Category Archives: Tour de France

Over the course of nearly two decades, we have taken hundreds of guests to the Tour de France to experience epic race moments in person. We learned a lot along the way and made countless incredible memories.

Always Evolving

Each year, the changing route of the Tour de France means that we’ll incorporate different rides, climbs, and destinations into our trips. No two years will ever be quite the same! Luckily, since we have been running Tour de France trips for nearly two decades, we have in-depth regional knowledge of all the mountain areas, climbs, and key locations to view the race. We also have great relationships with hotels in all the right spots, ensuring we can offer our guests the best handpicked hotels with close proximity to the race action and featured climbs.

We have always been able to offer incredible experiences year after year, but in 2011, Trek Travel became an official Tour Operator of the Tour de France, a designation that means we can offer our guests privileged access to the great moments of the race, including access to VIP areas at the stage starts, finishes, and along the racecourse. Some trips also include opportunities to ride on the racecourse ahead of the pros when the road is closed to the general public. Finally, we can include opportunities to ride across the finish line and take photos on the official podium.

Over the years, we have also developed a close relationship with Team Trek-Segafredo, enabling our guests to go behind the scenes to see how a pro team lives and works during a grand tour. Opportunities may include meet and greets with team members and autographs or photos with the pros, chats with team mechanics as they prep the next day’s bikes, guided tours of the team bus, watching the riders warm up in the team bus area of stage start, and, occasionally, staying in the same hotel as the team.

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Epic Race Moments

Each and every Tour de France trip has the possibility for epic adventure and the chance to witness historic race moments. From famous accents up climbs like Mont Ventoux and Alpe d’Huez to thrilling finishes in Paris, our guests have seen cycling history made, time and time again. One particularly awesome moment for Trek Travel guests was when Jens Voigt waived to them at Chalet Renard during the middle of his race. Another awesome memory is watching Andy Schleck win on Galibier from a VIP viewing tent. Sometimes you might find a celebrity or two present at our viewings but the best memories of the Tour de France are not only these epic race moments but also the time spent getting to know your guides and fellow guests and making these lifelong friendships.

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Introducing the new Tour de France Femmes

This year Trek Travel brings you the all-new women’s Tour de France with our Tour de Femmes Ultimate VIP Team and Race Access bike tour, where you will witness the Trek Segafredo Women’s team battle for the yellow jersey in Alsace.

“This is going to be a historic day for the cycling world,” said Tania Burke, CEO of Trek Travel. “As a female-owned business, it’s important that Trek Travel supports women in our sport. We are so grateful for our relationship with the Trek Segafredo Women’s Team as it gives our guests the exclusive opportunity to experience the race up close and personal with women’s pro racing biggest stars. This will be an unforgettable and inspiring trip for our guests.”

Here you will revel in the excitement of having ultimate access, getting you behind the scenes with the team and in front of the action at our premium stage viewings. With Official VIP race access passes, you’ll get to ride over the finish line and see the finale mountaintop finish of Stage 8 on the formidable Super Planche des Belles Filles and bear witness to the departure of Stage 6 in Saint-Dié-des-Vosges. Of course, it wouldn’t be a full Trek Travel experience if it did not include all of our signature details. You’ll stay in one handpicked, 5-star Relais & Châteaux hotel in the beautiful historic center of Colmar, la belle ville of Alsace, where you’ll be perfectly positioned to enjoy all the excitement of the race and the best riding in the region. The Tour de France Femmes is truly history, or herstory, in the making.

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Trek Travel at the Etape du Tour

Trek Travel and our President, Tania Burke, are no strangers to the Etape du Tour. This incredible citizens’ ride allows amateur riders to ride a full stage of the Tour de France just days from the pros. Tania first rode the Etape back in 2006, and has ridden it 14 times since. Likewise, our team of guides and trip designers know exactly what it takes to plan the perfect trip to experience the Etape.

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The meaning of the Yellow Jersey, Green Jersey, Polka Dot Jersey, and White Jersey of the Tour de France

The Tour de France is one part bike race, one part tourist adventure, and one part fashion show. Ask any professional cyclist, and they’ll tell you that winning (or even contesting) one of these jerseys is the pinnacle of the sport and highlight of their careers. But while many cycling fans worldwide are familiar with the pomp and circumstance of the Yellow Jersey, they may not know the stories behind the other jerseys up for grabs.

What does the Yellow Jersey mean in the Tour de France?

The Yellow Jersey, or maillot jaune, is the symbol perhaps most closely associated with the Tour de France worldwide. It designates the leader of the General Classification, or the overall, collective time of all stages together. It can change hands often throughout the entirety of the race and can be won without winning a single stage of the Tour.

Its beginnings date back to 1919, when the Tour de France founder, Henri Desgrange, decided that the leader of the race needed to be clearly identified with bright colors as he rode through the night. Today, a new Yellow Jersey is printed for each day of the Tour that it changes hands, and each one is imprinted with “HD” in honor of Desgrange himself.

Winners of the Yellow Jersey are awarded a trophy, cash prize, and final jersey of the race. The current record for overall Yellow Jersey wins is five, shared by Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, and Miguel Indurain.

What does the Green Jersey mean in the Tour de France?

The Green Jersey, or maillot vert, is also often referred to as “the sprinter’s jersey,” although this is a slight misnomer. Green Jersey winners accumulate the most points throughout the entirety of the race. They can earn these points for sprint wins, finishing in the top three places of a stage, or at intermediate sprints in the middle of a stage. Many of these contests take place during flatter stages, so sprinters have an advantage, but the Green Jersey winners are racers with more grit, persistence, and consistency across the entirety of the race.

Peter Sagan, who still races today, is the current record holder for most Green Jersey wins. Green Jersey winners are awarded cash prizes, trophies, and an overall jersey.

What does the Polka Dot Jersey mean in the Tour de France?

The Polka Dot Jersey, or “King of the Mountains Jersey,” is given to the best climber in the Tour, or the racer who has accumulated the most points for winning mountaintop finishes. Many times, the winner of the Polka Dot Jersey and Yellow Jersey are very close in standings, as mountaintop finishes play a huge role in the strategy of the overall race.

The Tour de France classifies climbs based on length, grade, and overall difficulty, where “category 4” is the least difficult and “hors categorie” is the most difficult. Difficult climbs offer more points for winners, and therefore the lightest, best climbers have an advantage in this jersey battle.

The current record-holder for most Polka Dot Jersey wins is French rider Richard Virenque, who has won it seven times. Polka Dot Jersey winners are awarded cash prizes, trophies, and an overall jersey.

What does the White Jersey mean in the Tour de France?

The White Jersey, or maillot blanc, is given to the best-placed rider overall under the age of 25. This classification began in 1975. Before 1975, there was a white jersey awarded to the overall best-ranked cyclist in points, climbs, and time, but then was changed to go to best “neo-pro” or new, inexperienced professional.

Five riders have won both the Yellow Jersey and White Jersey in one year: Laurent Fignon, Jan Ullrich, Alberto Contador, Andy Schleck, and most recently, Egan Bernal in 2019. Four riders have won several White Jerseys, including Marco Pantani, Ullrich, Schleck, and Nairo Quintana.

See the Jerseys for Yourself with Trek Travel

Trek Travel can get you closer than you ever thought possible to all of these jerseys. Our Tour de France bike tours include visits to the podium, special access to the teams, and even VIP views of the finish lines and jersey presentations. It’s a chance to see the race and its history like never before as you witness the battles for each jersey with your own eyes.

See Tour de France Trips