The Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift are launching Les Petites Boucles, a big charity challenge that encourages Tour fans to cycle 29 km in July for their own pleasure and for Secours populaire. Their rides will help to support access to cycling and active mobility by funding 500 bicycles. This unprecedented initiative, available on Strava, aims to turn the biggest race on Earth into a celebration enjoyed by TV viewers and spectators on the roadsides, but also by fans pushing the pedals in France, a larger-than-life arena.
“Our shared passion for moving around on a bicycle is what brings the Tour de France and Strava together. The Grande Boucle, an epic adventure that takes place over 3,500 kilometres every year, is peppered with legendary roads and brand-new sectors on which the amateurs also get to ride in the slipstream of the champions. I am thrilled to see Les Petites Boucles strengthen these bonds and venture into new regions across France, appealing to all cyclists and adding a charitable dimension for the benefit of Secours populaire”, said Christian Prudhomme, Director of the Tour de France.
“The Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift puts women’s cycling in the spotlight and inspires an entire generation of girls. This challenge continues this mission and provides a fantastic excuse for people to hop onto their bicycles in July and push the pedals on the same roads as the champions, but also in their neck of the woods, at their own pace and with their whole families”, added Marion Rousse, Director of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift.
In a nod to the Grande Boucle, the challenge invites all Tour fans to cycle 29 km in July. This symbolic number represents the 21 stages of the Tour de France plus the 8 stages of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift. Signing up is as easy as 1-2-3: just download the Strava app for free, join the #LesPetitesBoucles challenge and log a 29 km bicycle ride using the Strava app or a smart device between 1 and 31 July. You can choose any type of bicycles, including electric bicycles.
To encourage even more people to cycle regularly with Les Petites Boucles, Strava will reward everyone who reaches the goal of the challenge by giving €1 to the Secours populaire (up to a limit of €40,000). This donation will help fund more than 500 bicycles used by the charity and its federations to promote access to sports and active mobility during the Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift.
“Secours populaire promotes access to sport for everyone, all year round. Physical activity helps people, especially children, to fulfil their potential. We’re delighted to be developing these activities, which are recognised for their benefits. They also create lifelong memories and, sometimes, new passions. This Petites Boucles solidarity challenge completes the strong links that exist between the Tour and Secours Populaire Français,” said Christian Lampin, National Secretary of Secours Populaire Français.
A beautiful cycling experience requires beautiful roads and beautiful tracks. To inspire the participants, the Tour de France and Strava have designed over 130 Les Petites Boucles routes, which can be followed using the app or a GPS device.
These routes, which will be available for download free of charge even after the 2023 Tour, start from the host towns and cities of the 2023 edition and municipalities awarded the “Cycle City” label.
The Tour makes a visible impact on Strava
In 2022, Strava logged three million cycling activities in France in July, a 20% increase on June. The platform also recorded twice as many activities in the key segments of the 2022 Tour in the 12 months following the announcement of the routes in October 2021 (compared to the previous 12 months). A few examples of key segments are: Super Planche des Belles Filles (+ 260%), Col du Granon (+ 190%), Alpe d’Huez (+ 170%).
