Maybe you’ve decided that you want to do a bicycle tour in Europe this year. But you want something more than casually riding from one place to the next to have touristy experiences, such as staying in four-star hotels, local chef-curated meals with good wine, and cultural immersion.
What you really want to do is experience the spirit of competition by riding gran fondos and other long rides. In other words, you desire to have a pro-level experience minus the stress and pressure placed on racers while gaining access to the amenities mentioned above.
Additionally, perhaps you’d like to take in the spring classics or witness one of the grand tours. These are the type of experiences Sportive Breaks offer its guests.
Who is Sportive Breaks? Why Book a Tour With Them?
Sportive Breaks is a UK company that was founded in 2015. Its director is Alex de Waard. The company’s mission: to offer the “best hotels for cyclists centered around European Sportives and Gran Fondos.”
Sportive Breaks also gives its guests the opportunity to participate in longer rides. Guests can also have the chance to view every grand tour or spring classic and pre-ride the roads used in the races, such as the cobbles of Paris Roubaix.
Because of their long association with European cycling and being based in the UK, the company claims its staff are travel experts who know the roads and routes and have insider knowledge about the races and sportives. When you book a tour with Sportive Breaks, all a guest has to think about is his vacation. As for all the travel details, the company says it does “...everything for you, transfers, bike transport, additional fuel stops, local guides, mechanical support and more.“
What is a Sportive?
Outside of the pro and amateur racing circuit, there are rides like gran fondos and other types of long rides for cycling enthusiasts, such as the Etape du Tour and Haute Route Alps. These are organized rides with a set route.
However, the important thing to note is they are not races, although the riders are usually timed. Sportives can range in distance from 50 miles up to 150 miles. And much like for the pros, these events occur throughout the year.
Tours and Events Offered By Sportive Breaks
Many bicycle travel companies offer their guests access to pro races in Europe. They also allow their guests to pre-ride the roads these races occur on. Not many (if any) also build their tours around gran fondos and other organized rides for the seriously competitive cyclist.
Sportive Breaks, in fact, says that it approaches its tours and events with expert focus and professionalism. It says that their “routes are meticulously curated by our expert trip designers and tour managers to take in bucket list climbs, routes favored by locals, and awesome photo opportunities while providing the right level of difficulty for you (the guest).”
Here is a list of the events (sportives) that Sportive Breaks offer its guests. This is impressive considering the company has a small staff.
- Etape du Tour
- Haute Route Alps
- La Marmote
- Mallorca 312
- UCI Gran Fondo World Championship
- UCI Gravel World Championships
In addition to the sportives, guests also have access to ride the roads and watch any major race on the UCI pro cycling European calendar via Sportive Breaks tour offerings. Here is that list.
- Ardennes Classics Tour – Amstel Gold, Flech Wallone, etc.
- Giro d’ Italia (last week)
- La Marmote, Tour de France, Etape du Tour
- Spring Classics Tour – Flanders and Roubaix
- Strade Bianche and Tuscany
- Tour de France – Pyrennes Tour
- Tour of the Dolomites
- Vuelta Espana (last week)
What’s Included in a Sportive Breaks Tour or Event
Sportive Breaks is a bicycle travel company, so what it includes in its tours and events is similar to that of other bicycle travel companies. However, that list varies based on the tour or event a guest might select.
Make sure to check the various tours and events on the Sportive Breaks website for specific inclusions, but here’s a basic overview of what a guest can expect.
- Accommodations in four-star hotels
- Transfers
- Meals (all breakfasts, dinners, and a budget for lunches)
- Guided rides
- Mechanical Support
- Entries to races and hospitality at the race finish
- Sightseeing
- Bike Rental (for example, it could be a Ridley Fenix road bike with 12 speed Shimano Di2)
Cost and Tour/ Event Example
As already mentioned, Sportive Breaks offers guests a wide array of choices to satisfy their need for sportives and European pro-race access. That said, the company prefers to work with small groups, a 12 guest maximum.
The company’s Spring Classics Tour – Flanders and Roubaix is for 2025, for example, gives a good view of what a guest can expect. The price for this tour is $4,159 for 11 days. The itinerary for this trip gives guests the opportunity for following:
- Ride two sportives
- Watch three spring classics
- Velodrome Access on day of race
- Guided Ride to a brewery
- Tour of Flanders Museum
- Roubaix Velodrome
- Rest Stops
Last Thoughts
If you’re looking to experience a bicycle tour outside the ordinary where you can witness famous pro races and ride challenging sportives, then Sportive Breaks could be the right choice for you. The company even offers access to gravel races and sportives if that is of interest to you.
While a trip with Sportive Breaks is, by no means, cheap, you do get unique access to races and events that other bicycle travel companies just touch on. You’ll get to ride gran fondos and other organized long rides that will live in your memory for years. So, book early and start training for a trip with Sportive Breaks soon.
Share this:
Bicycle Day Trips - Bicycle Travel, Gear Reviews, Photography, Cycling News, and Commentary 