The Tour de France is the pinnacle event of cycling and one of the greatest, largest scale sporting events across the globe. The three week race travels across some of France’s most stunning, yet testing terrain, every year delivering an incredible display of world class sporting entertainment. With that, thousands of passionate cycling fans and supporters from all sides of the globe come in swarms to avidly cheer their countrymen and favourite riders on, throughout its 21 day course.

At Mummu Cycling, we thrive in creating a platform for like-minded fans and cycling enthusiasts to come to the Tour de France each year to experience its greatness at a whole new level. We are one of only six official Tour de France Tour Operators, which ensures we have unprecedented exclusivity and access to the race and its inner sanctum, allowing us to deliver once in a lifetime Tour de France experiences, with an added difference each July.

With the world still on edge, we have new safety measures and protocols in place to adapt to the new normal, and are incredibly hopeful that we will be back in France doing what we do best from late June, 2021. 

As an Official Tour Operator of the race, we have already confirmed exclusive access daily to the restricted areas detailed below, where extra precautions will be set in place, and numbers will be strictly limited. View our tours, here.

So what does it mean to be an Official Tour de France Tour Operator?

• Exclusive access to the race from incredible hospitality zones

With our Official Tour operator license, comes a list of exclusive benefits and race hospitality invitations…

The Departure Village 

We take our guests right inside the bubble at Tour de France stage starts, into the official tour Departure Village and rider pre-race zone. Here, you’ll be kicking back over a coffee and local delicacies, enjoying the festive departure village atmosphere, while watching the riders sign on for the stage within close proximity. You’ll then have exclusive access to the team bus area, where riders tentatively prepare for the stage ahead. A unique opportunity that will allow you to see up-close, all the pre-race rituals,  warm-up's and routines, catch a glimpse of the latest high-tech, advanced equipment on display and if you’re lucky, get your photo with some of the sports biggest names. If you follow Mummu Cycling tour host, Stuart O’Grady’s path, it’s almost inevitable…

The Relais Etape 

The Relais Etape is one of our favourite hospitality experiences, located at a prime  location on course each day at the Tour de France and restricted to a limited number of exclusive invites. It’s a real day of ‘special treatment’ as you sit down to a divine three course long-lunch, paired with unlimited delicious local French wine, while watching the race from big screen  entertainment, amidst some star-studded company, in the form of past Tour de France contenders. As the mood continues to rise, you’ll then witness the peloton fly by seemingly effortlessly, where you’ll by then be glowing with excitement, chanting support at your sporting heroes in full force. 

The Relais Etape never fails to bring a buzzing, cheery atmosphere, that will have you leaving feeling like you’re well and truly within the inner Tour de France bubble. 

The Izoard 

The Izoard is another outstanding hospitality zone we are privileged to have access to. Usually located at the stage finish line to ensure you witness the most thrilling of sprint finishes from prime viewing, or alternatively, placed conveniently up the slopes of a riveting Tour de France summit finish. Either way, when at the Izoard, you’re guaranteed to be positioned in the ideal location to view those champion race moments live, and once the race has passed, it’s all eyes glued to screen entertainment - Champagne and French canapé in hand…it doesn’t get much better.

• Ride on the Course

One of the best exclusivity's of being an official tour operator is the incredible opportunity of riding on the offical race course, on closed roads, to the point where you’ll truly feel like you’re within the Tour de France.

Ride Depart Experience

The Ride Depart experience will have you literally riding off the stage start line, as excited crowds of fans already line the streets in support, just hours ahead of the race itself and within the official Tour de France convoy. This is a truly surreal experience, difficult to justify in words alone.

D-Day Experience

If the start isn’t enough, there’s also the finish and our D-Day tour operator experience.  D-Day is another unique occasion that will have you riding the final part of the stage and take you right across the official finish line, arms held-high is you so desire! Exclusive to official tour operator’s only, you’ll be every other fan’s envy as you pass the barriers at the flamme rouge and experience what it’s like to cross the line of a Tour de France stage - again, only hours ahead of the pros. Lively fans will be avidly cheering as you make your way down the final stretch and to top off an unimaginable experience, you’ll then be able to step onto the leaders stage podium for a celebratory pose and photo, as well as hitting the interview booth following to experience that real ‘winners feeling’. 

• VIP treatment 

Our tour operators license not only guarantees unprecedented access to the race, but will also ensure VIP treatment throughout the Tour de France’s  duration and our preparation phase. Included; is first preference to reserved accommodation options that will have you as close to the action as possible, consistent, direct communication with Tour de France organisers (the ASO), as well as VIP access to parking and transport to-from the stage/s, enabling us to spend as little time ‘waiting around’ in traffic as is possible.

What else adds to the Mummu Cycling difference?

Pro Tour Hosts and Guides

Key partner and ambassador, Stuart O’Grady plays a pivotal role in the design and delivery of all Mummu Cycling tours and having contended 17 Tour de France’s  throughout his professional cycling career, his extensive wealth of knowledge, experience, skill and countless connections within the cycling world ensure a differential, incomparable experience.

Using his insider access to the pro peloton, Stuart will arrange pro team meet and greets with some of the best World Tour teams on the circuit. This presents a rare opportunity to exclusively chat with the riders and gather some great insights from the ‘team behind the team’ of staff; from mechanics, to race directors, soigneurs and beyond.

To add to the arranged meet and greet, Stuart will on a consistently be catching up with ‘old friends and team mates’ of the peloton throughout the race’s course, introducing our guests along the way. To name a few, Phil Liggett and Jens Voigt, who will both unfailingly take the time to chat or grab a photo with Stuey and our guests on a regular basis.

Over the years, we have grown to establish strong connections with a number of other former pro riders, who now routinely act as tour hosts, ongoing ambassadors and guides on our tours. At the Tour de France, expect to be learning all the tricks of the trade from the likes of Milan San-Remo winner, Matt Goss or lead-out specialist, Nick Gates. They’ll not only know all the Tour-famous roads and have a credible level of experience, but have countless race tales to tell, Tour de France memories and knowledgable race insights to share throughout the trip.

Logistics

A fantastic benefit of joining us on tour is that we take care of almost  everything for you, so, you’re left with little-nothing to think about, plan or prepare, and more time to simply ‘enjoy the ride’. 

• From the moment you arrive, we’ll be there to drive you to your arranged, reserved accommodation for the tour’s duration, booked well in advance and located in the most ideal location to meet tour itinerary needs.
• Daily transport to and from the race will be covered - all you’ll need to do is worry about getting yourself to the van on schedule.
• Luggage will be transported accordingly when moving on to our next hotel destination.
• Ride routes are tentatively prepared in advance to ensure you see the best of the race while ticking off bucket list rides and along minimal traffic roads. 
• All rides are guided and supported by our experienced team. You will  always have a ride leader and a following support vehicle providing water, energy nutrition, snacks, spare clothing, in addition to mechanical  equipment and assistance when needed.

  Not just for the riders

Our tours are not only designed for cyclists, but spectators alike. All Tour de France itineraries are designed to also suit spectating guests, wishing to  witness the best of the Tour de France live, without the cycling factor. We will often run daily separate activities and additional events on the tour itinerary, while rides are on, to ensure our spectators get the most out of their experience at the Tour de France and the incredible regions we travel through.

Meet new friends and likeminded people 

Most guests leave our tours with new friendships, cycling companions and connections. At Mummu Cycling, we strive to create a friendly, comfortable and fun environment. It’s not all just about the race or the riding, but having an enjoyable, social experience while you’re at it! 

Secure your 2021 Tour de France spot (here) and receive all tour details before we go live on our website and social channels.