What a Rush! Flying the VBT Flag at the Tour de France

The 2024 Tour de France has just wrapped up—and for many cycling fans, the chance to witness this classic competition is worth its weight in gold. Fortunately for VBT Field Operations Manager Jeff Bossler, Stage 6 of the Tour de France from Mâcon to Dijon nearly went through his own backyard. “My son and I rode our bikes the short distance from our home to the Tour de France route,” says Jeff. “We had our green VBT flag with us, and we had just gotten it up when the peloton came spinning past. We were so lucky! When they passed us, they were only going about 25 kilometers per hour, which is not very fast for the Tour de France. So, we got a really good view—it was amazing!” Anyone who watches the Stage 6 highlights might notice a green flag with the familiar VBT logo and our good friend Jeff cheering his favorite riders on to glory.  

The Tour de France route is typically revealed in January or February each year—and once the route is released, the scramble for hotel space is intense. Fortunately, VBT has hotel rooms already on reserve for each of our tours many months in advance—and when the Tour de France route is announced, VBT guests often find themselves in an ideal position to catch a piece of the action. “This year, the French professional team was staying in the same hotel as VBT guests on our France: Vineyards of Beaujolais Self-Guided Tour,” explains Jeff. “Our guests were able to meet the pro cyclists and take some great photos with them, which was a really special opportunity.” Cycling fans who have their heart set on seeing this famous race in person may find VBT adventures to be the perfect solution. In 2024, three VBT cycling adventures ran within easy reach of the race—each including rooms in excellent boutique hotels that showcase the character of the region.  

Whether or not the Tour de France route happens to coincide with the timing of a VBT trip, our guests often have the opportunity to ride the very same routes as the Tour de France from years past. “On day four of VBT’s France: The Burgundy Wine Region & Dijon Guided Tour, we ride the exact route of the 2024 Tour de France Stage 7 time trial,” says Jeff. “It’s an historic ride, and very scenic. As we go past, our guests will see the images of international flags with the recent names of Tour de France champions who have won the time trial on this very route. It’s a wonderful little slice of cycling history to appreciate as you’re pedaling through the scenic countryside.” As you spin along the famous Route des Grands Crus, you’ll experience the hallowed ground of Tour de France champions while exploring charming French vineyards and sampling some of the world’s best vintages. 

The Historic Italian Grand Depart

The Tour de France route changes each year—ensuring that you’ll never see the same race twice. And while the Tour de France is, as its name suggests, primarily a French race, over its proud 121 year history, the first stages of the race (called the Grand Depart) have often been held outside of France. Starting in 1954 with the first international Grand Depart in the Netherlands, the Tour de France has started in Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, Monaco, Spain, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Notice any omissions? Well, our Italian friends certainly have—until now. 

The Italian city of Florence has seen many world-class cycling events in its long history—but never before has it hosted a stage of the Tour de France. With the 2024 Italian Grand Depart making Tour de France history, the atmosphere in Florence on June 29 was electric. As the race prepared to open on this historic occasion, VBT Route Manager and native Florentine, Oliver Moretti, cycled down to the Parco delle Cascine to catch a piece of the action with his eight-year-old son. “It was pretty crazy to see the first stage of the Tour de France starting from this park near where I live,” says Oliver. “I used to go there as a kid to play sports—and so did my uncle and my dad when they were children. I was fortunate enough to see the Grand Depart there with my son this year—and it was fantastic to be able to share this event with him. I hope this experience will inspire him to develop a love of cycling, because it’s something we can all share together as a family.” With Oliver’s many local cycling connections, he and his son were invited into the staging area where the pair watched the champions descend from their buses—light-weight racing bicycles held high over their heads to celebrate a triumphant start. “When Alberto Bettiol came down, the crowds went wild for him,” recalls Oliver. “He is the local champion and a big favorite in Florence. We think he will do well—especially with the support from his teammates. But it’s a tough race and there are a lot of incredible riders in the field.” 

As the race flew on from Florence to Rimini, the riders battled their way across the Emilia Romagna. Among the stately streets of historic Bologna, VBT Trip Designer (and cycling fan) Katia Torre was thrilled to catch a view of the peloton spinning past her front step. “As I watched the race go past my home, the impression in my mind was about the speed of the racers,” says Katia. “This section is flat, and the riders are so fast. It was just one second, and boom—they were already gone!” Even a fleeting glimpse of the peloton is enough to generate a sense of excitement and home-town pride for all who are lucky enough to live along the historic Italian route of the Tour de France. 

As Stage 3 thundered on from Piacenza to Turin, VBT Trip Leader Marco Boat was delighted to be part of the action. “In Italy, cycling is central to our culture,” says Marco. “One of the things I love about guiding VBT tours is introducing our guests to the Italian cycling culture—and showing them the famous Italian professional cycling races. In 2024, the Tour de France Stage 3 was in Turin on the same day as VBT’s Italy: Piedmont, Langhe & the Italian Riviera Guided Tour, so our guests had an opportunity to catch some of the excitement of this historic event.” If you’ve ever met Marco, you know he’s passionate about cycling—and about helping VBT guests reach their cycling goals. “One year, our tour was staying in the Italian city of La Cipressa,” recalls Marco. “One of the guests remembered a glorious climb from the Giro d’Italia—a famous Italian race. That morning, we had a nice ride and afterwards, he pulled me aside and said he really wanted to climb La Cipressa. While everyone else was relaxing at the hotel, we climbed it together—and when we got down the hill, he said to me, okay, now I can go home happy!” On a guided VBT adventure, you’ll meet trip leaders who love to go the extra mile to bring your cycling dreams to life. 

Want to learn more about the Tour de France? Head over to their official website for up-to-date route information and info.