For a unique perspective on what it takes to ride the world’s greatest bike race, Lachlan Morton is taking on his own Alt Tour.
Aussie professional cyclist Lachlan Morton is dreaming big. Really big. This weekend, Morton left Brest, France, heading off to ride every stage of the Tour. Though unlike those in the race, he’ll be doing every stage, even including the distances of transfers — and all unsupported.
Morton started his ride just before the first stage. He’ll have to ride nearly double the distance and make the equivalent of an extra 13 ascents of the grueling and famous Tourmalet climb.
Here’s the kicker — Morton hopes to ride that whole distance and still beat the race pack to Paris.
The Tour de France
Total distance: 3,414 km / 2,121 miles
Total gain: 10,664 m / 34,986 feet
Time frame: 23 days
Stages: 21
Morton’s “Alt” Tour
Total distance: 5,500 km / 3,417 miles
Total gain: 65,000 m / 213,254 feet
Time frame: 23 days (no rest days)
“It’s a challenge that in many ways combines the two elements of cycling I have pursued the most, exploration and competition,” said Lachlan Morton. “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.”
The Tour de France Unsupported: Lachlan’s Gear List
Morton’s Alt Tour isn’t just about pushing it in the saddle; it’s also a fundraiser for World Bicycle Relief. His team sponsors Rapha and EF Education will each donate 500 bikes to the organization. Learn more or donate.
Currently, Morton is ahead of the pack in Redon, France. Official Tour de France riders are beginning Stage 3.
Lachlan Morton, 29, is a professional cyclist from New South Wales, Australia. He’s ridden in a number of ultra-distance cycling events like the Leadville 100 and Garmin UNBOUND, as well as cycling 2,500 km across Australia and setting an Everesting record in 2020. He is the most recent rider on the UCI EF Education-Nippo team.
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