We appreciate you will have a number of questions in the lead-up to Le Tour de Chop, so have decided to put together a frequently asked questions page for you below. If you still have questions, please get in touch using the Contact Us form on the website.
All tourists must have their own travel insurance and separate comprehensive bike holiday insurance as well as a European E111 medical card. You will need to provide us with a photocopy of your insurance documents before you will be allowed to join us on tour.
This is where Le Tour really kicks off and comes into its own. We arrive in Barcelona late-afternoon, spray champagne, have our group photo-call and then make our way to the hotel for showers and unloading of kit. Then its time to don the team chino shorts, white polos and caps and head into the town where we feast over a team meal before heading onto Barcelonas night spots. The stories from Cardiff, Paris, Amsterdam, Majorca and Edinburgh have not failed to disappoint and we have a hunch Barcelona may just raise the bar.
You can only take part in Le Tour if you are using a road bike with clip-in pedals. On top of this you will need: helmet, sun cream (high factor), lights, drinks holders, energy gels, high vis top, lycra shorts. Remember this tour is different to past ones; the weather in France/Spain can be hot at this time of year – we will publish a full kit list later in the year.
Dress code for the night out is a traditionally huge part of Le Tour and is not to be taken lightly. Anyone not adhering to this will face a hefty fine. You must wear a crisp white polo shirt and the loudest chino shorts you can find. The other rule is that tour caps must be worn at all times whilst consuming a beverage. This is non negotiable.
Yes the support vehicles will have space for 1 x small-medium kit bag per person. This is strictly limited to 1 per person and will be checked. The only other items permitted in the support vehicles are spare tyres/pumps/mechanical equipment that you feel may help yourself and fellow tourists.
Flights.
Thursday night accommodation.
Bike.
- Accommodation Friday 9th Sept
- Evening meal on Fri 9th Sept
- Accommodation in Barcelona on Saturday 10th Sept
- Evening meal on Sat 10th Sept in Barcelona
- Tour professional cycling jersey
- Tour cycling cap
- All tour logistics (route-planning, liaising with local authorities etc.)
- Support vehicles and drivers
- Water
- Medical support (tour doctor)
- Tour video – check out last years on our homepage
- Sponsors goodies
The price of the Le Tour package is TBC but will be similar to 2015 (circa £180-£200). We are also extremely proud of having raised £40,000+ in the last tours and ask that each tourist commits to raising a minimum of £100 towards Cancer Research via our group fundraising page. The team donation page can be found in the DONATE tab above.
We strongly recommend you hire a road bike in Perpignan from our trusty supplier Wheelsports. They supported us in Mallorca and the boys will testify did a fantastic job both on price, quality and service.
You can of course bring your own bike. Please note there is no room for bike boxes in the support vehicles.
You must make your own way to Perpignan and your own way home from Barcelona – these flights are not included in Le Tours package. We recommend you fly to Perpignan airport although flights are limited. Look at airports nearby followed by trains (Barcelona & Toulouse both have regular flights from the UK and the train journeys the other end aren’t expensive at the time of writing).
We ask that you train for Le Tour as much as you can. Typically most gents will change their commute to work to cycling every day (except Thirsty Thursdays) and will put in a couple of evenings a week of training with mates over a few 25+ milers. In the weekends over the summer leading up to Le Tour we ask you put in a number of 50+ milers along with some serious hill training. Put simply, come the 9th September we want one strong peloton and you don’t want to be the one lad letting the side down.
Le Tour is approximately 180 miles in total. The first leg on day one is roughly 80 miles and the second leg on day two is is approximately 100 miles (this is subject to change and very approximate until final details are confirmed).
Meet in Perpignan (exact time and location TBC) early morning on Friday 9th Sept. Travel home from Barcelona any time on Sunday 11th Sept.
Le Tour De Chop was founded around good mates and good times – you have to be as good on the chop as you are on a bike. It is a marathon, not a sprint. If you are solely a road racer or super keen cyclist there are plenty of cycle clubs and sportives out there for you. Where Le Tour sets itself apart is that it will always be about teamwork, enjoying the journey together and partying harder than you could possibly imagine. Having said all that, all participants from previous tours have been very fit and have pushed each other hard, so training is absolutely required (see below).
Friday 9th to Sunday 11th September 2015. You will need to travel out late on Thursday 8th September.
This year LTDC presents Le Tour de Pyrenees. A 180 mile journey from Perpignan to Barcelona through the breathtaking Pyrenees mountain range.
This event is for gents only. A Yorkie social if you will. Le Tour is also by recommendation only, so you will need to state a proposer and your application will be considered by the tour organisers.