Year in Review: Andy’s Top Bike Rides of 2023

Each spring our guides gather for an annual pre-season training. This year the team was in Tuscany’s Val d’Orcia, my favorite place to host new and returning guides. It’s really the best of Italy with serene landscapes, world-class food and wine, and the kindest locals. The family-run villas that host our growing group of guides are a great model of Italian hospitality.

This area’s charm is ideal not only for pre-season cycling, it also features prominently in our Tuscany bike tour itineraries. When I return to places like a familiar café on a tiny street in Montisi, it feels like coming home. Riding here in the spring marks a seasonal shift both physically and symbolically—the end of a restful winter and start of a re-energizing spring.

Growing up in New England, the American south was uncharted territory for me. So in May, I took a long weekend to experience the southern hospitality at Blackberry Farm, a luxury resort in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains.

This property really understands service. Between the spa, on-property dining, and peaceful 4,000-acre setting, it’s hard to find a reason to leave. But I was there to see Appalachia by bike, and Blackberry Farm was the ideal starting point for daily rides into Tennessee’s quiet countryside and oak forests—a welcome change of pace. Roads were mellow and pleasant; we loved stopping at Mama Jean’s country store for an icy mid-ride Coca-Cola and homemade goodies.

Ahh, Mallorca. Arguably the cycling capital of Europe, this island is the total package, with traffic-free roads and views that make you say “are you kidding me?” at every mile. It’s also surprisingly easy to get here with direct flights from New York—and despite an uptick in popularity, Mallorca retains an air of mystery (especially when you head inland to tackle the mountains).

The ride that (literally) takes my breath away is the Cap de Formentor, a spicy 1.9 mile climb with 600 feet of elevation to reach the Formentor lighthouse. Thankfully, 360-degree ocean views distract from your burning quads and pumping heart. The descent is pure joy: a zigzag down the crispest road you’ve ever seen that spits you out right at Son Brull. Consider this my RSVP for another visit in 2024.

If there’s one place I’d recommend to travelers in 2024, it’s Corsica. Fashionably jet-set but too cool to care, Corsica is still relatively unknown to Americans—maybe because it requires more effort to reach than other European beach destinations, or perhaps because the Côte d’Azure is the first place people imagine in the south of France.

But Corsica offers a more well-rounded experience, especially if you want something laid back: think pristine beaches, fresh seafood, and very few tourists. As for the riding, it felt like exploring the world’s best-kept secret. One memorable route was the Cap Corse to Calvi, a peninsular ride surrounded on every side by the Mediterranean. Don’t miss the Désert des Agriates, a wild and arid little pocket where we stopped for grilled fish and rosé right on the beach. C’est magnifique.

I previewed our new-for-2024 Dordogne + Bordeaux Bike Tour, which moves through two distinct regions of Southwestern France. In Bordeaux, you ride vineyard roads in places like Saint-Émilion and look behind the scenes at how intrinsic the winemaking is to daily life and culture. By contrast, the Dordogne‘s poetic approach to winemaking is informed by nature—cliffs, castles, caves, and rivers. Family-run châteaux produce elegant wines, but the attitude is more homespun and less serious.

I’m no stranger to Bordeaux’s many five-star hotels, but Château du Palanquey stands out. Owned and operated by a local couple, they understand the art of luxury and the importance of personal touches, with a wine program that’s hard to beat. Even if you’ve been to Bordeaux, it’s a wonderful place to visit again and again—especially when paired with the lesser-known Dordogne.

One thing about the Loire Valley—it’s so French. Every visit is like a leap back in time that feels far away from the business of everyday life. The riding is DuVine’s easiest, a Level 1, but I came to appreciate the unhurried tempo and ease with which you can hop off the bike to appreciate architecture and UNESCO World Heritage sites.

In my opinion, there’s no better home base than Les Sources de Cheverny. We stay at this eco-friendly 18th-century château and spa for our final night of the Loire Valley tour. It’s operated by friends of mine from Bordeaux; they’ve nailed the essence of whimsical French country life with elegant yet comfortable accommodations plus top-notch food and wine that strikes the exact right tone.

I couldn’t have dreamed a better way to close out the year than our South Africa Mountain Bike Tour—in one word, wow. I loved it all: the descent into Cape Town with views of Table Mountain from your airplane window, the soulful way townships welcomed us with open arms, the Chenin Blanc from Jordan Winery that rivaled any Old World wine, and the huge smile on my face as I found my MTB legs on epic single track trails.

Our exceptional local guides Arien, Kandice, and Jaco lead us up Chapman’s Peak on the final day of the tour. This ride is reason enough to visit—a coastal road carved out of the mountainside with views that made us all giddy—and the day comes to a stellar finish at Tintswalo Atlantic, a hotel that exceeded my expectations in every way.