The Tour de Force will be releasing all remaining places to ride stages of the Tour de France ahead of the pros this Wednesday.
The organisers say they’ve had a record number of women sign up this year – but of course they’d always like more.
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All places to ride the entire route – like Katrine-Mari who we interviewed last year – are sold out already, but you can still choose to ride anything from two stages. Entry will re-open this Wednesday 9 November at 9am.
The 2017 Tour de Force will start in Dusseldorf on Saturday 24 June and will end 21 stages and 3,516km of cycling later in Paris on Sunday 16 July.
Costs to ride will vary depending upon how many stages you sign up to ride – and you’ll also need to raise money for charity to take part.
The event supports the William Wates Memorial Trust, helping the UK’s most disadvantaged young people to avoid a life of crime and violence and fulfil their potential. Riders commit to fundraising a minimum target depending on which Tour Taster they choose. For the majority, this will be £1,200. To date, the Tour de Force has almost £3 million. Our goal is to raise £400,000 a year.
The trip is organised in a way that means you mainly just have to worry about riding. All of the following other concerns are included in your entry fee:
- Accommodation (Mostly twin share. Single supplements are available to buy in January)
- All food (3 meals and feedstops)
- Fully signed route
- Mechanical, medical and moral support
- Luggage Transfers
- Coach transfers to the next stage start when the stages aren’t contiguous
TDF Event Organiser Sarah Perry said: “2016 was a tough but beautiful and challenging route. It always is! After another phenomenal year of Le Tour, we’re already gearing up for 2017. It just keeps on getting better every year!”
WWMT Chairman Andrew Wates added: “2017 promises to be just as wonderful as the last 10 years of the Tour de Force and we will continue to give amateur cyclists this incredible opportunity to realise their cycling dreams, while helping to support young people achieve their true potential”.
You can learn more on the site here, or check out this video for a glimpse into the trip…