CYCLING IN BEAUTIFUL PLACES

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Trips to the pro races

We can take you to see the great races and combine the excitement of watching these iconic cycling events with the satisfaction of riding your bike on the courses or in the surrounding landscapes. 

A lot of these trips combine with riding the great sportives which often take place on the same courses the day before the pro's race on them, but that isn't always the case. Some groups just combine a bit of watching the racing with just general riding in the same area or even on the same course the day before or the day after. 

This year we are assembling a group for a Paris-Roubaix race and sportive weekend:

It's our tried and tested format. Travel down in the nice comfy van and tunnel on Friday morning for a leg-warmer ride to pick up registration packs for the sportive. 

Saturday is the day for the challenge distance of your choice (70km, 145km or 170km) on Paris-Roubaix's infamous pavé. Registration here

Sunday is race day where you can either drive or ride to watch the race come through the Arenberg forest and then watch the end of the race on the big screen at the fanzone with the raucous crowd before heading back to Calais. Option of riding ti the Arenberg forest too. Back in the UK late Sunday evening. 

£345 pp for 2 nights in a shared room in a nice 3* hotel in nearby and lovely Arras, return transfers from and to Kent, and full ride support throughout.

 

The Classics - Tour of Flanders, Paris-Roubaix, etc.

In the Spring each year, some of the toughest and most fervently supported cycling races take place only an hour or two from the UK. Many of them, such as the Tour of Flanders, Paris-Roubaix and Liege-Bastogne-Liege, are held on a Sunday and are preceded by huge sportives on the race courses the Saturday. Hordes of cyclists cross the channel on the Friday to pick up their registration packs, and then to undertake the tough sportives on the Saturday followed by a good night out in great cities such as Bruges, and then to head out to watch the race pass by on the Sunday before either heading back to Calais or a last night out and a day ride on the now deserted roads on the Monday. 

In 2016 & '17, we helped cycling club GS Avanti to do their Tour of Flanders trip, where Peter Sagan made the critical break on the Oude Kwaremont right in front of us (see our pic right). 

Below are some other images from their great trip:

 

Paris-Roubaix

In 2018, we took an 'open' group (which means that we helped to assemble the group) of 8 to see Paris-Roubaix. after a Friday morning departure from the UK, they were riding their bikes in France and getting a taste of the cobbles by lunchtime. We stay in a wonderful Chambres d'Hote in beautiful, historic Arras. On the Saturday, everyone rode one of the sportives 3 distances (70, 130 or 170km) finishing in the iconic Vélodrome in Roubaix then transferred back to lovely Arras. The next day some rode their bikes and others rode in the van to watch the race at the infamous Arenberg forest. After the peloton sped past we watched the end of the race on the big screen with a boisterous crowd of thousands. Then it's all in the van to doze the way home, back in Kent before bed time.

This is what how one participant reviewed his weekend:

Paris Roubaix Weekend:

It’s not often one finds a company with every conceivable point covered for cyclists. Well you (I) have now.
My wife and I joined a group of fellow cyclists for an amazing weekend in France to complete the Paris Roubaix sportive. 
The whole weekend was truly unbelievable from start to finish. 
The transfer and transportation 10/10
The hotel, with Breakfasts 10/10
The training routes supplied 10/10
The sportive (Pavé included) 10/10
Watching the pros on the Sunday 10/10
The professionalism and approach to all our needs 10/10
From start to finish it was organised with us all in mind - bonkers! 
Still can’t believe the service...
Oh and he organised the weather too.

Angus. Thank you again for quite simply the perfect weekend in every aspect. You made two people very very happy..
Paul & Jilly Oatham
WE WILL BE BACK!

Kev just pips Mark in to the line in the Roubaix Vélodrome!

 

How does a Classics Weekend work?

We're very flexible but this is often how they work:

Friday: We can pick up your group in the UK, with their bikes and luggage, and then drive them to your destination in time for a leg-stretcher ride. We can then help you check into your hotel and pick up your registration packs and find you somewhere to eat out.

Saturday: On the day of the sportive, we can help you get to the start line and then we'll support your ride throughout the day by carrying clothes, spares, water, food, mechanical and medical supplies (just in case). After the sportive we'll help you get back to your hotel and to find somewhere to eat out.

Sunday: On the day of the Pro' race we'll help you find a great vantage point and drop you off and pick you up. Then we'll help you and your bikes get safely back to the UK, or...

...Monday? Add another day to ride the now-empty roads before heading back to the UK for an evening arrival

Price - All Classics weekends are likely to be different but an indicative price for groups of  8 people, including Kent/SE London pick-up of guests, bikes & luggage; transport to destination; 2 nights hotel (B&B basis); full support throughout the warm-up, sportive and race days would be

£345 per person

Have a look at some of the big races that we can help you see and ride near on our calendar page. It makes a lot of sense to combine riding and watching.

Give us a call if you have an idea or you'd like to hear some of ours.

About 80-90% of La Vie en Vélo trips result in another booking.

Have a look at what people say about their trips on the reviews page.

"Let a man find himself, in distinction from others, on top of two wheels with a chain -- at least in a poor country like Russia -- and his vanity begins to swell out like his tires"
Leon Trotsky

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