With the Tour de France under way for its 108th edition, EF Education-NIPPO rider Lachlan Morton is setting off on his most ambitious ride to date – attempting to ride the whole Tour de France route solo and unsupported, including transfers, to beat the pro peloton to Paris.
He will cover 2,400km and 15,000m of elevation more than the pro peloton – a grand total of 5,510km and 65,000m of elevation in 23 days.
In a challenge inspired by the inaugural Le Tour edition of 1903, Lachlan Morton has set off after the pro peloton to complete the 21 stages, plus each and every transfer, from Brittany to Paris unsupported.
With 5,510km to cover and more than 65,000 metres to climb, Lachlan will endure an extra 2,400 kilometres and 15,000 metres of climbing, amounting to 238 hours of ride time in 23 days.
This isn’t just a ride for the hell of it, as there is a charity element attached to The Alt Tour as Lachlan will be riding in aid of World Bicycle Relief.
Rapha & EF have kickstarted a fundraising campaign with a pledge that represents 1,000 bikes for those in need, and fans will be able to donate too.
Rapha and EF Education First are each donating 500 bikes to World Bicycle Relief, the non-profit organisation that delivers specially designed, locally assembled, rugged bicycles for people in need.
Those inspired by Lachlan’s challenge and who would like to support him, can donate to World Bicycle Relief. The organisation will use donations to provide more young people with the bikes they need to access an education.
The transfers, or distances between the Tour’s normal starts and finishes, add a significant amount of mileage to Lachlan’s total. Regularly adding more than 100km to each day’s stage, the longest transfer will be more than 700km to reach the final stage into Paris.
On top of that, Lachlan will ride the route without the usual caravan of support his pro team will enjoy. With no teammates to shelter behind, no mechanics and no rest days, The Alt Tour is the rider’s greatest challenge yet, pitting him alone against the high mountains and vast expanses of the French landscape.
Lachlan Morton said “I’m excited to explore the origins of cycling and see for myself just how different the experience is. It’s a challenge that in many ways combines the two elements of cycling I have pursued the most, exploration and competition.
“Without intention I have essentially spent my whole life preparing for it. I know it’s going to be the most physically demanding ride I’ve undertaken but I anticipate the challenges of completing the route self-supported to be equally difficult.
“In doing the ride I hope to celebrate the history of the Tour de France while broadening the ideas of what a bike tour of France can be. And in the process, we’re going to be able to help get more people on bikes and make their day-to-day travels better. That’s the best part about the whole thing.”
A Rapha spokesperson said “Rapha and EF Education-NIPPO established the Alternative Calendar in 2019 to showcase the best of global bike racing to a wider audience. At the sport’s best known events and its hidden gems, Rapha Gone Racing celebrates cycling’s characters and finds stories in the places others don’t look.
“Over the last two years, we’ve covered everything from solo endurance races to mass participation gravel grinders, cyclocross in Yorkshire to mountain biking in South Africa.
“:In that time, Lachlan Morton has ridden the length of entire countries but now is the time for his greatest challenge yet. By attempting to beat the peloton to Paris, we hope that Lachlan can help raise valuable funds for World Bicycle Relief and inspire yet more people to get on their bikes.”
Philip Hult, Chairman of EF Education First, said “When I first heard about the Tour, I was 14 years old, and I remember thinking, ‘that’s not humanly possible’.
“What Lachlan is trying to do might not be possible, and I’m in awe that he’s even attempting it. Whether or not he beats the Tour to Paris, At EF we believe that cycling, and daring to reach for the impossible, can help solve many of the world’s problems.
“And whatever the outcome, working with World Bicycle Relief means we can empower more people through the power of bicycles. And that’s an incredible thing to be a part of.”
Allison Dufosee, CEO of World Bicycle Relief UK, added “We are delighted by the incredibly generous donations from both Rapha and EF Education First along with all of Lachlan’s supporters who will be cheering him along on this epic ride.
“These donations will allow us to fund the delivery of thousands of Buffalo Bicycles to mobilise communities and to enable access to education across rural areas of the world. This challenge is significant for raising awareness of our mission and the power of bicycles, and we wish Lachlan the best of luck.”
