared. Skirting around the Compiègne Forest, we head for the northeast corner of the city. As we enter the city the roads become considerably busier and great care must be taken. Heading into the centre of Paris, we pass the famous Arc de Triomphe, down the cobblestone Champs-Elysées before finishing under the Eiffel Tower for our all-important photos. Well done, you’ve made it! From here, we’ll make a short cycle to our hotel and prepare for our celebratory meal.

Day 5: Paris to London (0 miles)

Today, you have the morning and afternoon to explore this wonderful and diverse capital city. Highlights include a trip up the Eiffel Tower (not for the faint-hearted!), sampling some local cheese, visiting Le Louvre, a boat trip on the Seine, or simply a stroll (walking, not cycling!) around the atmospheric streets.  You will have now received your Eurostar ticket for your journey home, and are responsible for getting yourself back to London. Your Tour Leaders will meet you at St. Pancras station in London with your bicycles and main bags in the late afternoon. We then say our goodbyes and the trip ends.

If you’d like the perfect memento of your London to Paris bike ride, check out our excellent cycling jersey range here .

This trip will run on a minimum number of 10 persons. Please do not book any transport to/from the trip until it has been confirmed by email that it will run.

• Cycle leader/guide(s)
• Support Driver/Bike Mechanic
• Support vehicle throughout
• 4 x night’s hotel accommodation
• 4 x breakfasts
• 4 x buffet-style lunches
• Ferry crossing from Dover to Calais
• Eurostar train back to London from Paris
• All luggage transported during your trip
• Bicycle and main luggage transfer back to London from Paris
• Bicycle and Helmet
• Transport to and from pick-up and drop-off points
• Evening meals, drinks and snacks
• Optional excursions in Paris

Do you transport our bicycles back to London?

Yes. On the final day the More Adventure team will drive back to London early with your bicycles and luggage. They will meet you off your Eurostar train at St Pancras station in the evening to hand your bicycle and luggage then we say our goodbyes and the trip comes to an end.

Will we have time to explore Paris?

Yes. On the final day you will have the opportunity to explore Paris before getting the Eurostar back to London in the afternoon.

What time is the ferry to Calais on day 1?

We generally get the 17:25 ferry with the aim of arriving into Dover at least an hour before.

What time do we start riding?

This can be dependent on weather and group ability, however as a general rule we start cycling at 8am each morning.

What is the typical average speed?

Over the course of the full day it normally comes in at 12 - 15mph but this all depends on the average fitness of the group as a whole.

Where are bikes stored overnight?

In locked rooms or secure areas at your hotels. We do recommend you still bring a lock for your own peace of mind.

What time do we get back to London on the final day?

You will receive a final email before the start of your trip with a final timetable, however arrival back into London is normally between 6pm and 8pm.

What breaks do we have throughout the day?

We tend to ride for around 20 miles, take a short break, then cycle to lunch at around just after halfway of the total mileage. After lunch we'll then cycle for another 15 or so miles, stop for a short break then continue on to the finish. There will potentially be other shorter breaks throughout the day (waiting at the top of hills etc), but we like to keep everyone moving as much as we can.

Do we need any navigation systems or apps?

No, you don't need these as this is a guided trip. If you do wish to record the ride and you're not a member already, we recommend the Strava app (www.strava.com). We also have a group on their which you and the other guys could join is you so wish - https://www.strava.com/clubs/moreadventure

Are there hairdryers in the hotels?

There are hairdryers in most of the hotels we use, yes.

Can I join up as a single person and pay extra to have my own room?

Yes. The single room supplement for the London to Paris ride is £190 and can be added upon booking.

Can I stay in Paris for extra time at the end of the trip?

Yes staying in Paris after the trip has ended is not a problem, however we just need to arrange how you'll get our bike and luggage back to the UK. Option 1 - we'll bring them back as normal and drop them at an agreed address in the UK either immediately the trip has ended or a couple of days after. Option 2 - you take them with you back on the Eurostar/flight home. We can let you know which hotel we'll be staying in but you'll need to book extra nights either there or the hotel you had in mind.

Where does the trip start and end?

The start point is in front of the Clarendon Hotel on Blackheath and the trip ends at St Pancras station. There are a couple of options if you're leaving your car in Blackheath, we'll send out a helpful pdf with details once the trip has been confirmed.

Can we hire bicycles for the ride?

Whilst we don't rent bicycles, On Your Bike (https://www.onyourbike.com/rental.php) has a selection of bicycles of all standards and are based in London Bridge.

What sort of roads do we cycle on and is it busy?

Whilst we try to take less busy roads, there are some busier sections, particularly on Day 1. That said, the route is still on the whole really rather enjoyable and very beautiful as we pass through the more rural parts of Kent. Day 2 and 3 are on relatively quiet roads throughout. On Day 4 things get a little more busy again as we head into Paris, again we try and avoid the busy busy roads, but entering any city will be inevitably be busier whichever route you take.

What is the normal group size?

Group sizes tend to be between 10 - 20 riders, it is rare that the group would be any larger than 24.

Is September a popular month for the ride?

September is a popular time for the ride and we usually sell out on the London to Paris dates in September as people have the summer to train and the weather tends to be good (though no promises on this!).

If I am bit slower will I get left behind at all?

We like to cycle as a group but in smaller pods. This allows for cars to overtake but also allows for people to ride at their own pace. The speed is always dictated by the cycle leader and the group will regather and wait at the top of hills (or slightly past the top of a hill). The support vehicle will not be with the group at all time but in the event that someone feels the need to have a break or decides not to cycle any further, we will arrange a pickup in the support vehicle.

Is there a support vehicle behind? 

The support vehicle will not be with the group at all time but in the event that someone feels the need to have a break or decides not to cycle any further, we will arrange a pickup in the support vehicle.

Is it generally quite a safe route? 

We aim to cycle on back roads with less traffic but inevitably we do encounter traffic, particularly when leaving London and entering Paris.

Do most people wear clip on pedals. I don't have these at the moment.

It is not a prerequisite for you to ride with clipped in pedals but if you do choose to do so, please ensure that you have practiced riding with them in built up areas and have experience stopping and starting at traffic lights and roundabouts.

What type of bike is most suitable for this ride? I currently ride a hybrid bike, is this suitable?

Whilst we're sure you'd be fine riding a hybrid bike, we would always recommend a road bike for this trip. Firstly they tend to be far lighter (better on hills), and secondly the tyres tend to be more suitable (less rolling resistance) on a road bike. As this route is entirely on roads there is no need for the bulky/heavier tyres of a hybrid. That said, many complete the ride each year on a hybrid and if you're more comfortable and/or confident on a hybrid then this is also a consideration.

Can I book with a friend?

Yes no problem about booking with a friend, you can either book together as a 'group' and pay one deposit for both of you, or alternatively book separately and ensure you state on your booking form that you're friends and wish to share together. There is a 'Room Share Preference' on the booking form for this purpose.

How do I get back to Blackheath when the trip ends?

There are several options to get back to Blackheath from St Pancras station. Either ride back to Blackheath (8.5 miles), get an overland train with your bike (change at London Bridge), or get a larger taxi (an Uber XL or black cab) that can take your bicycle. Alternatively, we can offer a bicycle and luggage transfer back to the Clarendon Hotel for a small extra charge. Please let us know when you book if this is something you'd be interested in.

Is the bike lock needed during ride (eg to lock the bike at lunch time etc) or just at night? I'm asking because I'd prefer not to carry a heavy bike lock with me on the ride.

You do not need to carry a bike lock on the ride, it can be carried in the support van.

I think you recommend carrying 2 litres of water during the ride. Will 2 x 750ml water bottles be okay?

Yes this is fine.

Will we be passing through villages to top up water if needed?

We have water top ups available from the van at multiple points throughout the day.

Will the support bus catch up with us at lunch time? If so, can we access our bags (eg if the weather turns etc)?

Yes the support van will be at lunch and at some other breaks.

Do we cycle as a single peloton or break into groups depending on speed/ability?

We break into smaller groups.

Where will bikes be stored during the ferry crossing?

They are stored at the front of the car loading area in a bicycle-designated location. You may wish to lock your bike on the crossing.

Do you offer a self-guided version?

Want to go it alone? If you want a tried and tested four day route, GPX files, hotels and trip notes for a self-guided London to Paris, visit https://www.moreadventure.co.uk/product/london-to-paris-self-supported/

Pricing, Dates & Availability

• London to Paris Bike Ride 13th June 2024 - 17th June 2024 0 places left £945.00 Full
• London to Paris Bike Ride 20th June 2024 - 24th June 2024 11 places left £945.00 Book Now
• London to Paris Bike Ride 19th September 2024 - 23rd September 2024 12 places left £945.00 Book Now
• London to Paris Bike Ride 22nd May 2025 - 26th May 2025 20 places left £975.00 Book Now
• London to Paris Bike Ride 19th June 2025 - 23rd June 2025 20 places left £975.00 Book Now
• London to Paris Bike Ride 24th July 2025 - 28th July 2025 20 places left £975.00 Book Now
• London to Paris Bike Ride 11th September 2025 - 15th September 2025 20 places left £975.00 Book Now

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More Adventure was established in 2010 and have since provided high quality challenges and holidays to hundreds of people in various locations throughout the world. Each event is run by professional, experienced and friendly leaders that ensure that the highest levels of safety and enjoyment throughout.

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London to Paris Bike Ride

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  Tour Operator   European Cycling Tours

    France &   United Kingdom

  4   days   (Bike: 3 days)

  290   km   (~ 97 km  per day)

  Hilly , On-road

Truly the ‘Blue Ribbon’ and best cycling event of Europe

Our guided cycle London To Paris bike ride is truly the ‘Blue Ribbon’ and best cycling event of Europe – now even more achievable and more exciting than ever before. Join our fully supported 3 day London To Paris cycle challenge and join the many thousands who have succeeded in one of the most iconic cycle tours of Europe on our all inclusive three day itinerary between these two great European cities.

Ideal for your first experience of multi-day touring and/or fundraising cycling challenge.

Open to individuals and groups.

We can expect warm, sunny weather, *however we should prepare for some rain – remember to bring layers – not heavy coverings. This is a road bike tour. Your bike should be well maintained and in good running order with suitable ‘road gears’ and brakes.

Tour Information

Guided     £   795

Departure(s)

May 4, July 20 (TdF edition), 2023

Single Supplement

Elevation Gain

Contact to discuss arranging your own private London To Paris trip with friends & colleagues

• Experienced Cycle Leader(s),
• Full Vehicle Support and Driver/Mechanic, First Aiders,
• Baggage Transfer,
• 3/4 star Accommodation (3 nights),
• Meals – Breakfast (3 days), Lunch (3 days), Dinner (2 nights, exc Paris),
• Ferry Crossing,
• Eurostar return to London,
• Bicycle transfer return to London (St Pancras)
• Travel to/from start/finish (London),
• Accommodation in London

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While great care has been taken to show full and correct tour details, unfortunately transcription errors do occur and, although we continually seek to eliminate these, we apologise for any mistakes. Plans or bookings should not be made exclusively based on information shown on this website but must be confirmed with the tour operator.

Challenging

4 nights, 5 days

Cycle London to Paris

England - France

Multiple Dates

This trip takes you between two most iconic capital cities in the world, and between two of the most famous points: Greenwich Observatory in London, and the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Over 3 days (or 4 days) of cycling you will cover by pedal power 255 miles/410km (278 miles/477km), in total.

The going is not as flat as many people think, but you do pass through the classic countryside in Kent, and the Pas de Calais, Somme and Oise regions of France. The road parts are done under your own pedal-power. The wet part goes via the most famous channel crossing: Dover to Calais. On your day in Paris, you could always round it off with a visit to Notre Dame.

On a bike, you feel the wind in your face, and get a real chance to explore some beautiful corners of England and France on the way. Once out of London, you pass through one of the harder sections of the route, as you go through Kent and the North Downs. The countryside is verdant and remarkably much as it was in past centuries. From Calais, you head inland and south. History will surround you on this ride – a stark reminder of the importance of these lands and of the wars that have been fought there. You’ll pass by battlefields from the Hundred Years’ War, see First World War cemeteries, You’ll also pass the spectacular Gothic cathedrals of Abbeville and Beauvais, with their extraordinary white limestone construction, full of tracery and flying buttresses. You’ll stay one night each in Dover, Abbeville, Beauvais, and Paris.

At the end in Paris, you can soak up the atmosphere of one of the most romantic cities in the world: its restaurants, cafés, Museums, and nightlife.

David Stansfield’s London2Paris Bike Ride experience

One of the great accomplishments of the London to Paris Bike Ride 2013 was the journey of David Standfield.

David brought a film crew along with him, to film his experience which soon ended up catching the whole atmosphere and challenge for all involved. A big thank you to Michael Absolom and Dan Ridgers for their great video which captures the event and the challenge brilliantly.

You can see David’s experience in the videos below, available on YouTube.

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The Ultimate London to Paris Cycle Route

Jump to section, the route (in short), leg 1: london to portsmouth, leg 2: portsmouth to le havre, leg 3: le havre to évreux, leg 4: évreux to paris.

• Cycling From London to Paris 

Cycling from London to Paris is a bucket list adventure for many avid cyclists. 

And, it's very doable - so long as you're motivated, committed, and most importantly prepared.

However, this ride does need a certain skill level due to its length, so make sure to train up beforehand by exploring our London based cycle routes.

If you are an experienced cyclist, the best way to prepare for such a challenging route is to know it like the back of your hand.

That's why we've mapped out the three day ride in such detail. We've got you covered from the English countryside, to the ferry crossings, through historic towns, to the French capital!

Spend some time studying this guide. So, when you embark on your journey, you'll be able to keep up morale by knowing where you're heading at all times. 

We've broken our London to Paris cycle route into four legs, which we run through in detail.

All you have to do is actually cycle it... easy, right?

(Image Credit)

From Trafalgar Square in London, head southwest following the Thames to Weybridge.

Continue travelling southwest until you reach Farnborough, then progress south.

Pass through Bordon, Petersfield, and Waterlooville on your way to Portsmouth.

Take the ferry from Portsmouth to Le Havre overnight.

From Le Havre, follow the Risle River to Le Bec-Hellouin.

Proceed to Château du Champ de Bataille and then to your resting spot of Évreux.

• The following day, travel to Breuilpont commune.
• From there, travel south-east until you get to Montigny-le-Bretonneux.
• Then follow signs to Versailles and onto Paris.  

 Our ride begins in the absolute centre of London - Trafalgar Square.

Getting out of London will be the slowest part of your journey. There are regulations on how fast you can cycle along most cycle paths in the city, so read up first.

To start, you'll follow the Thames west until you get to Putney bridge. Here, you'll cross the river and continue southwest, travelling by Richmond Park and Bushy Park as you head out of London.

If you're interested in cycle routes that explore Richmond and Bushy park properly, check out our blog on the best South West London cycle routes.

After you've passed Hampton Court Palace and waved at the ghost of Henry VIII, you'll pick up the River Thames once again. Follow the river up until Weybridge, where you'll finally diverge from it and say goodbye to London.

From Weybridge, head to Woking. Here, you can stop for a spot of lunch and perhaps a visit to the Lightbox , a gallery renowned for spotlighting art and history.

Once you've recharged, travel to Farnborough, from where it's almost a straight line down to Portsmouth.

Just keep an eye out for signage for key towns to make sure you're staying on track. The most notable of these are Farnham, Bordon, Petersfield, and Waterlooville.

From Waterlooville, it's only 2 miles of road to where you'll begin the second leg of the journey - Portsmouth.

(Image Credit)  

This is by far the easiest leg for you! Take the time to rest, relax, and ready yourself for the challenge ahead.

This ferry sails overnight, which is ideal for saving precious daylight hours. It means that you can keep moving in the right direction even when you're resting.

Plus, you'll save money on accommodation.

At the end of day 1, hop on the ferry and wake up on day 2 in France. It's that simple!

Disembark the ferry to the port city of Le Havre. The harbour was first created in 1517 by King Francois I and has been a working port ever since. 

It's a vibrant city, often overlooked by tourists who instead swarm to Paris.

Another time, we'd recommend checking out the Museum of Modern Art or beaches, but you're on a mission!

Thankfully, one of the most iconic sights in Le Havre is the city's contemporary architecture, which you can't miss when cycling through.

Our route also allows you to enjoy the French coastline until you cross the Pont de Normandie. Afterwards, you'll follow the Seine until it splits into the Risle.

Continue to follow the Risle River all the way to the picturesque village of Le Bec-Hellouin. It often ranks in the most beautiful villages in France.

It's a great place to take in the French countryside and timbered houses while you stop for a bite to eat.

From there, it's a pretty straightforward cycle to Château du Champ de Bataille. The château dates back to the Ancien Régime, so understandably fell into decay after the revolution.

But, since then Jacques Garcia has pumped life back into the building and grounds, making it the majestic tourist spot it is today.

After the Château du Champ de Bataille, it's only an hour and a half cycle ride along quiet country lanes to Évreux.

In Évreux there are many sights to see!

The most notable of these is the Évreux cathedral, one of the largest cathedrals in France. Its beautiful architecture towers over the commune - particularly helpful when you need to orient yourself.

You'll spend your second and final night on your journey to Paris in Évreux.

You'll want to wake up bright and early in Évreux so that you'll arrive in Paris in time to enjoy the afternoon.  

For this leg, we want to offer you a choice. You can take the fastest route into Paris. This involves continuing to travel through beautiful countryside and quaint towns.

Or, you can take another popular route that passes Versailles. This extends your travel time by 20 mins (plus however long you spend exploring the grounds of the palace).

Based on history alone, we'd highly recommend taking the long way around. So, this is the route we're going to detail for you.

When leaving Évreux, head towards the commune of Breuilpont. Once you reach it, you'll be travelling directly South East for around 3 hours. This gives you a chance to stop thinking about navigation and take in the incredible french scenery.

You'll need to focus once again on directions when you reach Montigny-le-Bretonneux. But don't worry - you're almost at Versaille, so it's heavily signposted!

Just follow the roadsigns to the Palace of Versailles, where many French King's and Queen's resided until the 1789 revolution.

The site remained important throughout the revolution. It was where the women's march against the conditions of the people of France culminated. This is when Marie Antoinette is infamously rumoured to have said 'let them eat cake!'

Even if you're not interested in the history of France, you'll be impressed by the grandeur of the building and gardens. 

It's an ideal location for a last-minute break before the final push into Paris. Channel your inner royal and parade the gardens, enjoying the perfectly mowed lawns and trimmed shrubbery as you go.

From Versaille, it's a hop, skip, and a jump to Paris. Well, when we say that we mean an hour cycle - but, if all those women in the 16th century could march it, you can cycle it!

You'll pass through a national forest, over the Seine, and past the Eiffel Tower as you approach your destination.

Once you're in the city, follow the river to the centre. Be sure to keep an eye out for iconic landmarks, like the Lourve and Sainte-Chapelle, on your way.

We conclude this ride in the heart of the capital city - the courtyard of the Hôtel de Ville. 

From here, you're free to explore the city as you wish. Paris is a great city to enjoy by bike.

But, equally, if you're all cycled-out, you can visit the Arc de Triomphe and Montmarte on foot or by the cities metro.

Either way, you've done it!

Cycling for three days back to back is a feat deserving of a fun-filled break in Paris. Put your feet up and enjoy it.

Cycling From London to Paris  

Choosing the cycle from London to Paris is a big commitment. It requires a level of fitness that only very experienced cyclists have.

But, deciding to take on this mammoth bike ride is extremely rewarding. You will undoubtedly look back at this bike route as one of your proudest achievements in life.

So, gather your fellow cyclist friends and family to take on the London to Paris bike ride:

London - Portsmouth - Le Havre - Évreux - Paris

If London to Paris is just the beginning for you, check out our Ultimate Guide to London cycle routes for even more bike ride inspiration.

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Everything you need to know about cycling in France your independent guide

Cycling the Avenue Verte from London to Paris

The Avenue Verte London to Paris bike route: All roads lead to Notre Dame. Photo: Richard Peace

The 4.5km Canal St Martin connects the Canal de l'Ourcq to the Seine in Paris. Photo: Richard Peace

It's one of the classic French cycling holiday routes. Richard Peace, co-author of the official Avenue Verte guidebook, has this overview of the entire Avenue Verte London to Paris bike route.

The idea for this iconic route had long been planned as an Anglo-French joint venture, but the catalyst came with the 2012 London Olympics which seemed an opportune moment to turn plans into reality. Whilst the initial route contains some sections that are of interim standard, the route retains its initial stated aims of creating an ‘alternative, car-free, gentler route between London and Paris for walkers and cyclists and especially for families.’

Click the route on the map above to download the GPX file

The off-road sections are generally riverside paths (especially coming into Paris along the Seine where there is some delightful riding) or converted railways (so the gradients are often easy) with surfaces varying from superb wide tarmac to compacted stone. There is the occasional rougher bridleway section, particularly across the Vexin area north-west of Paris, but these can be avoided by parallel road routes (highlighted in the Sustrans guide).

The quiet road sections do involve some climbs, notably across southern England's Weald , approaching Gournay-en-Bray in Normandy  and,  if you choose the eastern option, on a wonderful climb through beech forest approaching Senlis.

Overall though, this is a route that can be tackled by the leisure cyclist or two-wheeled athlete alike; it's just the pace that will vary.

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The avenue verte – london to the newhaven ferry.

The 23km Cuckoo Trail in East Sussex in the south of England connects Hampden Park to Heathfield. Photo: Richard Peace You dip and climb on a minor road across the High Weald (Weald being the old English word for forest and this area still retains around a quarter of its original thick blanket of trees). At Heathfield you start a gentle 122 metre (400 feet) drop along the wide tarmac of the Cuckoo Trail to Polegate. (You can download a map of the Cuckoo Trail from the East Sussex Council site. There is also this leaflet of circular rides in the area).

Your final descent to the English Channel and the ferry that awaits you at Newhaven takes you through a picturesque gap in the South Downs , the Cuckmere Valley and the south coast’s famed chalk white cliffs at the Seven Sisters Country Park are just a stone's throw away.

The Avenue Verte through Normandy's landscapes – the shorter way

Shortly after Gournay-en-Bray,  yo u need to decide which route option to take: the eastern of the western option.

The shorter western option passes through St-Germer-de-Fly, an attractive place with its  immaculately manicured centre with a cluster of handy shops grouped around the magnificent facade of the wonderful medieval abbey.

Heading down the peaceful lanes of the Epte valley you reach Gisors, dominated by its fine Norman castle before some wonderfully easy cycling along the high quality Epte Valley Greenway (Voie Verte de la Vallée de l'Epte) – see here for a more detailed map .

At Bray-et-Lû you head onto small roads and farm tracks across the Vexin, designated a Parc Naturel Régional so as to protect its gentle landscapes, architecture and wildlife. Soon after the Vexin things turn a little surreal as just off the route, between Cergy-Pontoise and Vauréal, is the gargantuan sculpture cum landscape feature known as the Axe Majeur, a startling sight and well worth the short detour. The route itself passes above the wonderfully sleepy villages of Vauréal and Jouy-le-Moutier before descending to Neuville-sur-Oise to rejoin the eastern route option.

The Avenue Verte along the Oise – the longer way

Previously if you were looking for more of a challenge the eastern route option started with one of the hilliest sections on the Avenue Verte but now the old railway has converted into a wonderfully smooth, wide traffic-free trail linking Gournay and Beauvais.

The old signed route is still there, however, if you fancy a challenge and the  hills make for some lovely panoramas across the rolling agricultural Bray countryside and the charms of the villages are low key and intimate; the characterful churches of Ons-en-Bray and Goincourt for example or the half-timbered buildings of the Bray countryside. Finally, cycle tracks and narrow back streets lead to the magnificent, dominating mass of the cathedral in Beauvais, one of the most incredible buildings in northern France.

Next comes part of the ambitious cycle network of the Oise area, which will eventually total some 240 km (149 miles). This particular part links four of the Oise’s most attractive and historic towns and cities; Beauvais, Clermont de l’Oise, Pont-Sainte-Maxence and Senlis via a succession of attractive small stone villages. It’s Senlis that has retained the most reminders of a rich past; as you wander around its cobbled streets and the graceful outline of its cathedral it’s not hard to see why it was chosen as the backdrop to several celebrated French films.

A succession of tracks lead through old hunting forests and the splendours of horse-racing Chantilly can’t fail to impress, whether it’s the moat-encircled château, the sumptuous horse stables or the surrounding lawned expanses that capture the imagination. An equally impressive reminder of the past is found in the beautiful cloisters and gardens of Royaumont Abbey. After skirting the charming town of Asnières-sur-Oise the eponymous river provides a charming backdrop to the final few kilometres riding into L’Isle Adam.

L’Isle Adam has plenty of services but is also a charmingly quirky destination, with its own riverside beach and even a Chinese pavillion all waiting to be explored. From L’Isle Adam to St-Germain the Avenue Verte continues alongside the river Oise through an area that has inspired many famous French artists. After a fine riverside stretch the route takes to the main street of Auvers-sur-Oise , Vincent van Gogh’s resting place, and not surprisingly something of a visitor magnet because of this. Another highpoint of this section is the town of Pontoise; like Senlis before it, it is full of picturesque old buildings and a favourite of film directors.

The Avenue Verte to Paris

After the route options join and cross the river Seine things become very grand indeed, fine châteaux at Maisons-Laffitte and St-Germain, punctuated by lovely traffic-free riding through the forest of St-Germain and alongside the Seine itself. 

Between the cultured attractions of St-Germain town and Rueil-Malmaison the Avenue Verte passes through the idyllic landscapes captured by Impressionist painters such as Renoir and Monet. The scenery becomes even greener, virtually a countryside ride, along the Seineside Promenade Bleu between Rueil-Malmaison and Colombes. Waterside riding of a different kind, along the canals St-Denis and St-Martin, herald your arrival in Paris proper and journey’s end at Notre Dame cathedral. Here on the Île de la Cité it crowns one of the most famous and beautiful views in the world at the very centre of one of the world’s most beautiful cities.

Richard Peace is co-author of an Avenue Verte guidebook for Sustrans . He has made several tours of France (including on electric bikes) and is author of Cycling Southern France ( UK , US ), Cycling Northern France ( UK , US ), and Electric Bicycles: The Complete Guide ( UK , US ). He is a regular contributor to bikeradar.com and A to B magazine .

More information on the Avenue Verte London to Paris bike route

Sustrans publishes a guidebook to the Avenue Verte , co-authored and designed by Richard Peace. There is also a more recent Cicerone guide to cycling from London to Paris. It also includes an option via Calais.  See here . 

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Cycling London to Paris for Beginners

October 27, 2021 In: Cycling

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Way back in 2017, myself and a few friends decided that cycling London to Paris, unsupported, was the next adventure for us to work towards. At that time, the 24 hour London to Paris rides were super popular, however, we knew we wanted to take our time and enjoy the journey.

The 24hour version suits those who have limited time off as you can complete it over a weekend and be back at your desk 9am on Monday. But if you’re looking to take in the views, enjoy some French food and not just countdown the hours till you’re done, you can make a nice break out of it.

Why Ride From London to Paris?

At the time, I’d been gaining experience on my road bike and had tried pretty much everything except bikepacking. I’d done sportives and I was ready, and keen, to up the distance a little. I’m not a massive fan of rides over 50miles but breaking it down over a number of days seemed like a suitable challenge.

Personally, since my trip, I’ve loved hearing peoples “why” for doing the London to Paris cycle challenge. From the heart-breaking to the heart-warming, right through to the “because why not?!”.

“[I] turn 40 next year and have decided this is the challenge for me! Aiming to be in Paris for my birthday!” nicki

As much as London to Paris is a challenge, it’s also achievable for beginners if you plan and prepare well. It’s a route thats been well ridden so there will always be someone willing to share their experience and tips with you.

I guess that’s what I’m doing in this post!

Even though it’s been years since I took on cycling London to Paris, I regularly talk about it and am always sharing my posts so I figured it was time to update it all, and create an overarching post with the best tips and advice I have to share and can gather.

Read About My 2017 Ride to Paris:

You can read the highlights, lowlights and everything inbetween of our trip in these posts. The first one shares our story and our why, whilst the other two are my write ups after the trip.

• What inspired our London to Paris Ride, July ’17
• Our London to Paris Ride || Part 1 #3PTsToParis
• Our London to Paris Ride || Part 2 #3PTsToParis

I’ve shared lots of other posts from the blog later on, as and when they are relevant. I hope you enjoy and are inspired and excited for your own challenge!

Choosing Your London To Paris Itinerary

Before you start to think about your itinerary and everything that goes with that, this is probably the point where you need to decide if you want to do the ride supported or unsupported. If you opt for supported, then you can ask friends for recommendations of organised trips. If you’re up for the adventure of unsupported, keep reading…

Planning Your Route

The benefits or riding London to Paris unsupported is that it’s much cheaper and gives you more flexibility and freedom on dates, times, locations etc. My group decided we wanted to do the ride over 3 days, to give ourselves enough time to enjoy the ride, not have to start too early and to have the evenings to relax, get dinner, unwind and prepare for the following day.

“…enjoy the scenery rather than just keeping your head down pedalling; eat plenty, eat as you ride & stop for lunch; drink plenty, sip as you ride; & enjoy the experience.” Sally

After we researched routes, we chose to ride Newhaven – Dieppe – Beauvais – Paris , which from our starting point in Stratford, London was around 300km.

How long it takes to cycle from London to Paris therefore is highly dependent on your speed, route, the distance and how many stops you decide to make. Most people take between 2 and 5 days to cycle from London to Paris.

I think one of the best things our group did when we decided to take this on, was to agree on an average speed to aim for – 12mph. This meant we all knew what to train towards, what to expect and what sort of distance we would / could cover each day.

Choosing this route, we knew the first day over the South Downs would be the hardest (if you’ve ridden London to Brighton, then you’ll know!) along with the pressure to get to the ferry on time. Of course you could choose to stay the night in the UK to alleviate this stress, especially if you’ve travelled from further than London.

What Distance Is London to Paris?

I’ve seen people who’ve ridden routes that are 500km to Paris, whilst ours was 300km. There are various routes you can take, and that will determine the overall distance.

Some route options are:

• Dover -Calais-Amiens-Paris (3 days)
• Newhaven – Dieppe – Forges-les-Eaux – Chaussay – Paris
• Portsmouth – Le Havre – Gommecourt – Paris (3 days) – wildcamping

Travel Considerations For 2022

With the recent global events, so many things have changed when it comes to travel. Even thought you’re riding to Paris under your own steam, you will need to consider any restrictions imposed by the UK Government and the French Authorities.

For me, it was super simple to return to the UK by booking my bike to be brought back via Eurostar for 29Euros. However, at the time of writing this post, that courier service is not available.

I know one option that has been used is SendBike but there was a bit of an issue with getting the box in time at the hotel in order to pack up the bikes appropriately for being couriered.

Make sure you check the latest travel information and guidance when planning your trip, and regularly in the lead up to your departure.

Other things to consider when planning your trip include: time of year (colder / wetter months require more kit), choosing hotels that offer free cancellations incase of travel restrictions and restrictions for re-entering the UK .

Where To Stay On Your Ride

Once you’ve chose the route you’re going to use for cycling London to Paris, the next most important thing is probably to choose where you’re going to stay.

These days wild camping is a popular option but it does have its drawbacks too. For example, I started my period on day two of our ride so it was much more comfortable to be staying in a hotel.

Choosing the right hotel with facilities you need is important. First and foremost, you want to know that they are bike friendly and either have a secure location for you to store your bike overnight or allow you to keep your bike in your room .

After this, check they have a decent breakfast and that the timings work for your departure . You can also opt to buy your breakfast in a supermarket if there is one locally.

One lesson we learnt the hard way was booking a hotel in Beauvais on a Saturday night, on a main road, with revellers! We couldn’t even keep the windows shut as it was hot and there was no air conditioning!

We booked our hotels through Booking.com which at the time provided referral discounts and mostly have options with free cancellations.

More Inspiration:

• Bikepacking for Beginners – Lessons to Ride By
• Best Bikepacking Kit & Essentials For Beginners
• How To Choose The Best Bike Insurance Policy

London to Paris Gallery:

I reached out the Vixens in the Velovixen chat group on Facebook and to my friends on Instagram, to see if they’d be up for featuring in this gallery so I could showcase a range of women who’ve done this ride!

Training Plan For Cycling London To Paris

Back in 2017, I didn’t have a coach written training plan to follow. We kinda just did our own thing knowing that we had to build up the mileage and get used to consecutive days in the saddle .

At the time, one of the most important milestones was riding 100km. Other than that, it was just a matter of getting as many miles under our belts as we could and testing out our kit, equipment and nutrition plans.

I did a mixture of riding to events / anywhere I could, Breeze rides (riding to and from them when I needed to build distance, and long rides on weekends with my friends from the trip.

One good thing is that nowadays, turbo trainers are much more popular to in bad weather (or if you’re short on time) you can use a turbo for some of your training.

This eight-week Sofa to 50km training plan from British Cycling would be a good place to start if you’re completely new to cycling.

MOre Tips For Training:

• Day 1 is the hilliest, so get your hill training in.
• Easiest way to up your mileage is cycling to work .
• Practice back to back days of cycling.
• Keep fuelled and well hydrated – find out what works for you in training.

The Best Bike For Riding L2P

Really, the best answer for this is that the bike you have will be the best bike for riding to London to Paris. When I did my ride, I was on an entry level road bike and it served me well. I managed to find kit that fit my bike and served the purpose I needed.

Looking back, I guess a lighter bike would have made the job a bit easier, but a heavier bike will just get you fitter!

And don’t overlook comfort! You’re gonna be on the bike for some time, so if budget allows, get yourself a bike fit to ensure your position is optimal.

Whichever bike you choose to ride London to Paris on, just make sure you spend time getting acquainted with it. Do you know how to fix a puncture? Do you have spare parts to take with you?

If not, maybe do a recce and find out if there are any bike shops on the route and make a note of where they are. Otherwise, get yourself booked onto a bike maintenance course or spend some time on YouTube geeking out over bikes.

What Kit You Need For L2P

You’ve chosen your route, started your training and now it’s time to get kitted up for cycling London to Paris. Here are the main categories of items and kit you’ll need for your trip:

• What you’ll wear on the bike
• Other kit (e.g gloves, arm warmers etc)
• Bike stuff and gadgets
• Off the bike outfits
• Personal items

I covered these items in more detail in my What I’m Packing To Ride From London To Paris post.

I saw someone ask: “I’m doing [London to Paris] along the Avenue Verte (the Newhaven-Dieppe route) and am curious about how everyone navigates?”  

This L2P trip was actually pivotal for me – it was when I decided to invest in a cycling computer (GPS) and also learnt the basics of route planning.

The GPS unit was probably the best cycling thing I’ve ever purchased! It lasted me years and I sold it onto another rider who’s starting to explore more. I currently use the Wahoo ELEMNT ROAM GPS and can’t recommend it enough!

“…you will have a fantastic time, and make sure you have a bike fit before, great shorts and lots of chamois cream!”  Mandy

• How To Apply Chamois Cream For Female Cyclists
• Beginners Guide To Planning Long Rides (with a GPS)

Anything I Would Have Done Differently?

We all know that hindsight is a wonderful thing… but I’m not sure there is much I would change about the trip as that would change the memories. If I really had to nitpick, I’d probably do some more research and find a better hotel for the end of day 2.

I’ve loved reading my posts detailing the trip, over and over again and also loved sharing it to inspire others! Here’s a quote from Debbie after she completed her ride to Paris and wrote up her own experience…

“When I was thinking about an adventure ride I saw a blog by a fellow Vixen Elle Linton – my hubby and I used her routes and ideas and did it this week . Here’s our little amateur blog – if it inspires anyone as much as I was by Elle’s then that’s a good thing x” Debbie – September 2021

What made you take on the London to Paris ride?! When are you going?!

If you’ve already completed it and have tips to share, feel free to drop them in the comments below!

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From London to Paris by Bike — The Ultimate Guide

A 3 day trip via dieppe and lalandelle.

Andrei Cioara

Do you want an amazing New Year Resolution? How about cycling from London to Paris next summer? While this requires a few weeks of training, it is an achievement available to all cyclists — from beginners to seasoned riders.

What you are about to read here is the most complete guide on the internet for this trip. It is the only resource you need to consult to be ready — a guide aimed at a wide audience.

For advanced cyclists who only need the suggested route, you will find ready-to-download GPX files, as well as interactive maps.

For novices who are interested in particular aspects of the trip, I go deep into all sorts of details: from where to eat and sleep, to how to get a bike in London if you don’t live there. Just skip to the section you are interested about.

For beginners, this guide is full of tips and tricks to make your ride more enjoyable, as you get ready to crown an achievement which your friends will envy.

This is a multi-article series. Today, you will learn a high level overview of the trip.

• The Trip Overview
• The Journey — coming soon ( subscribe for updates )
• The Bike — coming soon ( subscribe for updates )
• The Gear — coming soon ( subscribe for updates )
• The Budget — coming soon ( subscribe for updates )
• 10 Things to Know — coming soon ( subscribe for updates )

Route options

First things first: start and finish line.

Start line for us was Tower Bridge. It is iconic, easy to take pictures that include your bike, but also Big Ben was under refurbishment in 2018.

Finish line is obviously the Eiffel Tower. You can select a route through the city to circle Arc de Triomphe as well, but seeing the sunset from the park near Eiffel Tower is what we aim for.

In between, here are three routes you can choose from. They are dictated by the ferry you will use to cross the English Channel and get to France (and no, there are no routes which do not involve a ferry). The three options are:

• Via Dover — Calais (~385 km)
• Via Portsmouth — Le Havre (~327 km)
• Via Newhaven — Dieppe (~265 km)

The Dover — Calais route has the shortest ferry ride, hence the longest bike route, so it is considered the most “fair”. However, the route was described to us as really bad in terms of car traffic and is best to be avoided unless there is a good reason to take it.

The Portsmouth — Le Havre route is considered the most “standard”. However, we read that there is not much picturesque scenery. It was described as “rather boring”, so we decided against it.

Newhaven — Dieppe, as we later found out, is in fact the most popular route. Part of the reason is because that particular ferry is more bike-friendly: priority boarding for bikes, dedicated bike space, priority disembarking, as well as dinner on board. Dieppe also leads right into “ Avenue Verte ”, which is the best part of the entire trip.

We decided to take a variation of the Newhaven — Dieppe route, which avoids the main roads in France, optimizes for bike routes and avoids heavy traffic in Paris. That added another ~45 km to the total, getting to about 310 km total.

For us, the biggest constraint was that we did not want to ride after dark at all . We thought it is too dangerous and not worth the risk. We aimed to do the trip as close to the Summer Solstice (~June 22) optimizing for maximum daylight, but we pushed back due to ticketing issues (more on this later).

Another issue was the rain. In England, there is no way to predict the weather more than few hours in advance, but the summer months are usually a bit drier, so the odds would be in your favor. We were lucky to have one of the driest summers this year and had no rain at all during the trip. We were watching the weather prediction every day before the trip and the forecast was all over the place: from clear sky all the way to thunderstorms. Do not rely on the weather forecast.

In the end our trip was 21–23 July 2018, with July 24 reserved to enjoy Paris.

How long until Paris

The most important thing keep in mind is the ferry schedule . For our route, there were only 3 each day, they leave at specific times (9:00, 17:30, 23:00) and take about 4.5 hours to cross the Channel.

Together with the decision not to ride after dark, this adds a constraint on the number of days and how you split your journey. Just as a general rule of thumb: there are cyclist who do the route in 24 hours, sleeping the night on the ferry and arriving in France at dawn. On the other hand there are organized groups of cyclists, usually as part of fund-raising events who do it in 5 days.

Since we were smaller and more nimble than a big fund-raising group, but also not world-class athletes, we decided to go for 3 days — 100 km per day, which felt just about right.

Our route and stops

Day 1: london to dieppe.

Download GPX Route | Check my stats

• Breakfast: Home in London
• Lunch: Turners Hill
• Dinner: On the ferry to Dieppe
• Sleeping: Airbnb in Dieppe

Day 2: Dieppe to Lalandelle

• Breakfast: Dieppe
• Lunch: Forges-les-Eaux
• Dinner: Lalandelle
• Sleeping: Airbnb in Lalandelle — Marie — Highly Recommend!

Day 3: Lalandelle to Paris

• Breakfast: Lalandelle
• Sweets top-up: Marines
• Lunch: Villennes-sur-Seine
• Dinner: Paris
• Sleeping: Airbnb in Paris

By the way, if you wanted to have more details about my trip, don’t worry, I am working on that. Enter your email here and I will let you know when I publish it.

Bike options

Anything that can take you there would be fine. In the past, I did 80 km routes like this on mountain bikes, but it was hard. There are people who do this route on a Brompton bike in 24 hours , so if you are up for a challenge go for that.

I will write a full article about the topic of the bike alone, but to keep things short: a narrow-tyres road bike is the best.

The road is 99% tarmac. The exceptions were:

• About 1–2 km dust road in England, which should not cause much issue
• About 1 km of gravel road, where we pushed our bikes anyway to avoid punctures
• About 1–2 km of forest road close to Paris, which is probably the only portion that could cause issues

I had a narrow-tyres no-suspention hybrid bike. If I were to do this again, I would have taken a road bike which is more suited for some of the steep hills.

If you don’t have a bike

If you don’t have a bike or maybe you don’t live in London, there are few options for you.

• Rent cheaply and per day from Fat Llama . This is a peer to peer lending service that operates in London, so you can rent a bike from someone else and pay just for the day you need it.
• Buy a second hand bike from Gumtree or Facebook marketplace and sell it after. This is the most cost effective option, as you can resell for similar, if not better price.
• Buy new bike and sell it right after. You might have to swallow a 30% depreciation, but bikes sell quite fast. All offers I received were from people who just had their bike stolen and needed a replacement urgently . Tip: New bikes have a 21 day money-back guarantee. If you think you will bring it back in pristine condition, you can have the bike for the trip for free — but you did not learn that from me…
• Rent from a friend — if you can convince someone that you will bring the bike back in one piece after a 300 km trip.

How many people

The trip is just as much a psychological challenge as it is a physical one. The only recommendation for beginners is: do not go solo. I did it in the past and the mental burden of being alone in the middle of nowhere is much harder to bear than the physical challenge of going up one extra hill.

A group of 2–3 is probably the best size. Add more and you will start running into more issues:

• It is easier to be a struggler in a group of 2 than to keep a larger group waiting for you all the time
• Less people means less chances for punctures and bike breakdowns, which will stop the entire group.

We were 2, but that is just because out of the 40 people I called, only my friend Andrei could join.

Navigation options

To navigate, you can use a physical map or a phone, but I strongly recommend a dedicated GPS which you can mount on the lead bike. The advantage of it is that the battery will surely last the entire day. Also, it stays in front of you at all times and it beeps when you go off-route. Great to avoid stopping all the time to check or to have to backtrack few kilometers.

Next, I loaded the Garmin with a route I manually put together using Strava. I then downloaded the .gpx file and loaded it onto the device.

To make your life easier, here are the three routes that we followed, both in GPX format and as Strava maps.

For a quick explanation: for the England part, you want to take the shortest Route to Newhaven, following Route 21 as much as possible. At some point Route 21 diverges East, at which point you keep going South. In France for day 1, you want to follow Avenue Verte until the end, then go to Lalandelle on the shortest route. In France for day 2, we just followed this lovely guide which got us into Paris from the West side to avoid heavy traffic.

Bear in mind that some part of the road might look different, in particular the railway crossings might be closed with gates, no matter what Google Maps claims. Always keep a charged phone around just in case and have some offline maps ready. Google maps allows offline downloading, but I prefer maps.me , which is more lightweight.

Returning to London

Unless you want to cycle 300 km back to London, the Eurostar train is your friend. At 300 km/h, the train gets from Gare du Nord, Paris to St Pancras, London in just under 3 hours and you can take your bikes onboard too.

There is a bit of confusion about the bike transportation, because it is operated by a sister company called EuroDespatch . For starters, the two tickets: passenger and the bike must be purchased separately. Bike tickets SELL OUT, so you need to get it few weeks / months in advance. Before getting the train ticket, you must confirm that bike tickets are available. The bike tickets can only be purchased over the phone, as (at time of writing) no online method to purchase them exists, but you need to have a valid personal reservation first.

To add to the confusion, once in Gare du Nord, everyone will tell you that you cannot take your bike on the Eurostar and are advised to leave it in Paris. No one knows where you should go. Hint: read your bike ticket, it has a map that explains where to go. If only we read it…

But that is not all: there are only 2 bike spots per train, everything else must be put in a box which they provide. For your bike to fit in a box, you need to remove your front and back wheel and turn the handlebars sideways.

To remember

• Ferry tickets SELL OUT. You need to purchase them few weeks in advance.
• Eurostar bike tickets SELL OUT. You also need to get them few weeks / months in advance and they are a pain to obtain.
• The railroad crossings in France might be closed, be ready for small detours.
• Most things in France are closed during the week-end.

What to read next

This is the first article of a complete in-depth series. The next story is still under work, but you can subscribe here and I will tell you when it is ready.

Summary of all resources mentioned in this article

• http://london2paris.co.uk/routes/3-day-cycle-routes/
• http://www.donaldhirsch.com/dieppeparis.html
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Cycle _ Route_21
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avenue_Verte
• https://www.eurostar.com/rw-en/travel-info/travel-planning/luggage/bikes

Petty Theft is a Major Issue in 2018

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Written by Andrei Cioara

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Road or gravel - choose your adventure.

If you’re looking for a multi-day cycling challenge, fancy meeting new people and enjoy riding in a friendly group that’s matched to your ability, Hotchillee’s LONDON-PARIS cycle tours are just the ticket. With a  dedicated crew with 20 years experience looking after you,  Ride Captains leading the way, and sports therapists to ease your tired muscles;  You ride your bike, we look after everything else.  – That’s the Hotchillee Difference.

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Cycling London to Paris

The classic dover/calais route and the avenue verte.

£29.90 £22.43

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Free 1st Class postage on UK orders. European postage is £3 per item. Worldwide postage is £5 per item. If you're not happy with your purchase for any reason, we'll give you a full refund. More information...

Guidebook to the London to Paris Bike Ride, including both the 500km traditional route, which makes use of cycle tracks and quiet roads plus a ferry crossing from Dover, and the 400km Avenue Verte, a waymarked route via Newhaven/Dieppe which makes greater use of dedicated cycle paths. Each takes 5-7 days and they can be combined for a round trip.

A guidebook to the London to Paris bike ride through England and France. The classic route (490km, 304 miles) takes 9 days and the Avenue Verte (387km, 240 miles) 11 days to complete. Both routes are suitable for both first-time and experienced long-distance cyclists.

The classic route, via Dover/Calais, is described in 11 stages and the Avenue Verte, via Newhaven/Dieppe, in 9 stages, each between 13 and 63km (8–39 miles) in length. The routes are described north-south but a summary description is also provided for those wanting to cycle in the opposite direction.

• 1:100,000 maps and profiles  included for each stage? 
• GPX files available to download? 
• Refreshment and accommodation information given for each stage
• Suitable for road bikes  
• Information on cycle shops along the route

Overview map

Route summary tables

Introduction

Natural environment

Preparation

Getting there and back

Accommodation

Food and drink

Amenities and services

What to take

Safety and emergencies

About this guide

Classic route (via Dover–Calais)

Stage 1 Tower of London to Rochester

Stage 2 Rochester to Ashford

Stage 3 Ashford to Dover

Stage 4 Calais to Desvres

Stage 5 Desvres to Hesdin

Stage 6 Hesdin to Abbeville

Stage 7 Abbeville to Amiens

Stage 8 Amiens to Beauvais

Stage 9 Beauvais to Chantilly

Stage 10 Chantilly to St Denis market

Stage 11 St Denis market to Eiffel Tower

Avenue Verte (via Newhaven–Dieppe)

Stage 1 London Eye to Redhill

Stage 2 Redhill to Eridge

Stage 3 Eridge to Newhaven

Stage 4 Dieppe to Neufchâtel-en-Bray

Stage 5 Neufchâtel-en-Bray to Gournay-en-Bray

Stage 6 Gournay-en-Bray to Gisors

Stage 7 Gisors to Neuville-sur-Oise

Stage 8 Neuville-sur-Oise to St Denis station

Stage 9 St Denis station to Notre Dame cathedral

Appendix A Facilities summary tables

Appendix B Tourist information offices

Appendix C Youth hostels

Appendix D Useful contacts

Appendix E Language glossary

November 2022

Travelling with a cycle on Eurostar

After 3 years since they ‘temporarily’ ceased carrying cycles because of covid, Eurostar have begun carrying them again, but with a very limited service and with conditions of carriage that are not attractive to touring cyclists. Before covid, all trains to Paris and Brussels carried up to six cycles, two fully assembled and four dismantled, in specially designed fibreglass bike cases. Eurostar provided the cases and tools to dismantle/reassemble bikes in an area dedicated to this procedure.

The reinstated service carries bikes only on trains to Paris (not Brussels) on selected departures from London between 07.55 and 15.31 or from Paris between 11.13 and 18.13. Fully assembled bikes are not being carried. Four dismantled bikes can be carried, but cyclists must deliver their bikes already boxed to the baggage counter in either London or Paris. Pre-booking is compulsory and riders must now travel on the same train as their bikes. After completing the journey, boxes must be collected directly from the train and cycles reassembled on the platform.

This is far from ideal, and until Eurostar fully reinstate their previous cycle carriage policy, cyclists are recommended to take their bikes by plane, ferry or Euroshuttle when heading to the European mainland. The situation could potentially change.

The Cycling UK website www.cyclinguk.org has a page dedicated to Eurostar cycle carriage policy, which is updated regularly to contain any new information.

December 2020

Author updates

Mike Wells has provided the following updates:

Bon voyage it is then...

With Eurostar being such a notoriously bike-unfriendly route to Paris, if your dream is to pedal up the Champs Elysees, then you could cycle all or part of the way from London. And there's two routes detailed in this new guide, so you can head out one way and back the other.

At 490km The 'Classic' option is via Dover and Calais; it's longer but there are more ferries, it's flatter and goes through major towns such as Amiens and Beauvais. The shorter Avenue Verte (387km) depends on the longer, less frequent Newhaven-Dieppe ferry.

As much of each route as possible is on traffic-free paths, divided into stages (generally no more than 65km) for a leisurely journey. The maps are excellent, with useful enlargements even for small towns- what's more you can download them too.

Bon voyage it is then...

London Cyclist magazine

pretty much step by step accuracy that [is] hard to fault

on the day that the hot chillee london to paris ride left imber sports club in south london at stupid o'clock this morning, it is particularly appropriate that i am able to review this recent publication from the excellent range of guides from cicerone press , dealing as it does with two routes designed to get you from one city to the other. having ridden the hot chillee version last year, i don't mind admitting that at no time did i have the faintest idea of where i was; i simply followed everyone else following the lead car, which in turn drove through red lights, roundabouts, road crossings and through road junctions, all closed by the accompanying motorcycle outriders.

sadly, the cicerone publication does not come with a free motorcycle escort.

last year's hot chillee route appears to have been remarkably similar in intent to the first of the two explored in this guide, particularly in its parcours including the city of amiens, with its stunning cathedral, a view of which i discovered was mine for the taking on opening the curtains in the hotel room. if you're ever struggling for a convincing reason to undertake a ride from london to paris, amiens cathedral ought to be the clincher. taken in conjunction with the arc de triomphe and the eiffel tower, you can subsequently park the bike in the shed on arriving home and retire as a happy cyclist.

until the next guidebook arrives, of course.

in common with all cicerone guides, this publication is designed to hold your hand on leaving from either london's tower hill station or, perchance, the london eye, the starting point for the avenue verte , a route conceived to celebrate the 2012 olympics. the latter departs british soil from the port of newhaven, near brighton, while the former, more traditional means of getting to the eiffel tower, travels through ashford and folkestone, en-route to dover. the latter disembarks at calais on france's northern coast; the green route takes the itinerant, yet intrepid cyclist to the port of dieppe.

mike wells' narrative, offering pretty much step by step accuracy that it strikes me, would be hard to fault, opens his guide by providing a historical account of the regions through which velocipedinal activity is about to take place. hot chillee take all the potential strain from the peloton by carrying everyone's luggage from départ to overnight stay, having booked each individual hotel along the way, including rather sumptuous surroundings in central paris. however, should you prefer more rustic means of accommodations, such as bed and breakfast, camping or hostels, advice is provided to metaphorically and literally point you in the right direction.

it has often occurred to me to ask, when perusing other guides in the cicerone series, just how one might return homeward without actually retracing each page from back to front. in the case of the london to paris guide, return by eurostar from gare du nord station or by air is dealt with, prior to sending you frenchwards. the author has also the perspicacity to deal with the subject of road safety, a different prospect on each side of the channel (and how), along with suggesting what to eat, what to wear and what sort of bicycle might be the most appropriate. were i attempting either route under my own steam, i'd be less than inclined to ride the rather superb campag equipped sarto carbon fibre that put a smile on my face last year. in that particular case, the only cargo transported was a selection of gels in a back pocket.

the guide is copiously illustrated with both images of scenes to be viewed along the way and highly detailed maps. it's perhaps worth my pointing out that the avenue verte undercuts its compatriot by half: 240 miles against 490, meaning that once you've completed the shorter one, you can start planning for the other. twice the fun for one price. there are several organised london to paris charity rides that exist alongside the hot chillee version, with every likeihood that participants are as oblivious as was i, to their exact whereabouts. if that's not the way you roll these days, mike wells' potential ministrations on your behalf offer a more than viable and enjoyable alternative.

the washingmachine post, thursday 26 july 2018

All you need to plan and enjoy an iconic cycle ride between London and Paris.

Followers of Cicerone cycle guides may well recognise the name Mike Wells. This is his seventh cycling guide for the renowned publisher.However, this is a bit of a departure. Mike Wells loves river routes. The Danube. the Loire, the Rhine, the Rhone, the Moselle, have all been within his scope (all reviewed on this site). This latest opus eschews source to sea riding in favour of starting and finishing in two of Europe’s capital cities. Both are popular destinations for cyclists. Even better, you get two routes for the price of one, offering you a single guide to a round trip, if you have the time.

London-Paris is a popular choice for charity rides with a challenge. Guides like this are, however, aimed very much at the touring cyclist, though how long you take and how great the ratio of cycling to visiting is your choice. The guide is divided into four sections; "Background" (including the what, wherefore and advice on bikes, when to go, ferries and trains, and so on); "The Classic Route" (Mike’s take on the best leisure route using a ferry from Dover to Calais); "The Avenue Verte" (A British/French collaborative signed route, crossing the Channel between Newhaven and Dieppe); and a series of appendices with useful information.

In reverse order. The days of extensive lists have been swept away by the mass of information on the internet and ready access to it whilst on the road. Not only helpful in keeping weight down, but less likely to be wildly out of date. The summary tables of distance for each stage of the two routes also contains an indication of where accommodation of different types, repairs, refreshment and access to a railway, are to be had. the other appendices cover tourist information, youth hostels, useful contacts - such as ferry companies and Eurostar - and a basic glossary of useful terms. So, useful both before an during the ride.

It would be perfectly possible to use this guide for planning and to follow either of the routes without carrying any other map. Just the right size for most cycle jersey rear pockets. Once bought, up-to-date route files can be downloaded form the Cicerone website. The Avenue Verte is signed (sections of NCN in the UK and as a specific route in France). A guide, published by Sustrans, was reviewed here a few months back. As you would expect, the route uses plenty of country lanes and traffic-free cycle routes along old railways - Voies Verte, in France. The Classic Route is a different cup of tea when it comes to finding the way. Utilising some sections of different signed routes as well as none, you’d expect to be fishing the guide out of your jersey pocket more often than on the Avenue Verte.

Mapping for both is excellent, in conjunction and the clear written instructions - as you’d expect. Mike suggests using a tourer or hybrid bike, pointing out that a pure road machine would struggle on either route. He goes further, pointing out that there are sections which will be very tricky after heavy rain. In all but one case - where the Classic Route coincides with the Pilgrim’s Way - alternative road routes are given. To avoid the Pilgrim’s Way, you would need an appropriate map to find a suitable alternative - and be prepared for more leg-work amongst the steep hills of the North Downs.

The routes are divided into convenient sections. These are generally shorter than in Mike’s other guides. Of course, sections can be combined or split. It would be quite possible for a moderately fit leisure cyclist to combine the two routes into a satisfying round trip, without biting of more than could be chewed and leaving plenty of time for exploration, over two weeks.

In that context, it is very useful that the route directions are also given in reverse, at the end of each section. Notes on places of interest and so on, are only given once - in the London to Paris direction. The Background section is neatly done. All the usual information is there, of course. However, the introductions to the history and natural environment focus on similarities and differences on the two sides of the channel. Chalk downland, cloth, beer, and cider, are far from all Normandy and Picardy have in common with Kent and Sussex.

One thing we do not have in common with Normandy, for better or worse, is Andouillettes. Our guide describes these as “coarse sausages made from pork intestines with a strong taste and distinctive odour. Not a dish for the faint hearted.” This is moderate language. Having eaten one at lunchtime on the first day of my first cycle tour of Normandy, I’d go further: this is a very moderate description.

With this guide in your pocket you’ll have all you need to plan and enjoy an iconic cycle ride between London and Paris. With so much to see, you should have happy memories. Eat Andouillettes, and your memories will be even stronger - possibly, positively pungent.

Steve Dyster, Seven Day Cyclist

A comprehensive, blow-by-blow account of not one but two routes

London to Paris is a well-travelled charity route, but don't let that put you off doing it. Mike Wells's guide provides a comprehensive, blow-by-blow account of not one but two routes linking the two capitals: The Classic Dover-Calais route and the Avenue Verte.

Having ridden both in the past, Mike's routing brought back fond memories of my trip and will help anyone planning these rides in either direction.

By Mike Wells

Mike Wells has been a keen long-distance walker and cyclist for over 25 years. He has walked all the major British trails, the GR5 through the Alps from Lake Geneva to the Mediterranean and has explored the Italian Dolomites’ Alta Via routes. He has also walked in Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Norway and Chilean Patagonia. Mike has cycled the C2C route across northern England and Lon Las Cymru in Wales, as well as the Camino and Ruta de la Plata to Santiago de la Compostela. He has completed an end to end traverse of Cuba, a circumnavigation of Iceland and a trip across Lapland to the North Cape.

Cycling Land's End to John o' Groats

The Rhine Cycle Route

The River Rhone Cycle Route

Cycling the Canal du Midi

The River Loire Cycle Route

The Danube Cycleway Volume 1

A trail of two cities: A cycle route from London to Paris

Ask the experts: cycle touring special.

Get your bike ready for new cycling adventures

Bikepacking New Zealand's Tour Aotearoa

Why Cicerone’s LEJOG cycling route is the 'optimal' choice

Achieving a first cycling century: two perspectives

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The Classic London To Paris Bike Ride

This organised London To Paris bike ride is truly the ‘Blue Ribbon’ and best cycling event of Europe and now even more achievable and more exciting than ever before.

Join our fully supported cycle London To Paris bike ride and join the many thousands who have succeeded in one of the most iconic cycle tours of Europe on our all inclusive three day itinerary between these two great European cities.

Ideal for your first experience of multi-day touring and/or as a fundraising cycling challenge.

Open to individuals, couples and groups.

Fully managed and supported cycle event.

Pre Start – Assemble at designated meeting location for evening event briefing (Central London). Day One – Ride London to Newhaven – 105km (66mi) [+1114m] Day Two – Ride Newhaven to Forges-les-Eaux – 56km (35mi) [+316m] Day Three – Ride Forges-les-Eaux to Paris – 123km (77mi) [+800m] Day Four – Free morning before returning to London via Eurostar.

Experienced Cycle Leader(s), Full Vehicle Support and Driver/Mechanic, First Aiders, Baggage Transfer, 3/4**** star Accommodation (3 nights), Meals – Breakfast (3 days), Lunch (3 days), Dinner (2 nights, exc Paris), Ferry Crossing, Eurostar return to London, Bicycle transfer return to London (St Pancras)

Travel to/from start/finish (London), Accommodation in London

London accommodation, Bike rental, 5**** Upgrade in Paris

Your personal luggage will be carried by the support vehicle throughout the event. Please do not arrive to the event with bike boxes/bags, your bike will be returned to London via the support vehicles and our load system requires the bikes to be loose (without box/bag). Please contact us with any questions regarding the transport of your bike, we will be more than happy to discuss this with you further. We will be arriving back to London via the Eurostar which terminates at St Pancras Station., this is where you will be re-united with your bike before your journey home. Detailed information on bike transport and logistics for the event will be given in your event ‘Joining Instructions’ document.

We can expect warm, sunny weather, *however we should prepare for some rain – remember to bring layers – not heavy coverings. This is a road bike tour. Your bike should be well maintained and in good running order with suitable ‘road gears’ and brakes. Gravel bikes are also ideal for this ride to Paris. A full kit list will be issued in your ‘Joining Instructions’ document after your application.

We will be glad to discuss any aspect of kit and your bike with you, please contact us anytime with any questions.

eBikes Welcome

Our cycle from London To Paris is a level 2.5 (/5). You should be capable of riding comfortably upto 100km in a day and/or used to riding distances up to 70km over hilly terrain – minimum. If you have any doubt as to your fitness regarding participation in this event please give call us and we will be more than happy to chat with you.

Click here for your London To Paris Bike Ride Training Plan

Trusted since 2015

5***** reviews.

“Having never really cycled before, the challenge of cycling from London to Paris was HUGE. However, both Jason and Paul did an amazing job in supporting the team of mixed abilities and experience through the 3 day tour. Extremely professional, and a very well organised itinerary. I would seriously recommend ECT for anyone looking for a great adventure with the security of knowing it’ll be well planned and catered for. I’m looking forward to booking my next trip with these guys. Thanks again for all your support, knowledge (and patience)!!! “ Bryony Harrison-Croft 2018

“I joined the ECT Tdf to ride from London to Paris with my two sons to see the final tour stage in Paris. We had a memorable ride on both sides of the channel riding through some lovely Countryside. The trip was well organised and well led by Jason who kept a group of varying abilities together. The whole trip more than met my expectations and provided me with an unforgettable experience. I would thoroughly recommend this trip” Julian Walker 2023

Achieve your dreams and create memories for life...

Experience is Standard!

Organised london to paris bike, contact us to discuss how we can make the london to paris bike ride a reality for you, next ‘open’ date, 12 sept 2024, following ‘open’ date departures, 2025 may july [tdf] september.

Contact us today for more information or to register on one of our ‘open’ dates

Remember, as a London To Paris organiser we can plan and deliver your own private ‘closed’ trip for friends/family, club or corporate groups

3, 4 or 5 day options available cycling the spectacular ‘avenue verte’ to paris, contact our team now with your enquiry, if you would like to learn a little more about the london to paris bike ride then tap here to read blog by one of our leaders for an insight to three days on the road to paris.

“European Cycling Tours did an absolutely fantastic job of guiding our successful cycle challenge from London to Paris. From beginning to end, the ride, route, food, accommodation and logistics were professionally planned with precision. Guiding 13 riders of mixed ability I am sure is no easy task, but it certainly looked it! The route was one that could only be planned by people who had ridden them roads before. The surface’s were great, the traffic was minimal and the scenery was beautiful. At no time did we take a wrong turn, and the support Van met us on all the places we needed it. Even mechanicals didn’t stop us, as the teams intrinsic knowledge of cycling mechanics had them fix an otherwise critical mechanical on the route. If you want a challenge without the hassle of planning, and want an inclusive ride, European Cycling Tours are the folks to help you achieve it.” Stephen Pammenter 2018

For more testimonials tap here

To join us on this incredible london to paris cycle event or for further information how to plan your own london to paris event contact us now to speak with one of our team., ect contact form.

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EUROPEAN CYCLING TOURS

The UK's Premier London To Paris Bike Ride Provider

THE CLASSIC

London to paris.

Never has the UK's ‘Blue Ribbon’ cycling event been more exciting or more achievable than ever before. Join the many thousands who have succeeded in one of the most iconic cycle tours of Europe on our all inclusive three day itinerary between these two great European cities.

For over ten years we have been cycling to Paris from London and we are pleased to offer three dedicated 'open' departure dates through the year in May, July and Sept but we also take many private 'closed' groups through the Summer too - contact us today to discuss your requirements.

Ideal as a fundraising cycling challenge or for your first experience of multi-day touring.

Open to individuals, groups, charity and corporate customers

5***** Reviews

“Having never really cycled before, the challenge of cycling from London to Paris was HUGE. However, both Jason and Paul did an amazing job in supporting the team of mixed abilities and experience through the 3 day tour. Extremely professional, and a very well organised itinerary. I would seriously recommend ECT for anyone looking for a great adventure with the security of knowing it’ll be well planned and catered for. I’m looking forward to booking my next trip with these guys. Thanks again for all your support, knowledge (and patience)!!! “

Bryony Harrison-Croft - TK Max

European Cycling Tours did an absolutely fantastic job of guiding our successful cycle challenge from London to Paris. From beginning to end, the ride, route, food, accommodation and logistics were professionally planned with precision. Guiding 13 riders of mixed ability I am sure is no easy task, but it certainly looked it! The route was one that could only be planned by people who had ridden them roads before. The surface’s were great, the traffic was minimal and the scenery was beautiful. At no time did we take a wrong turn, and the support Van met us on all the places we needed it. Even mechanicals didn’t stop us, as the teams intrinsic knowledge of cycling mechanics had them fix an otherwise critical mechanical on the route. If you want a challenge without the hassle of planning, and want an inclusive ride, European Cycling Tours are the folks to help you achieve it

Stephen Pammenter - The Lead Agency

Great persons and leaders….always safety first and second….well done ECT….

Justin Gauci - ALIVE Charity Foundation

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London to Paris Cycle – Self-Guided (5 Days, Dover-Calais)

Southern England and Northern France

April, May, June, July, Aug, Sept, Oct £949 pp

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Dates may vary in price due to demand throughout the season and are subject to changes from time to time. We recommend booking your trip well in advance to secure the best pricing available for your preferred dates.

If you don't see a date suitable, please call on +44 (0)17683 71289 to organise a custom date.

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Quick facts, about & details, about this adventure.

Take on the London to Paris cycle challenge using the classic Dover to Calais route. Travel between these two iconic cities and take in the bright lights and vibrant attractions of London and Paris. This 5-day route is a gentler approach to the popular London-to-Paris cycle challenge, giving you the time to explore and appreciate the rolling countryside of Kent and Hauts-de-France. This route follows low, well-established, cycle-friendly routes with either separate cycle tracks or lanes marked on the road.

Other versions available

• L2P Cycle (SG) - 24 Hrs (Newhaven-Dieppe)
• L2P Cycle (G) - 3 Days (Dover-Calais)
• L2P Cycle (G) - 4 Days (Dover-Calais)
• Relatively leisurely distances (averaging 103km/64 miles per day)
• Hotel accommodation for five nights
• Five days of cycling
• Includes a night and a morning in Paris
• 276 miles (477km) trip

This trip takes you between the two most iconic capital cities in the world as you cycle between the two famous points: Greenwich Observatory in London, and the Eiffel Tower in Paris. The Dover to Calais cycle route is known as the classic route.

The classic route crosses the Channel between Dover and Calais, and makes use of quiet country roads, rural tracks, and dedicated cycle paths. Starting in London, you’ll cycle through Rochester and Ashford before reaching Dover. Taking the ferry from Dover, you’ll then continue your route in France, moving from Calais to Abbeville, Amiens to Beauvais, to then finish in Paris

• Five nights’ accommodation in comfortable hotels based on twin rooms en-suite with breakfast.
• Guide book, maps and GPX files of the route.
• Ferry crossing from Dover to Calais.
• 24 hour emergency assistance during your trip.
• Event organisation.
• Financial Protection: in the unlikely event of insolvency, all our trips are protected in accordance with the 1992 Package Travel Regulations.
• Travel to the start point and journey home from the finish point of the trip.
• Lunches and evening meals.
• You will need to bring or buy snacks and drinks for the cycling days.
• Luggage transport and panniers.
• Bike and bike equipment.
• Return transport via Eurostar to London.
• Personal insurance (for cancellation, accident, health, emergency evacuation and loss, theft of or damage to baggage and personal effects).

Optional Extras

• Single Room Supplement of £90 per person per night (subject to availability).
• Solo traveller supplement £90 per person per night.
• Odd number group supplement £90 per group per night may apply if a single room is required.
• Extra night in London prior to departure £90 per person per night for twin accommodation (requires two people).
• Extra night in London prior to departure £145 per night for single room accommodation.
• Extra night in Paris at end of event £90 per person per night for twin accommodation (requires two people).
• Extra night in Paris at end of event £145 per night for single room accommodation.

Please select from Optional Extras at checkout to add the above optional extras.

Additional Services

Additional services are available to book on a bespoke basis; please contact our team for further information on options and pricing for the below:

• Eurostar return – from Paris to London. Can be booked to suit your timing requirements, and can include the return of your bike on the Eurostar (in a bike box, supplied by Eurostar).
• Support vehicle and driver.
• Qualified bike guide/leader.
• Daily luggage transfer.

As the event is self-guided, you can select any date to start between April and October. Please follow through the ‘Book now’ button on the left hand side of your screen to select your preferred start date.

Day 1 - London Greenwich to Ashford

The first stage follows flat cycle lanes besides minor roads but with some busier sections to bring you out of London. After Dartford, you’ll climb over two outliers of the North Downs before descending into Rochester via crossing Medway.

You’ll then leave Rochester for a steep climb over the chalk ridge of North Downs at Blue Bell Hill. Next follow the medieval pilgrim’s way for the next 28km, moving over the undulating southern slopes of the downs. You’ll pass a series of spring-line villages before descending to the growth town of Ashford. This stage uses a mixture of quiet country roads and off-road tracks, some of which can be muddy and wet.

61 miles (98km)

Day 2 - Ashford to Desvres

After Ashford, follow the gently undulating road heading south to cross the edge of Romney marsh. The route flattens as you follow the Royal Military canal to Hythe and the coastal promenade to Folkestone. Here the route climbs steeply to run above the white cliffs before descending to reach Dover and the ferry terminal in the Eastern Docks.

You’ll then cross the channel to arrive at Calais. From Calais, the ride levels out taking you into Guines along a canal towpath and a disused railway. This stage uses minor roads that undulate over chalk downland before ending in Desvres, famous for ceramics and tiles.

72 miles (116km)

Day 3 - Desvres to Abbeville

Coming out of Desvres, there’s a short, steep climb. But don’t fret! We all know the saying “ what comes up must come down ”, meaning once you’re out of Desvres you’ll have a very exhilarating and long downhill descent into Neuville-sous-Montreuil. This descent follows a minor road into the pretty Valley of the Course which runs just south of Desvres and passes through a series of small villages and farms.

From here, the route turns east and follows the Canche valley to a gently undulating minor road towards Hesdin.

Coming out from Hesdin you’re faced with a steep climb and undulating roads across the wide-open chalk downland of the Ponthieu. You’ll pass large fields, a few trees, and only the occasional village. You then descend into three small valleys, one holding the town Crécy-en-Ponthieu where the English defeated the French in the Battle of Crécy in 1346. Towards the end, the route descends into the Scardon valley to follow a voie verte into Abbeville.

56 miles (90km)

Day 4 - Abbeville to Beauvais

From Abbeville, there’s a much-welcomed flat stage that takes you into Amiens. Your route follows the towpath of the canalised river Somme, all the way from the outskirts of Abbeville to the centre of Amiens. A few riverside villages are passed, but no major towns.

A shorter day leaves Amiens by crossing a low ridge before following the Selle valley on a gently rising grade. This route uses minor roads and the Coulée Verte (green corridor) along an old railway. You’ll pass the head of the valley and cross chalk downland to a hilltop and the town of Crévecœur-le-Grand. Minor roads are used to descend into the Thérain valley to reach Beauvais.

69 miles (111km)

Day 5 - Beauvais to the Eiffel Tower

South of Beauvais, take the direct route to Paris which crosses a limestone plateau known as Vexin. To avoid the high ground, this stage follows the attractive Thérain valley south-east from Beauvais to its junction with the Oise. There’s a small climb to cross a low ridge before descending into the town of Chantilly, a racehorse training town. Cycling from Beauvais to Chantilly is a slightly undulating route.

From Chantilly, you’ll begin climbing to the edge of the Paris basin, before descending into the banlieue (suburbs) of Greater Paris. In the beginning, this route starts by traversing forests and fields, before stretching into mostly roadside cycle tracks.

The final 11 miles (17km) takes you from St Denis market to the Eiffel Tower in Paris. This route follows urban canal towpaths, city side streets through the Marais, and a cycle track beside the boulevards leading to the Eiffel Tower on the left bank of the river Seine. Take a picture by the Eiffel Tower to document your achievement.

64 miles (102km)

Day 6 - Rest day and return home

The final day is a rest day. Use this day to explore the sites of Paris. Why not visit the museum or gallery before travelling back to the UK?

This itinerary is a guide only. It can be subject to change dependent upon viability, course members’ fitness, weather conditions, accommodation availability, or for any other reason deemed necessary. All timings and mileages are approximate and for guidance purpose only.

Find some of the reviews our wonderful customers have left for us below, or read them all here!

Maximum Adventure exceeded expectations, planning a trip for me last minute and off season through the glorious Lake District. The hotels were top rate, as was the food and my daily gluten free sandwich. Nathalie got the route guide sent to me in a couple of days and the baggage service was impeccable. It was the only tour guide company that responded immediately to my last minute request. Looking forward to more adventures with your company!!!

David and I walked the Speyside Way in September 2023 and very much enjoyed the adventure. Maximum Adventure Ltd organised our nightly accommodation and uplifting of our luggage in a seamless manner, which made the whole trip so easy with no stress. This is the second time that I have personally used Maximum Adventures Ltd and I would recommend them to others as they offer a friendly and efficient service.

We realy appreciated the tour we did on Hadrians Wall path in May.Beautiful scenery, decent weather, god arrangements including lodging, transport, bagagehandling etc. We came well prepared . In this preparation Maximum adventures gave us great support, as we are coming from abroad with no knowledge of conditions on the path. We had great BnBs and could concentrate on de daily walks that gave us great pleasure.Thank you England and Hadrians Wall path for your friendly reception and well mantained walking path.Thank you Maximum Adventures for your good service.We would love to come back in the future.

Maximum Adventure did a great job for us. With less than a month's notice, it set up an itinerary, lodging and luggage porterage for a walk from Carlisle to Newcastle, England along Hadrian's Wall. The lodging was fantastic, as was the itinerary and support during the walk. We'd definitely use Maximum Adventure again and would recommend them without reservation!

I was part of a climb on 23/09, didn't think I would make ut, but I did. The descent was a different story.. I got jelly legs and lost my confidence. If it wasn't for James, my Sherpa would never have made it. Can't thank him enough, Will, met you briefly.Both of them were very knowledgeable, we had the most amazing views at the summit...the pain is still worth it and

I walked the West Highland Way with my dad and brother. The organisation was excellent by Samantha. Itinerary and instructions were clear and all the bookings and luggage transfers went smoothly. As a result we were able to ensure the fantastic walk and not worry about anything. I would happily recommend Maximum Adventure to others.

Absolutely brilliant guide - knowledgeable, interesting and humorous in addition to looking after our safety so well - making sure we ate and suggesting when to layer up! Would highly recommend!

We just got home from our 8-days Hadrian's Wall hike and we just loved it!Everything was perfectly organized!We had great B&Bs and hotels with very friendly, welcoming and helpful staff. Our favorite was the Dacre House with Clare. But then again, all were great!The luggage was always at the day's destination, no matter how early we got to the accommodation.The description of how to get to the accommodations were clear and precise.The road map and the guide book were waiting for us as we got to the first B&B and were very helpful and interestingThanks, Maximum Adventure!

Praise for the West Highland Hike and the Maximum Adventure planners, esp. our planner Samantha. Great experience in every regard.

Booked for the 3 UK Peaks adventure, it was organised perfectly and everything when to plan. Accommodation was good, transport excellent, our guide (Patrick) brilliant, so cannot fault the trip and adventure. I personally expected too much from myself and was unable to fully summit as this adventure is not for beginners, I climbed Kilimanjaro in 2003 when I was 42 and twenty years later, although relatively fit, my endurance didn't last. So I did a half summit for Ben Nevis & Scafell, thanks to Patrick for letting go back down on my own, it was brilliant. With Snowdon, a half summit is tricky as you can't descend the way you go up, so I decided to do some hiking in the area while the rest of the group did the climb. I took a chance and went to the ticket office and managed to get a single return ticket up to the summit of Snowdon at 9am which returned down by 11.30am. I was hoping to see my group on top and spring a surprise but the weather was terrible. I highly recommend the trip but make sure you are fit enough otherwise as there is an emphasis on time, so a slow walk up is going to slow everyone down and really delay the trip. Have Fun, Simon Bradish

Charity Information

How to take part for charity.

To do this challenge for a charity there is a non-refundable registration fee, payable to Maximum Adventure at the time of booking. You can then choose between the two different options below.

Self-Funding

Pay a registration fee at the time of booking then the balance due 10-weeks before departure. With the self-funding option, you personally cover the full cost of the challenge. This option means that there is no minimum sponsorship target due, but we encourage you to raise as much money as you can for the charity.

Minimum Sponsorship Pledge

Pay a registration fee at the time of booking and confirm with your charity their minimum fundraising requirements for the balance. This will typically be double the cost of the adventure, less the registration fee. With the minimum sponsorship pledge option, you must submit 80% of your fundraising target to the charity 10 weeks before the departure date.

More Information

For more details of how fundraising works please read our step by step guide here or contact us for help.

Maximum Adventure work with lots of charities to offer our events as fundraising opportunities.  You can find our Charity Events from the ‘Menu’ in the corner of your screen or from our homepage.  If your chosen charity is not listed, please contact us and we will be happy to approach them on your behalf.

Why book with us

We know you have a choice of companies providing trips for your next adventures. Here are some of the reasons you should choose to travel with Maximum Adventure:

• We are an established adventure travel business
• We have been trading since 2002
• We are financially protected in accordance with the 1992 travel regulation
• Knowledgeable and available office staff
• Qualified leaders and guides with ascents ranging from Ben Nevis to Mount Everest
• All activities are risk assessed
• We will provide you with the best service available
• We are aware this is your holiday/your challenge and will do our best to make it an enjoyable and rewarding experience
• We have many repeat clients stretching back over a number of years

You may also like...

London to Paris Cycle – Guided (3 Days, Dover-Calais)

London to Paris Cycle – Self-Guided (3 Days, Newhaven-Dieppe)

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• London to Paris Bike Ride

Cycle Routes

One of the most important things to decide when planning your London to Paris bike ride is of course what route to take. The great thing is, there are many different route options to choose from.

Thanks to the number of available ways to cross the English channel people can choose to cycle routes such as London to Dover, London to Newhaven or London to Portsmouth where they can pick up ferries over to Calais, Dieppe and Le Havre. These main ferry ports allow foot passengers with bicycles and what’s great is the fares are cheap ( Check Ferry Times, Prices & Availability ).

Once you are in France there are many routes to choose from to get you into Paris taking you through beautiful countryside and historic towns all, of course, filled with fantastic little cafes and boulangeries.

Here we have pulled together a selection of the most popular routes which have been submitted by other cyclists, varying between those offering cyclists the chance to cover the distance in the shortest time possible to those looking to take their time and enjoy the sites along the way. The availability of cycle friendly accommodation is important, and so these cycle routes carefully factor this in.

Take a look at the following suggested London to Paris cycle ride routes and find one that’s right for you:

• 24 hour London to Paris cycle routes
• 2 day London to Paris cycle routes
• 3 day London to Paris cycle routes
• 4 day London to Paris cycle routes

Community forums

The latest topics from our London to Paris bike ride routes forum:

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Essential L2P Kit

Here is a list of essential cycling equipment for any London to Paris bike ride (we assume you already have a bike):

• Bicycle helmet
• Water bottle
• Bike lights
• Bicycle multi-tool
• Puncture repair kit
• Portable pump
• Spare inner tubes
• Bicycle oil / lubricant
• Bicycle lock
• First-aid kit
• Cycling gloves

Recommended books

Bicycle friendly hotels

Recommended cycling kit.

What to take with you? See recommended cycling equipment for your London to Paris cycle ride.

• Bags & racks
• Bells, lights & mirrors
• Bottles & hydration packs
• Cleaning & maintenance
• Cycling shoes
• Cycling tech
• Tyres, tubes & pumps

Other helpful links

Some useful links for planning your very own London to Paris cycle ride:

• Ferry Prices & Availability
• Hotel Prices & Availability
• Cycling Gear
• Bicycle Insurance

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London to Paris – 2024

£ 1,095.00

• Choose an option 2024 Jun
• Single supplement: 345 £
• Bike transport – to start: 85 £
• Bike transport – from Paris: 85 £
• Description
• Holiday Details
• What's included
• Get in Touch

London To Paris – The Eye to the Eiffe l

• Picturesque route on quiet minor roads and cycle paths taking you from the centre of London to the foot of the Eiffel Tower
• Crosses the English Channel on the Newhaven to Dieppe ferry
• Free day at the end of the trip to allow time to see the sights of Paris, returning to London by Eurostar

This is our ‘book end’ trip with dates at the start and end of the season, taking you from the UK capital to the heart of the most romantic city in Europe. The trip is aimed at regular riders looking for an early/late season break as well as less experienced cyclists wanting a challenge that people will recognise as such. 

The trip starts the London Eye, and once we are out of central London, follows a mixture of cycle routes and minor roads to take us south. We are soon in the delightful lanes of southern England and the route taking us through many picturesque villages. After crossing the South Downs we gradually descend to the small town of Newhaven on the shore of the English Channel, where we take the ferry across to France. 

After arriving at the busy little town of Dieppe we continue through the pleasant countryside of Normandy, with its orchards of apples and pears and distinctive timber framed houses. The route takes us through the Eawy Forest and Lyons la Foret. 

From the Lyons Forest we descend to the River Seine and continue following the valley all the way to Paris. As we approach Paris the route crosses the river several times, passing through the St Germain Forest and the Bois de Boulogne, to finally arrive at the Eiffel Tower in the heart of Paris. 

We have both the evening and the following day in Paris to give you time to explore the many attractions the city has to offer – the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Montmatre and the Sacre Coeur, Notre-Dame, the Arc de Triomphe and the many other museums, parks and gardens. In the evening we take the Eurostar train from Paris to return to St Pancras in London. 

If you would like to read other people’s comments on our holidays then check out the Customer Comments  page.

Holiday Details:

T he Area: This trip links two of Europe’s most popular cities. London is one of the largest cities in Europe, with a population of nearly 7 1/2 million people. However once out of the city the countryside stretches from the leafy suburbs of Surrey across the chalk hills and heathlands of Sussex to the English Channel, one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world.

Across the Channel in France the region of Normandy has a long and turbulent history, and in the Middle Ages was under English rule for many years. Well known for its cider and cheese much of the area is rural with some attractive little villages and elegant chateaux. Flowing through Normandy is the mighty River Seine, which provides a route from Paris to the open sea. The capital of France, Paris is an elegant city with a population of just over 2 million people which makes it much smaller and more compact than London. With a wealth of attractions and a fascinating street life, it is the most popular city in Europe.

The Tour: This is a Fully Supported Cycling Holiday with a leader, and support vehicle to carry all the luggage and provide any necessary assistance. The trip is a challenge if you are not a regular rider (though achievable by almost everyone) but more experienced cyclists shouldn’t find it too difficult. Our route is designed to avoid traffic as much as possible, and follows minor roads, cycle routes and cycle paths where feasible, and traffic on these is generally light. However you should be aware that it is impossible to avoid traffic completely, and there are a few busy sections along unavoidable main roads, and the centres of some towns can also have moderately busy traffic for a while. In addition London and Paris are major cities where it is impossible to avoid traffic. The route out of London follows a mainly traffic free cycleroute much of the way, however there is not a similar route into Paris and there are some roads here with very heavy traffic, even though there are marked cycle lanes. 

Accommodation & Food: This is a hotel based holiday and you will be staying in small family run hotels, generally graded 2* or similar, offering clean and comfortable rooms. We generally book en-suite rooms where available but this cannot be guaranteed. Single people travelling alone will be booked into a twin bedded room with another single person of the same sex – unless the single room price has been paid. Breakfast will be provided at the accommodation each morning. Most of the accommodation has an attached restaurant (or there will be another suitable restaurant nearby) for a meal in the evening.

Start: This holiday begins at the Millennium Eye in the centre of London. The ride will start here at 9.00am on Day 1. 

Finish: The cycling ends at the Eiffel Tower in Paris on Day 4. Your bicycle will be collected here and returned to the UK if required. You then have the evening and following day (Day 5) free in Paris. In the evening on Day 5 you take the Eurostar train through the Channel Tunnel back to London. The train will arrive at St Pancras station in London at approximately 19.00 – 20:00.

Documents: You require a passport to visit France. Nationals of some other countries also require a Visa. Non EU passport holders should check with the nearest French Embassy. You are also required to have travel insurance for the duration of the holiday. If you do not purchase insurance from us you will be required to provide evidence of a suitable alternative travel insurance policy. 

Bikes: All types of cycle are suitable for the trip. The most important thing is that the bike functions properly and that you are comfortable riding it. You should make sure that your bike has suitable gears as there are some moderately steep hills along the way. If you are riding a mountain bike then you should fit it with narrow ‘slick’ tyres. You should also make sure that you are able to carry some spare food and clothing with you on the bike.

Day 1 – London to Lewes – 60 miles From the Millennium Eye the route heads south out of London, through the suburbs of Surrey and out into the countryside. The route takes you across the South Downs through Turners Hill to Lewes. 

Day 2 – Lewes to Newhaven / Dieppe to Neufchatel-en-Bray – 32 miles A morning start to catch the ferry from Newhaven. After docking at Dieppe we follow a cyclepath along a disused railway to Neufchatel.

Day 3 – Neufchatel-en-Bray to La Roche Guyon – 62 miles We continue through typical Normandy countryside, passing the small spa town of Forges-les-Eaux, then across rolling fields through small villages of timber framed houses and the Lyons Forest, the largest beech forest in France, ending the day on the banks of the Seine River.

Day 4 – La Roche Rayon to Paris – 48 miles We follow the Seine Valley from here all the way into Paris, crossing the river several times. Finish the ride at the Eiffel Tower in the heart of the city. 

Day 5 –  Free day in Paris. Evening departure on Eurostar, arriving back at St Pancras Station in London at approximately 1900.

Tour Price includes: 

Hotel accommodation Breakfasts Ferry from Newhaven to Dieppe Return on Eurostar from Paris Support vehicle Services of leader/mechanic Route information

Tour Price does not include:

Lunches or evening meals Snacks or drinks required during the day Cost of any optional excursions, entrance fees etc.

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What defines a modern Paris-Roubaix bike? 10 unique pro setups from the Queen of the Classics

When the going gets tough, what kit do the pros rely on?

Specialized / SRAM / Our Media

Simon von Bromley

Paris-Roubaix is one of the few WorldTour races that still requires riders and teams to bring out rarely seen specialist equipment, so it’s one marked on every bike nerd’s calendar.

With 55.7km of cobbled roads over 260km of racing, the unique parcours pose significant challenges for bikes designed to be as light and aerodynamic as possible.

While the tech that defined past editions of the race has largely disappeared, no rider or team takes for granted how hard this race is on equipment.

We sent our beady-eyed photographer, Matt Grayson, to scour the pre-race team pits of both the men’s and women’s races for the most interesting pro bikes , and – as always – he delivered.

In this mega gallery, we’ve got Lotte Kopecky’s race-winning Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL8, Alison Jackson’s custom-painted Cannondale SuperSix EVO Lab71, Tom Pidcock’s Pinarello Dogma F, Mads Pedersen’s Trek Madone SLR, and much, much more.

Before we get to those bikes, though, if you’ve come looking for Mathieu van der Poel’s Paris-Roubaix-winning Canyon Aeroad CFR , fear not – we’ve got a full gallery of images delving into that bike in greater detail in a separate article.

Lotte Kopecky’s Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL8

The winner of the 2024 Paris-Roubaix Femmes, Lotte Kopecky, rode an all-black version of Specialized’s flagship all-rounder road bike, the S-Works Tarmac SL8 .

It was a choice echoed by the other riders on Specialized-sponsored teams, with the S-Works Roubaix SL8 nowhere to be seen at this year’s race.

Eschewing the brand’s Roval Rapide integrated cockpit, Kopecky opted for a separate bar and stem, with a round handlebar.

The stem comes from the previous-generation Tarmac SL7 , but the bar may have been non-sponsor-correct because the team wrapped it with handlebar tape all the way to the stem clamp.

Kopecky’s saddle appeared to be a Syncros Belcarra – from the component brand owned by Scott. Naturally, any offending logos were covered up carefully.

Elsewhere, the current world road race champion had a SRAM Red eTap AXS groupset set up 1x with a K-Edge chain guide for added security.

Contrary to many riders, Kopecky opted for a relatively small 50t chainring paired to a 10-33t cassette. It’s worth bearing in mind her 50x10t top gear is – in terms of gear ratio – equivalent to a 55x11t, though.

Like most of her teammates, Kopecky opted for Specialized's S-Works Mondo endurance tyres set up tubeless on a set of Roval Rapide CLX II wheels .

Kopecky used a set of custom world-champion themed Time XPro 12 pedals – another option from the SRAM stable of brands.

Marianne Vos’ Cervélo Soloist

Although Cervélo said it was targeting amateur racers with the recently revamped Soloist , that hasn’t stopped the brand’s elite sponsored riders selecting it for cobbled classics.

We suspect this is because the riders feel it strikes a better balance of low weight, comfort and aerodynamic efficiency than either the more aero-focused S5 or climbing-friendly R5 .

That aside, wider tyres, a non-integrated cockpit and a 1x drivetrain mark out Marianne Vos’ Soloist as a Paris-Roubaix bike.

Like Kopekcy, Vos used a SRAM Red eTap AXS groupset in 1x form with a K-Edge chain guide. Vos, however, opted for a slightly bigger, 52t chainring, paired with what looked like a wide-ranging cassette.

The three-time world road race champion used a set of as-yet-unreleased Reserve 42|49 wheels. Based on Reserve’s previous naming conventions, these almost certainly have a 42mm-deep front rim paired with a 49mm-deep rear.

These were paired with a set of Vittoria Corsa Pro TLR tyres , set up tubeless, in a size 700x32c.

Vos used Wahoo Speedplay Zero pedals and a Fizik Vento Argo 00 saddle .

Her cockpit came courtesy of team sponsor FSA, with an SL-K alloy stem (adorned with notes about each cobbled sector) paired with a round FSA carbon handlebar.

Alison Jackson’s custom-painted Cannondale SuperSix EVO Lab71

Last year’s winner of the women’s race, Alison Jackson, is also the reigning Canadian national road race champion. As such, she took to the start of this year’s edition aboard a beautifully painted custom bike.

The frameset features a striking red and white paintjob, complete with maple leaf motifs and a “Don’t think, just dance” note on the top tube (referring to Jackon’s famously sharp moves off the bike).

Perhaps due to the fact it can accommodate slightly larger tyres and makes more concessions to comfort, Jackson opts for Cannondale’s all-rounder SuperSix Evo (with the flagship Lab71 carbon layup) rather than its aero road bike , the SystemSix .

Expecting a fast race, though, Jackson’s Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 R9200 groupset was set up with 54/40t FSA chainrings, mounted to an FSA PowerBox power meter spider, with FSA carbon cranks.

Jackson used Vision’s Metron SL 45 wheelset paired with Vittoria Corsa Pro Control TLR tyres (a heavier, grippier variant of the standard Corsa Pro), in a size 700x32c.

Unlike Kopecky and Vos, Jackson stuck with an integrated cockpit, opting for Cannodale’s own R-One SystemBar.

It was wrapped with Prologo’s new handlebar tape featuring its CPC (Connect – Power – Control) technology.

This uses what Prologo says is a “3D-printed polymer nanostructure” to enhance its grip, meaning riders don’t need to hold the bars as tightly (thus, it claims, reducing fatigue).

Jackson's saddle also comes from the Prologo stable, with the Canadian champion picking the Nago R4 PAS 147.

Jackson used Wahoo Speedplay Aero pedals.

Daniek Hengeveld’s Scott Foil RC

Team dsm-firmenich PostNL all took to the cobbles aboard the recently updated Scott Foil RC .

A full-fat aero road bike if ever there was one, the only concession Daniek Hengeveld made for the rigours of Roubaix was the inclusion of Scott’s comfort-enhancing seatpost and wider tyres.

Like her teammate, Pfeiffer Georgi (who finished third in this year’s race), Hengeveld raced with a Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 R9200 groupset with a set of 54/40t chainrings.

Shimano also supplies wheels to Hengeveld’s team, with the Dutch rider opting for a set of mid-depth Dura-Ace C50 carbon wheels.

These were paired with Vittoria Corsa Pro TLR tyres, set up tubeless, in a size 700x32c (can you see a trend emerging here?).

Like Jackson, Hengeveld opted to stick with her bike’s stock front end, using the Syncros Creston IC SL Aero integrated cockpit (with the stem slammed for an aggressive riding position).

In a nod to the Roubaix of old, Team dsm-firmenich PostNL used Elite’s classic Ciussi Gel alloy bottle cages (in place of their standard Elite Leggero Carbon cages) to reduce the chance of losing drinks over the rough cobbled sectors.

The Dutch rider used Shimano Dura-Ace SPD-SL pedals.

Elisa Balsamo’s Trek Domane SLR

One of the few riders still choosing an endurance road bike , Elisa Balsamo of Lidl-Trek finished second in this year’s race on board a Trek Domane SLR.

With an eye-catching paintjob and deep aero tubes, the bike hides its comfort-enhancing IsoSpeed system on the top tube, just in front of the seatpost.

Like many other SRAM-sponsored riders, Balsamo opted for a Red AXS eTap groupset set up 1x (again with a K-Edge chain guide).

Like Vos, Balsamo used a 52t chainring, although this was paired with a tight 10-28t cassette out back.

Wheels come from Trek’s in-house component brand, Bontrager, with the Italian rider opting for its Aeolus Pro 49V wheelset.

These wheels feature 49mm-deep rims with a broad, 25mm-wide internal rim width optimised for the larger tyres. 

These use OCLV NEXT thermoplastic carbon construction. Bontrager claims this makes the rims stronger and more durable compared to other standard carbon rims.

Balsamo and her teammates rolled out on prototype Pirelli tubeless tyres (we know this because Pirelli helpfully printed –PROTOTYPE#– on the tyre sidewalls), in a size 700x32c.

Balsamo’s bike was completed with a set of Time XPro 10 pedals, a Bontrager Aeolus Pro saddle and a two-piece carbon cockpit from Trek’s RSL range.

Tom Pidcock’s Pinarello Dogma F

The star rider in Team Ineos Grenadiers' roster, Tom Pidcock took to the start line of this year’s men’s race aboard a fairly standard, team issue Pinarello Dogma F .

Of course, by ‘standard’ we simply mean it features few concessions to the cobbles – it was still an incredibly bling build by any standard.

Pidcock’s bike featured a complete Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 R9200 groupset, with 54/40t chainrings up front and an 11-30t cassette out back.

The wheels also came from Shimano, with Dura-Ace C50s making another appearance.

These were wrapped with Continental’s highly rated GP5000 S TR tyres , set up tubeless. 

Perhaps because the Dogma F is only officially rated for 28mm-wide tyres, Pidcock opted for slightly smaller, 700x30c tyres (which clearly fit in the frame and fork, perhaps just with less room to spare than Pinarello would recommend).

The Yorkshireman stuck with Pinarello’s one-piece Most Talon aero cockpit, with his stem featuring a printed list of each cobbled sector, its difficulty rating and where it appears in the race.

Contrary to recent trends for pro riders getting forward on the saddle, it seems Pidcock prefers plenty of setback. His Prologo Scratch M5 saddle was slammed right back on a setback seatpost.

Pidcock used Shimano Dura-Ace SPD-SL pedals.

Anthony Turgis’ ENVE Melee

The TotalEnergies team gave the ENVE Melee its debut at the Queen of the Classics.

Save for a blue stripe on the inside of the down tube and some white graphics, Turgis’ bike features an all-back gloss paintjob, matched with a similarly stealthy Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 R9200 drivetrain.

Like the race winner, Mathieu van der Poel, Turgis opted for standard 54/40t chainrings.

Beyond the drivetrain, though, the rest of the build was almost exclusively from ENVE.

Turgis opted for ENVE’s SES 6.7 wheelset , which features a 60mm-deep front rim paired with a 67mm-deep rear one.

Despite the super-deep rims, this wheelset comes in at an impressively low weight of 1,510g.

The cockpit is also from ENVE, in the form of the as-yet-unreleased SES Pro Team One-Piece aero cockpit developed in collaboration with Tadej Pogaçar.

Concessions to the cobbles on Turgis’ bike stretched only to a set of larger-than-usual 700x32c Continental GP5000 S TR tyres, set up tubeless, and some handlebar tape wrapped all the way to the stem.

Turgis uses a Selle Italia SLR Boost Kit Carbonio saddle and Shimano Dura-Ace SPD-SL pedals.

Nils Politt’s Colnago V4Rs

Finishing just off the podium in the men’s race, German rouleur Nils Politt rode Colnago’s all-rounder road racing bike, the V4Rs .

As we’ve come to expect of UAE Team Emirates bikes (given what we saw on Tadej Pogaçar’s bike at last year’s Tour de France ), it featured a no-expense-spared build with plenty of posh aftermarket upgrades.

The only notable change from Politt’s standard racing setup was the move to a set of wider, 700x32c tyres.

Beyond that, the bike featured a team-issue Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 R9200 drivetrain, upgraded with a set of 55/40t CarbonTi chainrings and CarbonTi disc brake rotors. Politt used an 11-30t cassette out back.

Both the wheels and cockpit were supplied by ENVE, with Politt opting for the same SES Pro Team One-Piece aero cockpit as Turgis of TotalEnergies.

Politt’s bar is slammed right to the head tube, giving the rangy German (Politt stands at 192cm) an extremely aggressive riding position with a huge amount of saddle-to-handlebar drop.

For the relatively flat parcours of Paris-Roubaix, Politt chose ENVE’s SES 4.5 wheelset . These wheels feature a deeper, 55mm rear rim paired with a shallower 49mm-deep rim at the front, which ENVE says helps balance aerodynamic efficiency and handling.

Spurning the modern trend for short-nose saddles with pressure-relieving cut-outs, Politt uses a relatively old-school Prologo Nago C3.

Like Pidcock, Politt prefers Shimano Dura-Ace pedals and plenty of saddle setback, with his perch fully slammed back on his seatpost.

Stefan Küng’s Wilier Filante SLR

After 22 years of using Lapierre bikes, Stefan Küng’s Groupama-FDJ team switched to Wilier this year.

Rather than opting for Wilier’s latest endurance bike, the Granturismo SLR , though, Küng and his teammates chose the Filante SLR , Wilier’s all-rounder race bike.

Another tall rider (in fact, at 193cm, Küng is among the tallest pro cyclists in the world ), Küng’s bike features plenty of saddle-to-handlebar drop and a decent amount of saddle setback, in order to achieve his preferred riding position.

It’s not quite as aggressive as Politt’s position, however – Küng has a few spacers left under his stem.

Küng’s bike is built with a Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 R9200 groupset, complete with 56/44t chainrings.

Küng raced with Shimano’s deepest Dura-Ace C60 wheelset. As the name suggests, these wheels feature 60mm-deep rims for an increased aerodynamic advantage compared to its C50 wheelset.

Küng used 700x32c Continental GP5000 S TR tyres, set up tubeless (of course).

The Swiss rider opted for Prologo’s Zero II Pas saddle with added CPC grip, though he used standard cork bar tape up front – in white, despite Paris-Roubaix’s reputation as a mud-fest.

He also stuck with Wilier’s stock Zero Carbon integrated handlebar, with a modern, compact drop shape rather than the traditional bend drops we saw on Mark Cavendish's custom Wilier Filante SLR at the 2023 Tour de France .

Like many other Shimano-sponsored riders, Küng also uses Shimano Dura-Ace SPD-SL pedals.

Mads Pedersen’s Trek Madone SLR

While Elisa Balsamo secured a podium spot in the women’s race aboard the Domane SLR endurance bike, the men’s Lidl-Trek squad all opted for the Madone SLR aero bike.

One of a new generation of hyper-aero road bikes, the Madone SLR’s most distinctive feature is its IsoFlow hole in its seat tube and cantilevered seatpost.

Like many other bikes at this year’s race, Pedersen’s featured a mostly stock build, save for a set of chunky tyres.

Notably, Pedersen had used tubular wheels and tyres at the 2024 Tour of Flanders , but switched to tubeless ones for the harsher cobbles of Northern France.

As on Balsamo’s bike, Pedersen’s Pirelli tyres were simply marked as prototypes, so we’re not sure exactly what model they are.

Could they be an update to the already impressive P Zero Race TLR ? The tread pattern and construction certainly looks similar, but Pirelli hasn’t offered any official details yet, so we’ll have to wait and see.

Like Balsamo, Pedersen used Bontrager’s Aeolus Pro 49V wheelset and Time XPro 10 pedals.

Finishing in third place, Pedersen’s drivetrain consisted of a SRAM Red eTap AXS groupset with a large 56t 1x chainring and a 10-33t cassette.

This offered the Danish powerhouse a slightly larger top gear than a 61x11t.

Did Pedersen ever use that top gear during the race? We don’t know, of course, though it’s certainly possible – at an average speed of 47.802kph, this year’s men’s race was the fastest ever edition.

More likely, though, we suspect Pedersen and other riders who use massive chainrings are looking mostly for marginal efficiency gains – bigger chainrings, cogs and even pulley wheels are (all else being equal) more efficient than smaller ones , due to a reduction in drivetrain friction.

While Balsamo opted for a two-piece front end, Pedersen used the Madone SLR’s stock integrated handlebar with a single layer of thin bar tape covering only half of the tops.

A long stem also provided plenty of room for information about each cobbled sector.

Pedersen uses Bontrager’s Verse Pro saddle, which the brand says is an all-rounder option for all types of riding and any gender.

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How to Watch 2024 Paris-Roubaix—the Ultimate Grit Test of the Spring Classics

As the treacherous cobbles await cycling’s brave hearts, here is the route, favorites, and everything else you need to know about the Hell of the North.

With its treacherous cobblestone sectors and storied finish at the Roubaix Velodrome, this race stands as a testament to the pro peloton’s grittiest riders. From its humble beginnings over a century ago to its status today as one of cycling’s revered Monuments , Paris-Roubaix calls on riders to test their character in the ‘Hell of the North.’ As the men and women of the peloton prepare to tackle the cobbles this Saturday and Sunday, anticipation mounts for another edition in this legendary saga of endurance and grit.

The Pavé Sectors

How to watch, what happened last year, riders to watch, paris-roubaix’s history.

The second-oldest of cycling’s five Monuments, Paris-Roubaix was the brainchild of two textile magnates from Roubaix, a small city near Lille in northern France. As Peter Cossins describes in his fabulous book, The Monuments , Théodore Vienne and Maurice Perez had just built a new velodrome (track racing was quite popular at the time) and decided that a road race would be a great way to raise the velodrome’s prestige in the eyes of the sporting public.

According to Cossins, the first edition of Paris-Roubaix took place on April 19, 1896, and took off at 5:30 a.m. from Roubaix’s Café Gillet. Germany’s Josef Fischer won the race over nine hours later, crossing the finish line after completing six laps of the velodrome. The next best rider, Denmark’s Charles Meyer, finished 23 minutes after the German.

Like many of cycling’s oldest one-day races, Paris-Roubaix has changed and evolved over the years: the starting place has shifted, the route has been altered, and the number of cobbled sectors has fluctuated dramatically, largely as a response to French road resurfacing projects in the early 1960s. Even the velodrome is not the same: the race currently finishes in a velodrome that was completed in 1937 and has hosted the race’s finish (with a few exceptions) every year since 1943.

As for its infamous nickname, the “Hell of the North,” Paris-Roubaix is assumed to have earned its most famous nickname from the ancient cobbled farm roads that the riders tackle as the race bounces its way across the windswept fields of northern France. But many of these areas were devastated by battles during World War I, and (as Cossins shares) it wasn’t until after the war that the race acquired its devilish moniker. A rider was asked by the event’s organizers to conduct a recon of the course in early 1919 and was appalled by what the war had left in its wake. For the first few years after the Great War, Paris-Roubaix was truly a trip through hell.

Paris-Roubaix Femmes

A women’s race called Paris-Roubaix Femmes was finally added by the organizers in 2020, but the first edition was canceled (along with that year’s men’s event) due to COVID-19. Taking place on Saturday—the day before the men’s event—the women’s race starts in Denain and then, after a quick loop around the city, heads north toward the Roubaix, covering the final 17 or so sectors of cobblestones that the men race over on Sunday.

Given the nature of the course, it makes sense that the riders who excel in Paris-Roubaix are often the same men and women who were at the front during the previous weekend’s Tour of Flanders . Belgians have won the men’s race 57 times, and ten riders have won Flanders and Roubaix in the same season, with Belgium’s Tom Boonen and Switzerland’s Fabian Cancellara doing it twice.

With only three editions in the record books, it’s hard to identify any trends in the history of the Paris-Roubaix Femmes. But one team has enjoyed more success than any other: riders from Trek-Segafredo won the first two editions. Now known as Lidl-Trek, don’t be surprised if the team makes it three out of four this year.

Here’s everything else you need to know about this year’s Paris-Roubaix.

Since 1977, the men’s Paris-Roubaix has started in the town of Compiègne, about an hour northeast of the French capital. From there the race heads north through the Picardy region of northern France, an area made up of the departments of Oise, Aisne, and Somme, all areas that were heavily impacted by the horrors of World War I.

The men will cover these smooth, rolling roads during the first two hours of their 260K race, with a large breakaway likely escaping containing a mix of riders from wild card squads looking for publicity and domestiques from the contenders’ teams hoping to position themselves up the road so as to support their captains later in the race. Despite its lack of cobblestones, this early phase of the race can be dangerous, with crashes and crosswinds an ever-present threat.

First raced in 2021, the 148.5K Paris-Roubaix Femmes begins in Denain, about 90 minutes north of Compiègne by car. Saturday’s women’s race begins with a loop around the town, then joins the course that the men will cover on Sunday.

Like the men’s event, these opening stretches of asphalt roads offer an opportunity for an early breakaway to form. Last year, the winner came out of this early move, so expect the teams of race favorites to be a bit more selective as to which riders they let go up the road.

Paris-Roubaix is a race defined by its cobblestones, known locally as pavé . And there are lots of them: The women will race over 29.2K of the softball-sized rocks (spread over 17 sectors), and the men will cover 29 sectors on Sunday, for a total of 55.7K—the most the race has included in 30 years.

The cobbled sectors are numbered in descending order, beginning with Sector 17—Hornaing in Wandignies—for the women, and Sector 29—Troisvilles—for the men. The riders hit these first sectors about 68 and 96K into their respective races, and it’s pretty much “game on” from there as they wind their way to Roubaix along the border between France and Belgium—hitting just about every cobbled farm road the organizers could find along the way.

Each sector of pavé has its own flavor, and all of them are inspected in the days prior to the event and given a star rating to indicate their difficulty. This year’s men’s and women’s races boast six and nine 4- or 5-star sectors, respectively. But don’t let these ratings fool you: every sector offers its own set of challenges and none of them is easy. (With the exception of Sector 1, a well-manicured set of paving stones just before the entrance to the Roubaix Velodrome.)

The pavé turns Paris-Roubaix into a race of anticipation and attrition. As the kilometers tick down the speed increases, and riders are steadily dropped from the back of the peloton due to fatigue, mechanicals, or crashes. The better riders and teams fight to position themselves at the front of the group heading into each cobbled sector. This allows them to pick the best line over the stones, which is usually on top of the raised “crown” that runs down the center of the road. From this position, riders can both dictate the pace of the race and avoid crashes or other obstacles—or at least react to them more quickly than riders stuck at the back.

The men’s race comes to a head with about 95K to go as the riders hit Sector 19, the Arenberg Forest, the first 5-star sector, and perhaps the hardest and most (in)famous in the race. A long, fast sector that features some of the area’s gnarliest cobblestones, the pack usually splits into pieces here as the contenders accelerate to try and force the first major selection of the day. Riders who get dropped here might never see the front of the race again.

The route of the Paris-Roubaix Femmes doesn’t take the riders through the Forest, which—as brutal as the Arenberg sector is—we imagine the riders don’t appreciate. But they will cover the race’s other two 5-star sectors: Mons-en-Pévèle, a long, brutal sector that shapes the final hour of the race; and Carrefour de l’Arbre, a punishing sector that’s about 18K from the finish line and therefore provides the perfect opportunity for riders hoping to drop their breakaway companions and ride away to victory.

If the pavé doesn’t determine the winner, the Roubaix Velodrome awaits. There, a small group of exhausted riders will need to muster enough mental and physical energy for a sprint on the ancient concrete track.

Upsets are common in the velodrome. In 1997, France’s Frédéric Guesdon—a complete unknown at the time—shot from the back of a group of favorites to win. In 2016, Australia’s Mathew Hayman—a career domestique with few wins of his own—denied Boonen a chance to take a record-breaking fifth Roubaix victory. And, of course, who can forget last year’s women’s race, when Canada’s Alison Jackson—one of only a handful of riders to survive the day’s long breakaway—timed her sprint perfectly to take a legendary victory.

One final consideration: the weather. Cobbled roads are bad enough when it’s sunny and dry; they’re even worse in the rain. It’s been raining throughout much of the week, but it’s expected to be cloudy and dry on Saturday and Sunday. There will be lots of mud and puddles though, which means the stones will be slippery in several places.

If you subscribed to NBC’s Peacock Premium streaming service ($5.99/month) before last year’s Tour de France—and didn’t cancel your subscription—then you also get access to Paris-Roubaix and several other races covered by NBC and its partners. (If you’re looking for ad-free coverage, you’ll need a subscription to Peacock Premium Plus, which runs $11.99 a month.)

The Peacock app is available on Amazon Fire TV, Android and AndroidTV devices, Chromecast, Google platforms, iOS devices, PlayStation 4 and 5, Roku, Xbox devices, VIZIO SmartCast TVs, and LG Smart TVs. You can also watch online via the Peacock website.

If you’re in Canada, FloBikes ($30/month) is the best way to watch Paris-Roubaix. Both races are available live and on-demand on FloBikes.com, the FloSports iOS app, and the FloSports app for Amazon FireTV, Roku, and Apple TV.

Peacock’s coverage of Saturday’s Paris-Roubaix Femmes begins at 9:15 a.m. EDT, just as the riders are approaching the first sector of pavé . The race is expected to finish in the Roubaix Velodrome by around 11:30 a.m. EDT.

On Sunday, Peacock will be streaming the men’s Paris-Roubaix in its entirety, beginning at 4:55 a.m. EDT. We’ll be up early to watch the men hit the first sector of cobbles at about 7:30 a.m. EDT. If that’s too early for you, make sure you’re tuned in by about 9:00 a.m. EDT, when the leaders should hit the Arenberg Forest. The race is expected to finish about two hours later.

After dominating the Tour of Flanders, Belgium’s Lotte Kopecky and her stacked SD Worx team went into Saturday’s women’s Paris-Roubaix as the top favorites. But the race ended with a big upset as Canada’s Alison Jackson (EF Education-TIBCO-SVB) outsprinted what was left of the day’s big breakaway to take the biggest win of her career.

Jackson and seventeen other riders went up the road early in the 145.5km race, and no one expected any of them to feature in the finale. But Kopecky and the other pre-race favorites couldn’t bring them all back in time, and seven of them survived to fight for the win in the Roubaix Velodrome. Jackson threw up her hands in disbelief after crossing the finish line, stunned and amazed by what she had just accomplished. Italy’s Katia Ragusa (Liv Racing) finished second, and Belgium’s Marthe Truyen(Fenix-Deceuninck) was third.

But Sunday’s men’s race wasn’t settled in a sprint: the Netherlands’ Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) won his second Monument of the spring (he won Milano-Sanremo in March) after attacking over the top of Belgium’s Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma), who accelerated off the front of a small leading group on the Carrefour de l’Arbre before a flat tire ruined his chance to win the race. Van der Poel’s teammate, Belgium’s Jasper Philipsen, took second, finishing off a dream day for Alpecin-Deceuninck. Van Aert ended the day in third.

Marianne Vos (Visma-Lease a Bike)

With Elisa Longo Borghini (Lidl-Trek) skipping the race to focus on the upcoming Ardennes Classics, Vos is the top favorite for Saturday’s Paris-Roubaix Femmes. A legend of the sport, the 36-year-old Dutchwoman won the 250th race of her career at last Wednesday’s Dwars door Vlaanderen , then took fourth at Sunday’s Tour of Flanders.

Now she gets another shot at the biggest race still missing from her already impressive resume: the Hell of the North. And she’ll be tough to beat. A former cyclocross World Champion, she’ll have no issues on Roubaix’s muddy cobblestones, and she’s arguably one of the best sprinters in the bunch, so a sprint on the velodrome won’t bother her either. In the end, her chances might depend on whether or not her team can keep her at the front of the race and out of harm’s way; she often finds herself isolated deep in the finale of longer classics, and that could hurt her Saturday.

Lotte Kopecky (Team SD Worx-Protime)

Kopecky was unable to win a third consecutive Tour of Flanders on Sunday. She and her teammates rode a strong race, they just didn’t have that little bit extra a rider often needs in races as long and as hard as a cobbled classic. But the Belgian gets another chance in Paris-Roubaix, one of the only races her SD Worx team has yet to win. Her team is depleted due to injuries and the Netherlands’ Demi Vollering—who’s been Kopecky’s best teammate—is skipping the race to prepare for the Ardennes. But Roubaix is a tricky, often unpredictable event, and a rider of Kopecky’s caliber can never be counted out.

Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck)

After winning last Sunday’s Tour of Flanders for the third time in his career, Van der Poel—who just so happens to be the defending Paris-Roubaix champion—looks poised to become the first rider since Cancellara (in 2013) to win Flanders and the Hell of the North in the same season. A win would cap off an incredible cobbled run for the Dutchman, who also won the E3 Saxo Classic and finished second in Ghent-Wevelgem . As we said heading into Flanders, this is his race to lose.

Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek)

Van der Poel looked pretty unbeatable in Flanders this past Sunday, but he might have found his third victory in the Flemish Monument a bit harder to come by had Pedersen not crashed in last Wednesday’s Dwars door Vlaanderen. Battered and bruised, the Dane started Sunday’s race anyway, but then—by his own admission—he raced a bit stupidly, attacking far out from the finish instead of saving his reserves for the finale. With another week of recovery—and a course that suits him better than the Tour of Flanders does—he should be even better at Roubaix this coming Sunday.

Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck)

Last year’s Roubaix result mirrored that of the season’s first Monument, with Van der Poel on the top step of the podium in both. Don’t be surprised if that happens this year as well, only with Van der Poel’s teammate, Philipsen, winning both races. In Milano-Sanremo , once his own attack (with Slovenia’s Tadej Pogačar ) was caught, van der Poel devoted himself to Philipsen—who’s one of the fastest sprinters in the world—and the Belgian delivered.

The same could happen Sunday if Van der Poel proves unable to escape on his own and instead decides to set up Philipsen—who was second in Roubaix last year—for a small group sprint in the Roubaix Velodrome. Before the season, Alpecin-Deceuninck said its dream scenario would be Van der Poel winning Flanders and Philipsen winning Roubaix. So far, they’re halfway toward making that dream a reality.

Nils Politt (UAE Team Emirates)

If you’re looking for a dark horse, keep an eye on Politt. Second in 2019, the German has raced well all spring. He was second in the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, seventh in the E3 Saxo Classic, twelfth in Dwars door Vlaanderen, and most importantly, third at the Tour of Flanders. Roubaix suits him best of all, and he’s definitely one to watch this Sunday.

Other Riders to Watch

Lucinda Brand (Lidl-Trek), Ellen van Dijk (Lidl-Trek), Chiara Consonni (UAE Team ADQ), Stefan Küng (Groupama-FDJ), Kasper Asgreen (Soudal-Quick Step), Yves Lampaert (Soudal-Quick Step), Matej Mohorič (Bahrain-Victorious), and Alberto Bettiol (EF Education-EasyPost).

.css-1t6om3g:before{width:1.75rem;height:1.75rem;margin:0 0.625rem -0.125rem 0;content:'';display:inline-block;-webkit-background-size:1.25rem;background-size:1.25rem;background-color:#F8D811;color:#000;background-repeat:no-repeat;-webkit-background-position:center;background-position:center;}.loaded .css-1t6om3g:before{background-image:url(/_assets/design-tokens/bicycling/static/images/chevron-design-element.c42d609.svg);} 2024 Paris-Roubaix

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Woman's World

Best 'Armchair Travel' Books: Escape to Paris, London, Italy and More Without Leaving Home!

Posted: January 14, 2024 | Last updated: January 14, 2024

Fans of When Harry Met Sally will delight over this wildly funny and tender rom-com set in sunny Palm Springs. When they met in college, wild-child Poppy and straight-laced Alex didn't hit it off. Then after doing a car-share for summer break, the unlikely pair became best friends. Now, years after college, Poppy works in New York City while schoolteacher Alex stayed in their hometown - but every summer, for a decade, they've taken a vacation together. Until two years ago, when they ruined it all. They haven't spoken since, but when Poppy gets a work travel assignment and asks Alex to join her, he agrees. Can they fix their friendship and address the truth that's been hiding in plain sight for so long?

Bestselling author of In Five Years, Rebecca Serle is known for her powerful stories that tug at the heartstrings - and this novel, set on the colorful coastline of Positano, is unforgettable. When Katy's mother, Carol, dies, Katy is shattered. To make matters worse, their mother-daughter trip to Positano - the magical town where Carol spent the summer right before she met Katy's father - is already planned, so Katy decides to go alone. As soon as she arrives at the Amalfi Coast, she’s warmed by the charming local residents, the delicious food and beautiful cliffside views. Katy even starts to feel her mother's spirit and comes to learn that those we love never leave us. 

Readers will fall in love with this lush, picturesque novel that follows Anna as she runs away to Greece in a last-ditch attempt to hide from a failed relationship, a stagnant career and a complex family. After learning she has inherited a dilapidated summer house from her estranged father, she arrives in Santorini with its lovely villas, blue-tiled roofs and turquoise waters of the Aegean Sea. Soon, Anna begins to rebuild the house - and her life -but in the process, she begins to uncover life-altering family secrets. Will these secrets threaten her blossoming romance with Nikos, the handsome and so-charming local?

Set in 1938 Paris, The Paris Mystery is a new novel, the first in the Charlotte ‘Charlie’ James series, written by Australian author Kirsty Manning. It’s 1938 and fearless Aussie reporter Charlotte ‘Charlie’ has arrived in Paris eager to make a fresh start. As a new corespondent for a British newspaper, she’s chasing her first big scoop. To make new contacts, she befriends Lord and Lady Ashworth. Lady Eleanor knows people in Parisian high society. So when she invites Charlie to her decadent annual party, a Circus Ball, it’s the perfect place to meet everyone. The ball is full of glitz and glamour…that is until there’s a murder. Now, Charlie vows to crack the case - while searching for clues at lavish parties, wine bars and couture houses. Will she uncover the culprit still lurking in the City of Lights?

This tale about family secrets and forgiveness by bestselling author Sarah Jio sparkles with heart and wit. When Valentina Baker was 11 years old, her mother, Eloise, fled to her native London, leaving Val and her father in California. Now a divorced librarian in her thirties, Val is still not over her mother's abandonment. In a twist of fate, she receives news that Eloise has died, leaving Val the deed to her mother's Primrose Hill apartment and the Book Garden, the quaint bookshop she opened almost 20 years prior. Though the news is tragic, Val takes the chance for a new beginning and hops a plane to London. A story about making peace with the past, uncovering secrets and finding hope for the future.

Glamorous scenes, family drama and luxurious moments abound in this international bestselling novel by Kevin Kwan. The story follow professor Rachel Chu, who is traveling with her boyfriend, Nicholas Young, back to his home city of Singapore for his friend's wedding. It’s also an opportunity for her to finally meet his family for the first time. Before long, Rachel is facing a meddling mother, crazy rich relatives and a shocking truth that may derail her future with Nick.

This sweeping historical novel written by bestselling authors Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig and Karen White allows readers to step foot into beautiful Newport, Rhode Island - in the past and the present. Andy Figuero is currently in Newport to produce a reality show about restoring historic homes. But as she takes on the task of documenting the crumbling Sprague Hall, while being banned from speaking to the elderly owner, past secrets arise. Spanning three time periods - and the secrets hidden in each - the story of Sprague Hall and its inhabitants is interwoven into the lives of America's royalty (the Rockefellers, the Vanderbilts, and others). A sumptuous story that covers a century of juicy history from the Gilded Age to the present day!

In this iconic New York Times bestseller, chef, poet and travel writer, Frances Mayes takes readers into her Tuscan home called Bramasole. Bought as a fixer-upper, Frances moved into a Tuscan villa as a way to show people the power of embarking on their own journeys that they believed would make her happy. Filled with recipes, beautiful descriptions and inspirational messages, this classic and memorable book always has something for everyone.

Stunning coastal settings and a warm cast of characters…this novel whisks readers away to the beaches of North Carolina. Following a betrayal, Kayana Johnson moves back to lovely Coates Island to help her brother run the Seaside Café. After Kayana meets two patrons, Leah and Cherie, who feel like kindred spirits, they start a book club. Soon, the trio unpacks the drama in their books and their lives. It is a tale of love, friendship and new beginnings.

Filled with beautiful scenery, emotion and Italian charm, this captivating debut novel written by Francesca Giacco follows Emilia, who arrives in Rome reeling from a broken heart. She dreamily wanders every corner of the city, eating food, drinking wine and reflecting back on memories. Then, while climbing a hill near Trastevere, she meets John, a handsome American expat. As their initial connection deepens, Emilia finds herself on a journey of true self-discovery.

Heartfelt, charming and fun, the latest saga by best-friend author duo Christina Lauren is a stand-out page-turner! As the daughter of a treasure hunter, Lily Wilder now uses her father's maps to guide tourists on hunts through the red rock canyons of Utah. But when she runs into the long-lost love of her life, Leo Grady, in the canyons, the duo have a chance to take another kind of adventure­ - rekindled romance.

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Paris Olympics 2024: Eurostar trains from London selling three times faster than usual

Exclusive: ‘the opening ceremony before the official opening ceremony in paris will be on eurostar’, article bookmarked.

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One hundred days before the start of the Paris Olympics 2024, Eurostar is predicting its busiest-ever summer peak.

The Games in the French capital run 26 July to 11 August, coinciding with the normal highest demand for the international rail firm, with many British families heading to continental Europe .

When the first tickets for trains between the two cities during the Olympics went on sale, they were booked at triple the normal rate.

Gwendoline Cazenave, chief executive of Eurostar, told The Independent : “When we opened sales in last November between London and Paris , we sold three times more tickets than we sell in the usual sales opening.

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“We have already sold more than 400,000 tickets. So, yes, it’s gonna be a busy period. The trains are getting full really quickly. But we still have places.”

The cheapest return ticket from London St Pancras International to Paris Gare du Nord, travelling out the day before the opening ceremony and back on the final day of the Games, is £318 in standard class.

But that can be halved for shorter trips during the Olympics – such as £158 return between 29 July and 1 August.

Ms Cazenave said that passengers could well be travelling at the same time as competitors.

“We have 140 trains to Paris on which we’ll have athletes, so our customers will be able to meet athletes,” she said.

“The opening ceremony before the official opening ceremony in Paris will be on Eurostar.

“Returning home, these trains will be heavier because they will have medals on board: bronze, silver and gold.”

Flights between London and Paris are significantly cheaper than trains; flying out on 25 July, back on 11 August, the fare on Vueling from Gatwick to Orly airport, south of the French capital, is £204 return.

During the Games, Air France is offering a Heathrow-Paris CDG fare of £123 return from 29 July to 1 August.

These prices do not include the cost of travel to and from the capitals, nor anything more than modest cabin baggage.

Ms Cazenave said: “When you compare to airlines, you know that Eurostar is from city centre to city centre, with no added charges, no tax, no bag or seat [charges], no underground or taxis.

“It’s all included, and there’s no bad surprise.”

Tourism bosses in Paris are expecting a slump in the numbers of visitors staying overnight during the Olympics.

The Independent has been told that predicted hotel occupancy will be 60–70 per cent for the duration of the Games, compared with 91 per cent in July 2023.

All fares checked direct with operators on Wednesday 17 April

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Despite weather glitch, the Paris Olympics flame is lit at the Greek cradle of ancient games

ANCIENT OLYMPIA, Greece (AP) — Even without the help of Apollo, the flame that is to burn at the  Paris Olympics  was kindled Tuesday at the site of the ancient games in southern Greece.

Cloudy skies prevented the  traditional lighting , when an actress dressed as an ancient Greek priestess uses the sun to ignite a silver torch — after offering up a symbolic prayer to Apollo, the ancient Greek sun god.

Instead, she used a backup flame that had been lit on the same spot Monday, during the final rehearsal.

Normally, the foremost of a group of  priestesses in long, pleated dresses  dips the fuel-filled torch into a parabolic mirror which focuses the sun’s rays on it, and fire spurts forth.

But this time she didn’t even try, going straight for the backup flame, kept in a copy of an ancient Greek pot. Ironically, a few minutes later the sun shone forth.

From the ancient stadium in Olympia, a relay of torchbearers will carry the flame along a 5,000-kilometer (3,100-mile) route through Greece, including several islands, until the handover to Paris Games organizers in Athens on April 26.

International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach said the flame lighting combined “a pilgrimage to our past in ancient Olympia, and an act of faith in our future.”

“In these difficult times ... with wars and conflicts on the rise, people are fed up with all the hate, the aggression and negative news,” he said. “We are longing for something which brings us together; something that is unifying; something that gives us hope.”

Thousands of spectators from all over the world packed Olympia for Tuesday’s event amid the ruined temples and sports grounds where the ancient games were held from 776 B.C.-393 A.D.

The sprawling site, in a lush valley by the confluence of two rivers, is at its prettiest in the spring, teeming with pink-flowering Judas trees, small blue irises and the occasional red anemone.

Greek authorities maintained high security around Olympia on Tuesday, after protests by rights activists disrupted the lighting ceremonies for the Beijing summer and winter games. Armed police stopped incoming vehicles and checked for explosives, while sniffer dogs combed the grounds.

The first torchbearer was Greek rower Stefanos Douskos, a gold medalist in 2021 in Tokyo. He ran to a nearby monument that contains the heart of  French Baron Pierre de Coubertin , the driving force behind the modern revival of the games.

The next runner was Laure Manaudou, a French swimmer who won three medals at Athens in 2004. She handed over to senior European Union official Margaritis Schinas, a Greek.

The IOC’s Bach praised Paris organizers for doing “an outstanding job” with  preparations  for the July 26-August 11 games.

He also highlighted their environmental impact, saying that  cleanup efforts  will make it possible to swim in the River Seine, which traverses Paris, “for the first time in a hundred years.”

IOC politics briefly reared their head in Olympia as well, with the heads of two sports federations criticizing track and field leader Sebastian Coe for breaking with Olympic tradition last week by  promising prize money  of $50,000 to each of its gold medalists in Paris. The money will be paid from the share of Olympic games revenues that the IOC pays governing bodies of Olympic sports.

International Cycling Union President David Lappartient complained that Coe did not consult with other sports before announcing his move.

“We really believe that that’s not the Olympic spirit,” Lappartient said. “If we concentrate the money ... on only top athletes, only gold, then of course a lot of opportunities will disappear for athletes all over the world.”

Coe has been widely expected to run for the IOC presidency, which should become vacant in 2025. Lappartient is close to Bach and is increasingly seen as a potential successor.

From Greece, the Olympic flame will travel from Athens’ port of Piraeus on the  Belem , a French three-masted sailing ship built in 1896 — the year of the first modern games in Athens.

According to Captain Aymeric Gibet, it’s due on May 8 in the southern French port of Marseille, a city founded by Greek colonists some 2,600 years ago.

The Belem arrived in Katakolo, near Olympia, on Monday. Lookers-on included a small, enthusiastic group of tourists from the northwestern French region of Brittany, where the ship’s homeport of Nantes is, waving French and Breton flags.

“We thought it would be a unique opportunity to see the flame lighting at the historic site of Olympia,” said Jean-Michel Pasquet from Lorient, near Nantes. “And when we also learnt the Belem would carry the flame ... we said we must do this.”

But Pasquet said he’d have to watch the Paris Games from home.

“For us, it would be really very expensive, unaffordable,” to go to the venues, he said. “So we’ll watch them on television ... from our armchairs.”

Graham Dunbar in Geneva, Switzerland, and Theodora Tongas in Ancient Olympia contributed.

AP Olympics  https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games

Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

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