The 100th Tour de France kicks (pedals?) off on Saturday 29th June, but for those lacking the legs of Chris Froome or the sideburns of Bradley Wiggins, there's still a way to capture the spirit of the Tour with a self-guided cycling tour taking in Europe's most iconic cycling routes. 

France

With relatively few hill climbs but allowing you the chance to follow in the tracks of the Tour de France teams, here are a few suggestions of places to visit by bike that will pop up on your TV screen over the next few weeks as you follow the Tour.

Tours, Stages 12 & 13

Tours to Angers, 6 days 5 nights. An unforgettable journey exploring the 5 rivers that wind their way through the
Loire Valley: the Loire, Cher, Indre, Vienne and Thouet and taking advantage of many kilometres of newly dedicated cycle route between Tours & Angers. With castles, cathedrals, fairytales and filmsets, this trip through the Loire
encapsulates the romance of France.  Price: from £769 per person.

Orleans to Tours 6 days, 5 nights. The end point for stage 12 is also the end point of this five night holiday. It's a shame, then, that the Tour cyclists don't have time to explore this gorgeous city and its surrounds. Saints, bishops, kings, dukes and duchesses, even a mighty musketeer or three - you'd be hard pushed to be in greater company on this ch'teau-rich, river-hugging tour of some of the Loire's best bits. Pedal along riverside tracks and quiet lanes through the green fields of the Beaunce area near Joan of Arc's Orléans to the pastures, ponds and rich forest of the Sologne. The great hunting lodge at Chambord, Amboise and Blois are just some of the ch'teau turrets and towers
which grace this rather majestic linear tour. Price from £712 per person.

Stages 4 - 7

Classic Provence 8 days 7 nights. This year, the Tour follows a route from Nice to Montpellier via Aix en Provence, missing out the gorgeous if less visited towns of Avignon and Orange. This journey will take you off the soon-to-be-beaten track, using small roads and cycle paths through some of the most renowned vineyards in France including Ch'teauneuf-du-Pape, and passing classic landmarks as the Pont d'Avignon and the remarkable Roman Theatre at Orange.. Price from £723 per person.

Spain

The Mallorca Explorer 8 days, 7 nights. The island of Mallorca enjoys a landscape and climate which makes it the perfect pre-tour training ground for Tour de France cyclists. Increasingly, though, it's the go-to place for amateurs and hobby cyclists wanting to make the most of their leisure time. A grand fiesta of fine scenery, a fascinating fusion of cultures - the true magic of 'La Luminosa', the 'enlightened' isle of Mallorca, is just a two wheeled adventure away. Discover wide open plains, windmills and watchtowers and get up close and personal with craggy south coast coves. From the saddle, you'll get a different view of those eastern sandy beaches and be able to go wild in the mountains of the north-west. From Palma's magnificent cathedral to the mighty monastery at Lluc, from orange groves and almond blossom to tiny quaysides and courtyard cafés, this tour has it all at just the right pace. Price from £715 per person.

Italy

The Tour de France's younger brother, the Giro d'Italia precedes its French counterpart, running each May. Channel the spirit of the Giro, with hardly any of the pain on this 6 night Bolzano to Verona trip, from £661 per person. Although there are hill climbs, Cycle Breaks will give you tips on how to avoid them should you so choose. From Kaffee und Kuchen to Prosecco e Proscuitio - this tour offers a taste of two cultures linked by the most amazing scenery.

Much of the route has the dramatic Dolomites as backdrop and uses dedicated cycle paths along the River Adige from sophisticated Bolzano (or Bozen - the capital of German-speaking South Tyrol) towards romantic Verona , setting for
Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet'. Elsewhere vineyards, orchards, even a ferry trip the length of Lake Garda take centre stage.

For bookings visit http://www.cyclebreaks.com/ or call 01449 721555.

Notes to Editors

Cycle Breaks, who have been operating gently-paced cycle tours through East Anglia and mainland Europe for over 23 years believe in the ethos, 'adventure by day, comfort by night,' and all accommodation used is either quintessential guest-house accommodation typical of the area, or towards the luxury 4 - 5 star end. All luggage is transferred between hotels, whilst maps and bike hire are included in the price. It is also possible to choose electric bikes on most routes.

 
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For further information please contact:

Rebecca Scrase
Tel: 01449 677033
Email: rebeccascrase@googlemail.com