This spring, on an otherwise ordinary Wednesday lunch ride from the Trek Travel office, I was offered the opportunity to participate in the 2017 Etape du Tour. What came next was something I never expected.

The invitation came so casually that it took a moment before the onset of nerves, excitement, and admittedly a bit of panic set in. The Etape du Tour is a citizen’s ride that covers one stage of the Tour de France, and it’s often the year’s most difficult queen stage in the mountains. With a simple verbal commitment during a 12-mile lunch ride around the lake, I had just signed myself up for a 110-mile challenge with almost 11,000 feet of climbing and a summit finish on the harrowing Col d’Izoard.

The Alps seemed unreachable for a recreational cyclist like me. My personal life was taking unexpected turns and I was coming off a frigid Wisconsin winter with too-few miles on the trainer. But so began the journey. Over the next four months, training for and ultimately completing the Etape du Tour taught me three valuable lessons that helped me not only conquer the Alps, but also helped me navigate the ride that is life.

1. Eat Real Food

When training for and participating in endurance sports, nutrition becomes essential to your success. Trust me when I say that you do not want to bonk in the middle of a 100-mile ride. As someone who typically forgets to eat and drink until we crack a post-ride beer, I had to focus on fueling up at every stop and hydrating consistently. Not just gu’s and gel’s, either. The key to my success at the Etape was eating real food all day long. It is vital to recognize what your body needs and nourish yourself with fuel to sustain you.

2. Don’t Burn Too Many Matches

For any long-distance event, it’s important to go in with a plan. Use the countless hours of training to learn your limits, so when it comes time for the main event you know just how hard you can go. Unfortunately, race-day jitters and excitement often cause us to make the fatal mistake of going out too fast. Don’t. Roosevelt once said, “Comparison is the thief of joy.” When hundreds of eager athletes fly pass you at the start, stick to your plan. If you ride at your pace, you will get to where you want to go.

3. Stay in the Envelope

The best part about riding the Etape with Trek Travel is the overwhelming support. I had a team of 15 people to train with, learn from and lean on leading up to and during the event. I knew when accepting the invitation that I had a lot to learn about cycling – about climbing and descending with 15,000 other riders around me. But the most important lesson I learned is to trust your team. If you want to succeed, surround yourself with people far more experienced than you. They have knowledge, wisdom, protection and strength to offer.

So the moral of the story? Life has a way of surprising us. Enjoy the ride.

 

Designing for the Tour de France takes a lot of passion, patience, planning, skill and a little bit of luck. Hear from our expert Trip Designer, Penny, who for the last nine years has created Le Tour itineraries that capture the spirit of this iconic race—winning the hearts of guests and guides alike.

Tell us your story. How did you end up at Trek Travel?
That’s a very long story! In a nutshell, I guided with Tania (Trek Travel’s President) in the late 90’s. We ran 10-day Tuscany camping trips together! Guides cooked breakfast, lunch and dinner for guests and slept in the trailer! After that I guided wilderness adventures and then I joined Tania once again at Trek Travel in 2005.

How long have you been designing for the Tour de France?
Since 2009.

How do you put these trips together? Tell us about your design process.
As soon as the TdF finishes at the end of July, I start looking for rumors about next year’s race. I contact hotels in the areas where I think the race will be to get our reservations in early. Having great relationships with hotels is a key advantage as the ASO blanket books all hotels in areas where the race will be. Once the race route is announced, we confirm the hotels that are best situated for our guests to view the race and also ride the climbs that will be featured. The ideal itinerary is one that has one or two excellent hotels and is in close proximity to the race action and featured climbs.

What are some of the greatest challenges?
Finding great 4- and 5-star hotels especially in mountain areas, working with the ever changing logistics of the race itself and road closures.

What is the most rewarding part of designing for the Tour?
Definitely designing a first class trip on paper which the guides then take and create an experience of a lifetime for guests. Guides put the icing on the cake with these trips, no doubt. Talking to guests at the finale in Paris and seeing that twinkle in their eye that means they’ve had an experience of a lifetime makes it all worth while!

If you could ride any stage what would it be?
Stage 19 Lourdes to Laruns: It has been a while since the final mountain finishes have been in the Pyrenees and this stage features some of the most spectacular climbs of this stunning mountain range. The beautiful Col d’aspin, epic Col du Tourmalet, and the stunning Col du Solour and Col d’Aubisque double.

What are you most excited about for this year’s Tour?
Watching the mountain stages. With only four days between the Alps and the Pyrenees and both regions packing huge bucket list climbs such as Alpe d’Huez and the Col du Tourmalet, the pro’s will definitely have a fight on their hands.

Piece of advice for guests going on a tour trip for the first time?
The race has a life, personality and magic of its own that can only be felt up close and personal. A great hotel is nice to stay at, gourmet meals are a pleasure to eat, BUT riding and sweating up a famous Tour climb ahead of the peloton—your legs begging you to stop— and feeling the elation of making it to the top is where it’s at. A short while later while in the comfort of the VIP zone at the finish line you’ll watch the pro’s do the exact same thing, sweat and pain in their eyes. Be warned it is addictive!

As a guest of Trek Travel’s Vuelta a España race trip, Jordan Sher knew this year’s race was going to be special to him. But he couldn’t have predicted just how how special.

I’ve waited my entire life to see a Grand Tour in person. And this year was the dream, realized. As you can imagine, I had both hopes of what it would be like, and expectations of what was to come. But then came the reality of this year’s race, and it almost literally blew my mind. Where to begin? Let’s itemize it out:

The Race Route

WHAT I EXPECTED: I knew that we were going to climb two biggies: Los Manchucos, outside the town of Bustablado, with 28% ramps across 8km and the Angliru, often referred to as Europe’s most feared climb. Would they really be as bad as advertised?

WHAT I HOPED FOR: The Vuelta was always known for tremendous, hidden climbs that laid in wait for bike racers across Cantabrico, Spain. These weren’t the famous Alps, nor were they the high Dolomites in Italy. They were unique climbs with a special bite. I hoped we would be introduced to the teeth of Spain in a big way.

WHAT REALLY HAPPENED: Oh man. The steeps were some of the steepest rides I’ve ever seen. I tipped over twice on Los Manchucos, in the rain, as Vuelta crowds cheered me on. I ground out the ride of a lifetime across the Angliru’s worst section, Cueña les Cabres, as crowds cheered me on. It was so pro. So Euro. So historic. I had never seen roads like these, and I may never see them again.

What’s even crazier? I rode them literally an hour before the pros rode them, and watched them do it. Their pain had never been more real.

The Race Itself

WHAT I EXPECTED: I knew Contador was a Spanish legend – but would I get wrapped up in it with the rest of the fans? I’d always liked his racing style, but never felt emotional about it. Maybe I’d finally be able to connect.

WHAT I HOPED FOR: I knew this was historic already. Chris Froome was lining up to win the Vuelta and the Tour in one season. All the heavies were there, including Roman Bardet, Vincenzo Nibali, and of course, Alberto Contador. It was Contador’s last race. Would I feel the gravitas?

WHAT REALLY HAPPENED: Unimaginable happiness. It started when we met Contador the night before the Angliru, and his storied ascent and win of the stage. He was gracious, friendly and personable. He took time on the biggest night of his life to be with us. How could I not be a fan for life?

Then, we got wrapped up in the rest of the race due to our sheer access to the big moments. We were there for Contador’s triumph. We were at the finish for his attack on Manchucos. And we found ourselves with ‘super’ VIP access at the last stage, where Contador was celebrated, Froome was awarded, and all the big hitters were giving their interviews. I was as close to the biggest names in cycling as you are to your computer screen right now.

I didn’t just get to watch this race. I got to be a part of it.

The Total Experience

WHAT I EXPECTED: There’s a certain level of excellence to any Trek Travel vacation, so my expectations on food, rides, service and hotels were pretty in line with my hopes. Trek Travel just has a way of delivering what you both expect and wish for.

WHAT I HOPED FOR: I had been on a Trek Travel vacation before and knew what to I was in for. But I definitely hoped for something special. They always had great guides, but I hoped these were amazing. We always did great food, but would this be amazing? Would the rides be better than advertised?

WHAT REALLY HAPPENED: It’s tough to even list out how everything was better than I could imagine, but let’s try anyway:

• I stayed in the greatest hotel of my life: Stay at Hotel Castillo del Bosque
• I rode with Chechu Rubeira, former Discovery pro
• I ate dinner at a magical gem of a restaurant in Oviedo that I’ll never forget
• I toured the Trek bus and met several other members of the team (including Giro winner Ivan Basso!)
• I got a group selfie with Contador himself
• I could reach out and touch Chris Froome’s race bike
• I stood on the Vuelta podium
• Our guides got us past both the velvet rope and the rope beyond the velvet rope on several occasions with a little ingenuity
• And I rode every last peak, valley and country road I’ve ever wanted to through northern Spain

Let’s just say this is one rare time when reality GREATLY surpassed both my hopes and expectations.

As I mentioned at the start of this adventure, I’m no casual fan of bike racing. I could watch races, talk about races, and read about races for the rest of my life. But honestly? If the 2017 Vuelta a Espana is the first and last Grand Tour I ever get the privilege to attend, I can say, with confidence, that I’ve done everything I’ve ever wanted.

And that’s truly a dream come true. Thanks, Trek Travel.

See more photos or follow Jordan on Instagram here

This July, Michael Valenti embarked on the journey of a lifetime following and drawing all 21 days of the Tour de France with his two friends and a motorhome by his side. We caught up with him at the start of his journey and were fortunate enough to speak with him again now that it’s over. The verdict? “I’m doing it again, the game is definitely on!”

So welcome back, it’s great to talk to you again. It’s probably a tough question, but if you had to choose, what was the best part of this whole thing?
The people I met. I met people from all over the world and it was easy to talk to them, it was easy to communicate whether we spoke the same language or not. It had a lot to do with everyone had the same passion for the Tour.

What was the most unexpected part?
It was easier than I thought it was going to be because we planned it well. That was unexpected. It went smoothly. As much as there was planning, there was some luck involved as well. You had to have the perfect mix of planning, stamina and luck.

Did all your training pay off?
Without a doubt. I will definitely do that again. I have not had that backpack on since I’ve been back though. Just say no to the 25lb pack.

What expectation did you have going into the trip that did or didn’t pan out how you thought?
The big realization I had after was that I did not see as much cycling and racing as I thought I would or could. It was difficult to follow, because of my phone’s geographical restrictions I couldn’t see parts of the tour in English. I had this vision of we’ll watch it every day like we do back home, I had all the packages and we couldn’t use any of them! And we definitely did not spend enough time in bars. Because at each stop, as soon as I finished working, it was time to leave and move on to the next city. It was time to go. I think I would linger longer next time.

What are your plans for the future?
Do it again, get smarter about sharing with more people, I might do it a little differently. I may not chase the route so closely each day, I might do something where I hit the highlights for longer. Look for three or four places where I invest three days and take a deeper dive into the area and capture a more full experience. And it would do two things for me: I would be able to take an actual bicycle ride, and I’d be able to go to that bar or wherever and watch it on TV. It would afford me more freedom.

There’s another crazy concept on the table as well, but you’ll have to wait until next year to find out if that one works out.

Until next Tour, Michael. Be sure to follow along with his adventures in the meantime here and on Instagram @Veloist

Ride the stages, watch the big attacks, meet the pros and drink in the drama. TV just can’t capture the electricity of a race. Here are our top 5 trips for a VIP experience at cycling’s biggest races.

Spring Classics

Join us in Belgium and Northern France to ride the famed cobbles, sip coveted Trappist beer, and enjoy a VIP race experience. Tackle Flanders’ fearful sections of pavé like Oude Kwaremont and Paterberg in the Ronde van Vlaanderen Cyclo, then watch the pros battle on the same steep climbs and teeth-chattering roads. If you’re up for the test, more cobbles and treachery await at the Paris-Roubaix Challenge. This incredible 11-day experience culminates at Paris-Roubaix, with VIP seats inside the velodrome to watch as another “Hell of the North” competitor crosses the line victorious.

Giro d’Italia

There’s a reason why Italy is cycling’s birthplace. There’s something different here, from a culture practically born and raised on two wheels, to a terrain purpose-built for cyclists who love steep climbs, sweeping views and unbeatable roads. Maybe that’s why the Giro is so special – it’s a race crossing all of Italy’s classic climbs with a soundtrack of cheers at every turn. You’ll feel the passion of fans screaming as you climb iconic stretches of road just hours before pros battle it out in pursuit of the pink jersey. You’ll also enjoy special behind-the-scenes access to talk strategy with the Trek-Segafredo team, tour the team bus, and check-out Trek’s cutting-edge bikes and equipment.

Tour de France

You can’t get any closer to the action of the Tour de France than this. As Official Tour Operator for both the Tour de France and the Trek-Segafredo team, Trek Travel’s ultimate VIP trip offers unparalleled behind-the-scenes access to the heart of this year’s exhilarating race. We’ll take you to the center of the action to experience the thrilling, final mountain stages, then to an exclusive race viewing at the Grand Finale in Paris.

Tour of California

Epic riding, stunning views and exciting live race action set amidst some of California’s most spectacular landscapes. We’ll ride along the Pacific coast and into the mountains above Santa Barbara and enjoy amazing behind-the-scenes access to the Trek Segafredo racing team. This trip is the ultimate celebration of American pro racing, fantastic riding and the natural beauty of the American Riviera.

Vuelta a España

You will ride the same routes as the racers, soak up the excitement of the enthusiastic Spanish fans, enjoy the beautiful natural surroundings, admire the ferocity of the pro peloton and get ready to topple some of the hardest climbs in Spain. But fear not: Get the pro’s insight from UCI ProTour veteran and former US Postal domestique Chechu Rubiera.

This year, I’m headed to the Vuelta with Trek Travel. It’s more than a dream come true. It’s a life’s goal made real.

I’m no casual fan of bike racing. I’ve spent 20 years following every historic race on the pro calendar. Ask me to tell you about the closest Tour de France in history (it was eight seconds between Laurent Fignon and Greg Lemond in 1989). Ask me which stage Miguel Indurain won his fifth Tour de France in 1995 (time trial, stage 8). And ask me about the last Paris-Roubaix where it rained (2002 was a mud bath). But I’m going to let you in on a controversial secret that I’ve always held: The Vuelta a España, or Tour of Spain, is some of the best racing on the schedule. Don’t believe me? Consider the facts.

The “parcours” is par excellence. The “race parcours” is the route, and the Tour of Spain can’t be beat. The Spanish Pyrenees and Basque country are the climbing crown jewels of Europe. And when the rest of the world is drooling after the Alpe d’Huez, Galibier and climbs of the northern Alps, this region boasts of the steepest, intimate climbs in forested back-country. I remember when David Millar abandoned the Vuelta on the Angliru (featured this year as well), calling it “barbaric.” YOU’RE DARN RIGHT IT’S BARBARIC.

The crowds are awesome. The Spanish are nothing if they’re not insane sports fans, and cycling is no different. Have you ever seen Basques cheering at the Tour de France? They’re crazy. And the Vuelta is like 23 days of it. Please pass the sangria without spilling.

The pros go after it. The end of the Tour de France is famous for contract negotiations, where big deals are signed and allegiances are swapped. By the time we get to the Vuelta, the remaining unsigned pros are fighting for their careers, and therefore, they ride like their lives depend on it. That means more attacking, more risk-taking, more drama, and more quality racing. In fact, the Vuelta is where we discovered the careers of racers like Chris Froome, Alejandro Valverde, Juan Jose Cobo, Tony Martin’s famous all-day breakaway, and Chris Horner’s age-defying Grand Tour win.

Ahhh, Spain. Sure, France is incredibly romantic. Italy is a food-lover’s paradise. But Spain seems to have a little of it all. There’s a special passion that’s typically Spanish. There’s incredible tapas, local wines and seafood. And this is the birthplace of Picasso, Dali, Cervantes and Lorca. There must be something in the water.

Don’t get me wrong: every pro bike race is a slice of history, and every event features an epic battle in its own right. But I do believe that the Vuelta is special, and it’s why I jumped at the chance to go this year. Trek Travel also offers a unique view on an already special race, with Trek-Segafredo access and some special rides with Chechu Rubiera, former member of the Discovery cycling team. Hopefully he won’t mind if I want to discuss stage 19 of the 1997 Giro d’Italia, his first win. Or his top tens at the Vuelta itself. Or his time on team RadioShack. Or Discovery. Or….well, let’s just say I’m excited. And I’ll be sure to let you know how it goes.

Stay tuned for Jordan’s post-Vuelta report to read if the race was as good as he imagined it would be. We’re sure it will be. And more.

Stetina’s Sierra Prospect (SSP) is a new road cycling event inspired by Pro Tour Rider Peter Stetina and produced by Bike Monkey.

SSP, is similar to a mass start GranFondo but takes on a unique road rally format with specific timed segments and KOM/Sprint rankings. The rally will give riders a competitive challenge but also provide an opportunity to refuel at rest stops, ride with friends, and take in the beautiful Lake Tahoe scenery without being penalized for stopping.

More than a ride, Peter has created a complete weekend of activities, including a limited edition Prospectin’ Pete’s Pale Ale beer release party at Revision Brewery, a coffee ride presented by Segafredo, and a gala benefiting the High Fives Foundation.

Better yet, Trek Travel guests get 15% off their entry fee through September 15th. Just use the code TRTPROMO

There’s no other sport that allows you this close to the pros, and no other tour company that gets you this close to the races. From disqualifications to GC surprises, we’ve barely had time to breathe. But that’s the allure of the Tour de France; it’s full of passion, glory, drama and showmanship. So kick back, realx and watch the drama of this year’s tour play out right in front of you.
 

 

Hear from a first time finisher of L’Etape du Tour about how tackling the legendary climbs and descents of this famous stage was made better with the support of Trek Travel.

1. Prep Week

L’Etape du Tour is a one day event. But when you join Trek Travel, that’s only part of the experience. The opportunity to spend four days in the Alps prior to the race was vital to my success on game day. Not only did it give me time to acclimate to my surroundings, including the altitude and time zone, but the daily rides were perfectly designed to prepare me for the L’Etape course. As a result, when I faced the mighty Col d’Izoard 150km into the ride, I was mentally and physically prepared for the challenge. I could relate it to other categorized climbs we had already conquered that week (such as Alpe d’Huez and Col du Galibier), as opposed to being daunted by its stature that just can’t be compared to the meager hills back home.

2. Private Rest Stops

The overwhelming support from our Trek Travel guides was the key differentiator that set my experience at L’Etape du Tour head and shoulders above that of the other riders. The ASO does an excellent job organizing the event, but with 12,000 exhausted riders in desperate need of replenishment, rest stop chaos is inevitable. Riding with Trek Travel enabled us to avoid this mess entirely. With strategically located private rest stops, we could simply ride past the traffic jam at official feed zones and instead receive a warm welcome from our Trek Travel guide just down the road. There are no lines, just coolers fully stocked with ice cold beverages, snack tables overflowing with real food, and tents providing relief from the elements. Taking it one step further, we packed bags with extra layers that were available to us in case the weather turned. From sunscreen to caffeine, no detail was forgotten and no element left to chance.

3. Ride Buddies

Trek Travel has a great completion rate among their riders at L’Etape du Tour. If you ask them why, they’ll tell you it’s because their riders aren’t alone. While many registered for the trip solo, we all found riding partners of a similar speed throughout the week. It’s incredible how quickly we got to know each other’s riding styles and preferences, so by the time we reached the start line we were a world tour team. L’Etape is long no matter what – it wouldn’t have the same allure if it weren’t – but it’s even longer if you’re out there alone. On a grueling day in the alps when the weather can be as unforgiving as the grades, having a ride buddy to lean on is the key to success. We quite literally pulled each other through the race. And while some provided words of encouragement and others preferred to suffer in silence, it made all the difference to know we were not alone.

4. The Best Bikes

One of the things that surprised me most during L’Etape was the quality of bikes that other riders were on. From vintage road bikes in need of a little lube to beat up hybrids better left in the basement, you could hear them long before they appeared next to you. I can’t speak for everyone, but if I’m going to tackle a ride of this magnitude I want my bike to be in prime condition for the task at hand. I don’t want anything to make the day more difficult than the elevation profile already ensures. With Trek Travel, I got to ride the same bike used by riders in the professional peloton. And just like the pros, I too had a team of expert mechanics who delivered my bike to the start in perfect condition and were there throughout the day if any problems arose.

5. Finish Party

The energy around the Tour de France is infectious, and L’Etape is no exception. Nobody captures the spirit of the race better than Trek Travel! After nine hours in the saddle, it was incredible just to have a fresh change of clothes waiting at the finish. The plentiful picnic and frosty beverages were simply icing on the cake. But even better than comfortable shorts and an ice-cold IPA was having new friends there to congratulate one another and celebrate the accomplishment we had all achieved.

 

“The best part of the trip was the group energy. There were some die hard guys who were really into the Tour. They knew all the climbs and who had dropped out where, so it was interesting to hear from them. But it was especially fun, after a long day’s ride, to gather for food, drinks, and stories. You get a group of cyclists together with wine, beer, and food—lots of food—and you’ll always have a good time.”

Roger Tanaka as told to Sarah Purkrabek | June 28, 2017

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