Ride For Freedom's Basque Country Tour de France Cycling Tour 2023
If you fancy a different kind of challenge, then check out the Basque Country Tour de France Cycling Tour 2023 from our friends at Ride For Freedom, a cycling movement that advocates to end modern slavery. We spoke to founder Gordon Miller to find out what the challenge holds and how you can get involved.
What is involved in the Basque Country Tour de France Cycling Tour 2023?
The plan is to cycle the first three stages of the Tour de France 2023 in the beautiful Basque Country of northern Spain. This will take place between Saturday 24th June 2023 and Friday 30th June 2023. This is the week before the Pro Tour begins. Ride for Freedom is inclusive, so we aim to ride at a pace (14-15mph/24-25kmph) for at least the opening hour or so (40km) each day. After that cyclists are welcome to ride at their own pace – faster or slower. Our support crew will be on the road supporting the leaders and the laggards. So go fast or slow, like you know!
Two of the three stages are officially “hilly” with approximately 3,000 metres of climbing over 185-210km. So it goes without saying that you need to be able to cycle those distances in a day (~12 hours of daylight). Of course, no one will be left behind. The support vehicle is there to do exactly that! See below about the types of bikes you can ride too.
How did the ride come about?
Ride For Freedom achieves its mission by creating and leading unique cycling challenges and events, and by partnering with high impact sports clubs, companies and aligned charities. Every year, for the past three years since our formation, we have undertaken rides/tours – in the U.K., Germany, Spain, USA – that deliver our mission and objectives:
- To raise awareness of modern slavery – specifically child/human trafficking in football/sport (the TUP 2020 report notes 15,000 people are trafficked annually into Europe annually through ‘false promises’ of trials with football clubs. They don’t exist. Instead, they become exploited, victims of modern slavery) – Ride For Freedom’s campaign #ShowARedCard shines a light on this issue;
- To fundraise for Ride For Freedom’s Freewheel programme that empowers survivors of modern slavery to cycle to support their physical and mental health and help them to rebuild their lives. We do this by providing them with bikes, accessories and training;
- To seed a Freewheel Hub in the Basque country as a legacy of the Tour.
The Tour’s location – the Basque Country of northern Spain – is well aligned with our mission and objectives. The region is documented as being as part of a human trafficking route from Africa to northern Europe. There is an awareness and interest within the regional government to engage on the Tour’s objectives. The Basque Country is the HQ of bike manufacturer, Orbea, for whom Gordon Miller, our team leader and founder, is an ambassador. Lastly, the appeal of riding three stages of the Tour de France in a region aligned in so many ways with our project, personnel, and purpose is hugely attractive and one not to be missed.
How can people get involved?
Sign up is on a first come, first served basis. The cost of the tour is £2,100 and includes airport transfer, seven-nights accommodation, three daily meals (excluding beverages), three fully supported rides and organised visits to Spanish football clubs including Athletic Bilbao and Real Sociedad. Flights and bike box storage are exclusive. A £500 non-refundable deposit is due at the time of sign up. The remainder of the tour cost will be payable before June 2023. If you’d like to discuss the Tour, contact Gordon. If you’re ready to roll you can book straightaway via the booking page of our delivery partner Coast 2 Coast in partnership with Wild Atlantic Cycling. All riders will get a free Ride For Freedom jersey RRP £75.
There are only 6 places left of the 20 designated, so get a wiggle on! The closing date is 28 February 2023. Corporate teams, cycling clubs etc are welcome to take up to 6 places.
What else should people be aware of?
You are welcome to cycle on an e-bike (remember: you can’t fly with an e-bike so you’d have to hire one in Spain or take a return ferry from the UK-Bilbao). As we say, we are inclusive – “e” is enabling, and allows everyone who loves cycling and wants to support Ride For Freedom’s mission to participate. No “e-shaming” will be tolerated: if that’s how you roll, there are other tours available – go join one!
To support Ride For Freedom’s SDG 8.7 aligned mission to harness cycling to raise awareness, educate and forge partnerships to end modern slavery, and to provide remedy to survivors, there is a modest minimum fundraising commitment of £500 to support the development and delivery of our Freewheel programme. A donation to the same amount may be made if preferred rather than fundraise.
We welcome sponsorship of the Tour – why wouldn’t we! Here’s a link to download the prospectus that details the features and benefits of sponsorship. N.B. All sponsorships support the development and delivery of Ride For Freedom’s mission and programmes. Please get in touch if you’d like to discuss the opportunity.
Download information on the full cyclists' experience here to join the ride of a lifetime!
*The next six people who sign up will receive a free B&W International bike bag 2.0 (RRP £429). T&Cs apply. *