The Tour de France, a 23-day journey that circles France by bike in the peak of summer, is finally heading into its decisive final stages. This is the second part of a two-part series reporting on cycling in France directly from the ground. This time, we dive into a hands-on investigation of renting a performance road bike—seriously planning as if we were going to ride ourselves.Is it easy and reliable to arrange a rental? How much does it actually cost? And what should you keep in mind if you really end up riding in France? The route I planned is the finish of Stage 16: Mont Ventoux. There’s no doubt this mountain will play a major role in determining the overall winner. Let’s take on this […]

The Tour de France, a race that circles around France by bicycle over the course of 23 days in the peak of summer, is in full swing from July 5 to 27. The country and people that gave rise to such a grand sporting event share a deep love for cycling. In recent years, France has rapidly developed cycling infrastructure to promote eco-friendly transportation. As one of the world’s top tourist destinations, the nation is now fully committed to advancing cycle tourism. A journalist with 30 years of experience covering the Tour de France witnesses this dedication firsthand. In this two-part series, Part 1 offers a preview of the 2025 Tour de France and essential tips for cycling in France. Table […]

Ever since this series began, I’ve always thought that if I were to write a column about cycling and music, I would eventually feature Kraftwerk’s “Tour de France” at just the right moment. With their live performance at FUJI ROCK FESTIVAL 2024 now making waves, I feel that now is the perfect time to introduce it. Formed in 1970, the German electronic music group Kraftwerk, known for designing their own album covers and visual images, is a quintessential example of so-called Krautrock (German rock) and a pioneer of techno-pop. They greatly influenced not only YMO but also the British new wave scene, particularly the electro-pop/synth-pop movement known as New Romantic […]

*TOP Photo: Col d’Aubisque in the Pyrenees From the field covering the Tour de France, which circles around France in 23 days of mid-summer:The race results saw Tadej Pogačar (Slovenia/UAE Team Emirates) clinch a decisive overall victory. Now, in the final installment of this three-part series, we will introduce courses that you should definitely ride when visiting from Japan. The Alps section is for intermediate cyclists, but beginners can also enjoy it with a rental car. The Pyrenees edition features a challenging loop for advanced cyclists. Table of Contents 1. Alps Edition: The Ultimate Tour de France Stage, Alpe d’Huez. Time yourself and get a certificate from the tourist of […]

TOP: Cheering in a Polka Dot Shirt Received from the Advertising Caravan Team ©A.S.O. Charly Lopez Reporting from the Tour de France, which takes 23 days to circle around France in the middle of summer. In the second part of this three-part column series, I will introduce how European cyclists actually enjoy the Tour de France. Table of Contents 1. A Ride Alongside Watching the Real Thing!?2. Points for Safe Riding: Prefectural Road D and National Road N3. France’s Famous ‘Rond-Point’ 1. A Ride Alongside Watching the Real Thing!? When local cyclists want to enjoy cycling while watching the Tour de France, the most effective method is to load their bicycles onto a car and ap […]

*TOP Photo / The Tour de France Uses One-Lane D Roads (Equivalent to Prefectural Roads in Japan) © A.S.O. Pauline Ballet The Tour de France, which takes 23 days to circle around France in the middle of summer, gained attention in Japan after being featured in the documentary program ‘NHK Special’ in 1985. Riders race across the harsh Alps and Pyrenees, striving for the single yellow jersey, the Maillot Jaune. Like the Hakone Ekiden, there are both good and bad sections, which creates drama. Naturally, it captivated the hearts of Japanese sports fans and had such an impact that it sparked a road bike boom in Japan. I am the writer in charge of this article, and I have been reporti […]