Dyll’s Grand Tour

Cycling the 2021 tour de France route . . .and more

On behalf of

As some of you will know, our esteemed founder, Dyll Davies, started cycling just a few years ago when he set himself a challenge to raise money for charity - to climb the 3 highest peaks in England, Scotland and Wales and cycle the 500 miles between them.  In setting up Viva Velo Dyll was keen to create a cycle tour company which inspired relative newcomers to the sport like him to take up cycling and expand their horizons as a result.  In the 5 years since, Viva Velo has grown dramatically and Dyll has decided it is time to set himself another personal challenge.  If cycling 500 miles in 6 days seemed like a massive challenge to the newbie cyclist 7 years ago, Dyll's latest endeavour is a daunting prospect even for the most experienced pedaller.

Riding the entire route of a three week Grand Tour is something that a few brave souls have done so when Dyll decided that he'd ride the entire route of the 2020 Tour de France he decided to make the challenge just a little more challenging, by also riding between stages where they finish and start in different places!  Unfortunately due to Covid (Dyll contracted it!) he was unable to attempt this challenge on medical advice.

But, as those of you will know Dyll is not easily put off from achieving a goal and he has committed to riding the 2021 route - and the bits between stages instead. This is expected to add around 2,000 kilometres and 20,000 metres of ascent to an already tough ride.  Add in the fact that, unlike the pros, Dyll will have no 'rest' days, and be unsupported for the majority of the route, cycling every day for 32 days in a row, averaging over 100 miles and around nearly 7,500 feet of climbing per day, we hope you'll agree that the resultant ride totalling nearly 5,500 kilometres with 73,000 metres of climbing - that’s like cycling up Everest from sea-level nearly 8 times - or once every 4 days to put it another way - is a challenge worth supporting.

The route can be seen below and you can make a donation to one or all of Dyll’s charities by clicking on his Just Giving page here.

With the kind support of

While the ride itself is sure to be testing, the organisation of such an event provides additional challenges and Dyll is looking for your help.  Dyll is looking for the support of a energy bar supplier to provide nutrition for the challenge and will be approaching other commercial sponsors in due course but if you'd like to help, or know someone who can help then please do get in touch at enquiries@vivavelo.uk or the Facebook page for the event.  Anyone else who has talents they think would be of use - from masseurs to mechanics - are welcome to join the fun.   Dyll also needs to borrow a motor home to act as the support vehicle for the challenge as well as volunteers to drive this and also perhaps join him on the road on alternate days. So if you know a motor home owner who might be able to help or fancy spending some of June/July in France yourself just let us know asap.

While Dyll has been reluctant to seek charity donations for his cycling challenges since that first 3 Peaks 500 event - as he says "there are only so many times you can impose on people's generosity" - it seems silly not to benefit some good causes on the back of The Grand Tour.  Dyll has therefore teamed up with some of Viva Velo's charity partners Bike 4 Cancer, Bowel Cancer UK, Bloodwise and Barnardo's and set himself the target of raising £12,000.  So if you'd like to pledge a few pounds then you can do so by clicking below.

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