A tour or granfondo is a great goal to work towards. You ride a marked route with hundreds or even thousands of other cyclists, with service stations along the way and a festive finish. From the Tour Versie of the Amstel Gold Race to the Nove Colli in Italy: there is a tour for everyone. In this guide you’ll learn how to choose your first one and be prepared for it.
Tour, cyclo or granfondo: what is the difference?
- Tour: a recreational tour with a defined route and catering. There is no ranking. In the Netherlands and Belgium, dozens of such tours are organized every weekend, often by cycling clubs.
- Cyclo or cyclosportiveOften a tour of the course of a well-known classic race, such as the Tour of Flanders or Paris-Roubaix, usually the day before the pros.
- Granfondo: comes from Italy. There is a timekeeping and sometimes a ranking system, but for most participants it is the challenge that counts. Well-known granfondos are the Maratona dles Dolomites, the Nove Colli and the Marmotte.
Choose the right distance
Most tours have multiple distances. For your first time, choose a distance that is about one and a half times the length of your longest training ride, no more. Also look at the elevation meters: 100 kilometers through South Limburg is something completely different from 100 kilometers through the polder. All tours with dates, distances, and a link to the organizer can be found in our event calendar.
Your preparation in 8 weeks
- Week 1–3: Drive three times a week, one of which is a longer trip. Build that long trip by a quarter to half an hour each week.
- Week 4–6: Add hills or a tempo ride. If you’re doing a climb route, practice on a slope or in the hills.
- Week 7: your longest ride, about 80 percent of the distance of the trip.
- Week 8: Take it easy. Short rides, plenty of rest, so you’re fresh at the start.
Food and drink
On a long journey, you use a lot of energy. Eat a good meal with plenty of carbohydrates the night before and eat breakfast on time. Along the way, eat something every hour: a bar of chocolate, a banana or a gel, and drink at least one bottle of water per hour. Use the hydration stations, but bring your own too. Never try new bars or gels for the first time on the day itself.
The day itself
- Check your bike the day before: tires, brakes, chain.
- Don't start too fast: in the euphoria of the start you'll easily go too fast.
- Ride in a group if you can, but keep your own pace on the climbs.
- Take your time at the care stations, but don't stand too long: your legs will get stiff.
- Enjoy the finish. You’ve earned it.
A trip as a holiday destination
Many granfondos take place in beautiful cycling regions. Combine such a tour with a few days of cycling in the area, such as the Maratona in the Algarve. Dolomites or the Mallorca 312 on Mallorca.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to be a member of a club or federation?
Usually not. At many tours, members of the NTFU (the Netherlands) or Wielerbond Vlaanderen (Belgium) receive discounts, but everyone is welcome to participate.
Can I ride a tour with a gravel bike?
On asphalt, that's possible, but you're going to be carrying a bit more weight. There are also many special gravel tours; you'll find those in our event calendar as well.
Questions & tips
Do you have any questions about this route, or have you been there yourself? Share them here. We read everything and usually respond within a few days.