On 4 July 2026, one hundred and seventy-six riders will leave Barcelona for the team time trial not seen at the Tour since 1971. Three weeks, 3,333 km, the Tourmalet in the first week and Alpe d'Huez on two consecutive days. The finish on the cobblestones of Montmartre on 26 July.
You are watching.
The Tour effect: those three days that make you want to ride
The same thing happens every year. Stage one, and you are already thinking about the bike in the garage. Stage three, and you have already searched for "Sunday ride" on Google. Mountain week, and you are convinced: this time you are actually going out.
The Tour de France has a unique pull among sporting events. It is not just a TV show. It is three weeks of road images, real effort, landscapes. The Pyrenean climbs in the first week. The double Alpe d'Huez — same finish, two consecutive days. The côtes of the north before Montmartre. It is hard to watch all this and not feel the urge to pedal.
The problem is not motivation. The motivation is there. The problem is the next step.
The real problem: who do you call?
Riding alone is possible. But after half an hour your head starts going in circles. No group pace, no conversation, nothing to push you when your legs give out. And safety — riding in pairs or threes makes a concrete difference in terms of visibility and handling emergencies.
The group, though, is the hardest piece to find.
Friends who cycle either have a very different level from yours — you follow them for twenty minutes and then you are alone anyway — or they have incompatible schedules. The local club's group rides are great but often structured: Wednesday morning at 6:30, thirty kilometres at 28 average. If you work or you are averaging 22, you do not fit in.
The matched pace. That is the real luxury of amateur cycling: finding someone who goes at exactly your speed, who prefers the same type of ride — two and a half hours on Saturday morning, flat roads with a few climbs, no pressure — and who lives five kilometres from you. It is rarer than it sounds.
Why riding in a group changes everything
It is not just about company. There are two concrete reasons why group riding works better than solo.
The first is consistency. Someone who has a regular appointment rides 70% more often than someone who decides day by day whether to go. The bike in the garage is too easy to ignore when you are on your own. If you have told Luca that you will be outside his place at eight on Sunday, the bike comes out.
The second is pace. In a group you push harder without noticing. Drafting helps. Conversation distracts from fatigue. And when one person slows a little on the last climb, the other waits — without judging.
How to find cycling partners on PlaySportMate
PlaySportMateis free, covers 150+ sports, and has a dedicated section for cycling. Each cyclist's profile shows their stated level, type of bike, available hours, area, and ride preferences.
Select Cycling and set your city. You will see profiles of cyclists nearby — who wants short morning rides, who prefers weekends, who does gravel, who does road. You can message directly in chat.
- Profile with sport, city, level, and preferred ride type
- Search by sport + city or geographic radius
- Direct contact in chat — no intermediaries
No membership fees. No WhatsApp group asking for your FTP. Creating a profile takes five minutes. Finding a partner can take a day.
Alpe d'Huez, Montmartre, and your Saturday ride
You do not have to climb Alpe d'Huez. You do not have to reach Paris. But seeing those riders on those walls, on the Montmartre cobblestones, that kind of shared effort — it is hard not to feel that your Saturday morning ride has something similar in shape, even if not in the numbers.
Cycling is one of those sports where company completely transforms the experience. A solo ride is a workout. A ride with someone becomes a memory.
The Tour starts on 4 July. You have a week to find someone to ride with while you watch the mountains.
If you enjoyed this read, see how Wimbledon pushes tennis players back on court — the same dynamic. And if you run, check out how to find a running partner this summer.
Find your cycling partners now
Join PlaySportMate, select Cycling and find riders at your pace in your city. The Tour gives you the motivation — PlaySportMate gives you the group.
Find cycling partners →Frequently asked questions
How do I find a cycling group near me on PlaySportMate?
Go to /cerca, select 'Cycling' as your sport and set your city or search radius. You will see profiles of cyclists in your area with their stated level, availability, and preferred type of ride. You can message them directly in chat.
Do I need a minimum level or a road bike?
No. PlaySportMate has no minimum level requirement. You will find cyclists with road bikes, MTBs, and gravel bikes. The profile shows preferences so you can quickly find someone compatible with your style and pace.
Does PlaySportMate work for people who cycle for fitness rather than racing?
Absolutely. The majority of cyclists on PSM are amateurs looking for regular riding partners, not races. You can specify your average pace, typical distance, and whether you prefer morning or weekend rides.
Can I use PlaySportMate for sports other than cycling?
Yes. PSM covers 150+ sports: running, tennis, football, basketball, padel, swimming, hiking and much more. The same search system works for any sport.