Where We Are Riding - July 2026
Where We’re Riding — July 2026
A monthly series from Allen
By July, the season reaches its high point.
The longest days of the year invite the biggest adventures. Alpine passes are fully open, mountain trails have shed their last traces of snow, and cyclists everywhere begin chasing rides they've dreamed about all winter.
July has always belonged to the mountains.
Whether inspired by the great European climbs or the high-altitude trails of the American West, this is the month that reminds us why cycling continues to capture imaginations around the world.
This month we're following legendary roads in France, historic trails in Colorado, and quiet alpine valleys in Austria.
July: Riding Into Cycling History
Every cyclist has a ride they've imagined long before they ever turned the pedals.
Sometimes it's a mountain pass seen during the Tour de France. Sometimes it's a legendary trail above the tree line. Sometimes it's simply a road disappearing into mountains you've never visited.
July has a way of bringing those dreams a little closer.
Europe / Rest of World Spotlight:
La Marmotte — French Alps
(Road)
There are gran fondos.
And then there is La Marmotte.
For decades, this event has challenged riders over some of the most iconic climbs in professional cycling, including the Col du Galibier, Col du Télégraphe, and the legendary finish atop Alpe d'Huez.
These are roads that have shaped cycling history.
Every climb carries stories from generations of Tour de France champions. Every switchback connects riders to a century of mountain racing.
Yet despite its reputation, La Marmotte remains deeply personal. Every rider experiences the course differently. Some chase times. Others simply chase the summit.
Learn more here:
https://www.lamarmottecyclo.
July in the Alps reminds us that great rides become lifelong memories.
United States Spotlight:
Leadville Trail 100 MTB — Leadville, Colorado
(Mountain Bike)
At over 10,000 feet (3,000 meters) above sea level, Leadville Trail 100 asks a simple question:
How badly do you want it?
High altitude, long climbs, changing weather, and thin air combine to make Leadville one of mountain biking's defining endurance events.
But beyond the challenge lies something even more compelling.
The Colorado Rockies offer immense landscapes where riders spend hours immersed in mountain wilderness. Forest gives way to alpine meadows. Meadows give way to open ridgelines. Every climb reveals another horizon.
Learn more here:
https://www.
Leadville reminds us that determination often grows stronger the higher we climb.
Lifestyle Ride of the Month:
Tyrol - Alpine Passes & Valley Roads
(No Event Required)
While France may have the famous Tour climbs, neighboring Tyrol offers something equally memorable: mountain riding without the crowds.
Quiet valleys connect historic villages, while beautifully engineered alpine roads climb steadily toward panoramic passes. Every ascent feels purposeful. Every descent seems to lead toward another café terrace, mountain lake, or centuries-old village.
Unlike destinations built around a single iconic climb, Tyrol encourages exploration. One day might include a famous pass. The next could simply follow a river valley into a town you've never heard of.
And, as always, the riding is only part of the experience.
Fresh alpine cuisine, local cheeses, traditional Austrian hospitality, and mountain lodges overlooking green valleys create the kind of afternoons that remind us why cycling holidays are about much more than riding.
For route inspiration:
https://www.tyrol.com/things-
July in Tyrol captures everything that makes alpine cycling unforgettable.
The Thread That Connects Them
Historic climbs. Rocky Mountain trails. Austrian valleys.
Three landscapes.
Three different expressions of mountain cycling.
What unites them isn't difficulty.
It's legacy.
These are places that cyclists dream about—not because they're easy, but because they promise experiences that last far longer than the ride itself.
Why July Matters
July is cycling's most iconic month.
It invites us to dream a little bigger, climb a little higher, and remember that the world's greatest rides aren't measured only in elevation or distance.
They're measured in moments.
Whether you're climbing Alpe d'Huez, riding above Leadville, or discovering a quiet Austrian valley, every great ride begins the same way:
One pedal stroke.
Then another.
Next up: August — alpine adventures continue as we head to Switzerland and the Colorado Rockies for two of the world's great summer riding destinations.
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