motorcycle in tour de france

What It’s Like to Ride a Race Motorcycle in the Tour de France

A former pro cyclist himself, Bruno Thibout shares the tension and excitement of being in constant pursuit of the peloton

Thibout was a professional bike racer who himself raced the Tour three times, as well as the Vuelta a España and the Giro d’Italia. After he retired, Thibout felt a sense of yearning for the exhilaration that racing used to provide, and knew that being back in the race convoy was going to be the only way to safeguard his future from boredom. Here he reveals to us what it’s like to be, at times, nearly elbow-to-elbow with the peloton. (Thibout speaks French, so this interview was translated by Seb Piquet, the speaker of Race Radio—see our Q&A with Seb from last week.)

Are all the motorbike pilots ex-pros? Do you you think it makes a difference?

Not all of them, but quite a few are. Being a former rider it makes things a lot easier because you feel things in a different way as a former cyclist, and you know how to adapt in a better way to the peloton. The thing is when you’ve been a professional bike rider you ride your motorbike like you would ride your bicycle—the positioning, the reflexes.

Sometimes I’m driving along right next to the cyclists as if I were one of them, and I can do that because I’m an ex-pro and it comes naturally to me, it feels comfortable.

Do you think the peloton trusts you a lot more because you’re an ex-pro?

I don’t know, I’m not sure they actually know who I am. Some of them do and at the beginning a lot more knew who I was. Guys like [Tony] Gallopin and Phil Gilbert do because I used to ride with them, so yeah they probably trust me more, but the new guys don’t know who I am.

Do they ever get annoyed by you riding close to them?

[Laughs] I’ve had a few issues with some riders, a few rows, but nothing serious. But I’m a former rider, I’m not a motorbike rider who drives alongside them and admires them. I don’t really care, I feel like I’m just next to my fellow riders. So if I need to yell at them then I will, we’re part of the same family.

Do you have to go through any training or do you help train the other motorcyclists? Especially after the accidents that have happened over the past few years?

Good question. It’s an idea I’m actually having right now, to train more motorbike riders. I trained on my own, I’m sort of a self-made motorbike pilot. [As a racer] I always kept an eye on the police motorbikes, the Gendarmerie. I also did two training camps in Fontainebleau with the Gendarmerie, which is organised by ASO.

But I would actually like to set up a training facility where I can train future motorcyclists for the bike races, where eventually they would get a diploma that allows them to drive in the races. I would love that.

What do you think is the most challenging part of the job?

Driving the bike has to be natural, you shouldn’t have to think about it to be able to carry on and do the rest of your job. You have to be able to concentrate on your radio and your task and not on the riding. And for a guy who is not used to descending down the Alps or the Pyrenees it’s not easy when you’re not a natural driver or rider.

Which is scariest descending down a mountain on a road bike or on a motorbike?

On a motorbike, definitely. When you’re driving you have to focus on not being a nuisance to the riders, not putting them in danger, not putting yourself in danger, and thinking about the spectators. You also have to be careful with the TV motorbikes who have priority to film.

I guess you have to pay attention to a lot more on the motorbike.

I have five stopwatches on me, so I have to focus on them and remember which one is which, and on places where I need to stop the stopwatch. For example, a guy on the front motorbike says, “Stop the watch at Rosso’s Italian restaurant.” Then when I get to Rosso’s Italian restaurant I will stop the watch and give the time gap to Seb [Piquet] in the car. Focusing on all these things is tough. On one stage I will do between 200 and 250 time checks.

Wow! Has it ever gone wrong?

[Laughs] Yes it has, because sometimes the stopwatch will be launched on a guy who has an umbrella, for example, and then if he puts the umbrella down or moves, then you can’t see it anymore.

What’s been the biggest thing that has gone wrong?

In the Tour de France one year on Plateau de Beille in the Pyrenees I got one stopwatch wrong so then all the rest were wrong, a knock-on effect. It made a difference of 1 minute 30 and it was a super important stage. Seb [Piquet] was going mad in the car at me.

From all the years that you have been covering the races which has been your most memorable moment?

It’s a memory from when I was driving the motorbike for press. Everyday it’s always the same rider but each day the journalist changes, from different newspapers or photographers. That day I was with a journalist and I decided to go behind the pack which I normally never do. And I said to the journalist, “You’re going to see something that you’ve never seen before,” and suddenly there were echelons everywhere with Contador at the front, and the race was exploding behind. That’s a moment I’ll remember forever.

When you were riding the press bike, could just any journalist get on the back of your motorbike and ride with you? Do they receive any briefing on how they have to act on the back of the motorbike?

Yeah anyone can be on the bike, they have to get approval through ASO, but I’m the guy who briefs them. They’re given a long-sleeved jacket and a helmet. It’s crazy because they get on the back of a motorbike and are descending at speed down mountains, and they might never have been on the back of a motorbike before, and you’re dealing with their life. You have to be a little bit crazy for this job. But that’s what I love about the it, the exhilaration.

I guess after being a professional cyclist, to go into a job like this is the perfect transition.

It’s exactly that. I like the aspect of danger, functioning on the edge. I need that. If I didn’t have that level of exhilaration in my life I would get bored—and I don’t want to be bored.

So while Seb is in the car and can eat his ham and cornichon sandwiches, what do you do? Do you not eat for the whole stage?

Sometimes we eat but it’ll be when the race is fully established and the break is really far down the road. The problem is I have to eat my sandwich whilst I’m driving. I always have mayonnaise issues because I have to push the mic away from my mouth when I’m eating and then Seb speaks to me and I have to respond instantly. Sometimes there’s food everywhere.

Who is the scariest rider to follow down a descent?

I think Tony Gallopin. He is really good on descents. We were on a descent on the Dauphiné, and I couldn’t get rid of him because he was so fast behind me. The riders who are good on descents, I’ll be pushing everything to the limit just to stay ahead of them.

Besides drafting, is being in front of the rider a benefit to them on a descent because they can see when you’re braking?

Yeah definitely. When I was a rider I would always keep an eye on the Gendarme, because when you see their lights you know when you need to brake. I have so much fun descending with them, it definitely stops life from being boring,

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'I wasted a bullet' – Pogacar's attack blocked by motorbike at Tour de France

Slovenian misses out on bonus atop Joux Plane to Vingegaard

When Tadej Pogačar lifted himself from the saddle 550 metres or so from the summit of the Col de Joux Plane on stage 14 of the Tour de France , it should have been clear to everybody on the mountainside that he was preparing to accelerate with the force of a thousand suns. He had done precisely the same thing at more or less the same spot on the Grand Colombier the previous afternoon, after all.

Yellow jersey Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma), who could sense his rival moving with intent on his shoulder, was certainly braced for impact, but the pair of motorbikes travelling a small distance in front of the two leaders seemed to be completely unprepared for Pogačar’s sudden launch. Their failure to increase their pace when Pogačar attacked meant the Slovenian was forced to brake and desist barely 40m into his effort.

Worse was to follow for Pogačar, who was then caught flat footed in the closing metres of the mountain, where Vingegaard outkicked him for the full quota of bonus seconds at the summit, temporarily adding three seconds to his advantage in the overall standings.

Pogačar surged in response at the top of the descent, though the pair were later caught and passed by Carlos Rodriguez (Ineos Grenadiers) on the fast drop into Morzine. The Spaniard took the stage, while Pogačar beat Vingegaard to second place, snatching back two bonus seconds of his own.

Tour de France: Carlos Rodríguez strikes for win on stage 14 as Vingegaard gains valuable second on Joux Plane As it happened: Pogacar-Vingegaard mountain duel on Tour de France stage 14 Romain Bardet, James Shaw out of Tour de France after stage 14 descent crash

This day of perpetual motion in the Alps had a little bit of everything, including a protracted early neutralisation due a crash, a show of force from Jumbo-Visma for much of the day, and a grand offensive from Pogačar and UAE Team Emirates on the Col de Joux Plane. And yet, when the music stopped, the top two stood more or less as they were, with Pogačar’s overall deficit inching out to 10 seconds.

As Pogačar made his way through the mixed zone in Morzine after receiving a fresh white jersey, however, that contentious moment atop the Col de Joux Plane was the primary topic of discussion. A very brief wobble after missing out on the 2022 Tour of Flanders aside, however, Pogačar has never been much given to public polemic, and he again opted for understatement in his assessment of this episode.

“It was a wasted bullet after already such big climbs,” Pogačar said. “To do one sprint for nothing is a bit of a shame, but I don’t think it’s going to change the final outcome. It stayed in the legs, and I couldn’t sprint for the bonus. OK, I messed it up a little bit. But it is what is.”

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Outside the team bus on the Route de la Plagne, UAE Team Emirates general manager Mauro Gianetti also opted for a diplomatic line. “It’s a pity when the race is affected something by other than the legs,” he said carefully. 

Sports Manager Matxin Joxean Fernandez hinted at a little more frustration at the incident. “It’s the circumstance,” he said. “It’s the rules of the UCI that cars have to be 25 metres behind in a time trial, so [for motorbikes to be] two metres in front is unacceptable.”

The Tour’s entry in the Alps was expected to mark a new phase in the race, but instead it told us precious little that we didn’t already know: Vingegaard and Pogačar are in a class entirely of their own and there is still next to nothing to separate them. The balance of power of this race remains firmly in the eye of the beholder after this latest score draw.

On the penultimate climb of the Col de la Ramaz, where Vingegaard had a full complement of teammates at his disposal, it appeared as though Jumbo-Visma were preparing to conjure up an onslaught of the kind that turned the Tour on its head on the road to the Col du Granon a year ago.

The complexion of the afternoon shifted, however, 4.7km from the top of the Joux Plane, when Adam Yates launched an acceleration on Pogačar’s behalf that only Vingegaard could follow. 3.7km from the summit, Pogačar attacked alone, hitting 27kph despite the double-digit gradient.

Like at the Puy de Dôme and the Grand Colombier, his initial surge instantly opened a small advantage over Vingegaard. But, as on those climbs, the maillot jaune   stuck calmly to the task of plugging the leak. The gap never extended beyond four seconds, and the inseparable duo were together once more inside the final 2km.

“I think it was a good day for us. We were really strong, and we tried,” Pogačar said. “OK, it was not a perfect day, but I think we saw a lot today, we learned a lot today and we go with positive mind into the next stages.

“Of course, it would be better if I dropped him and went solo to the finish line. But I must say today was a good day and I feel good, so I’ll go with a good mindset into the next days.”

Despite Pogačar’s concession of a second to Vingegaard, Fernandez insisted that the momentum of the duel had shifted even less on stage 14 than the gap atop the overall standings. “The momentum in this moment is the same as yesterday,” he said. “It’s only one second lost, but the battle continues.”

Pogačar and Vingegaard will, of course, do it all again on stage 15, which brings the Tour over the Col de la Croix Fry and Col des Aravis before the summit finish at Saint Gervais Mont Blanc. If the third successive mountain stage doesn’t separate them, then Tuesday’s short time trial might, though there is the increasing sense this duel might go all the way to next Saturday’s penultimate leg in the Vosges.

“There’s a really hard stage coming tomorrow, then a time trial, the Col de la Loze and also stage 20,” Pogačar said. “There are still four stages that can decide it. It’s going to be really tight, but I’m going confident into the next days.”

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Barry Ryan is Head of Features at Cyclingnews. He has covered professional cycling since 2010, reporting from the Tour de France, Giro d’Italia and events from Argentina to Japan. His writing has appeared in The Independent, Procycling and Cycling Plus. He is the author of The Ascent: Sean Kelly, Stephen Roche and the Rise of Irish Cycling’s Golden Generation , published by Gill Books.

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Tour de France bikes 2023: who’s riding what?

All the bikes and tech on display at the 2023 Tour De France

Jean Catuffe/Getty Images

Paul Norman

The 2023 Tour de France covers 3,404km (2,115 miles) over its 21 stages. That’s 54km more than last year’s Tour.

However, the bigger news is that time trial kilometres are down from two time trials totalling 53km last year (including the Prologue) to just one at 22.4km this year. It finishes at 974m in altitude and has a 2.5km Cat 2 climb to the finish, with an average 9.4 per cent gradient.

For several years, there's been an individual time trial on the penultimate stage, but this year, it’s on the Tuesday of the final week.

Given how a time trial can upset the final result, as in the 2023 Giro d’Italia, or cement it, as in last year’s Tour, it’s a surprising move.

That means the teams’ road bikes are increasingly to the fore. As usual, there’s some very flashy tech on show and we can expect more to be announced in the run-up to the Grand Départ and probably to be unearthed by the sharp-eyed as the race proceeds.

Read on for a complete list of the bikes in this year’s Tour de France, along with the kit they’re fitted with, and our pick of some of the new bikes and tech to keep an eye out for at the 2023 Tour de France .

Also check out our guide to prize money in this year's race, our explainer on leaders jerseys , a comprehensive Tour de France jargon buster and our round-up of how to watch the Tour , wherever you are in the world.

Tour de France 2023 bike brands

The 2023 Tour de France peloton is made up of 22 teams of eight, 176 riders in total. The 18 WorldTour squads receive an automatic invitation to compete, while four second-tier Pro Continental teams get a wildcard invitation. Between them, 19 bike brands are represented.

That’s two up on last year’s Tour, although the majority of brands are the same as in last year’s race. Even Ridley and Factor, who saw their teams demoted to the UCI’s second division, are back this year thanks to wildcard invitations for Lotto-Dstny and Israel-Premier Tech respectively.

New bike brands this year are Bianchi, Look and Dare, while out this year is De Rosa. Specialized continues to sponsor three teams, as in 2022, but Canyon is down from three to two.

Bianchi was absent last year, but is back with Arkéa-Samsic. It had its first race win back in 1899 and its bikes were ridden by Fausto Coppi, Felice Gimondi and Marco Pantani as well as a who’s who of other top-drawer racers, so it’s a prestigious return for the brand. On the other hand, De Rosa is an equally famous name from cycling’s past that has departed the Tour.

Bike brands represented at the 2023 Tour de France:

• Bianchi : Team Arkéa-Samsic
• BMC : AG2R Citroën Team
• Cannondale : EF Education-EasyPost
• Canyon : Alpecin-Deceuninck, Movistar Team
• Cervélo : Jumbo-Visma
• Colnago : UAE Team Emirates
• Cube : Intermarché-Circus-Wanty
• Dare : Uno-X Pro Cycling
• Factor : Israel-Premier Tech
• Giant : Team Jayco-AlUla
• Lapierre : Groupama-FDJ
• Look : Cofidis
• Merida : Bahrain Victorious
• Pinarello : Ineos Grenadiers
• Ridley : Lotto-Dstny
• Scott : Team DSM-Firmenich
• Specialized : Bora-Hansgrohe, Soudal-QuickStep, TotalEnergies
• Trek : Lidl-Trek
• Wilier Triestina : Astana-Qazaqstan

Read on for more details of each team’s bikes, wheels and other kit.

What’s new in Tour de France tech?

New bike launches.

Since last year’s Tour, the Colnago Prototipo ridden to second place by Tadej Pogačar has finally become the Colnago V4Rs and been released for us to review – and anyone with deep enough pockets to buy.

Rather like the Colnago, the new Look 795 Blade RS ridden by Team Cofidis has been in plain sight for months, but was only officially launched earlier in June.

Its profile is similar to many other pro bikes with front-end integration, aero tubes and dropped seatstays, but is a departure from Look’s previous pro-level race bikes.

As per the usual playbook, Look says the new bike is stiffer and more aero.

There are more subtle changes to the Canyon Aeroad . Canyon has yet to announce details, but there are slight changes to the tube profiles and the seatpost clamp has moved from the rear of the seat tube to the top of the top tube.

The changes to the Cannondale SuperSix EVO are equally small but significant, with the fourth generation of the bike lighter and more aero – and in LAB71 format significantly more expensive.

Other new bikes bubbling under include an update to the Factor O2 VAM , BMC's new aero road bike and a new Ridley bike , also aero.

One thing all these bikes have in common is there's not a cable or brake hose in sight. In part, that's down to all the groupsets ridden now having wireless connections between the shifters and the derailleurs.

It's also due to the brake hoses running exclusively internally. Since they're invariably hydraulic, there's no loss of braking efficiency, however sharp the bends and no matter how convoluted the routing becomes.

Tubeless wheels and tyres have mostly taken over

Almost all teams are now running tubeless tyres in place of the pros’ favourite tubulars. There are good reasons for this beyond the lack of potentially carcinogenic and addictive solvents in the tub cement (more of an issue for the team mechanics than the riders).

Matej Mohorič of Bahrain Victorious has claimed tubeless tech can lower rolling resistance by up to 15 watts per tyre. Paired with the latest aero wheel designs, that’s a huge margin.

You’re also less likely to need a wheel swap at a crucial point in the race, with sealant helping to cope with punctures, although unlike tubs you can’t ride a flat tyre to the finish or while waiting for the team car to give you a wheel swap.

28mm tyres are also increasingly taking over from 25mm, even on the smooth tarmac generally enjoyed on the Tour. Riders often sub in time trial tyres for road tyres, due to their lighter weight, although they in general offer less puncture protection than the best road bike tyres .

One team that has remained on tubs is Astana-Qazaqstan, although it’s in the process of swapping from Corima wheels that don’t offer a tubeless rim, to HED which does.

Component choices

As in previous years, Shimano dominates the teams’ drivetrain choices, with just three teams on SRAM (Jumbo-Visma, Movistar, Lidl-Trek) and one (AG2R-Citroën) on Campagnolo – one down on 2022 with the defection of UAE Team Emirates to Shimano at the beginning of 2023.

There's more on Campagnolo Super Record below, but an unlaunched update to SRAM Red AXS has been spotted. With SRAM focusing on the launch of its updated Force AXS groupset earlier in 2023, it seems likely that a new version of Red AXS will be announced sooner rather than later.

We've seen an increasing acceptance of single chainrings in races earlier in the season, such as Paris-Roubaix , and that may extend to flatter stages in the Tour, when the small chainring is little used.

Expect 2x setups to take over in the mountains again though, yet even there Primož Roglič showed that a single ring with a wide-range cassette was a winning option.

There’s more variation in wheels than drivetrains, with the aforementioned Corima and HED, as well as Reserve, Vision, DT Swiss, Roval, Newmen, Black Inc, ENVE, Bontrager, Zipp and Cadex all represented.

Campagnolo goes wireless

Campagnolo is providing its Super Record groupset to just one team this year, AG2R Citroën. However, it has dispensed with wires, with the recent launch of the new Super Record Wireless groupset.

As with SRAM Red AXS , the consumer version of Super Record Wireless uses smaller chainrings paired to cassettes starting with a 10-tooth sprocket and rising to just 29 teeth as the largest sprocket option. However, the pros are likely to stick to closer ratios for all but the toughest stages.

There are a couple of interesting things to watch out for here: first, are all the riders using the latest Wireless groupset?

When Shimano Dura-Ace went 12-speed last year, there were still teams using the older 11-speed Dura-Ace long after the official launch, due in large part to the new groupset’s scarcity.

Will Campagnolo have got its manufacturing and distribution ducks in a row better than Shimano?

Second, with SRAM Red AXS, there are a series of chainring options designed specifically for the pros, which are larger than the chainrings on the complete cranksets available for consumer purchase.

That’s partly because pros like to push larger gears at their elevated riding speeds (winner Jonas Vingegaard averaged over 42kph throughout the entire Tour last year).

It’s also because the chainline and the degree of curvature of the chain as it passes over the jockey wheels and cassette make small, but significant, differences in drivetrain friction. Therefore, riding in a larger sprocket nearer the middle of the cassette is an easy marginal gain. It’s also the reason why OSPW systems are used by the pros.

Will we see AG2R Citroën riders using larger chainrings, perhaps borrowed from the previous generation of Super Record, with Campagnolo Super Record Wireless at the Tour?

Tour de France 2023 bikes

All 18 WorldTour teams ride the Tour de France and every one of them gets the pick of the best bikes from their sponsors’ ranges. That includes all teams using 12-speed wireless/semi-wireless electronic groupsets on their road bikes and a choice of top-spec carbon wheels.

The invited Pro Continental teams (Israel-Premier Tech, Lotto-Dstny, TotalEnergies, Uno X) too are on top-spec bikes and equipment – there’s no second best here.

Read on for a breakdown of who’s riding what.

AG2R Citroën Team (ACT)

• Framesets: BMC Teammachine SLR01/Timemachine Road/Timemachine (TT)
• Drivetrain: Campagnolo Super Record Wireless
• Wheels: Campagnolo Bora WTO/WTO Ultra
• Finishing kit: BMC, Power2Max, Look, Pirelli, Fizik, Elite, Wahoo

Alpecin-Deceuninck (ADC)

• Bikes: Canyon Ultimate CFR/Aeroad CFR/ Speedmax CFR Disc (TT)
• Groupset: Shimano Dura-Ace
• Wheels: Shimano
• Finishing kit: Canyon, Shimano, Vittoria, Selle Italia, Elite, Wahoo

Astana-Qazaqstan (AST)

• Bikes: Wilier Triestina Filante SLR/0 SLR/Turbine (TT)
• Groupset: Shimano Dura-Ace/SLF Motion jockey wheels and bottom bracket
• Wheels: Corima/HED
• Finishing kit: Wilier, Look, Vittoria, Prologo, Tacx, Garmin

Bahrain Victorious (TBV)

• Bikes: Merida Scultura Disc Team/Reacto Disc Team/Time Warp (TT)
• Wheels: Vision Metron
• Finishing kit: FSA/Vision, Continental, Prologo, Elite

Bora-Hansgrohe (BOH)

• Bikes: Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL7/Shiv (TT)
• Wheels: Roval
• Finishing kit: Roval, Specialized, Wahoo

Cofidis (COF)

• Bikes: Look 795 Blade RS/796 Monoblade RS (TT)
• Wheels: Corima
• Finishing kit: Look, SRM, Michelin, Selle Italia, Elite, Wahoo

EF Education-EasyPost (EFE)

• Bikes: Cannondale SuperSix EVO/SystemSix/SuperSlice (TT)
• Finishing kit: FSA/Vision, Wahoo Speedplay, Vittoria, Prologo, FSA, Tacx, Wahoo

Groupama-FDJ (GFC)

• Bikes: Lapierre Xelius SL 10.0/Aircode DRS/Aérostorm DRS (TT)
• Wheels: Shimano Dura-Ace / PRO
• Finishing kit: PRO, Continental, Prologo, Elite, Garmin

Ineos Grenadiers (IGD)

• Bikes: Pinarello Dogma F/Bolide (TT)
• Wheels: Shimano Dura-Ace/Princeton Carbonworks
• Finishing kit: MOST, Continental, Fizik, Elite, Garmin

Intermarché-Circus-Wanty (ICW)

• Bikes: Cube Litening C:68X Pro/Aerium (TT)
• Wheels: Newmen Advanced SL
• Finishing kit: Cube, Look, Continental, Prologo, Elite, CeramicSpeed, Bryton

Israel-Premier Tech (IPT)

• Bikes: Factor Ostro VAM / O2 VAM / Hanzo (TT)
• Groupset: Shimano Dura-Ace/FSA chainset
• Wheels: Black Inc
• Finishing kit: Black Inc, Rotor, Maxxis, Selle Italia, CeramicSpeed, SwissStop, Elite, Hammerhead

Jumbo-Visma (TJV)

• Bikes: Cervélo R5 Disc/S5/P5 (TT)
• Groupset: SRAM Red eTap AXS
• Wheels: Reserve 52/63
• Finishing kit: Cervélo, Wahoo Speedplay, Vittoria, Fizik, Tacx, Garmin

Lidl-Trek (LTK)

• Bikes: Trek Émonda SLR/Madone SLR/Speed Concept (TT)
• Wheels: Bontrager Aeolus
• Finishing kit: Bontrager, Time, Pirelli, Wahoo

Lotto-Dstny (LTD)

• Bikes: Ridley Noah Fast Disc/Helium SLX Disc/Dean Fast (TT)
• Groupset: Shimano Dura-Ace/Cema bearings
• Wheels: DT Swiss
• Finishing kit: Deda, 4iiii, Vittoria, Selle Italia, Tacx, Garmin

Movistar Team (MOV)

• Bikes: Canyon Aeroad CFR/Speedmax CF SLX (TT)
• Wheels: Zipp
• Finishing kit: Canyon, Look, Continental, Fizik, Lizard Skins, Garmin

Soudal-QuickStep (SOQ)

• Bikes: Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL7/Roubaix/Shiv (TT)
• Finishing kit: Roval, Specialized, CeramicSpeed, Tacx, Supercaz, Garmin

Team Arkéa-Samsic (ARK)

• Bikes: Bianchi Specialissima/Oltre RC/Aquila (TT)
• Finishing kit: Bianchi, Continental, Selle Italia, Elite, Wahoo

Team DSM-Firmenich (DSM)

• Bikes: Scott Foil RC/Plasma 5 (TT)
• Wheels: Shimano Dura-Ace
• Finishing kit: Syncros, Vittoria, Elite, Wahoo

Team Jayco-AlUla (JAY)

• Bikes: Giant Propel Advanced Disc/TCR Advanced SL Disc/Trinity Advanced Pro (TT)
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• Finishing kit: Dare, Schwalbe, Pro, CeramicSpeed, Elite, Garmin

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Jonas Vingegaard held up by stalled moto and car at Tour de France in 'nightmare' scenes on Stage 17

Updated 19/07/2023 at 17:03 GMT

Jonas Vingegaard's quest for victory on Stage 17 at the Tour de France was held up by a stalled moto – although he can console himself with the knowledge he put over five minutes into his closest rival for the yellow jersey, Tadej Pogacar. The Dane and his Jumbo-Visma team-mate Wilco Kelderman came to a standstill, before he was pushed – somewhat wildly – by spectators keen to help.

'Nightmare' – Chaotic scenes as Vingegaard held up by stalled moto and car

'Now it's time to fully recover' - Vingegaard released from hospital after crash

16/04/2024 at 15:30

• Pogacar implodes as Vingegaard closes on second title, Gall wins Stage 17
• 'Best time trial ever' – Dumoulin hails Vingegaard after stunning win

Stage 17 highlights: Vingegaard all but wraps up yellow jersey as Pogacar wilts

Vingegaard 'a little bit better every day,' says Visma boss, also issues Van Aert update

07/04/2024 at 12:49

Vingegaard injury update issued by Visma-Lease a Bike after horror Basque Country crash

05/04/2024 at 10:22

Vingegaard says Tirreno-Adriatico 'one of the biggest victories' after sealing GC triumph

10/03/2024 at 18:08

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Back on a Motorbike: Old-School Reporting at the Tour de France

By Ian Austen

• July 12, 2016

REVEL, France — Most of the reporters at the Tour de France, including me, don’t see much of the racing through their own eyes.

Our daily routine instead involves hanging around at the start for interviews, then jumping into cars and racing ahead to the press room at the finish line to catch the last couple of hours through the all-seeing eye of television. Even the handful of reporters who congregate at the finish line tend to keep their backs to the road to focus on three televisions inside a stuffy tent.

But in the decades before the host broadcaster, France Télévisions, developed its elaborate live broadcasting system, many reporters followed the Tour from the back of a motorbike.

On Tuesday, I got to experience that bit of the Tour’s past, if not with a cigarette dangling from my lips. Motorbikes never went away for broadcasters and photographers. But after a long absence, the race organizers reintroduced one or two motorbikes a day for print and online reporters.

Feeling somewhat out of place wearing a raincoat and long pants on a warm and sunny morning, I headed down to the Escaldes-Engordany district of Andorra. Picture a Times Square for tax-free shopping that features an extraordinary number of perfume shops. There, just ahead of the start line, sat Motorcycle No. 539, whose driver, Gaétan Prime, would take me down the 196 kilometers, or 122 miles, to Revel, France.

The stage was won, I later learned from television, by Michael Matthews, a sprinter with the Australian Orica-BikeExchange team. Chris Froome, of Britain and Team Sky, retained the yellow jersey of the overall leader.

Prime drives a motorcycle for a living, but mostly under much different circumstances. He is a police officer in Toulouse and a member of a rapid response team that relies on two wheels to zip through traffic jams. Given that the armada of vehicles that follow the Tour around is always verging on becoming a traffic jam, he seemed perfectly qualified.

The president of a large bicycle club and husband of a seven-time French national track cycling champion, Prime uses his motorbike skills at bike races about 50 days a year.

He made it clear that he did not do it for the money.

“Passion, it’s passion,” he said as we put on bright green helmets and started up the road just before the riders’ start. There was less than five minutes remaining, but a surprisingly large number of cyclists who had ridden up the route to stretch their legs were now heading back to take their positions.

Getting out of Andorra and back into France involved a 22.6-kilometer, or 14-mile, mountain pass climb. As we slowed to a crawl not far up the climb, the Tour’s internal radio system told us that Peter Sagan, the current world champion, had formed a group of breakaway riders. It soon neared our bike, and one of its members attacked and headed toward us in the hope that we would provide him shelter from the wind. Prime’s neck-snapping turn of the Kawasaki 1400 GTR’s throttle swiftly eliminated that prospect.

At the summit, I was no longer overdressed. A dense fog cut visibility to about 30 feet, drenched our clothes and made for a chilly entry into France.

Except for the gendarmerie’s elite Republican Guard motorcycle corps, a red-jacketed “controller,” who is also on a motorbike, dictates the position of all of the other 70 motorbikes in the race.

A seemingly unbreakable code dictated who was allowed to get close to the riders at a given moment. But France Télévisions’ camera bikes appeared free to go pretty much anywhere they wanted, provided that they did not pace or endanger the cyclists.

One thing that is rarely caught by cameras but is a frequent sight from a motorbike, is riders’ urinating, either from their saddles or at the side of the road.

The climb and the foggy descent fractured the field into more than a half-dozen groups. Desperation was on the faces of the riders at the very back as they rode flat-out at a point in the race where everyone would normally be taking it relatively easy.

We were in Prime’s home region, and it turned out that he is something of a celebrity there. We stopped for a quick chat with a few of his friends and their two school-age daughters. He slowed to high-five a boy who rides for his bike club. Prime’s name was called out from the side of the road along with those of the Tour favorites.

All the while, the radar systems showing motorists their speeds seemed permanently locked on displaying, “Danger!” Our speed through the day seemed to range from a walking pace to about 80 miles an hour, though there were times when the force of the wind was too great for me to lean around for a peek at the speedometer.

Some radio reporters did rolling interviews with team directors in their cars. The closest I came to an interview, however, was when we were cursed by a group of riders who were trying to make their way back toward the main field.

The increased size of the Tour and the faster pace of the pack in the 21st century make motorbikes less than ideal for watching the racing. Much of the time, I was peering up at it through a forest of team car roof racks, each laden with 10 bikes and a brace of wheels.

But with 25 kilometers remaining in the race, I witnessed a key moment up close and unobstructed. Sagan attacked and split the break, leaving behind the 2014 Tour winner, Vincenzo Nibali of Italy. Somewhat cruelly, we pulled away from Nibali at too high a speed to catch the expression on his face.

As for the finish, like all vehicles following the Tour, we were turned off the course just short of the finish line. Revel’s maze of roads and race-related blockades, however, made it impossible for us to find our way back to the finish to see Matthews squeeze out Sagan and win the stage.

Fortunately, the televisions in the press room had a replay.

Twitter: @ianrausten

Cycling Around the Globe

The cycling world can be intimidating. but with the right mind-set and gear you can make the most of human-powered transportation..

Are you new to urban biking? These tips  will help you make sure you are ready to get on the saddle .

Whether you’re mountain biking down a forested path or hitting the local rail trail, you’ll need the right gear . Wirecutter has plenty of recommendations , from which bike to buy  to the best bike locks .

Do you get nervous at the thought of cycling in the city? Here are some ways to get comfortable with traffic .

Learn how to store your bike properly and give it the maintenance it needs  in the colder weather.

  Not ready for mountain biking just yet? Try gravel biking instead . Here are five places in the United States  to explore on two wheels.

• Yamaha’s Niken as the official support bike for the Tour de France

Yamaha’s Niken as the official support bike for the Tour de France | NEWS

Yamaha’s Niken leaning three-wheeler has been announced as the official support bike for the Tour de France, Giro d’Italia and La Vuelta. The three-year deal will raise the Niken’s profile worldwide, including Australia, as these cycling grand tours are widely televised.

A three-year partnership with A.S.O and RCS Sports, organisers of the three Cycling Grand Tours, will run from 2019 to 2021, and should give the Niken a prominent position in the highly-viewed and televised events.

Nikens will be allotted to riders with a range of duties including medical assistance, wheel changing for cyclists and the transportation of drinks. They’ll also be used for the regulation of the races and the publicity caravans that accompany them.

Yamaha Motor Europe President Eric de Seynes said: “This thrilling new agreement with the organisers of the three most prestigious cycling tours globally is a perfect opportunity to demonstrate the vast potential of our Niken machine. Competition in all of its forms is deeply rooted within Yamaha’s DNA and this collaboration allows us to be a vital part in the smooth operation of some of the world’s biggest sporting events. With the assistance crews covering innumerable kilometres crossing the heart of Europe, this is also a great opportunity for Yamaha to bring its revolutionary product closer to the public and demonstrate its performance and reliability no matter the terrain or conditions. Our range of Niken models stands out for its multipurpose nature, its ability to welcome riders of all levels and its unique capacity to offer unmatched comfort and riding safety on any road. I am truly confident the Niken will perfectly adapt to the needs of all riders assigned with the challenging task of supporting these big sporting events.”

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Tour de france 2023 medical report | update stage 21, read more about:, place comments.

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Bike Cams & Remote Announcers: Inside Tour de France Broadcast Plans

• Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the network will produce its 21 live broadcasts stateside.
• The coverage will have new features, like live footage from some riders’ bikes.

When the Tour de France begins Aug. 29, nearly two months later than usual due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it will be with 55 fewer NBC Sports employees on-site to broadcast the event. 

In a normal year, 65 crew members handle the 23-day race in-person, but instead, just 10 will be on the ground. The rest will work out of NBC’s Stamford, Conn. headquarters, with their days starting at 2 a.m. ET to match the Tour’s schedule, NBC Sports Coordinating Producer Joel Felicio said.

The Tour itself will see some relatively minor changes due to the pandemic, as compared to what the effect has been on professional sports in the United States. 

Its course will not cross into any neighboring countries and the extra vehicles that usually surround the peloton will be reduced by 40% to help with social distancing. Fans lining the roads will be limited to 5,000 per day to adhere to France’s current restrictions — typically, about 10 million fans attend throughout the event. 

Riders’ media availability will also be different than in years past, which featured crowded scrums around competitors and team busses. 

NBC is seizing the opportunity to innovate its coverage and provide a more immersive viewing experience for those at home. It’s something the network had been wanting to do even before the pandemic.

Among the updates to coverage will be cameras — no larger than a GoPro — streaming live footage from some riders’ bikes. Previously, cameras have been placed on bikes to record the action, but haven’t been aired live before.

“Just to have a little perspective on what it’s like to be in the peloton. … Being able to go to those live shots is going to bring the viewer that much closer,” Felicio said. Other shots give viewers perspective on how fast a rider is flying down a mountain, for example.

The Amaury Sport Organisation, the race organizer, handles the logistics of assigning which riders have cameras. 

In addition to the live bike feeds, British former pro rider Adam Blythe will be reporting on the race from the back of a motorcycle, as well as conducting post-race interviews. NBC’s usual on-site reporters Steve Porino and Steve Schlanger won’t be able to attend the race as Europe’s borders remain closed to travelers from the U.S.

Blythe will have a camera on the front of the motorcycle and be able to adjust it to frame shots as he wishes. He’ll be able to perform various other antics to demonstrate the conditions on the course, Felicio said. 

Play-by-play announcer Phil Ligget, known as “the voice of cycling,” will call the race — his 45th — from Sky Sports’ London Office, while analyst Bob Roll will virtually join him from Stamford. 

The commentator setup got a test-run with Roll at home in Colorado and analyst Christian Vande Velde in South Carolina during the Critérium du Dauphiné, which ran Aug. 12-16 and streamed on NBC Sports Gold. The commentators essentially video-called with each other so they could still see facial expressions and have a rapport like if they were in close physical proximity. 

The action will air across NBC, NBCSN, CNBC, on NBC Sports Gold’s “ Cycling Pass ” and Peacock Premium, bringing yet another sports offering to the newly-launched streaming service. 

NBC Sports currently anticipates returning to France at full capacity when the world health situation allows, Felicio said. But if all goes according to plan this year, viewers won’t be able to tell that much is different. 

“I’m hoping that when people tune-in, they don’t know that we’re doing it from Connecticut and not on-site,” Felicio, about to work his 20th Tour, added. “We’re doing a good job if people don’t tune-in and think about where the control room is. That’s a home run for me.”

Live coverage of the 2019 Tour on NBC Sports averaged 307,000 viewers through Stage 15 — up 11% from 2018 and the highest mark since 2015.

Coverage of the 2020 Tour could also prove to be a key opportunity for the sport of cycling at large, which has seen increased interest in the U.S. amid the pandemic. Three American riders are on the start list. 

NBC Sports does not have streaming numbers for the Critérium du Dauphiné, which did not air on linear television.

Cycling sales — which include traditional bikes, indoor bikes, parts, helmets, and other accessories — were up 63% in June compared to 2019, totaling $697 million per NPD Group. USA Cycling says that its memberships are down 15% year-over-year at this time as it had to slash its events by 72% in July alone, but since March, 75% of memberships have come from people who had never previously registered. 

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Motorcycle Touring Guide to France

I just love France. My first French motorcycle tour was over 15 years ago when I rode my Hornet 600 from the rigid roads of Milton Keynes to the ribbon-like roads of Menton in the South of France. I was instantly hooked.

Since then, I’ve been back to France countless times on the bike. From long weekends exploring WW2 sites in Normandy to 10-day ‘Laps de France’, clocking up big miles through gorgeous countryside.

Table of Contents

It is so easy to get to France from the UK, the roads are amazing, the locals like motorbikes and the scenery, food and hospitality are superb.

Despite traffic laws tightening up and the ever-ominous rise in anti-speeding technology, it’s still possible to blast 300 miles across France in a day and not see one police car or speed camera.

You just have to know what you’re doing and that’s what this guide to motorbiking in France is here to help you do.

Getting there

We’re spoilt for choice when it comes to getting over to France. You have two options; Channel Tunnel or Ferry or if you’re renting a bike then obviously you can fly there too.

Channel Tunnel

The quickest route to France is to use the Channel Tunnel. There are around 4 crossings an hour and the crossing takes 35 minutes.

As a motorcyclist, you’re usually on either first or last. You ride on, get your front wheel tucked into the kerb on the train, leave it in gear and you spend the crossing by your bike. You don’t strap it down and you do wonder if it’ll rock over but I’ve never seen it happen.

There’s a toilet onboard but nothing else.

Ferries from the UK to France

You can take a ferry on a similar route to the Channel Tunnel and that’ll take around 90 minutes for the crossing plus a little bit of time to load. Once you’ve docked, as a motorbike you can usually get off faster than the cars.

Or you can take an overnight ferry if you like your crossings classy.

Until last year I had always used the Chunnel but if you’re heading over to Brittany or Normandy or just down the west side of France you might prefer to get a ferry to Caen or Cherbourg as you’ll have fewer miles to do once you’ve reached France.

The overnight ferry is a great experience – if you book a cabin that is; I don’t much fancy trying to sleep in a cinema seat.

The restaurants have great quality food, there are a couple of bars too. You can get up to four to a room and split the cost, making it a no-brainer. Wake up refreshed, have a decent breakfast onboard and then get cracking. You can finish work on a Friday, jump on your bike and head south to grab a late night ferry departure.

UK to France motorcycle crossings guide

Legal requirements for riding in France

• A full, valid driving licence
• Proof of insurance (third party or above)
• Proof of ID (Passport)
• Proof of vehicle ownership (V5C Certificate)
• GB Sticker, if you don’t have a GB EU number plate
• CE Approved gloves
• Carry a Hi-Vis vest
• Reflective stickers on your helmet

French Driving Laws

While it’s worth paying attention to French road laws, in some cases it’s worth taking them with a pinch of salt as I hope to explain below.

When it comes to filtering it’s technically illegal. In the cities of Paris, Marseille, Bordeaux, and Lyon you can now ride between queues of stationary traffic. However, if you pay attention to what the locals do in whatever town or city you’re in, barely any French bikers sit in traffic. Just like in the UK, they want to get around it not be part of it.

Reflective helmet stickers

You’re supposed to have a reflective sticker on all four ‘sides’ of your helmet. If you like to follow the letter of the law, I am sure you can buy a kit off eBay. I’ve never stuck any on my lid and never had any trouble but technically the police can fine you for not having any.

Hi-viz vest

You might have heard of the Gilets Jaunes, the French protesters who are fighting for lower taxes. Well, if you’re heading to France, you need to carry a ‘gilet jaune’ (yellow vest) as well, but you don’t need to join their movement, block any roads or set fire to any cars. Not unless you want to.

You have to carry a hi-viz vest which you must wear if you breakdown. The fine for not carrying one is currently 11 Euros, increasing to 135 Euros if you’re caught roadside, with a bike that’s going nowhere fast – and no sign of your hi-viz.

My touring jacket has a zip-up hi-viz which, with a few shoulder-shrugs thrown in, should pass any gendarme test – but you can also buy a cheap vest from Amazon.

How to avoid the fines

My advice on all this? Be sensible, don’t attract unnecessary attention and you’ll be able to breeze around France without any hassle.

Get caught doing something you shouldn’t and the chances are the police will go over your bike and your kit with a fine-toothed comb.

Some people say the French police target foreigners. I have no idea whether or not this is true but one of the (many) advantages of a motorbike is the fact that the police won’t be able to tell if you’re foreign or not as you’re approaching a speed trap, so if you do get pulled, it’ll be because you were breaking the law (probably speeding) and not because you’re an easy-to-rinse Rosbif.

Grab a super cheap hi-viz vest , tuck it under your seat and hope you never have to use it.

Speed limits in France

French speed limits are very similar to those in the UK. There are different limits on motorways, dual carriageways and A roads in the rain.

Recently the French passed a controversial law that reduced the speed limit on single carriageway roads (the equivalent of our NSL) from 90kph (56mph) to 80kph (50mph).

Watch your speed in towns

When you approach a town you’ll see the town’s name on a sign and with a red border, this indicates it’s a 50kmh limit. Once you leave the town, you’ll see a similar sign but with a black border and a red line through it. This indicates you’re back to an 80kmh limit.

You’re very unlikely to see a speed camera on open roads outside of towns or built-up areas. Fortunately, France hasn’t (yet) followed the UK and gone GATSO mad.

French speed limits chart

French Speeding Fines

The French are pretty hot on speeding and issuing speeding fines.

Where you’re likely to get caught

In my experience, the majority of the mobile speed cameras are located on motorways or dual carriageways. The often traffic-light motorways forge through the vast countryside and it’s easy to take your eye off your speed.

The police will often park away from the road, use a mobile speed gun and they may also work with a motorcycle gendarme who’ll escort you to the nearest service station and help you empty your wallet.

I have only ever seen one police car with a radar on a country road and even then I was flashed by lots of oncoming drivers before I went past it. 

Other bikers have told me they tend to set up shop on the way into towns, where it’s easy to miss the change in speed limit and be caught at a relatively high speed. Keep an eye out on your way into towns and never speed through them.

Fixed speed cameras are easily visible. They have a sign alerting you to the fact there’s a camera, approximately 500m before the camera. Mis that and you deserve to be flashed! You probably won’t get a ticket as most are forward facing but if you’re taking the p*ss, the authorities may well track you down.

Speed camera detectors

These are illegal in France. However, gone are the days where you could buy a unit that detected speed cameras (some of them tried to jam radars too). These are a definite no-no. However, Sat Navs or apps that also warn you of speed cameras are technically illegal. Some manufacturers have an option for you to disable this but unless you’re caught at silly speeds, you’re not likely to be scrutinised. Waze is a great app to keep you alerted of any police presence.

Fines, Bans and Confiscations

The French police won’t be shy in issuing you a fine and the amount you’ll owe depends on how badly you were breaking the speed limit. If you’re going less than 12mph (20kph) over the limit you’ll get a 68 Euro fine. Up to 25mph over the limit (40kph) and it’ll be a 135 Euro fine. If you’re over 50kph (31mph) over the speed limit you’ll get a huge 1500 Euro fine.

These fines are slightly reduced if you pay immediately. Contrary to rumours the police don’t pocket the cash – they’ll issue you with a receipt. 

If you’re caught speeding over 50kph over the limit you could also see your vehicle being impounded or your licence confiscated. Both will ruin your trip.

Priorite a Droite!

One rule in France that's different to the UK is 'La priorité à droite'. It's a strange law and I've no idea who sanctioned it in the first place. Essentially it means that cars waiting at a junction to your right have the priority. So they can pull out of a side road into a main road, right in front of you. It's a confusing rule made even more so by the fact that in some areas there are signs saying that this rule doesn't apply and in others it does. The sign is a yellow diamond with a white outline If it doesn't apply there's a black line through the middle. You really don't want to be trying to remember which sign means what at 60mph on a country road, so the easiest way to interpret it is to ALWAYS keep an eye out when a car appears at a junction. Just like you would do in the UK, except in France there's a greater likelihood of them actually pulling out. That said, French drivers are ten-times better than UK drivers at looking out for motorcyclists, so we'll forgive them for this odd road law.

Motorcycle Tolls in France

The majority of French motorways operate a toll charge. It’s really not that expensive but you do need to factor it into your costs if you’re on a budget.

You’re roughly looking at needing to budget 50 Euros to take the motorway all the way from Calais to the south of France by motorcycle.

You can use this French motorways toll calculator to give you a more accurate estimate . 

Personally speaking, I try and avoid French motorways. The A-roads often run close by. They’re open, fast and flowing and unlike in the UK, they rarely go through towns.

In recent trips around France where I’ve clocked up 2,000+ miles, around 30 have been on motorways. It does make sense to blast down a few junctions to save having to take a country-road detour.

Using motorways in France, for me, defeats the point of riding a motorbike around France in the first place.

If you’re planning a rough route with Google Maps, just use the option to avoid motorways and tolls and compare the difference for yourself.

Some French Highlights

There are hundreds, probably thousands of fascinating places to experience in France. Every region I’ve visited could keep you occupied for weeks. You’ll struggle to find a bad road and one of the most enjoyable experiences is hopping between towns on random back roads and then going back to ride them again.

Great roads aside, listed below are a few personal favourite destinations of mine.

Pont du Gard, Occitanie

Deep in the South of France this area (known as le Midi) is nirvana for biking roads. The climate is very Mediterranean and Pont du Gard epitomises this. An ancient Roman aqueduct that spans the Gardon river as part of its 50km route. You can swim in the river and explore the remains of the aqueduct on its way through the nearby town, Vers Pont du Gard. Stay at ‘A gauche du Pont’ nearby and eat at Le Petit Gare and you get the full French experience.

Oradour-sur-Glane, Haute Vienne

This town was the scene of a massacre during WW2 where 642 villagers were rounded-up and killed by the German SS as retaliation for alleged partisan activity nearby. The village was then torched by the Germans and after WW2 it has been left as a memorial to those who died. It is a harrowing yet profoundly moving location and I’ve never been anywhere that so clearly demonstrates the viciousness of war.

Colmar, Haut-Rhin

Colmar is a charming French town located in Eastern France, close to the German border. It’s unlike almost any other French town I’ve visited and that’s because from 1871 to 1918 (and not to mention 1940 to 1945) it used to be German. The architecture is a clash of German angles versus French romance with canals and cafes, Gothic churches and pretty open squares. Away from the town, the roads in the Vosges forest are some of the best in France. You could get lost around there for days.

The Best Ride Routes in France

It’s quite hard to find a bad road in France but once you get away from the main roads, you’ll find miles and miles of stunning, challenging and interesting routes.

In France, N-roads are like our A-roads and if they look straight on the map, they’ll probably be less interesting to ride. Down south, N-roads can be really interesting as they wind their way through valleys, gorges and forests.

D-roads are the French equivalent of our B-roads and these are almost always great fun. Some can be narrow, others have a slightly loose surface but on the whole these roads are perfect for bikers.

There are hundreds of routes out there on the internet but you really don’t need to go too mad downloading every GPX file you can get your mitts on, as you’ll be able to find great roads of your own, just by glancing at a map, picking a destination and then heading there on the twistiest-looking routes.

Below are three great motorcycling routes in France: 

Mostuejouls to Florac

This is a great route that you can do in a loop, or just take the same road there and back if you want to attack it the second time around.

It’s around 80 miles as a loop and takes you from the Gorges du Tarn along the Tarn river on some amazingly scenic and undulating roads through the cavernous valleys of the Tarn. Take the D996 pretty much all the day to Florac, a very pretty town.

From Florac you can either take the D16 back or head for a longer route by taking the narrower D907BIS. You could do this route for days on end and not get tired of it.

D-Day scenic route

If you get the ferry to Cherbourg or Caen (Ouistreham), then this route is right on your doorstep. 

It’s about 120 miles all in but if you stop off at the many WW2 sites, it’ll be a day-long trip. The part of the route that runs along the coast is a good but not thrilling road but it’s made up for by the WW2 sites, sights over the sea, myriad museums and artefacts dotted along the route.

From the famous Sainte-Mere-Eglise, head away from the coast into classic French bocage countryside along gently arcing roads. Head out on the D974 to Carentan, another famous battleground in WW2.  Then pick up the D8 then D13 and stop off in Caen for lunch before heading to the Merville battery, Pegasus Bridge then finishing off at Ouistreham for a well-earned beer. 

The Vosges Forest

The word epic is overused but this is an epic motorcycling route, that’s packed full of challenges. If I could only ride one route for the rest of my days, I wouldn’t be annoyed if I was given this one. 

It’s around 130 miles all in with almost 1,000 metres of elevation throughout the route. The views are stunning, you’ll want to stop time and time again to take everything in. 

On the northern tip of the loop, you head on the D424 where you might be forgiven for thinking the fun’s ended but it connects you to the D253 which is a fast, flowing ribbon of Tarmac through the forest that you’ll want to ride again and again. Almost traffic-free, you’ll finish this route and spend the rest of the day wondering what you’d have to do to up stick and move here.

Guided Motorcycle Tours in France

Guided motorcycle tours are a great way to ride great roads, minimise the admin and meet new people. There are more motorcycle tours in France than you’ll be able to sample in a lifetime. 

Some of these outfits will put you up at their B&B and take you on tours to suit your time and budget while others will run scheduled tours where you ride planned routes each day and stay at different hotels and B&Bs along the way.

We have no affiliation with any of the companies listed below, but these companies cover all types of tours in many different regions around France. If a guided motorcycle tour is what floats your boat, these are good companies to contact.

Bike Normandy

bikenormandy.com

bikers-lot.com

Caday Rouge

Dordogne Motorcycle Tours

dordognemotorcycletours.com

The French Ride

thefrenchride.com

Motorcycle Rental in France

Motorcycle rental is a great option if you want to explore some of the further reaches of France without having to bash out hundreds of miles just to get there.

You can arrange a hire bike in the area you want to visit, fly to a nearby airport with your kit, set up your digs and jump on the rental bike and go exploring.

You can rent anything from a 50cc scooter, to a Harley-Davidson but Adventure bikes like the BMW R1250GS, Ducati Multistrada and Honda’s Africa Twin are popular choices.

Budget around £700 to rent a motorbike for a week, which is pretty good value for money, especially if you factor in tyre wear and servicing. Check for mileage restrictions and that insurance and breakdown cover are included. Often extras like luggage and sat-nav are an additional cost you’ll have to factor in.

Lots of rental companies will also help you with accommodation and some also offer guided tours.

One of the great advantages of motorcycle hire is that you can rent a bike that’s better suited to the type of riding you want to do. Unlike if you’re using your own bike, you don’t need to factor in a bike that’ll just be comfortable for big-mile-days; you can get one that’s great for twisty roads but less-suited to big miles, like a Ducati Scrambler or BMW R NineT.

For a low-hassle holiday or if you just fancy riding a different bike, then motorcycle rental will be right up your rue.

Moto-Plaisir

www.moto-plaisir.fr/en/

Ride in Tours

www.ride-in-tours.com

We Rent Motorcycles

www.we-rent-motorcycles.com

Universal Riders

en.universalriders.com

locamoto.fr

French Travel Tips

Avoid motorways – the A-roads are far faster than in the UK, free to use and far more scenic.

Make sure your breakdown cover includes repatriation –  so if the worst happens your bike will be transported back to the UK.

Ride on the right side – stick some tape on your top yoke, draw a road as you see it (i.e. two lanes) and draw an arrow facing away from you on the right and towards you on the left. Then write “Ride on the right side” on the tape and it’ll stop you making an easy mistake when you leave a petrol station or lunch stop.

Download our Guide to Motorcycle Touring in France below and get more great tips, a printable packing list and a guide on all you need to know.

Is lane splitting legal in France? In Paris, Lyon, Marseille and Bordeaux you can filter through stationary traffic. It is technically illegal elsewhere but the French seem to have a laissez-faire attitude towards it; it’s unlikely you’ll get pulled for it if you’re sensible.

Do you have to wear a helmet in France? Yes, any rider, pillion or sidecar passenger has to wear a motorcycle helmet that conforms to EU standards.

Do I need reflective stickers on my helmet to ride in France? The law states you have to have four reflective stickers on your helmet, one on each ‘side’. It is unlikely you’ll get pulled over for not obeying this but if you are pulled over for another reason you may get an additional fine for this.

Does my AA membership cover me in France? If you only have UK breakdown cover then no, you’ll need to extend it to Europe. You can buy a single-trip policy – check out our European motorcycle breakdown review .

Do I need an Air Quality Certificate? If you are going to ride in Paris, Grenoble, Lyon or Strasbourg city centres then you’ll need a certificate.  There are six different emissions brackets and you’ll pay more if your vehicle is in a higher bracket. You can apply for your certificate here .

Other questions you might want answers to:

Do I need to carry a breathalyser in France?

Can I ride a 125 in France

Can I ride on an A2 licence in France?

Do I need a GB sticker on my motorbike in France?

Do motorcycles pay tolls in France?

Questions or Comments?

If you’ve got a question about this article and you need a bit more guidance, drop a comment below and we’ll get back to you.

Likewise, if you’ve got something to add to this article or an experience you’d like to share, let’s hear it!

We love reading your comments and helping our readers.

Hello, the La priorité à droite also exisist in Sweden since many years. Same traffic sign

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Ten scenic roads to discover in France

Posted on march 14th, 2018 by motorcycle diaries.

France is an absolute gem which houses about every scenery a man or woman would crave for - even more so if you’ve ever owned a motorcycle.

The gobsmackingly beautiful coastlines, a bunch of historically undeniably significant spots, the ever-twisting gorges and mountain passes, and an all year round atmosphere one can only dream about. for those who have not yet had the opportunity to discover the country, we’ve selected ten roads in various regions of france for you to ride and savour., mind you, these are not the best roads we’ve ever ridden - but scenery-wise, this is among our favourites, the ‘plat de résistance’ as the french would say. enjoy.

D918, Col du Tourmalet

We love the Tourmalet, except for the ever-present fog which seems to surround the mountain. What's the point of riding up a col in the fog? Maybe the view above the clouds? Exactly. The Col du Tourmalet has always been a legendary place for (motor)cycling, following the D918 to climb out of Luz Saint Sauveur and devour the next 20 kilometers at an average gradient of 7% to the pass.

Whilst many mountain climbs are famous for their hairpin bends, this climb stands out due to its long ramps only interrupted by a few bends along the way. The road climbs to the village of Barèges which has mutated into a ski station and after a short respite in the gradient the road rises again all the way to the top at 2.115 m.

We’re sure you’ve seen the Tourmalet once or twice on television, usually with a whole bunch of cyclists giving it their all. And that’s no coincidence: no other climb is so closely associated with the Tour de France, as it has been used in the Tour de France ever since 1910.

‘Petite histoire’ on that first time: the story goes that the organisers of that specific Tour de France sent one of their men to investigate whether the race could cross the Pyrenees. To cut a long story short, the guy made his way up the Tourmalet but conditions were so bad that he ended up needing rescuing. Surprisingly - and possibly caused by brain-freeze, as soon as the hypothermia subsided, he sent a telegram to Paris saying ”there was no problem at all to cross the mountain pass”. Crazy people, those Frenchmen.

Alps, D902, Col de Vars

The Col de Vars would not classify as the highest col in the area, but it's worthwhile to include it in a ride as it is in a very beautiful part of the French Alps. It is located between the departments of Hautes-Alpes and Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, and connects the Ubaye Valley with the Queyras valley and Embrun.

With a summit that’s elevated 2.108 meters above sea level and a rather steep climb, it is a challenge - not only for the many cyclists on the slopes, but also for the motorcyclist who’s got to find the appropriate gears. The pass is traversed by the D 902 road, which is rather well paved, but nevertheless remains closed from November to April due to snowfall.

The pass is traversed by the scenic Route des Grandes Alpes and has - as many of its colleagues in this list - been included in the Tour de France more than once. Partly for the projected heroics, but without a doubt also because of the magnificent scenery planted on and around the col. Something which sadly - looking at the amount of tourists up and around the Col de Vars - has not remained a well-kept secret for long…

D902, Col de Vars

Route des Crêtes - La Bresse

To set foot on the ‘Col de la Schlucht’ - about 60 kilometers west of Colmar - you’ll need to conquer a mere 1.500 altimeters. When you arrive in the village of Schlucht, a much appreciated summer and winter resort, you’ve just discovered one of the most beautiful places of the Vosges, which will treat you to panoramic views over the Valley of Münster and the slopes of Hohneck.

A tour around the glacier-carved valley will have you riding through a land of pine forest and an endless chain of differently sized lakes. Although our projected road, the Route des Crêtes, follows the main road, you might want to try some side roads to explore the region in any possible direction - it won’t disappoint you in any way!

Another option is to stay on the Crest Road and to circle the Hohneck mountain - one of the highest peaks in the region (1.590 m). The Wildenstein Dam of the Bresse winter-sports station is also well worth a visit, before you cross the border with the "Haut-Rhin" area again and you make your way to Mulhouse.

Route des Crêtes

D978/678 - Parc des Volcans

More southbound, the D978 and D678 offer a wildy variating series of winding roads - ranging from open sections to rocky and well forested parts as well. The 39 kilometers of road we’ve planned out are very smoothly paved and form a staggeringly beautiful way out of the Parc des Volcans.

This extensive range of volcanoes called the ‘Chaine-des-Puys’ includes almost one hundred peaks or ‘domes’ which run through the heart of the Massif central. If you need a break, a small detour to the Puy-de-Dome might be well worth your time: it is the highest volcano around, is absolutely easy to access and the views from the summit might jerk some tears from your eyes.

More of an active person? Then you will be more than happy to park your bike for a few hours to try some hiking, horseback riding, canoeing, paragliding or fishing.  We wouldn’t recommend passing by during winter months, but if you do, don’t forget to bring your skis or snowboard along.

D978 - Parc des Volcans

D902, Col de L'Iseran

The Col de l'Iseran is known as the King of the Alps and might just be the holy grail for many motorcyclists: it’s the highest paved mountain pass in the Alps, tilted exactly 2.764 metres above the sea level.

As a part of the Graian Alps, it is situated in the department of Savoie in France near the border with Italy, and links the valley of the Isère and the valley of the Arc River between Val-d'Isère in the north and Bonneval-sur-Arc in the south. The D902 road curls up and around the Col, which makes it one of the highest mountain roads of Europe - but sadly, also one of the worst maintained ones.

The surface isn’t very smooth and has some gaping holes and tears in it - exactly what you don’t want when you crack the throttle for some speedy cornering. But it’s enjoyable nevertheless: just cut back on gas a bit, enjoy the views, and you’ll be more than fine. A tip of the house: the north side of the pass road will spoil you with multiple galleries and tunnels, with a steep ascent/descent topping at 12 percent.

Just make sure to check whether the pass is opened before heading over there: normally the road is open from May to October, although the high summit altitude might cause it to be closed anytime due to snowfall. But even when opened, the zone is prone to heavy mist and can be dangerous in low visibility conditions. You’ve been warned…

D902 Col de L'Iseran

D6/D40, Col Du Béal

Col du Béal might not ring a bell right away, but rest assured it will remain in memory for the rest of your life after you’ve ridden it for the first time. Situated close to the Dore Valley, it shows the landscape as it used to be throughout the centuries: old mills, abandoned houses,  and a main road which doesn’t see a car or motorcycle passing by due to the surrounding A72 and A75 autoroutes.

Symbolically and literally the world is passing by this area, which assures you get to ride the beautiful landscape and the small col in all tranquility and ease. The mountain pass reaches an altitude of 1.390 meter and is surrounded by the so-called Hautes Chaumes, open table-mountains draped with greenish undergrowth.

The road which carves through that panoramic view is irregular to say the least, never that steep but the gradient constantly ranges from 3% to 8%.

D6 Col Du Béal

Col du Galibier & Col du Télégraphe

The 44 kilometer long string of asphalt we’ve selected is a must-ride for any motorcycle enthusiast: perfect surface, high altitudes, dizzying curves and wonderful panoramic views. If you can’t decide which side to take on first, we would strongly recommend starting from the Col de Telegraphe, which will take you through woods with a bunch of hairpins and a very smooth road surface.

On top of the col, there’s a fantastic stopping point, which offers enough possibility to have lunch or dinner and is very photo friendly as well. Well rested and nourished, you’ll be ready to take on the big one - the Col de Galibier. This pass reaches way above the tree line, which gives it a lunar surface and a surreal otherworld-feel.

Lots and lots of cyclists are pounding their way up the hairpins or rocketing down if they’re on their way back, but luckily the views are very open - so you should be able to dodge all of them. After that portion of human powered cannonballs, you might want to aim your focus away from the sheer drops virtually along the entire route and into the amount of hairpins that would make a well trained astronaut dizzy.

Needless to say the route is not recommended if you have a pillion who’s riding along for the first time - nor is it any good for the faint of heart... That said, the reward at the top is enormous, with a magnificent scenery awaiting. Park your bike and walk a few minutes to a viewpoint which allows to admire the surrounding peaks Meije, Grand Galibier and Mont Blanc. An absolute must.

D76, Combe Laval

This is hands down the most amazing road in the Vercors. The road surface might not be the best you’ve ever witnessed, but the view makes up for it. Riding on it, it’s not hard to see why the Vercors region is often compared to a fortress: separated from its peripheral regions by the steepest of cliffs, the massif’s only connection to the outside world is through a few indentations in the mountain side.

The Combe Laval is one of the most spectacular of its kind: a magistral aureole excavating more than four kilometers into the Vercors mountains. The road rotates around the mountain, going through tunnels and metallic roadways. The construction took place between 1861 and 1898, originally aimed to serving the transportation of timber from the Forêt de Lente to St-Jean-en-Royans.

Nowadays however, the unique view on the "Golfe du Royans" from the Gaudissard belvedere is not to be missed. Because of the beauty of its landscapes, Combe Laval is protected as a national heritage site. Don’t be baffled too much though, as you wouldn’t want to miss a corner and drop about 300 meter into the abyss...

D986, Meyrueis - D63

The marvellous Causse Méjean is a beautifully paved limestone plateau in southern France, which is a part of The Causses and the Cévennes, and an UNESCO World Heritage Site. And it’s not hard to see why: you start of by building up some speed on the flat of the Causse  - around the crossing of the D986 and the D63, before twisting down towards the amazing gorges.

Penny for our thoughts? Stop for a coffee break in the magnificent town of Meyrueis, which is dominated by small rivers, being at the confluence of the Jonte, Béthuzon and Brèze rivers. You’ll be pleased to see these rivers, the numerous small bridges and century-old architecture set a very welcoming atmosphere.

After your visit of Meyrueis, you might want to consider taking the D996 to the Gorges de la Jonte. The gorges themselves are less touristy than the more popular Gorges du Tarn - and therefore even more desirable for motorcyclists. Expect nothing less though: a series of - eh - gorgeous views, stone arches, cliffs and steep forested slopes rising dramatically above the road, with the gorges up to 450 metres deep in places. A must see and ride when you’re around.

Alps, D902, Col de L'Izoard

This is definitely one of the nicest passes in the French Alps, but beware: with its height of a whooping 2.360m, the Col de l'Izoard is subjected to late opening - so better double-check before heading over there!

However, it will certainly be accessible during summer months via the D902 road, which connects Briançon in the north and the valley of the Guil in Queyras, which ends at Guillestre in the south. Known as the Casse Déserte - the abandoned , this area has formed a dramatic backdrop to some key moments in the Tour de France, and is a geological freak of nature.

Lying near the entrance of the Parc naturel régional du Queyras, the road twists and twirls endlessly while feasting your eyes on limestone and needle-like, ocher-coloured rock formations.

The mountain pass and its ‘stage’ have been protected ever since 1937, but had been in the hearts of cycling amateurs since 1922. If you think you fit in that last description, you might want to pay a visit to the small cycling museum at the summit, or stop for a brief moment at the memorial to the legendary Fausto Coppi and Louis Bobet. En avant!

D902, Col de L'Izoard

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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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Best of South of France

9 days / 8 nights 1430 km, self-guided : march to oct. guided : sept 14-22, 2024 & on request, south of france, best of south of france motorcycle tour.

This Best of South of France motorcycle tour will take you on the best touring roads of Southern France. Either on a guided or self guided trip , get ready for a breathtaking adventure on one of our motorbike rentals …

South of France motorcycle tour

Discover the best South of France has to offer on this stunning motorcycle tour ! From the Cevennes National Park to the Verdon Gorges through Provence and the wild Camargue Region , great motorbike trip all the way down to the Mediterranean Sea … Motorcycle touring through the largest delta in Western Europe and on the best coastal roads offering breath-taking views over the Calanques ! Tick the Verdon Canyon Road by motorcycle off your riding list. The last leg of the journey will delight the greedy rider that needs sensations through the Vercors picturesque roads . From the Alps to the Mediterranean Sea, you’ll be thrilled by the South of France Cuisine complemented with Rhone Valley’s best wines …

Ardèche – TARN GORGES – Cévennes National Park (UNESCO) – Grands Causses Natural Park (UNESCO) – Camargue (UNESCO) – Provence – Mediterranean Sea – The Alps – Cassis – Verdon Gorges – Route Napoleon – Vercors – Combe Laval – Mediterranean Cuisine

Day 1 : Arrival in Aix-les-Bains

Transfers, meet & greet, relax, visit and briefing.

Wash away some jetlag, have a walk to the nearby lake, wander in the old streets and shaded parks, delight yourself in the hot pool… By the end of the day, enjoy your first evening filled with familiarizing yourself with the excitement of what lays ahead whilst enjoying a taste of the Alpine Cuisine.

Day 2 : Aix-les-Bains → Monts d'Ardèche

250 km / 4h30.

Great start of our Best of South of France motorcycle tour . Getting familiar with the bikes and rapidly escape on the little Ardèche roads. From one picturesque village to the other ones, get lost in the middle of the simple and strong beauty of its preserved landscapes …

Day 3 : Ardèche → Cirque de Navacelles

250 km / 5h.

Great day on the Cevennes National Park ‘s winding roads. Stunning ride through the breathtaking and dramatic Tarn Gorges . There are several attractive villages in scenic locations along the route that are worth a visit including the picturesque medieval town of Sainte-Enimie . Head further South and escape the dense forests to the arid and rocky Mediterranean landscapes . By the evening, have a sunset walk and enjoy the Mediterranean Cuisine through the little streets of the medieval town of La Couvertoirade …

Day 4 : Cirque de Navacelles → Cassis

300 km / 5h30.

Your motorcycle day starts with a breathtaking ride through the Cirque de Navacelles . Keep heading South and cross the wild Region of Camargue , ranked as biosphere reserve by the UNESCO . Stuck between the Mediterranean Sea and the Rhone Delta , enjoy its tiny roads throughout its rice plantations, salt marshes and lagoons. Admire white horses, black bulls and pink flamingos in these unique and preserved landscapes . Overnight in the colourful harbour of Cassis , in the middle of the Calanques National Park …

Day 5 : Rest day in Cassis

Boat tours, scuba diving, hiking, relax on a stunning rocky inlet… whichever you fancy, you will always find something interesting to do in the Calanques National Park !

Option : Ride & overnight in Nice instead of rest day Turn the rest day into a riding day + overnight in Nice

Day 6 : Cassis → Verdon Gorges

200 km / 4h30.

Great start of the day alongside the Mediterranean Sea where you will ride the famous “ Route des Crêtes ” that offers breathtaking views over the Calanques … In the bucket-list of a rider, the “ Gorges du Verdon ” are on today’s program. Biggest canyon in Europe , going up to 800 meters, the road that overlooks the Gorges is simply breathtaking and offers divine views on the Verdon river as well as on the blue turquoise waters of the Sainte-Croix lake! Overnight in the heart of the Verdon Gorges …

Day 7 : Verdon Gorges → Vercors

240 km / 4h15.

Stunning motorcycle day through the gorgeous Provence ‘s roads and landscapes along the mythical Route Napoleon . At the end of the ride, borrow the mythical Col du Rousset , door of the Vercors in the Occidental Alps…

Day 8 : Vercors → Aix-les-Bains

190 km / 4h15.

This amazing and final day through the Vercors Range will delight the greedy rider that needs sensations . You will borrow the vertiginous and mythical road of the Combe Laval that offers exceptional panoramas before getting back to Aix-les-Bains on the shore of the largest natural lake in France where ends our South of France motorcycle tour!

Day 9 : Departure from Aix-les-Bains

Breakfast and transfers.

All good things must come to an end… See you next time!

The daily riding kilometres are approximate distances and may vary. Route and overnight places may change due to unforeseen events.

Tour prices

Self-guided, march to october.

 Low seat can be ordered as a free option Depending on the bike model and upon reservation

Included services

Included services :

*if motorcycle rental option chosen

Services not included :

Sept 14-22, 2024 & on request Get your private guided tour on the dates of your choice

Why ride with us , motorcycle tours agency.

27 rue Jacotot 73100 Aix-les-Bains, FRANCE

Tel : +33 6 21 39 73 00 Email :  [email protected]

BMW R 1300 GS Basse

Correcteur d’assiette adaptatif

Hauteur selle basse : 820 mm

Avec correcteur d’assiette : 800 mm

237 kg          145 cv

350 km / jour

Bagagerie moto : 140 L

Assurance tous risques

 GPS TomTom Rider ou support de téléphone (au choix)

  Dépôt de garantie : 2 500 €

Permis moto A

25 ans min.

BMW R 1300 GS LOW

Adaptive Vehicle Height Control (AVHC)

Low seat height : 820 mm

With AVHC : 800 mm

237 kg          145 HP

350 km / day

Luggage capacity : 140 L

Fully comprehensive insurance

 GPS TomTom Rider or phone mount (as per your choice)

  Security deposit : € 2,500

Full motorcycle driving licence

25 years old min.

Honda 1100 Africa Twin

Hauteur de selle : 850 / 870 mm

Hauteur selle basse : 825 mm

231 kg          102 cv

Bagagerie moto : 154 L

Dépôt de garantie : 2 200 €

24 ans min.

Seat height : 850 / 870 mm

Low seat height : 825 mm

231 kg          102 HP

Luggage capacity : 154 L

Security deposit : € 2,200

24 years old min.

KTM 890 Adventure R

Seat height : 880 mm

Low seat height : 855 mm

215 kg          105 HP

Luggage capacity : 120 L

Hauteur de selle : 880 mm

Hauteur selle basse : 855 mm

215 kg          105 cv

Bagagerie moto : 120 L

BMW R 1300 GS

Seat height : 850 mm

Low seat height : 800 mm

Hauteur de selle : 850 mm

Hauteur selle basse : 800 mm

Honda CB 750 Hornet (A2)

Hauteur de selle : 795 mm

Hauteur selle basse : 770 mm

190 kg          35 kW / 47,6 cv

Bagagerie moto : 114 L

Dépôt de garantie : 1 200 €

Permis moto A2 ou A

18 ans min.

Seat height : 795 mm

Low seat height : 770 mm

190 kg          35 kW / 47,6 HP

Luggage capacity : 114 L

Security deposit : € 1,200

A2 & full motorcycle driving licence

18 years old min.

KTM 390 Adventure (A2)

Hauteur de selle : 855 mm

Hauteur selle basse : 830 mm

172 kg          32 kW / 44 cv

Bagagerie moto : 88 L

YAMAHA MT-07 (A2)

Hauteur de selle : 805 mm

Hauteur selle basse : 780 mm

184 kg          35 kW / 47,6 cv

Bagagerie moto : 80 L

HONDA CB 500 X / NX 500 (A2)

Hauteur de selle : 830 mm

196 kg          35kW / 47,5 cv

Bagagerie moto : 144 L

  Dépôt de garantie : 1 200 €

20 ans min.

YAMAHA TÉNÉRÉ 700

Hauteur de selle : 875 mm

204 kg          74 cv

Bagagerie moto : 98 L

Dépôt de garantie : 1 800 €

21 ans min.

YAMAHA TRACER 7 GT (A2)

Hauteur de selle : 835 mm

Hauteur selle basse : 815 mm

197 kg          35 kW / 47,6 cv

Bagagerie moto : 116 L

Dépôt de garantie : 1 500 €

YAMAHA TRACER 9 GT

Hauteur de selle : 825 mm

Hauteur selle basse : 810 mm

220 kg          119 cv

Bagagerie moto : 133 L

23 ans min.

BMW F 900 XR

Hauteur selle basse : 795 mm

219 kg          105 cv

Bagagerie moto : 136 L

BMW F 750 GS

Hauteur de selle : 815 mm

227 kg          77 cv

Bagagerie moto : 146 L

Dépôt de garantie : 2 000 €

22 ans min.

DUCATI MULTISTRADA V4 S

Hauteur de selle : 840 / 860 mm

240 kg          170 cv

26 ans min.

TRIUMPH TIGER SPORT 660

206 kg          81 cv

Bagagerie moto : 106 L

SUZUKI SV 650 (A2)

Hauteur de selle : 785 mm

197 kg          35 kW / 47,5 cv

Bagagerie moto : 117 L

GPS TomTom Rider ou support de téléphone (au choix)

Seat height : 805 mm

Low seat height : 780 mm

184 kg          35 kW / 47,6 HP

Luggage capacity : 80 L

Seat height : 855 mm

Low seat height : 830 mm

172 kg          32 kW / 44 HP

Luggage capacity : 88 L

Seat height : 785 mm

197 kg          35 kW / 47,5 HP

Luggage capacity : 117 L

GPS TomTom Rider or phone mount (as per your choice)

  Security deposit : € 1,200

20 years old min.

Seat height : 830 mm

196 kg          35kW / 47,5 HP

Luggage capacity : 144 L

Seat height : 875 mm

204 kg          74 HP

Luggage capacity : 98 L

Security deposit : € 1,800

21 years old min.

Seat height : 835 mm

Low seat height : 815 mm

197 kg          35 kW / 47,6 HP

Luggage capacity : 116 L

Security deposit : € 1,500

Seat height : 825 mm

Low seat height : 810 mm

220 kg          119 HP

Luggage capacity : 133 L

23 years old min.

Low seat height : 795 mm

219 kg          105 HP

Luggage capacity : 136 L

Seat height : 815 mm

227 kg          77 HP

Luggage capacity : 146 L

Security deposit : € 2,000

22 years old min.

Seat height : 840 / 860 mm

240 kg          170 HP

26 years old min.

206 kg          81 HP

Luggage capacity : 106 L

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form. Nom * E-mail * Sujet * Choisir Location moto Autre information Moto Choisir Honda CB 500 X (A2) Suzuki SV 650 (A2) Yamaha Tracer 7 GT (A2) Triumph Tiger Sport 660 Yamaha Ténéré 700 BMW F 750 GS Yamaha Tracer 9 GT BMW F 900 XR BMW R 1250 GS Ducati Multistrada V4 S Autre Message Comment Envoyer

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form. Voyage * Choisir Week-end Annecy - 2j/1n Week-end Vercors - 2j/1n Routes du Tour de France - 3j/2n Tour du Mont-Blanc - 3j/2n Tour des lacs des Alpes - 3j/2n Alpes et Jura - 4j/3n Route Napoléon - 4j/3n Grands cols des Alpes - 4j/3n France - Tour des Alpes - 5j/4n Alsace et Jura - 7j/6n Sud de la France - 7j/6n Thonon à Menton - 6j/5n Route des Grandes Alpes – Small - 5j/4n Route des Grandes Alpes - Best of - 6j/5n Route des Grandes Alpes - XL - 8j/7n Stelvio Express - 6j/5n France, Suisse et Italie - 9j/8n Alpes, Tyrol et Dolomites - 10j/9n Best of Europe - 12j/11n Auvergne & Transpyrénéenne – Best of - 7j/6n Pyrénées et Auvergne - 12j/11n La Grande Boucle - 13j/12n Off-road - Alpes & Piémont - 4j/3n Raid off-road - Transalpes - 6j/5n Vietnam - 14j/13n E-mail * Entrez votre e-mail et recevez le descriptif du séjour en PDF ! Comment Envoyer

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form. Nom * E-mail * Sujet * Choisir Séjour Liberté Séjour Guidé Sur-mesure Autre information Voyage Choisir Week-end Annecy - 2j/1n Week-end Vercors - 2j/1n Routes du Tour de France - 3j/2n Tour du Mont-Blanc - 3j/2n Tour des lacs des Alpes - 3j/2n Alpes et Jura - 4j/3n Route Napoléon - 4j/3n Grands cols des Alpes - 4j/3n France - Tour des Alpes - 5j/4n Gorges du Tarn et Cévennes - 5j/4n Sud de la France - 7j/6n Alsace et Jura - 7j/6n Thonon à Menton - 6j/5n Route des Grandes Alpes – Small - 5j/4n Route des Grandes Alpes - Best of - 6j/5n Route des Grandes Alpes - XL - 8j/7n Stelvio Express - 6j/5n France, Suisse et Italie - 9j/8n Alpes, Tyrol et Dolomites - 10j/9n Best of Europe - 12j/11n Auvergne & Transpyrénéenne – Best of - 7j/6n Pyrénées et Auvergne - 12j/11n La Grande Boucle - 13j/12n Raid off-road - Alpes & Piémont - 4j/3n Raid off-road - Transalpes - 6j/5n Raid off-road - Gorges du Tarn - 5j/4n Vietnam - 14j/13n Autre Message Email Envoyer

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Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form. Name * Email * Your country Subject * Select Motorcycle rental Other information Motorcycle Select Honda CB 500 X Suzuki SV 650 (35kW - 47,5hp) Yamaha Tracer 7 GT (35kW - 47,6hp) Triumph Tiger Sport 660 Yamaha Ténéré 700 BMW F 750 GS Yamaha Tracer 9 GT BMW F 900 XR BMW R 1250 GS Ducati Multistrada V4 S Other Message Phone Send

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form. Tour * Select your tour Annecy - Venice of the Alps - 2d/1n Balcony roads of Vercors - 2d/1n Roads of the Tour de France - 3d/2n Mont-Blanc tour - 3d/2n Alpine lakes tour - 3d/2n Alps & Jura - The lakes tour - 6d/5n Route Napoléon - 6d/5n Legendary passes of the Alps - 6d/5n Best of French Alps - 7d/6n Alsace & Jura - 9d/8n Best of South of France - 9d/8n Route des Grandes Alpes - One way - 6d/5n Route des Grandes Alpes - Small - 7d/6n Best of Route des Grandes Alpes - 8d/7n Route des Grandes Alpes - XL - 10d/9n Stelvio Express - 8d/7n Majestic Alps - 11d/10n European Alps tour - 12d/11n Best of Pyrenees & Auvergne - 9d/8n Passes & Volcanoes - 14d/13n The Grand Tour - 15d/14n Off-road - French Alps & Piedmont - 6d/5n Off-road - Across the French Alps - 7d/6n Email * Enter your email address and we'll send you the tour description! Message Send

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form. Name * Email * Your country Subject * Select Self-guided tour Guided tour Custom tour Other information Tour Select Annecy - Venice of the Alps - 2d/1n Balcony roads of Vercors - 2d/1n Roads of the Tour de France - 3d/2n Mont-Blanc tour - 3d/2n Alpine lakes tour - 3d/2n Alps & Jura - The lakes tour - 6d/5n Route Napoléon - 6d/5n Legendary passes of the Alps - 6d/5n Best of French Alps - 7d/6n Gorges du Tarn & Cévennes - 7d/6n Best of South of France - 9d/8n Alsace & Jura - 9d/8n Route des Grandes Alpes - One way - 6d/5n Route des Grandes Alpes - Small - 7d/6n Best of Route des Grandes Alpes - 8d/7n Route des Grandes Alpes - XL - 10d/9n Stelvio Express - 8d/7n Majestic Alps - 11d/10n European Alps tour - 12d/11n Best of Pyrenees & Auvergne - 9d/8n Passes & Volcanoes - 14d/13n The Grand Tour - 15d/14n Off-road - French Alps & Piedmont - 6d/5n Off-road - Across the French Alps - 7d/6n Off-road - Gorges du Tarn - 7d/6n Other Message Website Send

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