Are you still wishing the Tour de France hadn’t ended this past Sunday? Can’t wait another whole year to get your ‘fix’ of epic bike races? You needn’t worry – the outlook isn’t as dire as you may think.
Although it doesn’t carry the same prestige value as the TDF, the Vuelta de Espana rates as one of the big 3 ‘Grand Tours’ in the cycling world. Beginning this August 29th, the 3 week race will start in Assen, Holland and after Stage 5, head to Spain and traverse the country before ending in Madrid.
I have a feeling that Versus will not be offering daily live coverage, but I’m sure there will be highlights and some weekly coverage of the race. That allots you plenty of time to get out on your own bike and start logging those miles for your own bike tour of Spain!
Our bike tour of Rioja begins this September 6th…why not plan a trip to coincide with the Vuelta? Bike your way through Rioja and then head out to catch some live Vuelta coverage of your own!
Now that we are all experiencing Tour de France withdrawl…might I suggest another upcoming biking event to satisfy a very different, but at the same time, very worthy interest?
This weekend, thousands of riders will meet in Sturbridge, MA to begin the 2 day trek to Provincetown in the name of cancer research. The Pan-Mass Challenge is an annual bike-a-thon that raises money for life-saving cancer research and treatment at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Riders, volunteers, supporters, and fans will be lining the streets cheering on these riders who have donated their time and have raised over $239 million for this amazing cause since its 1980 inception.
We will have a booth at both the Wellesley and Sturbridge starts during the Opening Ceremonies this coming Friday, the 31st. Feel free to stop by for a visit, find out more information about our own Cape Cod bike tour, and support Andy who has been riding in this event for years.
We look forward to seeing you.
Mark Cavendish picked up his 5th stage win today – not too shabby for this former BMX and mountain biker. 5 stages in one tour…he’s making my task a bit more difficult, since there’s not a lot of variety going on here!
Alas, digging deep into my suitcase of associations - since Cavendish races for Team Columbia-HTC (Columbia Sportswear is based in Portland, OR) and the team rides Scott bicycles (based in Sun Valley, Idaho) – we’ll have to give a shout out to the western US and feature our Zion & Bryce bike tour. (In addition, a bike tour in Utah also honors Cavendish’s early roots as a mountain biker…as Moab is a mecca for many a mtb fan.)
However, biking in Utah is not only for mtb aficionados, there is so much more to explore! Our bike tour of Zion and Bryce National parks will have you touring Southern Utah and its awe-inspiring parks on a multi-sport adventure that features daily biking and hiking excursions designed to enhance the experience of these incredible multi-hued natural rock formations.
The natural wonders of Utah will inspire you…just as the Isle of Man’s natural wonder, Mark Cavendish, will be an inspiration to many a cyclist and sprinter, too.
Seeing that Contador has added another stage win to his repetoire, it is only fitting that we present another great region of Spain to explore. While Contador is own his own pilgrimage to reach that final podium in Paris, perhaps you’d like to follow in the footsteps (or shall I say pedal strokes) of centuries of adventurers on a modern day pilgrimage along the Camino de Santiago?
Trace this historic route the DuVine way – on our Camino de Santiage bike tour – where you will wind your way through the Galician countryside – climbing hills that overlook scenic vineyards, descending into small medieval villages, riding along the plains of Castilla, pursuing the legend of St. James.
Be it a personal, physical or spiritual journey…this experience will transform you. I can’t guarantee that it will be quite the same as becoming the 2009 Tour de France champion…but the lush green vistas will inspire you, the unique cuisine of Northern Spain will nourish you, the nectar of the vines will quench you, and the rolling terrain will definitely challenge you.
Let the journey begin!
Well…what a day it was at the Tour! Astana’s Spaniard is still wearing yellow after arriving across the finish amid a Schleck sandwich! The Schleck brothers certainly waged a battle against Contador in the mountains of France today, with the elder Fränk eking out a Stage 17 victory, but it looks like El Pistolero very well may be the next champion of the 2009 Tour de France.
Get ready for the time trial and the last battle up Mt. Ventoux. And if you were one of the lucky DuVine guests…you would be witnessing those breaking events live and in person! Yes, our Tour de France bike tour brings you up close and personal with the mountains and the race. Why sit at home and watch Phil & Paul commentate on Versus when you can actually witness the drama unfold in front of you – and perhaps, attempt a stage climb of your own?
On this year’s Tour de France bike tour, our guests are staying at private chalet right on the mountain where today, they watched as the riders descended right past them on this high mountain stage in the Alps. Even better, they will be present at the individual time trial tomorrow!
Lance has already announced that he will race in next year’s TDF…perhaps you should join him on our 2010 tour?
Alberto Contador took Stage 15 and is now the proud owner of the maillot jeune – perhaps for the rest of the Tour.
This phemon from Madrid has been referred to as the best climbing specialist and stage racer in the world – and yesterday’s breakaway climb up the slopes of Verbier was perhaps only the beginning of what is to come in this year’s 2009 Tour de France.
Whether or not Lance Armstrong proves to be a viable contender is still up in the air, however, in my quest to match stage winner to DuVine tour, Contador offers no challenge to me. Not only do we have several bike tours in Spain, but Contador has spent many a day racing and training in the mountains of Mallorca.
And as you may know, this spectacular Mediterranean island off the coast of Spain is every cyclist’s dream – from weekend warrior to professional athlete. With an abundance of flat terrain, sunny skies, rolling hills, challenging mountain passes, beautiful landscapes, small ancient villages, turquoise water and traffic free roads – this is the cycling trip of a lifetime.
So…if you’d like to take it to the extreme on the same category climbs where Contador and numerous other pros have raced and trained or if you’d prefer to take it easy and simply enjoy the rolling flats along the breathtaking coastline, our bike tour of Mallorca is the perfect place for you.
Stage 11 saw another win by the Manx missile…Mark Cavendish, making that his 4th stage win this year! Well, if I thought that trying to find a DuVine trip to match the Isle of Man was difficult…today’s stage winner posed a whole new creative endeavor – as Nicki Sørensen is from Denmark.
Alas, perhaps a Scandanavian trip looms ahead in the future for DuVine, however, currently that region is not an option. And since Team Saxo Bank is also a product of Denmark…I have resorted to the age-old struggle of man vs machine. And for the sake of this blog…machine wins out.
For this year’s tour, Team Saxo Bank began riding Specialized bikes…and Specialized is headquartered in Morgan Hill, CA…just a tad bit south of the route we take on our Napa and Sonoma bike tour. (DuVine also shares a common bond with Nicki Sørensen and the Team Saxo Bank riders- as Andy also rides a Specialized Tarmac!)
Although certainly not as challenging as the Tour de France, our bike tour through Napa and Sonoma is just as scenic an adventure! From the remotely beautiful coastal ride along Bodega Bay and the Pacific Ocean through a forest of redwoods to the endless rows of vines and vineyards of the Napa and Sonoma wine country, every vista is a picture perfect photo opportunity. Add to that, indulgences that the riders in the tour can’t partake in while racing through the Alps – fine dining, wine and deluxe hotel stays! Tour Napa and Sonoma on bike and celebrate the luxuries that those athletes must forgo while in training and, of course, while racing.
Well well well…some of these stage winners are really throwing a wrench in my plan! I guess a little use of ‘artistic license’ is always appreciated.
Stage 10 ended with a battle of the sprinters as Mark Cavendish manage to hold off Thor Husvold and claim the stage win. Yes this green jersey contender hails from the Isle of Man (a self-goverening Crown dependency) in the Irish Sea and races for Team Columbia. And as there is no DuVine Adventure in this unique region of the world…there is a close second…Ireland.
Our bike tour of Ireland definitely mimics some of the same terrain on which Cavendish grew up racing his mountain bike. You can cycle wonderfully remote roads and delight at gentle green hills, sheep-studded fields, and ancient castles. As you pedal along the famed rocky coast, crashing surf below, you will get a feel for why both of these lands conjure up the term ’wild’. And need we forget…both are destinations that celebrate pub live and local brew. On a cycling trip through Ireland, you will definitely experience a similar thriving Celtic culture – teeming with folklore and tradition.
Today is a well-deserved rest day for the 2009 Tour de France cyclists after their first foray into the Pyrenees yesterday. Sunday’s stage featured two significant climbs up the Col d’Aspin and the Col du Tourmalet and ended with a two-man sprint finish by Pierrick Fédrigo, giving the French a third stage win in nine days. Fedrigo beat Franco Pellizotti after the pair had lead throughout the day.
Pierrick Fédrigo, the newest French stage winner riding for Bbox Bouygues Telecom, hails from Marmande and is called “le nez de Marmande” (The nose of Marmande) due to his “remarkable nose”. Again, another winner who is a bit easier to match tour to winner – as Marmande is close neighbor of Bordeaux.
And perhaps just as “remarkable” as his nose is our bike tour of Bordeaux! Luckily, most of us are not in training for a professional cycling race and are able to fully enjoy everything this region has to offer – not just the fabulous riding, but the delicious cuisine…and, of course, the WINE! After all, Bordeaux is the region that produces some of the world’s finest wines.
Join us on a cycling tour of Bordeaux and sample some of the region’s finest wines – perhaps here you will discover a different meaning to the term “remarkable nose” (aside from Pierrick Fédrigo).
Fortunately today’s Stage 7 winner was an easy match and I needn’t have to be creative with my associations. Congratulations to Brice Feillu on his 1st yellow jersey in his 1st Tour de France! What a way to enter the scene…
Brice and his older brother Romain (also a fellow cyclist and Agritubel teammate) were raised in Châteaudunm – a town that’s château is known for being the first on the road to Loire Valley from Paris.
It seems the Loire lives up to its reputation as being the valley of dreams for Brice Feillu…and today was a dream realized. Here is your chance to dream of cycling this provincial countryside, through medieval villages and along meandering rivers. Our bike tour of the Loire Valley will have you pausing at lush, age-old vineyards to taste glorious vintages and exploring the region’s distinct subterranean troglodyte cellars. You needn’t wish for a victory and a place on the TDF podium to enjoy and celebrate all that the Loire has to offer!
