Well, there´s no doubt that this is tops in Europe if not the world. From late June through late July, the Tour unfolds over roughly 3,300–3,500 km (2,050-2,175 mi.) in a three-week circuit that changes course annually. And it´s really more than just a bicycle race—starting towns, mountain villages, vineyards and coastlines become waystations in a moving festival of sport. Riders climb high Alpine cols above Mont Blanc, sprint along the lavender-scented roads of Provence, and test their endurance among the slopes of the Pyrenees before concluding with a celebratory parade down the Champs-Élysées in Paris.
For the spectator, every stretch of the route is an interaction with French culture: rustic markets beneath the Vosges forests, the Renaissance châteaux along the Loire, the culinary treasures of Lyon and Bordeaux, and seaside cafés along the Mediterranean. Whether you’re gathered by vines in Burgundy or cheering col sups in the Alps, the Tour is a panoramic journey through historic towns, storied landscapes, and of course some of Europe-s best cuisine.
Read more in my post 6 of the World´s Most Atmospheric Cycling Races for Traveling Fans.
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