Luxury cycling tour operator LeBlanq has announced new ‘weekend joyride’ destinations for 2022 – Norway and Ibiza – alongside a return to Champagne, France, as it adds to 2022 breaks already on sale to Scotland and the Isle of Wight.
Confirming the return of lead riders including Sir Bradley Wiggins, Sir Chris Hoy, Matt Stephens and Adam Blythe, new names to feature for the first time in 2022 include:
- Mark Cavendish in Ibiza,
- Greg LeMond in Champagne, and
- Thor Hushovd in Norway.
There will also be first time appearances from chefs including Niklas Ekstedt, Alain Passard, Angela Hartnett and Tom Kitchin.
Lining up some of the biggest names in cycling and the kitchen, Mark Cavendish will ride Ibiza as his season closer, fresh from his summer of competition, whilst three-time winner of the Tour de France, Greg LeMond, will lead the pack in Champagne.
Norwegian Thor Hushovd, holding the most stage wins in Grand Tours of any Scandinavian, and Niklas Ekstedt, Sweden’s open fire cooking king, will join forces in Norway. Meanwhile in Champagne, LeBlanq is partnering with Alain Passard of L’Arpège, holding three Michelin stars and placed 23rd on the World’s 50 Best list.
With Ibiza, Norway and Champagne now on sale, the five LeBlanq joyriding weekends for 2022 are:
- 13-15 May, Isle of Wight – Sold Out – The Royal Hotel, with Sir Bradley Wiggins, Johan Museeuw & Angela Hartnett. Two nights was priced at £2295 riders/£1995 non riders.
- 8-10 July, Scotland – Sold Out – Dunskey Estate with Sir Chris Hoy, Tom Kitchin & Ashley Palmer-Watts. Two nights was priced at £2495 riders/£2195 non riders.
- 19-21 August, Champagne – The Royal Champagne Hotel & Spa, with Greg LeMond & Alain Passard. Two nights priced at £3995 riders/£3045 non-riders.
- 8-10 September, Norway – 62Nord, with Thor Hushovd & Niklas Ekstedt. Three nights priced at £2995 riders/£2245 non-riders.
- 20-23 October, Ibiza – Hotel Riomar, with Mark Cavendish, Sir Bradley Wiggins & DJ Pete Tong. Three nights priced at £2795 riders/£2045 non-riders.
Positioned as ‘a curated luxury getaway for the cycling gourmand’, each weekend partners legendary cyclists with world-class chefs, offering guests intimate access to share both the roads and dining table with hosts.
‘Each weekend will include at least three beautiful joyrides at varying levels, guided by a team of pros and Aston Martin support vehicles, as well as a ‘Time & Place’ dinner to welcome guests, celebrating the culinary identity of the host region, and a five-course ‘Tour de Feast’ on the Saturday evening, a homage to the trip’s lead rider.’
Justin Clarke, founder of LeBlanq, said “Our line-up for 2022 has superseded even our own expectations. With this year’s stellar list of destinations, hotels, riders and chefs, we’re delivering on our promise to produce the world’s finest cycling experiences.
“Of our new destinations for 2022, Norway promises stunning rides through the untamed beauty of the fjords, led by cycling legend Thor Hushovd, then returning to taste the wildest new Nordic cuisine from Scandinavia’s open fire cooking king, Niklas Ekstedt, while Ibiza will be our biggest joyriding weekend to date, with a three-night break offering a sensational end of season celebration complete with Michelin starred beach barbecues and sunset sessions from Pete Tong.”
