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How long is the Tour de France?

The Tour de France has changed dramatically since the first edition in 1903. We examine how the length and speed of the Tour de France has evolved with time

Words: Katy Madgwick

Photos: SWPix.com

The Tour de France is the world's biggest bike race and the leading event in the men's professional cycling calendar. Riders strive their whole careers to win stages, or even to just start and finish the race.

The 2023 Tour de France follows a standard formula of 21 stages, with a mixture of flat, hilly, and mountainous days. The difference in this edition though is that the Tour begins in the Basque Country with three stages before moving back to France.

With two rest days in the three weeks, this year's edition is back to the usual 23 days. Unlike last year, which saw an additional travel day between Denmark and France. The Tour begins on Saturday July 1, 2023 and ends in Paris on Sunday July 24, 2023.

How far is the 2023 Tour de France   in kilometres and miles?

This 110 th edition of the Tour de France covers a total distance of 3,405.6km, or 2,116 miles, making it the second longest of the three Grand Tours in 2023, with the Giro d’Italia the longest at 3,448km and the Vuelta a España is the shortest at 3153.8 km). 

This Tour de France is longer than last year’s edition, which totalled 3,328km. The first three editions of the race totalled less than 3000km but were spread across just six gruelling stages. Following that, the Tour tended to be much longer, covering distances in excess of 5000km in the 1920s and regularly exceeding 4000km right up until the 1980s, when distances began to be reduced. 

Now the race has found a happy medium – incorporating a variety of distances over the course of the three weeks that make for exciting and unpredictable racing, but remain within the capabilities of the modern peloton.

Compared to the 2022 edition, this year's route holds little surprise for the riders, with no cobbles, dirt tracks or team time trials. Instead, it is all about the mountains, broken up by one individual time trial, which is a 22.4km stage featuring a category two climb at 9.4%.

Tour de France distance over previous ten editions

• Tour de France 2023: 3,405 kilometres / 2,116 miles
• Tour de France 2022: 3,328 kilometres / 2,068 miles
• Tour de France 2021: 3,414 kilometres / 2,122 miles
• Tour de France 2020: 3,484 kilometres / 2,165 miles
• Tour de France 2019: 3,366 kilometres / 2,091 miles
• Tour de France 2018: 3,351 kilometres / 2,082 miles
• Tour de France 2017: 3,540 kilometres / 2,200 miles
• Tour de France 2016: 3,529 kilometres / 2,193 miles
• Tour de France 2015: 3,360 kilometres / 2,088 miles
• Tour de France 2014: 3,661 kilometres / 2,275 miles
• Tour de France 2013: 3,404 kilometres / 2,115 miles

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Bikes of the Tour de France: What the pros are riding

Pinarello, Look, Orbea and Fuji

Caisse d'Epargne's asymmetrical Pinarello Dogma

The Pinarello machines of Caisse d'Epargne are consistently among the easiest to spot in the Tour de France peloton what with their distinctive red, white and black paint jobs, color-matched componentry, and unmistakably curvaceous front and rear ends that are said to improve rider comfort and road feel. Yet while many frame manufacturers are content to include asymmetrical chain stays – and sometimes seat tubes – Caisse d'Epargne's latest Dogma frames are asymmetrical almost throughout the entire structure.

Pinarello claims this better accounts for the uneven forces applied while pedaling with features that include a bigger driveside seat stay, a driveside chain stay that's narrower up at the bottom bracket but wider at the dropout, a non-driveside chain stay that adopts an opposite profile, and even a bigger and stronger driveside fork leg.

Whether or not you buy into the theory, adding in the color-matched brakes from Campagnolo and the MOst integrated carbon bar and seatpost adds up to quite the eye-catching package.

Campagnolo supplies most of the rest of the componentry, too, including Super Record Ergopower levers and derailleurs, Record cranks, chain, and cassette, and even carbon tubulars in various rim depths depending on the conditions and course profile.

Finishing up the build kit are Continental tubulars, Selle Italia saddles, Look KéO pedals, and Elite carbon bottle cages.

New Look 695 road racers for Cofidis

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Some Cofidis riders at the Tour de France are still using Look's current 595 but the rest – including team leader Rein Taaramae – are on the company's latest 695. Unlike the tube-and-lug 595, the 695 uses a more conventional modular monocoque setup like on the 586 but the real story is the higher level of integration.

A key feature of the 695 is the new Zed 2 crank, similar to the 596's original Zed crank with its enormous 50mm-diameter spindle (roughly 66 percent bigger than BB30) and one-piece carbon fiber construction that yields an ultralight 320g claimed weight for the arms and spindle. A unique three-sided pedal insert allows for adjustable effective crankarm lengths of 170, 172.5, and 175mm, but unlike the original Zed, Zed 2 will work with any threaded pedal spindle.

Securing the new 295g HSC 7 full-carbon tapered fork is Look's latest Head Fit 3 headset system, all topped with a clever new carbon fiber 'C-Stem'. Angle is adjustable between -9 and +13° and each of the five sizes is adjustable in length by 10mm (80-90, 90-100, 100-110, 110-120, 120-130mm).

Cofidis team bikes are outfitted with Shimano Dura-Ace mechanical groups aside from the FSA chainrings mounted on the Zed 2 crankarms. FSA also provides handlebars and a wide variety of wheels from alloy shallow-section to carbon deep-section tubulars, and naturally, the team is using Look KéO pedals as well.

Rounding things out are Vittoria tires, fi'zi:k saddles and bar tape, Zéfal bottle cages, and BBB computers.

Cushier Orbeas for Euskaltel-Euskadi and a special gold-accented rig for Samuel Sanchez

Euskaltel-Euskadi is using Orbea's latest Orca flagship, which the company says is lighter at just 900g but also adds more comfort relative to the previous edition to help team riders feel a little fresher towards the end of a stage. Rather than rely on tuned flex patterns, though, the 'Attraction' system's kinks and twists in both the seat stays and fork blades are said to attenuate road vibration.

Other key features on the new model include a tapered 1 1/8"-to-1 1/2" steerer, a BB30 bottom bracket (though Euskaltel-Euskadi runs both threaded frames and press-fit adapters to more readily accommodate its Shimano Dura-Ace cranks), and a continuation of Orbea's size-specific frame design, which aims to provide the same ride quality throughout the more generous ten-bike size range for 2011.

Orbea has also adapted the slick DCR cable routing setup from its off-road line on the updated Orca for reduced shift line friction though Euskaltel-Euskadi team bikes are all built around the optional Shimano Dura-Ace Di2-specific version with internal routing and a dedicated battery mount beneath the non-driveside chain stay.

Shimano also provides its range of carbon fiber tubular wheels and Dura-Ace SPD-SL pedals, FSA supplies stems and bars (and ceramic bottom brackets on some team bikes), and all of the team's proprietary Orca carbon seatposts are fitted with the Selle Italia Monolink-compatible heads to fit the saddle makers newest range. Completing the package are Elite bottle cages and Vittoria tires.

Samuel Sanchez (Euskaltel-Euskadi) also gets a special gold seatpost collar.

Footon-Servetto bikes awash in gold

Hidden beneath the gleaming metallic gold paint jobs of Footon-Servetto's team bikes are Fuji's latest 985g SST carbon frames, which the company says add stiffness relative to the former SL-1 flagship thanks to features such as the tapered head tube, internally ribbed down tube, BB86 press-fit bottom bracket shell and correspondingly wider seat and down tubes, and the deep-section integrated seatmast.

Bolted on to the frame is a conglomerate of parts from a broad collection of companies with the SRAM Red label only adorning the DoubleTap levers, front and rear derailleurs, and cassette, and the rest of the drivetrain filled in with Rotor's Agilis crank elliptical Q-Rings, a gold Wippermann Connex chain, and Time's new iClic Carbon pedals. Rolling stock comes courtesy of Reynolds carbon tubular wheels of various depths wrapped with Challenge tires.

Fuji's parent company recently purchased Oval Concepts so it's no shock to see its bars and stems mounted up here – in gleaming white – but Selle SMP's radical-looking Evolution saddles are more of a surprise. Completing the package are a set of TRP R970 magnesium dual-pivot brake calipers, Elite bottle cages, Rotor chain watchers, and Polar computers.

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2022 Tour de France

109th edition: july 1-24, 2022.

2021 Tour | 2023 Tour | List of stages | Teams presentation photos | Start list | Route details | 2022 route description | Tour de France database Stage 1 | Stage 2 | Stage 3 | Transfer | Stage 4 | Stage 5 | Stage 6 | Stage 7 | Stage 8 | Stage 9 | Rest Day 1 | Stage 10 | Stage 11 | Stage 12 | Stage 13 | Stage 14 | Stage 15 | Rest Day 2 | Stage 16 | Stage 17 | Stage 18 | Stage 19 | Stage 20 | Stage 21

Map of the 2022 Tour de France. 21 stages totalling 3,343.8 kilometers. It started in Denmark July 1.

Sunday, July 24: The 21st & final stage, La Défense Arena - Paris/Champs Elysées, 115.6 km

Stage 21 map and profile | Stage 21 photos

Jasper Philipsen wins stage 21. ASO photo

Les Woodland's book Tour de France: The Inside Story - Making the World's Greatest Bicycle Race is available in print, Kindle eBook and audiobook versions. To get your copy, just click on the Amazon link on the right.

Weather at the finish city of Paris at 1:40 PM, local time: 30C (86F), sunny, with the wind from the south at 13 km/hr (8 mph). No rain is forecast.

• Km 43.3: Côte du Pavé des Gardes, 1.3 km @ 6.5%. Cat. 4

The race: Three riders who made through the previous 20 stages were unable to start today's race: Michael Woods (Covid-19) and Guillaume Boivin (unwell, but negative for Covid-19), both riding for Israel-Premier Tech and Gorka Izagirre (Movistar). No reason is given for Izagirre's withdrawl. That left a starting peloton of 135 riders.

The stage started at 4:46 PM. Starting at the La Défense Arena, this is the Tour's first indoor experience.

Jumbo-Visma had never won the Tour de France in 38 consecutive participations, starting in 1984 with Jan Raas’ Kwantum-Hallen squad. The team was known as Rabobank for a long time.

Here's the race organizer's stage 21 summary:

Jasper Philipsen took the title of most successful sprinter of the 109th Tour de France as he became the only one of them to score for the second time. The Belgian outclassed former Champs-Élysées winners Dylan Groenewegen and Alexander Kristoff to emulate his childhood hero Tom Boonen who also won his second Tour de France stage in Paris at the age of 24 in 2004. Wout van Aert didn’t contest the last sprint to celebrate Jonas Vingegaard’s first overall victory.

135 riders started stage 21 at 16:46 at Paris La Défense Arena. 3 non-starters: Gorka Izagirre (Movistar), Michael Woods and Guillaume Boivin (Israel-Premier Tech).

Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma), the super combative of the 109th Tour de France, symbolically attacked from the gun one last time but it was for a laugh along with Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogacar. As per tradition, the peloton rode slowly for the first fifty kilometres or so. Polka dot jersey wearer Simon Geschke was allowed by the rest of the riders to symbolically take the last KOM point up for grab at Côte du Pavé des Gardes. Also as per tradition, Jumbo-Visma, the team of the Maillot Jaune, entered Paris in the lead of the peloton.

Stefan Bissegger (EF Education-EasyPost) and Stan De Wulf (AG2R-Citroën) attacked with 45km to go. They were joined in several waves by Jan Tratnik (Bahrain Victorious), Mathieu Burgaudeau (TotalEnergies), Dani Martinez (Ineos Grenadier), Matteo Jorgenson (Movistar), Max Schachmann (Bora-Hansgrohe) and Mikkel Honoré (Quick Step).

It was all together again with 33km to go. The next leading group involved Schachmann again. The German was accompanied by Jonas Rutsch and Owain Doull (EF Education-EasyPost), Antoine Duchesne and Olivier Le Gac (Groupama-FDJ). The quintet got a 25’’ lead with 25km to go as their maximum advantage. It went down to 15’’ with 15km remaining. Schachmann and Rutsch were the last to surrender and it was all together again with 6.8km left.

The Tour has reached Paris. Photo: ASO/Charly Lopez

White jersey holder Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) attacked but Filippo Ganna reacted for Ineos Grenadiers and the peloton was strung out in the run in to the last 3-km. Alpecin-Deceuninck seized the reins of the peloton. BikeExchange-Jayco took over at the red flame.

Dylan Groenewegen launched from far out and Jasper Philipsen had the situation under control. He sped up on the right hand side to take his second stage win at the age of 24, eighteen years after Tom Boonen, the last Belgian green jersey winner before Wout van Aert, did so on the Champs-Elysées. Both hail from Mol and Philipsen has often been touted as the next Boonen.

Last year’s Champs-Elysées winner Wout van Aert remained quietly at the back of the pack, along with Jonas Vingegaard who took home his first Tour de France trophy.

Afternote: In August the UCI ruled that GC sixth-place Nairo Quintana was disqualified from the Tour for taking the drug Tramadol. The riders who finished after him were all bumped up one place. For example, Romain Bardet is now the sixth-place finisher of the 2022 Tour de France.

Complete results:

Stage 21 photos

115.6 kilometers raced at an average speed of 38.850 km/hr

• GC winner: Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma)
• Mountains classification winner: Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma)
• Points classification winner: Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma)
• Best young rider: Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates)
• Teams classification winner: INEOS Grenadiers

3,343.8 kilometers raced at an average speed of 42.031 km/hr

Teams Classification:

Stage 21 map & profile

Stage 21 map

The Tour posted two profiles of this stage. Here's the original.

And here's the second with more detail.

Stage 21 photos by Fotoreporter Sirotti:

After a leisurely ride into Paris, it's time to race.

Jonas Vingegaard made it to Paris in Yellow

Jasper Philipsen wins the big one.

Team Jumbo-Visma owned this Tour: GC, Points & KOM and a few stage wins.

Jonas Vingegaard celebrates.

Wout van Aert and family, all in green.

Stage winner Jasper Philipsen

INEOS Grenadiers wn the teams classification

Tadej Pogacar won the young rider classification.

Points classification winner Wout van Aert.

Jonas Vingegaard also win the mountains classification.

2022 Tour de France winner Jonas Vingegaard.

The final GC podium, from left: Tadej Pogacar (2nd), Jonas Vingegaard (1st) & Geraint Thomas (3rd)

Saturday, July 23: Stage 20, Lacapelle Marival - Rocamadour 40.7 kilometer individual time trial

Complete stage 20 results, stage story, photos, map & profile

Stage winner Wout van Aert. ASO photo

• GC leader: Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma)
• Mountains classification leader: Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma)
• Points classification leader: Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma)
• Teams classification leader: INEOS Grenadiers

Friday, July 22: Stage 19: Castelnau Magnoac - Cahors, 188.3 km

Complete stage 19 results, stage story, photos map & profile

Christophe Laporte takes stage 19. Charly Lopez/ASO photo

Thursday, July 21: Stage 18, Lourdes - Hautacam, 143.2 km

Complete stage 18 results, stage story, photos, map & profile

Jonas Vingegaard wins at Hautacam in yellow. Bravo!. ASO photo.

Wednesday, July 20: Stage 17, Saint Gaudens - Peyragudes, 129.7 km

Complete stage 17 results, stage story, photos, map & profile

After a hard duel to the summit finish line with Jonas Vingegaard, Tadej Pogacar wins the stage. ASO photo

• Mountains classification leader: Simon Geschke (Cofidis)

Tuesday, July 19: Stage 16, Caracassonne - Foix, 178.5 km

Stage 16 complete results, stage story, photos, map & profile

Hugo Houle wins in Foix. Israel-Premier Tech photo

• GC leader: Jonas Vingegaard (Jmbo-Visma)

Monday, July 18: Rest Day Two: Carcassone

The walled city of Carcassonne.

Sunday, July 17: Stage 15, Rodez - Carcassonne, 202.5 km

Complete stage 15 results, stage story, photos, map & profile

Jasper Philipsen (center) just beats Wout van Aert (green kit) for the stage win. Photo: ASO

Saturday, July 16: Stage 14, Saint Etienne - Mende, 192.5 km

Complete stage 14 results, stage story, photos, map & profile

Michael Matthews enjoys his superb stage win. ASO photo

• GC leader: Jonas Vingegard (Jumbo-Visma)

Friday, July 15: Stage 13, Le Bourg d'Oisons - Saint Etienne, 192.6 km

Complete stage 13 results, stage story, photos, map & profile

Mads Pedersen wins stage 13. Photo: ASO

Thursday, July 14: Stage 12: Briançon - Alpe d'Huez, 165.1 km

Stage 12 complete results, stage story, photos, map & profile

Tom Pidcock wins alone atop Alpe d'Huez. INEOS photo

Wednesday, July 13: Stage 11: Albertville - Col du Granon Serre Chevalier, 151.7 km

Complete stage 11 results, stage story, photos, map & profile

Jonas Vingegaard wins the stage and becomes the news GC leader. Jumbo-Visma photo

Tuesday, July 12: Stage 10, Morzine Les Portes du Soleil - Megève, 148.1 km

Complete stage 10 results, stage story, photos, map & profile

Magnus Cort wins stage 10. Photo: ASO/Pauline Ballet

• GC leader: Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates)

Monday, July 11: Rest Day 1: Morzine Les Portes du Soleil

Sunday, July 10: Stage 9: Aigle - Châtel les Portes du Soleil (Pré-la-Joux), 192.9 km

Stage 9 complete results, stage story, photos, map & profile

Bob Jungels wins stage nine. Photo: ASO

Saturday, July 9: Stage 8, Dole - Lausanne, 186.3 km

Complete stage 8 results, stage story, photos, map & profile

Wout van Aert gets his second stage win this Tour. ASO photo

• Mountains classification leader: Magnus Cort (EF Education-EasyPost)

Friday, July 8: Stage 7, Tomblaine - La Super Planche des Belles Filles, 176.3 km

Complete stage 7 results, stage story, photos, map & profile

Tadej Pogacar wins stage seven with Jonas Vingegaard just with him.

Thursday, July 7: Stage 6, Binche - Longwy, 219.9 km

Stage 6 complete results, stage story, photos, map & profile

Tadej Pogacar wins the stage and become the new GC leader. ASO photo

Wednesday, July 6: Stage 5, Lille Métropole - Arenberg Porte du Hinaut, 157 km

Complete stage 5 results, stage story, photos, map & profile

After a hard day at the office, Simon Clarke (right) is just barely the winner of stage five. Sirotti photo

• GC leader: Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma)
• Team classification leader: INEOS Grenadiers

Tuesday, July 5: Stage 4, Dunkerque - Calais, 171.5 km

Complete stage 4 results, stage story, photos, map & profile

What a rider! In yellow, alone and winning the stage, Wout van Aert has ridden a simply superb race. Chapeau! Photo: ASO/Pauline Ballet

• Team classification leader: Jumbo-Visma

Monday, July 4: Transfer: The Tour moves from Denmark to Dunkerque, France

Sunday, July 3: Stage 3, Vejle - Sonderborg, 182 km

Stage 3 complete results, stage story, photos, map & profile

Dylan Groenewegen wins stage three. Photo: Getty Images

• Best yong rider: Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates)

Saturday, July 2: Stage 2, Roskilde - Nyborg, 202.2 km

Complete stage 2 results, stage story, photos, map & profile

Fabio Jakobsen takes stage two. Photo: Getty Images

Friday, July 1: Stage 1, Copenhagen 13.2 km individual time trial

Complete stage 1 results, stage story, photos, map, profile & start list

Yves Lampaert going faster than anyone else at the Tour de France. ASO photo.

• GC leader: Yves Lampaert (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl)
• Points classification leader: Yves Lampaert (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl)
• Team classification leader: Team Jumbo-Visma

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List of stages, June 23, 2022:

Official start list with back numbers, 6/30/2022:

Some details about the 2022 Tour de France route:

MAP Four countries: Denmark, Belgium, Switzerland and of course France will appear on the Tour map in 2022, the highest number since 2017. Denmark will become the 10th country to host the Grand Départ, and the most northerly in the Tour’s history. In France, the race will visit 8 regions and 29 departments.

STAGES There will be 21 stages:

• 6 flat stages
• 7 hilly stages
• 6 mountain stages with 5 summit finishes (La super Planche des Belles Filles, Col du Granon, Alpe d’Huez, Peyragudes, Hautacam)
• 2 individual time trial stages
• 2 rest days
• 1 transfer day

The 2022 Tour will start on 1st July, on a Friday and not on a Saturday as usual. This is to allow for the transfer to France following the three Grand Départ stages in Denmark.

WELCOME... to the 9 new stage town or sites that will  be hosting the Tour for the first time:

• Copenhagen (start and finish of stage 1)
• Roskilde (start of stage 2)
• Nyborg (finish of stage 2)
• Vejle (start of stage 3)
• Sønderborg (finish of stage 3)
• Aigle (start of stage 9)
• Castelnau-Magnoac (start of stage 19)
• Lacapelle-Marival (start of stage 20)
• Rocamadour (finish of stage 20)

MOUNTAINS The Vosges, Alps, Massif Central and Pyrenees are the four mountain massifs that will feature in this 109th edition, appearing in that order. There’s one climb, the Col de Spandelles (1,378m) in the department of Hautes-Pyrénées.

COBBLES They’ll be making their return after a four-year absence. Stage five Lille Métropole > Arenberg Porte du Hainaut will feature 19.4km of cobbles, split across 11 sectors, ranging in length from 1.3 to 2.8km.

TIME TRIALS 53km is the combined distance of the two individual time trials in the 2022 Tour: 13km on the opening stage in the centre of the Danish capital, and 40km on the penultimate stage between Lacapelle-Marival and Rocamadour.

TIME BONUSES The first, second and third riders  across the line on each stage willreceive a time bonus of 10, 6 and 4 seconds, respectively.

PRIZE MONEY A total of 2.3 million euros will be awarded to the teams and riders, including €500,000 to the final winner of the overall individual  classification.

Here's the the organizer's explanation of the 2022 Tour route, released October 14, 2021:

2022 ROUTE: ONE FOR THE ATTACKERS

The route of the 109th Tour de France, scheduled for the 1st to the 24th July 2022, has been unveiled in its traditional venue in Paris. The Palais des Congrès again opened its doors to thousands, including the reigning champion, Tadej Pogačar, the joint record holder for most stage wins, Mark Cavendish, and two-time world champion Julian Alaphilippe. 

The big hitters of the next Tour discovered a route filled with opportunities to go on the attack on every terrain following the Grand Départ in Copenhagen. The mountains will then set the stage for a series of showdowns to decide who gets to take the yellow jersey home, including the Super Planche des Belles Filles in the Vosges department, the col du Granon and Alpe d'Huez to wrap up the Alpine chapter of the Race, before Peyragudes and the Hautacam in the Pyrenees, where the climbers will have the chance to set the race alight. 

In a historic first, riders from the women's peloton attended the ceremony to witness the birth of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift. The race director, Marion Rousse, announced that the inaugural edition of the race will start on 24th July, heading east before finishing on the Super Planche des Belles Filles on 31st July.

As the world of cycling looks forward to the 2022 Tour de France, the powerful scenes from the previous edition are still fresh in the mind. In the first week, viewers were treated to a no-holds-barred contest from riders who have made their mark on cycling’s current era thanks to their aggressive racing style. Riders such as Julian Alaphilippe, Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert set the tone and inspire the rest of the peloton to follow their example with their victorious escapades. There will be plenty of opportunities for them and the rest to go on the attack throughout the Tour, starting with the Danish stages, where the masters of echelons will be right in their element in the 18 km crossing of the Baltic Sea, coming after a time trial for power riders in Copenhagen, the world capital of cycling, and before the sprint stage that will cap the Scandinavian adventure in Sønderborg.

The peloton will return to French soil in the Nord department. Next up, an exhausting ride to Calais, a serving of Roubaix cobblestones, a launch pad for punchers in Longwy and the first clash between the crown pretenders at La Planche des Belles Filles, this time in its "Super" version. Unless the weather turns the race into a war of attrition, the 2022 Tour offers mountain goats a prestigious path to the overall title.

The Alps will start with a summit finish on the col du Granon, 2,413 metres above sea level, on the same road that Bernard Hinault wore the yellow jersey for the last time in his career back in 1986, followed by a carbon copy of the stage from Briançon to the Alpe d'Huez, won by the Frenchman after crossing the finish line hand in hand with Greg LeMond. On the way to the Pyrenees, the Saint-Étienne and Carcassone stages have "sprint finish" written all over them, unlike the one to Mende.

At this point, the bell will call the leaders back into their mountain rings. Tadej Pogačar could soar on the ascent to Peyragudes after the Col d'Aspin and the Hourquette d'Ancizan have softened up the legs of the contenders. Regardless of whether he is in yellow by this point, the reigning champion will have to tame his rivals on the road to Hautacam, which will offer no respite with the climbs up the Aubisque and the Col de Spandelles, making its debut in the race. The final time trial will also enter uncharted waters with its finish on the Rocamadour promontory. It will be time to see where everyone stands… 24 hours later, it’ll be time to celebrate the winner on the Champs-Élysées. A new adventure will then begin with the women in the spotlight.

© McGann Publishing

Tour de France winning bikes: Pinarello is the top dog

We look back at the last 15 bikes to be ridden to victory and Italian brands dominate

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It goes without saying that the Tour de France is the biggest race in cycling, which means it's the perfect proving ground for brands to test their range-topping superbikes, with many companies timing new releases with the Tour each year.

The bike brands are fighting nearly as hard for the top step of the podium as the riders and teams themselves - so which brands have come out on top over the years?

Well, the last decade has been an almost totally Italian affair. Eight of the last ten editions have been shared between Pinarello (Team Ineos) and Colnago (UAE Emirates), with the only upsets coming from Specialized (Astana in 2014) and Cervélo (Jumbo-Visma in 2022).

Looking back a little further and 2011 saw the first ever Australian victor of the Tour de France in Cadel Evans (Team BMC), who rode a BMC Team Machine. Before that Specialized also secured a bike win in 2010 with Andy Schleck (Team Saxo Bank). 

Schleck was awarded the title after though only after Alberto Contador's disqualification. That didn't actually change the winning bike brand as Contador's Team Astana were also on Specialized.

El Pistolero did win the year before, though, but in 2009 he was on board a Trek Madone. The year before that, and rather neatly topping and tailing our ever-so-slightly arbitrary 15 year timeline, Carlos Sastre won the 2008 race on a Cervélo!

Here's a look at the machines that took their riders to victory from 2008 to 2022 - but first, a few commonly asked questions...

What kind of bikes do Tour de France riders use?

The vast majority of stages are road stages, requiring road bikes. In 2022, there are two time trial stages (stage one and stage 20), where riders will be aboard time trial bikes. But you wanted more detail than that, right?! Most brands supply teams with two road models: a lightweight climbing bike, and an aero bike - the latter being more suited to fast, flat stages. Exceptions include Pinarello, where the Italian marquee says its Dogma F can do both.

How much do Tour de France bikes cost?

The Pinarello Dogma is perhaps the best example to give. Relaunched in August 2021 as the ' Pinarello Dogma F ', the top-end SRAM Red eTap model will set you back £12,000 / $14,500. 

Can you buy a Tour de France bike?

WorldTour bikes ridden by the pros are commercially available. Brands across the board will tell you that the bike you can buy in the shops is exactly the same as that ridden by the pros. However, some skepticism surrounds this assertion. If pro bikes are treated with a slightly different carbon layup and geometry, as is often suggested, the changes will be minimal and likely take into account the lesser requirement of longevity and greater strength/flexibility of professional riders. 

Which bike brand has had the most Tour de France wins?

Pinarello hasn't just dominated the past decade or so - bikes bearing the Italian brand's name are the most successful in Tour de France history. The first of its 16 wins came in 1988 with Pedro Delgado and Team Reynolds, with further successes coming with Miguel Induráin, Bjarne Riis and Jan Ulrich and then Team Sky/Ineos Grenadiers.  The next most successful brand is Peugeot. Now better know for cars, the French brand first won in 1905, with its last victory in 1977. Trek can only claim two official Tour de France wins, with Alberto Contador in 2007 and 2009. The US brand would be equal with Gitane on nine wins but, of course, Lance Armstrong's seven 'wins' aboard a Trek have been struck from the record books.

Tour de France bikes

2022: Jonas Vingegaard's (Jumbo-Visma) Cervélo R5 and S5

The 2022 Tour de France was a display of dominance from the squad we have seen at the forefront of racing for so long now, Jumbo-Visma. Last year, the team swept up the overall victory and KOM jersey with Jonas Vingegaard , as well as the points classification with Wout Van Aert . Six stage victories to top things off made this a pretty memorable run for the Dutch cycling team.

Vingegaard used a combination of Cervélo's S5 aero bike, and R5 climbing bike throughout the Tour, but he ultimately rolled into Paris aboard his custom-painted S5.

Both bikes were fully clad in the latest 12-speed Shimano Dura-Ace R9200 and featured matching wheels. The Dura-Ace wheelsets varied from the C35 offering for mountain days, while the C60s saw use on the flatter stages.

Interestingly too, 2022 is the first year in history to be won strictly on disc brakes . Though Tadej Pogacar did roll into Paris one year earlier on discs, he also used rim brakes in time trials and for a select few mountain stages - Jumbo-Visma on the other hand, ran exclusively disc setups during the 2022 Tour. If ever there was a sign that rim brakes are on their way to extinction, surely this is it.

2020 & 2021: Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) Colnago V3Rs

Pogačar's winning machine from stage nine of 2021

Pogačar's 2020 win made him the first ever Slovenian rider to win the Tour de France, the youngest ever rider at 21-years-old, and he achieved that feat riding a Colnago V3Rs , with Colnago having never won cycling's most prestigious race before either.

Though he rode the same bike model each year, his setups differed. In 2020 he opted for a more 'traditional' feel, with a Campagnolo Super Record EPS 12-speed groupset, Bora One tubular wheels and a set of Campagnolo’s Super Record rim brakes. 

In 2021, though, he used Campagnolo’s Super Record EPS groupset and Bora Ultra WTO 45 wheels with Vittoria Graphene 2.0 tubeless tyres. He switched to disc brakes too for most stages, helping his stability in the often tumultuous French weather.

For two stages he did revert to rim brakes though, one of which came during his stage five time-trial win while using his Colnago K.one time trial bike. He used the same setup that helped during 2020's decisive La Planche des Belle Filles time trial, before he ditched the TT bike in favour of a road bike . 

Pogačar's 'traditional' bike without a power meter or computer on stage 19 of the 2020 Tour de France

Pogačar proceeded on a bike without a power meter or computer, riding on feel alone in one of cycling's most pure rides.

In 2021, his bike featured yellow accents as early as stage nine, when he first wore the maillot jaune, so dominant was his performance. 

2019: Egan Bernal (Team Ineos) Pinarello Dogma F12

While the team may have undergone a name change and re-brand, there was no shock at the top of the Tour de France standings as Team Sky, now Team Ineos, took another title.

The 2019 Tour was a historic moment, however, as Egan Bernal became the first Colombian to ever win the yellow jersey and the youngest rider - at the time - in the modern era, at 22-years-old.

It took  Pinarello  another two years to bring out the Dogma F12 after the launch of the Dogma F10, on which Thomas won last year’s Tour de France. In that time, Pinarello said it had improved the aerodynamics, saving eight watts at 40kp/h, and made the frameset stiffer and lighter too.

Bernal stuck with rim brakes in 2019, twinned with Lightweight wheels for the climbing days and Shimano Dura-Ace wheels on the fast and flat days.

The Shimano Dura-Ace R9100 made up the rest of the components.

2018: Geraint Thomas (Team Sky) Pinarello Dogma F10 X-Light

Thomas won the 2018 Tour d France aboard a Pinarello F10 X-Light - which uses a slightly different carbon fibre compared to previous iterations, resulting in a weight drop of around a kilogram.

The geometry remains fixed, as does the use of an asymmetric bottom bracket, plus the wind cheating concave down tube is designed to incorporate bottles in optimal position.

The Tour's first Welsh winner opted for an integrated 40mm Talon handlebar and 130mm stem, with a  Fizik Arione  saddle that carries his optimum position marked in pen. The saddle height was around 78.5cm and Thomas rode with 175mm cranks - which are longer than most opt for.

The groupset is  Shimano Dura-Ace,  with a 53/39 crankset and 11-30 at the back, alongside a Stages power meter. The wheels fitted when we saw the bike were carbon tubular Dura-Ace hoops, wearing Continental Competition tyres and the paint job carries a speed line for every Team Sky victory.

Read more and see the bike via video

2017: Chris Froome (Team Sky), Pinarello Dogma F10

Froome's third consecutive Dogma win. By this point, the employees at  Pinarello 's painting factory in Treviso were probably quite used to applying (apparently) last minute yellow paint jobs  before the roll into Paris.

The  F10 had some minor tweaks from the F8 , but no major overhauls - quite simply, Pinarello and Team Sky felt it was a pretty good bike. Pinarello made the F10 a little bit more aero, a little bit stiffer, and very slightly lighter.

The diet the frame had been on meant that Froome didn't need the X-light model he used when the F8 was in production, so his frame is as per an off-the-peg creation in terms of weight.

When we saw it, Froome had opted for a 53/39 standard set up with an 11-28 cassette, though the chainrings themselves are  osymetric - a preference which can help improve pedalling efficiency.

On flatter stages, Froome used deeper wheels, but when  we had the chance to video it , the bike was shod with shallow Shimano Dura-Ace C40 wheels and pro-only Continental Competition Pro Ltd tubular tyres.

The bars, stem, and bar tape are all Shimano's own brand, Pro, fitted with a K-Edge out from computer mount and Fizik saddle.

See more:   Chris Froome's 2017 Tour de France winning Pinarello Dogma

Like Bradley Wiggins before him, Froome rode the Bolide  time trial bike  during the ITT stages of the race.

Froome opted for 175mm cranks, used a chain catcher to guard against necessary trauma. The saddle height was 79.6cm - 1mm lower than that 79.7cm on his road bike. There was grip tape on his saddle, which helped him maintain the ideal position and he opted for a 58/48T chainring set up with 11-28 cassette.

In a touch of perfectionism, the 3D printed handlebar was made from titanium and moulded perfectly to fit its rider.

Read more:   Chris Froome's Tour de France Pinarello Bolide

2016 & 2015 : Chris Froome (Team Sky) Pinarello Dogma F8

To represent his Kenyan upbringing and passion for wildlife as an ambassador for the charity United for Wildlife, Froome's 2015 and 2016 winning bikes featured unique rhino decals. 

The  osymetric  chainrings are present, with a chainguard to guard against unfortunate chain-drop moments. The rest of the drivetrain was Shimano Dura Ace, with an 11-28 cassette and Stages power meter.

Froome's preference for having two shifting buttons close together meant the satellite shifters were stripped down, also saving him weight in the meantime too. 

The wheels we shot the bike with were Shimano's Dura-Ace C50s, bottle cages were 15g Leggero's from Elite and the bars were Pro.

The winning machine was polished off with a 121mm stem, Fizik Antares 00 saddle with carbon rails and  Continental Competition Pro Ltd tubular tyres.

See more:   Chris Froome's 2016 Tour de France winning Pinarello Dogma F8

2014: Vincenzo Nibali (Astana), Specialized S-Works Tarmac

Vincenzo Nibali managed to break up the Pinarello domination in the Tour in the early 2010s, as he rode to victory in 2014 aboard an S-Works Tarmac painted with decals that hark to his nickname - Lo Squalo - or 'the Shark'.

This Tarmac became the first edition to feature a size specific carbon-layup, improving ride quality by better catering for the individual's needs and desires. Nibali added an FSA stem to his machine too, with Corima Viva wheels and a Campagnolo Super Record groupset also included. 

Specialized even customised the Italian's bike for the final day, adding yellow stickered wheels from Corima and a custom FSA stem with yellow decals to the already painted yellow frame. 

During time trial stages, Nibali rode the brand's slippery Shiv TT bike. He finished fourth on the 54 kilometre stage 20 solo event to comfortably maintain his place on the top step of the podium, finishing seven minutes 52 seconds ahead of second-placed Christophe Peraud overall. 

Read more: Vincenzo Nibali’s 2014 Specialized S-Works Tarmac

2013: Chris Froome (Team Sky), Pinarello Dogma

The Dogma model before the F8 was the  Dogma 65.1 Think 2 , and it's that iteration which Froome rode to his first Tour de France victory in 2013.

Its standout features were the asymmetric design and wavy forks, seatstays and chainstays. The 65.1 gained its name from the use of a new carbon fibre material: Torayca high-modulus 65 as opposed to the 60 ton carbon of previous years’ models. According to Pinarello, this helped the bike become lighter, and therefore more reactive, which Froome managed to showcase expertly throughout his stellar ride.

Froome's model was of course fitted with osymetric chainrings, Fizik saddle, and the old-faithful looking SRM data-box of days gone by.

2012: Bradley Wiggins (Team Sky), Pinarello Dogma

Wiggins rode onto the Champs-Élysées in 2012 on Pinarello's Dogma 65.1, the brand's newest machine, as he secured his maiden Tour de France title. Despite flaunting the sleek bike in Paris that day, Team Sky actually opted for their main rider to stick to the Pinarello Dogma 2 for the rest of the race.

Similarly, Sky ensured Wiggins felt comfortable throughout the three weeks, keeping him on a Shimano Dura-Ace mechanical 10-speed groupset (q for the majority of the time. 

Across both the bike he used in Paris and what he used throughout the rest of the Tour, Wiggins also added a Fizik Arione saddle and yet more osymetric chainrings to complete his machine. 

2011: Cadel Evans (BMC Racing Team), BMC Team Machine

Cadel Evans Tour winning machine

Cadel Evans was the first ever Australian to take the Tour victory 'down under', and he did so aboard his BMC Team Machine. The 2011 Tour de France winning machine was the first bike in history to win the biggest bike race in the world with electronic shifting.

Evans' Team Machine featured a relatively chunky carbon lugged design, that even featured an aero seatpost - something more rarely seen back in the early 2010s. The bike was clad with Shimano's first iteration of Dura-Ace Di2, 7970, and featured an SRM power meter too. 

Evans also rode 50mm deep Easton carbon tubular wheels which put together an aero package, that we think, wouldn't look overly out of place today - bar the rim brakes of course!

2010: Andy Schleck (Team Saxo Bank) Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL3

Andy Schleck battling the alpine gradients

Andy Schleck was only officially crowned the 2010 Tour de France champion in early 2012, after the original winner, Alberto Contador, received a doping ban that led to the revoking of his title.

Schleck rode a Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL3, which can be seen above in a dazzling chrome colourway. The eventual winning bike featured mechanical shifting in the form of SRAM Red 10-speed, along with rim brakes.

Carbon wheels were still the order of the day in the form of Zipp's 202 lightweight wheels. Interestingly too, there was no power meter to be seen on the 2010 Tour winner's bike, making Schleck the last winner before power data became more mainstream.

2009: Alberto Contador (Astana) Trek Madone 6.9 Pro

The Spanish climbing legend did retain his 2009 title, this time with a dominant 4m11s winning margin over Andy Schleck. Alberto Contador rolled down the Champs-Élysées on his Trek Madone 6.9 Pro, fully equipped with yellow flashes.

The Madone of 2009 sits in a different postcode to the aero-optimized Trek Madone we know today. The Madone sat as Trek's all-round race bike, with oversized OCLV carbon construction that was influenced by a design ethos based on stiffness and light weight.

'El Pistolero' didn't use a power meter, and used SRAM's 10 speed Red mechanical shifting. Bontrager, Trek's in-house component manufacturer, provided the deep-section carbon wheels and finishing kit to the Spaniard's bike.

2008: Carlos Sastre (Team CSC) Cervelo R5

Carlos Sastre post stage 21

We end our dive into the history books with a nice Cervelo-bookend here, with Carlos Sastre winning the Tour 14 years ago aboard the same line of bikes that Jonas Vingegaard used in last year's race.

The two iterations bare more slightly resemblance than the previously discussed Trek Madones, but 14 years of research and development has certainly seen some changes. 

Sastro's 2008 winning machine featured Zipp 202 lightweight carbon wheels and Shimano Dura-Ace 7800 ten-speed shifting. 3T, who worked closely with Cervelo through this time provided the finishing kit.

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Michelle Arthurs-Brennan the Editor of Cycling Weekly website. An NCTJ qualified traditional journalist by trade, Michelle began her career working for local newspapers. She's worked within the cycling industry since 2012, and joined the Cycling Weekly team in 2017, having previously been Editor at Total Women's Cycling. Prior to welcoming her daughter in 2022, Michelle raced on the road, track, and in time trials, and still rides as much as she can - albeit a fair proportion indoors, for now.

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Cycling is a unique sport in that you can watch the race on Sunday and buy the same bike on Monday. The pace of development the last couple of decades has massively reduced the gap between a pro race bike and a bike you or I can buy.

The UCI even has a rule that any product used in a pro race must be available to buy at least nine months later. It’s intended to control costs, by stopping bike and equipment suppliers producing very expensive one-off components. So you almost could pop into a bike shop, buy an expensive top-end bike, and race it in the Tour de France. But there are a few subtle differences that still help to mark out a pro race bike.

Frames and forks are all made from carbon fibre these days, long gone are the days of steel, aluminium and titanium. Carbon is light and stiff, it’s also very expensive. In the old days, riders would have custom made frames, and that has happened with carbon frames in the past, but these days the pros ride the same size frames you can buy in the shops.

Carbon is also used for the wheels, with deep section aerodynamic carbon wheels being commonplace in the pro peloton even on races where cobbles are involved.

The one key difference to your bike is the use of tubular tyres. These are very traditional tyres that are sewn up with an inner tube inside and literally glued to the rim. Clincher and tubeless tyre technology is getting better all the time, so why do the pros prefer tubulars? It’s because they can ride along the ride with a flat tyre more safely, the tubular tyre won’t easily separate from the rim in the same way a clincher tyre likely will.

Electronic gears are commonplace too. There might be a few riders that prefer the feel of mechanical gears, but really the entire peloton has switched over to electronic groupsets. A few public mishaps notwithstanding, the electronic groupsets are very reliable and the batteries only need occasional charging.

Pros possess serious horsepower and can push big gears that would make you wince. The classic 53/39t chainset is a very common sight, you’ll rarely see a 50/34 compact unless there’s a really steep mountain climb.

Cassettes have shifted away from 11-23 and 11-25 to 11-28 and 11-30 in recent years, noticeable with the advent of 11-speed groupsets.

There’s a trend, and we’re not sure we’d advocate it, of riders downsizing the frame in order to get a very low front end and short stack. They then dial in their fit using long stems and saddles slammed back on the rails. Long and slammed stems are a common sight, as much to do with aesthetics and vanity as based on professional fit data. We’ve noticed a few riders bucking this trend and riding correct size frames and using stem lengths that wouldn’t look out of place on a shop bought bike.

Other details that mark out a pro race bike are the out-front computer mount that most bikes are equipped with. You’ll often see the details of the stage taped to the stem or top tube as well. A chain catcher is a backup in case the chain drops off the chainring, while not something that is common has in the past completely ruined race efforts.

The last two details you can’t buy. The first is a race number mount seen here on the seat stay bridge. There are all sorts of solutions to fixing the race number to the frame, some mechanics really get creative and glue or zip tie to the frame or seatpost. Finally, there’s a GPS transponder attached to the back of the saddle, used to relay position and performance data to the race organisers.

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David worked on the road.cc tech team from 2012-2020. Previously he was editor of Bikemagic.com and before that staff writer at RCUK. He's a seasoned cyclist of all disciplines, from road to mountain biking, touring to cyclo-cross, he only wishes he had time to ride them all. He's mildly competitive, though he'll never admit it, and is a frequent road racer but is too lazy to do really well. He currently resides in the Cotswolds, and you can now find him over on his own YouTube channel David Arthur - Just Ride Bikes . 

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if the sunny days are making your legs tingle, saddle up! In the land of the Tour de France, there is no shortage of beautiful escapes. With 22,800 km of cycle routes and greenways, 5,500km of regional tourist routes, 3,000 road and mountain bike circuits inviting you to enjoy gentle pedalling as a couple, with your family or with friends. In the countryside, along a canal, by the sea, in the vineyards or in the mountains, from Northern France to the Côte d'Azur and from Brittany to Alsace... here's a small selection of the most beautiful tours and detours and discover France by bike.

In chateaux country in Centre-Val de Loire

Between Orléans and Tours, the Loire à Vélo is one of the most beautiful cycling routes in France. In the Loire Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage site, history has sown fairy-tale chateaux, enchanting parkland and remarkable gardens. Chambord, Chenonceau, Blois and Azay-le-Rideau, the gems come one after the other along the royal river. For charming diversions and day trips, we recommend the Châteaux à Vélo routes and circuits. And for something new, the small country roads and gentle curves of the Indre. Whether you are cycling through Châteauroux, the medieval fortress of Montbazon, the Royal City of Loches, the Chateau of Palluau-sur-Indre or the ponds of the Brenne, the Indre by Bike is full of little-known treasures.

The Loire à Vélo Châteaux à Vélo routes and circuits The Indre by Bike

The GT20 in Corsica

For you information, Corsica is an island but also a mountain in the sea. So if you want to cycle there, it's preferable to do so in spring or autumn to avoid the heat and opt for electric assistance. This will allow you to enjoy the panoramic views and the intoxicating smell of the maquis, without setting foot on land. Like the GR20, its famous hiking counterpart, the GT20 (for Grande Traversée), inaugurated in 2019, criss-crosses the island of beauty from north to south. From Bastia in Haute-Corse to the Bonifacio gorges, this 600km cycle route takes place in 12 stages, via the sumptuous Cap Corse. Villages overlooking the Mediterranean, refreshing mountain streams, dizzying passes and dreamy beaches, you'll definitely be amazed.

The Corsica Grande Traversée (GT20)

The vineyard route in Alsace

With 2,500km of cycle routes, 11 legendary passes, 15 regional circuits, 55 local circuits and 3 EuroVélo, Alsace is at the head of the pack for cycling trips. Strasbourg, the French capital of cycling, it's easy to go off on a tangent, from pretty flowery villages to farm inns, from abbeys to gourmet cellars. If you had to choose just one route, it should be the Véloroute du Vignoble d'Alsace from Marlenheim to Thann. Traced in parallel with the famous Wine Route which celebrates its 70th anniversary in 2023, it winds its way along 143km, taking old railway lines, parts of the ancient Roman road and paths through the vineyards without hurrying. The Kaysenberg Valley cycle route comes a close second.

Explore Alsace by bike

From bays to capes in Northern France

A dozen lighthouses, fortified sites, six UNESCO-listed belfries, charming Belle-Époque seaside resorts and from Le Touquet to Malo-les-Bains, the Velomaritime in the Hauts-de-France region, over 190km between Mers-Les-Bains and Dunkirk, will have you pedalling with enthusiasm. We love all the sections - but especially the one in the Baie de Somme with its beautiful views. Or to the north of Boulogne-sur-Mer, the site of the two Capes, Cap Gris-Nez and Cap Blanc-Nez, where you can ride at gull height and admire the beaches below. Another route goes between Arras and Amiens, on the Véloroute de la Mémoire. On this 90km route, which can be extended along the towpaths of the Somme Valley cycle route, you will come across the moving remains and memories of the First World War.

The Vélomaritime The Véloroute de la Mémoire The Véloroute Vallée de Somme

On the flax route in Normandy

Cycling from Paris along the Seine Valley is a way to discover Normandy as far as Le Havre and the famous beaches of Deauville. On the way, the Seine à Vélo cycle route invites you to discover Giverny, the birthplace of Impressionism, or the famous Château Gaillard. There is also Rouen and the luminous Jumièges Abbey before Honfleur and the green meadows of the Auge region. Are you looking for a sweet alternative? In June, when the flowers are in bloom, pedal in an ocean of blue on the Véloroute du Lin, 7km or so of greenways that wind through the hinterland of the Côte d'Albâtre, from the small resort of Pourville-sur-Mer to the cliffs of Fécamp.

The Seine à Vélo The Véloroute du Lin The Vélo Francette

Between vineyards and the ocean in Nouvelle Aquitaine

Bordeaux and its Cité du Vin, the Entre-deux-Mers, the Bassin d'Arcachon and the Dune du Pilat, the Atlantic beaches and the Gironde estuary, the fishing villages and small oyster ports, the Landes de Gascogne with their fragrant forests of maritime pines and, of course, the vineyards and great châteaux of the Médoc. This is an ideal environment for a cycling trip in Nouvelle Aquitaine. The Tour de Gironde à Vélo, 480km, is divided into peaceful stages according to your own pace, taking in part of the route of the Canal des Deux Mers. Meanwhile the Vélodyssée is an invigorating cycle route which crosses Brittany and then follows the Atlantic to the Basque coast. Saddle up!

The Vélodyssée The Tour de Gironde à Vélo The Canal des Deux Mers à Vélo

Along the Canal du Midi in Occitanie

Cycling from Toulouse to the Mediterranean, via the proud city of Carcassonne, following the Canal du Midi in the shade of great plane trees, is one of the holy grails of cycling in Occitanie. The last few kilometres to Sète on the exceptional Lido greenway will leave you suspended between land and sea. You'll just have to get back on your feet to choose the swimming beach. Prefer to get some height? Passa Païs, the greenway of the Haut-Languedoc, on the mountainside, straddling the watershed, is a must. From the foothills of the Montagne Noire to the Massif du Caroux, via charming villages and a succession of bridges and tunnels of the old railway line, the pedalling has a lovely southern accent.

Cycle rides in Occitanie The Canal des Deux Mers by bike The Passa Païs greenway

Estuary artworks in Pays de la Loire

Between the Atlantic coast and the Loire Valley, Pays de la Loire will blow you away. Here, the Loire à Vélo ends its long journey from Nevers in Burgundy-Franche-Comté. After Angers, the last section, which leads from Nantes to Saint-Brévin-les-Pins after the large bridge in Saint-Nazaire, is especially beautiful. And art is also on the agenda, as you can admire installations created by the Voyage à Nantes for 60km along the estuary. Any other good ideas? We recommend the Loire Valley, a well-kept secret halfway between Le Mans, Angers and Tours. And then of course, invigorating cycling trips to the Vendée islands: to Noirmoutier, from marshes to mills, or to the island of Yeu, between dunes and enchanting creeks.

Explore Pays de la Loire

From the Luberon to the Baie des Anges in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur

The most courageous will include the Tour du Mont-Ventoux on their list, a giant of Provence which can be admired from all sides as you spin along small roads lined with garrigue and lavender. Try the Calavon greenway, on the Mediterranean bike route. You will enjoy riding along the small roads of the Luberon to discover the hilltop villages and electric assistance is obviously a good option. To have the Mediterranean at your feet, there's nothing better than the Littorale. Between Cannes and Nice or the other way round, this cycle path along the Baie des Anges and the Promenade des Anglais allows you to admire the most famous seafront in France. The Côte d'Azur is beautiful!

The Mediterranean by bike Bike rides in Provence The coast, from Nice to Cannes The ViaRhôna

Find out more about routes or themes across several regions, in particular the Vélo & Fromages label :

France Vélo Tourisme The Accueil Vélo label Fédération française de cyclotourisme The Vélo & Fromages label

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The magazine of the destination unravels an unexpected France that revisits tradition and cultivates creativity. A France far beyond what you can imagine…

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Get in touch with Nouvelle-Aquitaine in South West of France

Biarritz-Basque Country

Loire Valley, Champagne and beyond, The perfect blend

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100% nature road trip in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes with Worldelse

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How I never quite made it to Chambord Chateau

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Along La Loire à Vélo

What to do on the Atlantic coast?

The essentials

Atlantic Coast

What to do in Atlantic Loire Valley?

Atlantic Loire Valley

Spotted on Strava: We don't want to discourage the Giro peloton, but these are Tadej Pogacar's numbers

Will the Giro d'Italia be a mere formality ? If Tadej Pogacar encounters no obstacles and reaches Rome unscathed, the entire cycling world may think so. This might be true, but considering that the Giro is only part one of UAE Team Emirates' master plan, Pogacar's debut in the Italian race is bound to be immensely interesting. How will Pogacar ensure he performs at his peak in Italy as well as in the Tour de France? IDLProCycling.com delved into his 2024 numbers to collectively marvel at his racing data...

In a spring dominated by discussions about Mathieu van der Poel's limited race days, Pogacar still managed a commendable second place. While the world champion in Liège-Bastogne-Liège completed his seventh race day of 2024, Pogacar only saw action for the tenth time at Liège. Thus, the two most successful riders of the year's early months have proven that the adage "less is more" was coined for a reason. The burning question ahead of the Giro d'Italia: How impressive was Pogacar in the races he did participate in? It's time for an in-depth analysis of Pogacar's Giro-Strava data!

Tadej Pogacar in Strade Bianche

And how well he fared! Strade Bianche 2024 etched itself into the history books as never before had anyone dared to break away more than eighty kilometers from the finish line and solo to victory in Siena. It all began on the Monte Sante Marie ascent, 11.49 kilometers in length with two monstrously steep climbs nestled within. UAE-Team Emirates upped the pace, launching their leader in the process, and amidst a hailstorm, the Slovenian forged ahead. When he glanced back, not a soul was in sight.

This came as no surprise, considering Pogacar's extraordinary effort on Monte Sante Marie. He conquered the entire stretch in just 19 minutes and 8 seconds, averaging an impressive 36.0 kilometers per hour and securing a remarkable Strava-KOM. Tom Pidcock accomplished it a year earlier during his victory in 20 minutes and 12 seconds, which would have been over a minute slower than Pogacar's time now. And all this despite fierce conditions and heavy rain in the preceding days, rendering the route slick and treacherous.

During his 80-kilometer solo breakaway, Pogacar eventually widened his lead to 2.44 minutes over the runner-up. As the race neared its conclusion, he even had time to celebrate, exchanging fist bumps with fans and smiling for the cameras. His entire solo escapade averaged an impressive 38.9 kilometers per hour, conquering the toughest terrain of Strade Bianche 2024 with ease. Any suggestions that the rest of the field didn't give their best or weren't up to par in terms of performance level are unfounded. Maxim Van Gils posted the third fastest time ever on Monte Sante Marie, but even that was no match for Pogacar's dominance.

Tadej Pogacar in Milan-Sanremo

"I tried to attack twice because I had incredible legs," Pogacar said after Milan-Sanremo, a week following his victory in Tuscany. However, he couldn't shake off the competition on the Poggio, and so it was Jasper Philipsen who claimed victory, not him. Milan-Sanremo is not dubbed the hardest race to win for nothing, as Pogacar, despite his strong performance, demonstrated three days prior to La Primavera .

He tackled the Poggio in 5.25 minutes at an average speed of 40.2 kilometers per hour, six seconds faster than the fastest time during the actual race. Pogacar's training ride even garnered attention on Strava, labeled under the heading: 'this can't be true.' Additionally, Pogacar also ascended the Cipressa midweek during training, clocking several seconds faster than in the race on Saturday. Of course, this was a 132-kilometer workout, not the actual 288-kilometer race.

During the race, Pogacar struggled to maintain his position, partly due to UAE-Team Emirates' faltering performance as a team on the Cipressa, and Mathieu van der Poel's formidable strength on the Poggio, preventing any significant breakaways. However, aided by a tailwind, all the King of the Mountain records were shattered: on the Poggio climb, the climb plus descent, and Pogacar even achieved a personal best in the downhill segment. Despite this, it wasn't enough, and the UAE leader will undoubtedly need to work even harder to outperform the competition in the years to come.

Tadej Pogacar in the Tour of Catalonia

The day after Milan-Sanremo, Pogacar traveled to Catalonia for a seven-day stage race. Perhaps it was the transition, but in the first stage, he allowed Nick Schultz to take the lead. However, of the remaining six stages, Pogacar went on to win four. A notable performance came on day two, with the finish at Vallter 2000: 12.05 kilometers at an average gradient of 7.7 percent, completed in the freezing cold in just 30 minutes and 47 seconds. This was a remarkable 27 seconds faster than the Strava-KOM holders Remco Evenepoel, Primoz Roglic, and stage winner Giulio Ciccone achieved in 2023.

He repeated his success a day later at Port Ainé, this time covering 18.29 kilometers at a gradient of 6.5 percent. Despite a bold attack by Mikel Landa, Pogacar countered and powered on solo. The old Strava-KOM set by Michael Woods in 2021 was 47 minutes and 40 seconds. However, since the Tour of Catalonia, the new Strava-KOM stands at an impressive 46 minutes and 2 seconds.Cuckoo!

The highlight of the week came not on day two or three, but undoubtedly on day six. Despite already holding a 2.27-minute lead, Pogacar showed no signs of slowing down. After setting a fresh Strava-KOM (duhuh!) on the Coll de Pradell, Pogacar left everyone trailing behind on the Collada Sant Isidre. He stormed away on a climb of just under five kilometers, opening up a lead of nearly a minute. This lead remained intact until the finish line. On the final day, he sealed his quartet of victories with a sprint finish in Barcelona.

Tadej Pogacar in Liège-Bastogne-Liège

The culmination of an impressive spring occurred last Sunday in Liège-Bastogne-Liège. Similar to Catalunya, he had never won that race either. The manner in which he conquered La Doyenne was once again truly remarkable. UAE-Team Emirates controlled the race throughout the day, accelerating at strategic moments and launching their leader on La Redoute. In just four minutes, Pogi reached the summit, with no one even close to his wheel.

Although he didn't immediately break any Strava records, one still stands with Jarno Widar holding a one-second advantage. However, whereas Widar's pace slowed after the top of La Redoute, Pogacar actually gained most of his time in the stretch following it. Similar to Remco Evenepoel's performance in 2023, including the climb of Cornemont. Pogacar was six seconds faster than Evenepoel on that segment a year earlier. More significantly, Pogacar was approximately three-quarters of a minute faster there than his closest pursuers.

What ensued was another solo effort, this time spanning approximately 35 kilometers. He powered through the finale at an impressive average speed of 43.2 kilometers per hour, ultimately finishing ahead of the runner-up, Romain Bardet, by 1.39 minutes. This was a definitive statement ahead of the Giro d'Italia, where Pogacar will commence in better form than ever. On Strava, he didn't share data from all the training days completed between his 10 race days. This might be advantageous for the competition in the Giro as well, so as not to discourage them too much.

For more Spotted on Strava, click here.

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Mathieu van der Poel's Tour de France bike is monochromatic, aggressive and hides a new seat clamp design

All-Shimano build is clean as a whistle

Simon von Bromley / Our Media

Mathieu van der Poel started out his 2023 Tour de France campaign onboard this custom-painted Canyon Aeroad CFR.

The super-clean white bike is one of three bikes the Dutch multidiscipline superstar has ridden at this year’s race.

Van der Poel has since switched to his regular metallic-red Canyon Aeroad after racing this and a special-edition Raymond Poulidor tribute bike in the first week of the Tour de France .

While subdued, this all-white paintjob – officially dubbed ‘MvdP white’ by Canyon – is handsome in a muted sort of way.

Let’s take a closer look.

A go-fast cockpit for the world’s best lead-out man

The integrated cockpit of van der Poel’s bike is as good as slammed with only a teeny-tiny spacer sitting beneath the stem.

Though not as extreme as the setup used by some riders, van der Poel hasn’t been able to resist the urge to tilt his hoods slightly inwards in chase of further aero gains.

Jasper Philipsen’s lead-out man will want to ensure he’s efficient as possible when pushing watts in a sprint.

In terms of measurements, van der Poel's Canyon's CP0015 cockpit has an 11cm stem length, with the width-adjustable handlebar set at 40cm.

With many riders at the 2023 Tour running a 36cm or 38cm bar , that's a fairly conservative setup.

A neat 3D-printed out-front mount is fitted to the underside of the bar.

Seat clamp change made official?

Van der Poel’s Aeroad features an exposed expander wedge on the top tube just in front of the seatpost. A similar design is used on many of the best aero road bikes .

This design is different to both that seen on the existing consumer version of the Aeroad and the bike he rode to victory at Milan-San Remo .

The bike seen at Milan San Remo hid the expanding wedge inside the top tube. It is exposed on van der Poel’s Tour de France bike.

The original seat clamp – used on the consumer version of the Aeroad to date – adopted a design similar to that of the Canyon Ultimate, clamping as low as possible on the seat tube to enable the post to flex. This is said to improve rear-end comfort. The clamp was accessed from the rear of the bike between the seatstays.

Looking at the Canyon web store, it appears the change seen on van der Poel's latest bike has carried over to at least some of the brand’s top-end versions of the Aeroad.

A Selle Italia Flite saddle slammed all the way back on its rails sits atop the deep aero-profiled seatpost.

An all-Shimano build

Van der Poel's build is dominated by Shimano parts, covering both the groupset components and wheels.

When we saw van der Poel's bike at the Grand Départ in Bilbao, it featured Shimano Dura-Ace C50 wheels, shod with a pair of 28c Vittoria Corsa Pro TLR tyres .

Those tyres inflate to 29.3mm on the C50's 21mm internal rim width.

That's still wide by modern standards – but not as wide as the tyres seen on Tadej Pogačar’s Colnago V4Rs .

On Pogačar’s bike, the (nominally) 28c Continental Grand Prix5000 TT TR tyres inflate to 31.3mm (front) and 32.2mm (rear) on the 25mm internal rim width of the ENVE SES 4.5 wheels.

Back to van der Poel's bike, and the wheelset is paired with the near-ubiquitous Shimano Dura-Ace R9200 Di2 groupset , with van der Poel opting for 54/40t chainrings.

How much does Mathieu van der Poel's bike weigh?

The Aeroad is Canyon's aero road bike, with the Ultimate sitting alongside it at the top of the German direct-sales brand's range as a lightweight all-rounder.

We put van der Poel's bike on the BikeRadar scales at the Tour de France – and, in full team trim, it comes in at 7.94kg.

Mathieu van der Poel’s Canyon Aeroad | Specs

• Frameset: Canyon Aeroad CFR MVDP
• Groupset: Shimano Dura-Ace R9250 Di2
• Wheelset: Shimano Dura-Ace C50
• Tyres: Vittoria Corsa Speed, 28c (29.4mm measured), tubeless
• Cockpit: Canyon CP0015, 11cm stem, 40cm handlebar
• Saddle: Selle Italia Flite Boost Kit Carbonio Superflow MVDP Edt
• Weight: 7.945kg

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Legendary Chicago bicycle traveler and writer George Christensen killed by truck driver in South Carolina

8:55 AM CDT on April 24, 2024

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Christensen, left, visiting former Active Transportation Alliance staffer Randy Warren in San Luis Obispo, California, in March 2019 during a bike trip on the Pacific Coast. Photo: Facebook

As a longtime bicycle courier, and one of Chicago's most adventurous bike riders and writers, George Christensen did extensive cycling trips in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, and South America. These included biking the length of three continents and one subcontinent, India. Starting in 2001, he eloquently documented his travels on his well-read blog, George the Cyclist .

But tragically, on Monday evening Christensen's life was cut short at age 73, when a truck driver fatally struck him as he rode through the southeastern United States.

On Tuesday morning sources notified Streetsblog that Christensen was the bike rider that a semi operator struck and killed Monday night near Ridgeway, South Carolina, a small town about 25 miles north of Columbia, the state capital. According to a report in The State by Noah Feit , on Monday, April 22, around 7:30 p.m. Christensen was cycling west on Highway 34, about three miles southeast of Ridgeway, near Autumn Drive. The sun would set a little after 8 p.m. that night.

South Carolina Highway Patrol Master Trooper Gary Miller told The State that the driver of a westbound 2022 Mack truck with a trailer hit the back of Christensen's bike, killing him. The trucker was uninjured, and no other injuries were reported.

Miller told The State that information about what caused the crash was not available yet, but the highway patrol was still investigating the case. There was no word on whether the trucker was issued charges or citations. Streetsblog has contacted the highway patrol to request an update on the case if it becomes available.

Wednesday morning, Fairfield County Coroner Chris Hill released the name the bicyclist killed in Monday's crash. "George Christensen, age 73, of Countryside, Illinois, was traveling west on Highway 34 in Ridgeway, SC when he was struck by a truck [driver] also traveling west on Highway 34," the coroner stated. "Mr. Christensen succumbed to his injuries on the scene of the [crash]. This incident continues to be investigated by Fairfield County Coroner’s Office and South Carolina Highway Patrol."

Christensen often wrote blog entries while pursuing one of his many passions , visiting historic Carnegie libraries across the United States. That was the case on this trip. Entries from earlier this month state that he recently rode Amtrak from Chicago to Washington D.C., took another train route to Orlando, Florida, then biked north near the Atlantic coast, stopping at libraries along the way. Here's a rough approximation of his route based on his April posts .

In the final entry of his blog on Sunday, April 21, Christensen, a hardcore cinephile, wrote that he traveled to Wilmington, North Carolina to visit old friends who are fellow Telluride Film Festival fans. After camping at their house, "I headed west out of town over the Cape Fear River once again towards South Carolina for six Carnegies [libraries] inland from the coast," he wrote.

Christensen blogged that after a few hours of cycling in 80-degree weather that day he stopped to buy a cold drink at a gas station mini mart. As he was sitting out front cooling off, the clerk came outside and offered him three boxes of chicken wings. "I see you’re biking," she said. "Here’s some chicken wings for you."

Christensen pedaled on into ominous weather. "Ninety minutes before dark clouds moved in and shortly there was thunder and lightning in the distance," he wrote in the last paragraph. "I was hoping the storm might bypass me, but when a few scattered drops of rain began to fall, I started looking for an easy access into the forest. I came upon a slightly overgrown path that led to an abandoned farmhouse, the first I had camped beside in these travels, setting up my tent having to only absorb a few drops of rain before it came down in earnest. I still had some chicken wings to mix in with my ramen." Fittingly, the last words of his blog highlighted the goodwill he often encountered from people he met on the road.

Christensen's longtime partner Janina Ciezadlo graciously shared some thoughts with Streetsblog. "I trust people who know George, or are just learning about him, know that he was a legendary touring cyclist traveling everywhere from Oman to Madagascar to Iceland. He was an inspiring, encouraging ambassador of the bike. He wanted everyone to ride. Needless to say, he kept my bike in working order."

"He lived simply and devoted himself to cycling," she added. "He visited the Tour De France for almost 20 summers and followed the course [on bicycle]. He was an expert on its history and culture; He died with a plane reservation for this year’s Tour. Much of his touring life was centered on visiting and documenting all the Carnegie libraries in the world. Photographs of these beautiful early 20th century buildings can be found on his blog . He loved libraries."

"George had an extraordinary range of interests," Ciezadlo concluded. "As a volunteer he gave of his time at Facets Multimedia here in Chicago and at the Telluride Film Festival; he had a tremendous amount of knowledge about film and film festivals. He was a reader. Among other books, he recently had read all of Balzac and Zola, and of course watched every classic film adaption of those novels. Lately he had been volunteering in restoration projects in the Cook County Forest Preserves. Some people will know that he was an incurable dumpster diver and distributed recovered food to others." 

Elizabeth Adamczyk, organizer of the annual Chicago Ride of Silence and a longtime friend of Christensen, said they met through her work at Northwestern University, where he was an alumnus. "We both had a love of learning and a love of bicycling, and we became fast friends. George was integral to me becoming a year-round cyclist. He was a voracious reader, very knowledgeable about Carnegie libraries, pro cycling, his next bike adventure, and anything else that he decided to learn about."

"In recent years he got to know my mother and, helped her out with random household tasks," she added. "He was always there to lend a hand, and he loved to help."

According to Adamczyk, 2023 was the first year Christensen was in Chicago for the Ride of Silence, which honors fallen cyclists. "He was thrilled to participate in person." She said he will be honored and memorialized at this year's event on Wednesday, May 15. The location and other details will be announced soon and publicized by Streetsblog.

Just two weeks ago, when I was traveling by car in a location where year-round high winds make bicycle touring seem like a thankless task, I thought of George Christensen, an old bike messenger colleague of mine. I told my companion that, impressively, Christensen had done the same route on two wheels more than 20 years ago.

Hopefully it will be some comfort to George's loved ones to know that his life ended while he was doing something he obviously loved.

Read The State's report here .

Check out George Christensen's blog George the Cyclist here.

Read a 2006 profile of Christensen in the Chicago Reader here.

Read a guest post he contributed in 2012 to the pre-Streetsblog Chicago transportation news website Grid Chicago here.

Update 4/24/24, 11:45 AM: Bike and pedestrian injury attorney Michael Keating (a Streetsblog Chicago sponsor) provided this statement. "[Keating Law Offices has] been retained to represent the Estate of George Christensen for this tragic event and senseless loss of life. Like many Chicago cyclists, I remember George well and this is a very sad time. I have been in contact with the investigating trooper in South Carolina and George's family regarding what happened. We have already begun an investigation and are in the process of gathering more information." 

Update 4/25/24, 7:15 AM: The Downers Grove Bicycle Club announced in the Daily Herald that its annual Ride of Silence on Wednesday, May 15, through streets of the west-suburban village will also honor Christensen. At the time of his death he was living in southwest-suburban Countryside, roughly 10 miles from Downers Grove, and he was a member of the bike club.

Did you appreciate this post? Please consider  making a tax-deductible donation  to help Streetsblog Chicago keep publishing through 2025. Thank you.

In addition to editing Streetsblog Chicago, John writes about transportation and other topics for additional local publications. A Chicagoan since 1989, he enjoys exploring the city on foot, bike, bus, and 'L' train.

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Specialized turbo tero x 6.0, xtracycle rfa, ride1up prodigy v2, velotric t1, brompton c-line electric 12-speed, trek wahoo path, lectric one, best value commuter.

Only one word is needed to sum up and exemplify why Lectric’s One is a bike that shouldn’t be overlooked: Pinion. You will know what that means if you’re a die-hard bicycle tech nerd. But for the uninitiated, Pinion is a German brand that manufactures high-end and fully enclosed gearbox units—sort of like an internally geared hub, except mounted in the bottom bracket. Most consumers are unfamiliar with the brand because Pinion products usually wind up on very pricey and niche bikes.

So, this makes a Pinion system on a $2,000 commuter e-bike very exciting, especially since it’s a part usually reserved for bikes triple that price.

How did Lectric make the pricing work to include a Pinion gearbox on such an affordable model? Lectric combined Pinion’s C1.6 6-speed gearbox with a 750-watt rear-hub motor. (The gearbox and motor are combined into a single unit on pricier Pinion-equipped e-bikes.) Additionally, Lectric stuck to the much cheaper cadence sensor for motor engagement rather than go the costlier torque sensor route. However, Lectric enhanced the cadence sensor with 96 magnets versus the 12 typically used on the brand’s other models.

Lectric One eBike

Lectric then joins the Pinion gearbox and hub motor with a Gates Carbon belt set-up (instead of a standard chain drive). The belt doesn’t require chainlube and runs cleanly, quietly, and efficiently. With the bike’s gears enclosed by the Pinion system, these two bits of tech help make the Lectric ONE essentially free of daily maintenance.

Riding the One, I was quickly enamored with the Pinion system’s smoothness and precision—nothing else on the market is quite like it—and the hub motor was impressively powerful. However, while the improved cadence sensor was better than others I’ve used, it was still very much a cadence sensor. Like most cadence sensor-equipped bikes, the One feels disconnected from the motor. This feeling is from a combination of lag (though very slight in this case) and because the force put into the pedals does not relate to the motor’s output. Both factors result in a slightly unnatural motor response.

With that said, it didn’t take long to get used to how the One delivers its motor assist. I’m happy to take a cadence sensor to get a Pinion gearbox and Gates belt drive at such a reasonable price. The One is an ideal option for riders seeking a dependable, low-maintenance, all-weather commuter bike with the bells and whistles of a bike normally costing significantly more. — Dan Chabanov

BEST BUDGET E-CARGO

The Rad Wagon is now in its fifth iteration and has introduced countless people to the joys of a long-tail cargo e-bike. Since the Rad Wagon was one of the most affordable options in the category, it allowed many riders to try out a bike type that, while incredibly practical, often has a high cost of entry. The downside of that low price was that the Rad Wagon suffered from cheap and unreliable brakes, not something you want on a bike that can carry you plus two passengers.

The good news is that the newest iteration of the Rad Wagon has improvements in its standard equipment and only a modest price increase. For the extra $400 over the Rad Wagon 4, the new bike gets a suspension fork and smaller wheels with much wider tires. The Rad Wagon 5 also uses better lights (that now include turn signals) and, most crucially, a set of powerful hydraulic disc brakes. The Tektro hydraulic disc brakes are the most critical update to the bike and deliver reliable stopping power. All the updates combine to turn the Rad Wagon from a bike we recommended primarily based on price into one we confidently endorse as a great alternative to pricier cargo e-bike models. — D.C.

BEST SUPER COMMUTER

The Turbo Tero X is a bike I can enthusiastically recommend to any cyclist.

This e-bike is so good and so versatile, and so damn handy it will become the bike you use most. If forced to describe it, I’d say the Tero X is a full suspension mountain bike with a class three motor made for everyday doings. The Tero X‘s upright position, flat bar, knobby tires, and suspension provide sure-footed multi-surface capability. And even on pavement, the bike’s suspension is a huge boon.

Hitting a pothole or bridge expansion joint hit at 28mph on a rigid 50-pound e-bike is uncomfortable at best; at worst, the rider can also cause the rider to get awkwardly bucked and lose control of the bike. The Tero X’s suspension makes for a more comfortable, safer, and more relaxed ride.

Another mountain bike feature that has real-world practicability is the dropper post. Dropping the saddle makes it possible to stand flat-footed at traffic lights and makes it easier to mount and dismount the bike with street clothes.

Specialized Turbo Tero X

Specialized has long made excellent e-bikes, and the brand’s in-house developed motor (and accompanying apps) are some of the best. The motor offers a lot of torque with little noise or vibration, with a natural feeling tune that’s never jerky or awkward.

The claimed range from the 710Wh battery is 75 miles in Eco mode. But during my time with the Tero X, I hardly used Eco mode and just Turbo’d everywhere, which resulted in 25 or so miles of range. While that doesn’t seem like much, I found it was more than plenty for numerous trips around my small town before I needed to worry about plugging in. And recharges are fairly quick—even just plugging it in for 30 minutes was enough to erase any range anxiety.

The Tero X 6.0 is fully equipped with lights (the headlight puts out 1,000 lumens in high beam mode—more than enough to see clearly on dark roads and paths at night), fenders, a rear rack, and a kickstand.

The suspension fork precludes many front rack options—though options do exist—and the rear rack limit is just 44 pounds. So, this isn’t a cargo bike or something intended for hauling a week’s worth of groceries for the family. Instead, the Tero X is a bike for going places. It’s a bike that makes you want to leave the car at home—because going by bike is, as we all know, the best way to get anywhere. — Matt Phillips

BEST MID-TAIL E-CARGO BIKE

Xtracycle designed the RFA (short for Ready For Anything) to evolve around the changing needs of daily life. Its adjustable dropouts allow you to shorten and lengthen the wheelbase by 5.5 inches if needed. The shorter layout (dubbed the RFA Sport) comes with a smaller rear deck. We opted for the RFA Utility with its longer-length rack (might as well have more capacity, right?), but you can always change the wheelbase length in about an hour. Plus, Xtracycle’s website has a seamless interface for selecting accessories and custom options for your bike when ordering.

The bike feels sturdy and smooth. Its 2.5-inch wide tires dampen road vibration and make you feel like you can run over almost any pothole or cracked pavement, an admirable trait on a bike designed to carry hundreds of pounds of cargo. The steel frame and fork, combined with a front thru-axle, gave our test bike a precise and confidence-inspiring steering feel. Our test bike featured the Shimano STEPS EP6 motor, which assists up to 28 mph. Under daily riding conditions, however, the motor tops out around 23-25 mph.

The previous version of this bike did not come with stock fenders, but Xtracycle remedied this and now includes rear wheel skirts and footrests. Overall, the RFA is a smooth, solid-feeling bike ready for years of riding. Xtracycle backs this with a lifetime warranty for the frame and fork and a two-year warranty for the Shimano STEPS system.

The RFA exists in a crowded market of direct-to-consumer e-bikes. But as a cargo bike brand, Xtracycle has been around for much longer than many of its competitors. Debuting its first product, a cargo bike extension kit, in 1999. So, the brand knows the market and how riders use its bikes.

This bike is a well-thought-out and executed product made for the real world, not simply some nice-looking specifications listed on a website or feature sheet. I thought highly enough of the bike that, while I have tested many great e-cargo bikes, the RFA is the first one I used to take my daughter along for a ride. — D.C.

BEST BELT-DRIVE COMMUTER

Ride1Up‘s second-generation Prodigy commuter is an excellent follow-up to the brand’s original version. The new V2 retains the V1’s excellent Brose mid-drive motor and internal battery while featuring an improved aesthetic design, an air-spring suspension fork, a 9-speed drivetrain, and better brakes for the reasonable price of $2,395.

For an additional $300, Ride1Up offers the Prodigy V2 equipped with a Gates belt drive and Enviolo stepless gear rear hub. And for us, this is the package to buy.

A good commuter bike is practical, easy to use, and no fuss. It‘s something you ride to work, school, or errands around town, not something you expect to spend considerable time maintaining or repairing. For these reasons, many commuters choose a singlespeed bike—but even singlespeed chains require maintenance.

Belt-drive bikes offer advantages over traditional chain-type drivetrains, with an upside being their low maintenance—they do not require chain lube, stay remarkably clean, and rarely require adjustment or tightening. Plus, they are stealthily silent and look great.

Unfortunately, belt drives require an internal hub to shift gears—and internal hubs weigh a lot and have limited gear ranges. Thankfully, Ride1Up used Enviolo’s internal gear Trekking rear hub that features continuously variable, stepless gearing and a 380% gear range. The CVT allows riders to shift while stopped or under load and is super smooth.

While almost $2,700 is not chump change for a commuter bike, the Prodigy V2 is a steal compared to similarly-equipped Specialized and Gazelle models priced at $4,000. — Tara Seplavy

BEST HYBRID E-BIKE

Hybrid bikes combine elements of road bikes (lightweight frame, 700c wheels) and mountain bikes (flat handlebar, wide-range gearing, and sometimes suspension). Since these bikes do not fully commit to either discipline, hybrids get poo-pooed by some cycling snobs and purists. And that‘s a damned shame because their combination of traits can make hybrids the best choice for many riders’ commuting, fitness, or leisure riding needs.

Weirdly though, while e-bikes currently command a lot of attention from bike brands (and space in their product portfolios), if you’re seeking an electric hybrid bike you will find stunningly few choices. Instead, many brands focus on utility e-bikes or models with wide tires for commuters or recreational riders, relying on motor power to negate the heft of the extra equipment.

Velotric T1 e-Bike

Luckily, there are a few options for hybrid e-bikes. And one of the best I’ve recently tried is Velotric’s T1. This bike is sporty and quick and its handling feels similar to some road bikes. Some of that snappy ride feel is from the T1’s 350W rear hub motor, some from the road bike-like geometry, but a lot is from the weight. At 37.1 pounds, the T1 is on the light side for e-bikes (especially at this price) and doesn’t weigh that much more than many non-assist hybrids.

Velotric also packs a slew of tech features into the T1 that you wouldn‘t expect for a bike at $1,800. On the riding side, the T1 employs a torque sensor for a smooth and natural pedaling feel and a light-sensing headlamp that turns on when it gets dark. For security features, the T1 features a fingerprint lock on the bike and GPS tracking and theft alert via Velotric‘s app.

While many brands have apps for their e-bikes, Velotric‘s app on your phone pulls double duty as the T1’s display unit. Personally, I don‘t like my iPhone sitting on my stem and prefer a dedicated LCD (even if only a basic one). But I understand that many folks like this feature and they can use the app for bike data and navigation. — T.S.

BEST FOLDING E-BIKE

Folding e-bikes are a hot category right now, with brands like Aventon, Rad Power, Lectric, and One-Up offering these models. But unfortunately, in reality, most of these bikes are enormous (even when folded) and heavy. That’s because many of these bikes start with (more or less) a full-size e-bike and simply add a hinge joint to the frame to handle the folding.

Brompton takes a decidedly different approach—electrifying its already excellent folding bike by adding a 250-watt motor to the front wheel. The result is a truly portable folding e-bike. One that you can easily carry and stow on a bus or a crowded commuter train. While the battery and motor add some heft to the C-Line, the 38-pound weight of the bike feels practically featherweight compared to typical e-bikes, which are routinely over 50 pounds.

Brompton C-Line Electric

If your bike trip is short enough and you don’t want to carry the extra heft of the power pack, the Brompton is one of the very few e-bikes that’s genuinely pleasant to ride unpowered. And this is where the C-Line’s 12-speed drivetrain comes in handy. The C-Line might be somewhat confusing if you’re accustomed to most bike gearing—it’s not a traditional 12-speed cassette at the rear. Instead, the Brompton uses an internal 3-speed hub paired with a 4-speed rear derailleur. Multiply four times three, and you get to Brompton’s 12-speeds.

The bottom line is that if you need an e-bike that folds small enough to sit under your desk at the office or fit into an overhead luggage bin on a train, the Brompton C-Line is your best option. It doesn’t hurt that the bike rides great and has clever engineering. — D.C.

BEST KID'S BIKE

Picking bikes for pre-teens is tough! Kids of this age are often too tall for traditional “kid‘s bikes” (usually aimed at younger audiences or are styled on BMX bikes), making them hard to ride for longer distances. But, they‘re also often too small for XS-sized adult bikes (that are too big and unwieldy).

Several brands introduced new models over the past few years designed for 8 to 12-year-olds to fill this underserved niche. Unfortunately, many are pricey or intended mainly for mountain biking (with fat knobby tires and suspension) versus bike paths and multi-use trails.

Trek’s new Wahoo Path bikes are a great option for pre-teens to use around the neighborhood, commuting to school, or riding with family. Trek offers the Wahoo in two wheel sizes: 24-inch (riders 4’3” to 4’11”) and 26-inch (riders 4’10” to 5’3”), and each is available in three colors. The bikes feature aluminum frames and forks, 2-inch wide tires, and wide-range 8-speed gearing.

The Wahoo Paths incorporate some solid attention to detail often overlooked by brands. An example is Trek’s use of Microshift’s Acolyte shifter. Designed for smaller hands, this trigger shifter is easier to use than shifters intended for adult hands. Another is the gear range—it uses an 11-38T cassette paired with a 28T chainring. This provides low gearing to get up some hills while also tall enough to ride on flat roads or the bike path.

Additionally, Trek built the Wahoo Path’s frame with standover in mind (without resorting to a step-through configuration). This allows kids to use the bike for (hopefully) a couple of years before they grow to another side. And since none of the frames or colors are overly boy- or girl-oriented, the bike is easier to pass to another young rider or sell when your child outgrows it. — T.S.

More of the Best Bikes of the Year:

Road | mountain | gravel.

As Deputy Editor, Tara Seplavy leads Bicycling’s product test team; after having previously led product development and sourcing for multiple bike brands, run World Championship winning mountain bike teams, wrenched at renowned bicycle shops in Brooklyn, raced everything from criteriums to downhill, and ridden bikes on six different continents (landing herself in hospital emergency rooms in four countries and counting). Based in Easton, Pennsylvania, Tara spends tons of time on the road and trail testing products. A familiar face at cyclocross races, crits, and bike parks in the Mid Atlantic and New England, on weekends she can often be found racing for the New York City-based CRCA/KruisCX team. When not riding a bike, or talking about them, Tara listens to a lot of ska, punk, and emo music, and consumes too much social media.  

A gear editor for his entire career, Matt’s journey to becoming a leading cycling tech journalist started in 1995, and he’s been at it ever since; likely riding more cycling equipment than anyone on the planet along the way. Previous to his time with Bicycling , Matt worked in bike shops as a service manager, mechanic, and sales person. Based in Durango, Colorado, he enjoys riding and testing any and all kinds of bikes, so you’re just as likely to see him on a road bike dressed in Lycra at a Tuesday night worlds ride as you are to find him dressed in a full face helmet and pads riding a bike park on an enduro bike. He doesn’t race often, but he’s game for anything; having entered road races, criteriums, trials competitions, dual slalom, downhill races, enduros, stage races, short track, time trials, and gran fondos. Next up on his to-do list: a multi day bikepacking trip, and an e-bike race. 

Test Editor Dan Chabanov got his start in cycling as a New York City bike messenger but quickly found his way into road and cyclocross racing, competing in professional cyclocross races from 2009 to 2019 and winning a Master’s National Championship title in 2018. Prior to joining Bicycling in 2021, Dan worked as part of the race organization for the Red Hook Crit, as a coach with EnduranceWERX, as well as a freelance writer and photographer. 

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"Tour de France Cycle City" label: soon 150 towns and 10 countries in the loop?

As part of its "Riding into the Future" programme to promote sustainable mobility, the Tour de France launched the "Tour de France Cycle City" label in 2021, encouraging all the initiatives taken by towns and cities that have already hosted the Grande Boucle to promote everyday cycling.

For this fourth edition, the Tour de France and the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift have received bids from 24 cities, including six outside France. This year, 16 towns on the 2024 Tour de France route have applied, and two are on the 2024 Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift map, which should take the number of approved cities to 150... in 10 different countries!

The results will be announced on 15 May as part of the “Mai à vélo” (Bike in May) campaign.

150! That's the symbolic milestone the "Tour de France Cycle City" label could reach in its fourth edition. This initiative, created in 2021, enables towns that have already hosted the Grande Boucle to have their commitment to developing cycling in all its forms assessed and rewarded. Whether they are French or foreign, rural or urban, towns applying for the label must highlight all the existing measures to encourage cycling in their application and present local short- and medium-term development plans (infrastructure deployment, improving rider safety, learning to cycle with the "How to ride a bike" campaign, parking and combating theft, maintenance and repair, etc.). All these measures contribute to the growth of cycling as a means of daily transport, a source of leisure, and exercise.  

Since 2021, 133 cities in eight countries have already received at least one level of accreditation. With 24 applications, the 2024 campaign could see the number of towns and cities recognised for promoting cycling rise to 150. In addition to the new French and Belgian cities that could appear on the map, two new territories are about to join the club, representing ten countries with towns awarded the label! Italy, where the Tour de France will set off on 29 June for the first time in its history, has three candidates: Rimini, Piacenza and Pinerolo. More exotic still, Japan, which for over ten years has welcomed the champions of the Grande Boucle to Saitama in the middle of autumn as part of a festive criterium reminiscent of the Asian craze for the event, could also be in the running!  

Sixteen French towns on the route of the 2024 Tour and two others on the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift submitted bids, from Evaux-les-Bains, the least populous of the candidate towns, to Nice, the host town of a new and spectacular finish of the Tour de France on 21 July, reflecting the diversity of bids once again this year for a label that allows towns to showcase their assets on their scale. Four French cities that have hosted the event in the past have also applied, while two municipalities that have already received the label have requested a reassessment of their rating. The jury is now studying all the applications. The results will be announced to the candidate cities on 15 May 2024 as part of the "Bike in May" campaign.  

Composition of the jury for the "Tour de France Cycle City" label: Christian Prudhomme, Director of the Tour de France; Émilie Defay, deputy editor-in-chief at France Bleu Paris; Jean Ghedira, director of communications, sponsorship and general secretariat at LCL; David Lazarus, mayor of Chambly and chairman of the "Sports" working group of the Association des Maires de France; Olivier Schneider, president of the FUB (French Federation of Bicycle Users); Karine Bozzacchi, CSR manager for the Tour de France.  

Candidate cities for the 2024 label:  

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