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OSLO (Nov. 3, 2026) — Norrøna, the Norwegian outdoor brand known for durable, premium outerwear, is partnering with Australian materials company Uluu to develop a new kind of performance fiber made mostly from seaweed. The partnership supports Norrøna’s long-term Responsibility Roadmap, which sets ambitious goals for carbon reduction, biodiversity protection, waste elimination and responsible material sourcing. To meet these goals, the brand is evaluating new raw materials designed for circularity, natural biodegradability and a smaller lifecycle footprint.

While most plant-based plastic alternatives are made exclusively from land crops, Uluu is one of the first to make a plastic alternative using seaweed. Together, the two brands are exploring the potential of seaweed-derived polymers as an alternative to fossil-based synthetics, advancing research into regenerative raw materials for the future of outdoor apparel. Their goal is to develop fibers and fabrics tough enough for the outdoors and one day use them in Norrøna products. The work runs parallel to Norrøna’s support of Bellona’s efforts to restore Arctic kelp ecosystems impacted by sea urchin overgrazing along Norway’s northern coast.

“Building the next generation of outdoor materials requires brands to get involved before every question has been answered,” says Jørgen Jørgensen, CEO and fourth-generation owner of Norrøna. “For nearly a century, Norrøna has developed products around the demands of the outdoors. We are now bringing that experience upstream, helping shape the fiber itself around what outdoor performance requires.”

Norrøna’s Responsibility Roadmap 2029 includes 10 goals the brand is striving to reach by its 100-year anniversary in 2029. Among them, the brand aims to source 100% of its ingredients from third-party certified responsible sources, including GRS certified recycled, GOTS certified organically grown cotton and new generation bio-based materials, and to continuously work towards eliminating plastic waste from its products and supplies. The brand currently uses GRS certified recycled polyester and nylon across its collections, has offered repairs on its products since 1929, and designs its gear to stay in use for years. Bringing a bio-based material with seaweed to life, and shaping it from the earliest stages of development, marks a natural next step in that work.

Unlike synthetic material that can shed tiny fibers during wear and washing that stay in the environment for a long time, Uluu’s material is designed to biodegrade passing TUV marine and home biodegradable tests. The process starts with a low-impact raw material, since seaweed is harvested without farmland, minimum freshwater or fertilizer. Uluu’s process works much like a brewery, fermenting sugars from the seaweed in saltwater to create a natural material that can then be made into fiber. Uluu and Norrøna have already spun fiber using seaweed-derived Uluu PHA as a core ingredient. From here, Norrøna will test the material for durability and performance attributes working with one of their key suppliers. It’s familiar territory for the brand, which developed Europe’s first GORE-TEX jacket prototype in 1977 and has spent decades bringing new innovations into outdoor clothing.

“Norrøna is built around helping people experience nature, so reducing our impact on it has to be part of how we innovate,” says Brad Boren, Director of Innovation and Sustainability at Norrøna. “Our role is to put this material through its paces and feed what we learn directly back into its development. By bringing our performance requirements into the process early, we can help shape a new material around the demands of outdoor use and contribute to a broader shift in how our industry makes fabric.”

“Nature already knows how to build high-performance materials,” says Dr. Julia Reisser, co-CEO and co-founder of Uluu. “We’re harnessing that biology to transform seaweed into natural, plastic-like materials. It opens up a new way of thinking about what seaweed can become.”

Working with Uluu is the latest example of Norrøna’s holistic approach to responsibility. Since 2024, the brand has partnered with the Bellona Foundation on the Center for Marine Restoration in Lofoten, which is working to bring back Northern Norway’s kelp forests after years of heavy overgrazing by sea urchins. By supporting both efforts, Norrøna is helping restore the ocean ecosystems it depends on while rethinking what outdoor apparel can be made from.

The collaboration with Norrøna marks Uluu’s first development within textiles. Norrøna plans to share the journey as it unfolds, with the hope of helping the textile industry one day create low- or zero-carbon materials whose fibers can biodegrade in the ocean or soil. For questions or media inquiries, please contact corinne.baud@rygr.us.

About Norrøna: Norrøna is a fourth-generation, family-owned Norwegian outdoor brand founded in 1929 and led by Jørgen Jørgensen, the founder’s great-grandson. Headquartered at Norrøna House in Oslo, its mission is to create the world’s greatest outdoor products and offer unique guided adventures around the world. Its design philosophy, Loaded Minimalism, creates clean products containing all critical technical details and functions. www.norrona.com

About Uluu: Founded in 2021 by Dr. Julia Reisser and Michael Kingsbury, Uluu is an Australian materials company producing a natural alternative to plastic from farmed seaweed. Its proprietary saltwater fermentation process converts seaweed sugars into PHAs, a family of natural polymers that perform like plastic and are reusable, recyclable, compostable and biodegradable in soil and marine environments. PHAs can be processed using existing plastic manufacturing equipment, making adoption more practical for brands and manufacturers. Uluu partners with leading brands across apparel, beauty and automotive, including Boardriders,

Papinelle, Norrøna, Audi and other non-disclosed programs. Uluu has raised more than US$20 million from investors including Main Sequence, Burda Principal Investments, Possible Ventures and Novel Investments, and was named a 2026 World Economic Forum Technology Pioneer after winning the 2025 SXSW Innovation Award for Sustainability. www.uluu.com.au

COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho — Nov. 5, 2026 —  Selkirk Sport today announced it has acquired LevelUp Pickleball Camps, which annually runs more than 400 camps in more than 35 states. The acquisition makes Selkirk and LevelUp the largest provider of pickleball camps in the world.

LevelUp, which largely focuses on intermediate to advanced instruction, joins Selkirk’s suite of instructional offerings, including Selkirk Academy, which offers in-depth, topic-specific instruction for intermediate and advanced players, strengthening Selkirk’s pickleball camps for players of every level across the U.S.

”Camps are where players get better fastest,” said Mike Barnes, co-founder and co-CEO of Selkirk Sport. “LevelUp has built one of the best camp experiences in the country, one player at a time. Bringing it together with Selkirk Academy means more players, in more places, can learn from great coaches with Selkirk behind them.”

The Dollard family, who built LevelUp, stays on as head pros, and the 2027 camp calendar is set, including new international destination camps. Campers keep the more than 30 professional coaches and camp formats they know, but now have a path to improvement from beginner to pro level.

“We started LevelUp to give players the kind of camp we always wanted to attend: great coaching, real improvement and a lot of fun,” said Wayne Dollard, founder of LevelUp Pickleball Camps. “Joining Selkirk gives our camps the resources to grow, and we can’t wait to see where that takes us.”

Started in 2026, Selkirk Academy aims to give players a clear path to improve specific pickleball skills through expert coaching and specialized curriculum. The Academy offers multi-day and single day destination camps in Arizona, and traveling camps in California and the Great Lakes region. Selkirk Academy has also expanded internationally to Malaysia, bringing the same expert coaching to the growing Southeast Asia pickleball community.

Players can view the 2027 LevelUp camp calendar and register online.

About LevelUp Pickleball Camps

LevelUp Pickleball Camps, founded in 2016, runs more than 400 instructional camps a year in more than 35 states, from multi-day skill camps to destination camps, and has coached about 25,000 players.

About Selkirk Sport

Selkirk Sport, a premium manufacturer of pickleball paddles and accessories, is a family-owned and operated company. Selkirk Sport is based in Hayden, Idaho, in the shadows of its namesake, the Selkirk mountain range. Founded in 2014, Selkirk Sport was born from a passion for sport and the Western outdoor leisure lifestyle that was afforded to the company’s founders, Rob and Mike Barnes, along with their father Jim. Selkirk Sport is committed to manufacturing products that deliver the highest performance with unmatched quality and service. 

London, Wednesday 4 November 2026 – ISPO, the world’s largest sports and outdoor trade fair, has announced the launch of ISPO Sports Week, a new global platform bringing together the entire sports ecosystem, from sourcing and manufacturing to retail, innovation and participation. The initiatives will bring a collection of specialist events together in each city, connecting the commercial engine of sport with the people and communities shaping demand.

Each regional edition is a week-long programme built around a central industry event. Around that hub, brands and visitors choose from business-to-business trade and networking, consumer-facing participation and brand experiences, and independent fringe events. The regional editions will take place in different markets at different points in the year where partners can choose the activities and editions that fit their objectives and teams.

The thinking is simple: sport is no longer shaped in the trade hall alone. Clubs, athletes, creators and grassroots communities increasingly influence what people buy and the way they engage with Sport, while brands invest in separate trade shows and consumer activations to reach different audiences. ISPO Sports Week brings these opportunities together.

Each Sports Week will feature a collection of focused, specialist events, each retaining its own identity, audience and purpose. Exhibitors can reach new audiences, visitors have more reasons to attend, and brands can choose the opportunities most relevant to their business.

The launch is supported by significant investment in developing new events and experiences around ISPO’s established trade platform. This includes the introduction of PadelXpo and OutdoorXpo, two new events being developed for the Sports Week calendar, alongside opportunities for independent organisers, sporting bodies and brands to contribute their own events, activations and experiences.

Amsterdam will remain the flagship home of ISPO Sports Week, bringing together the international sports industry and local sporting communities. Anchored by ISPO’s established global trade event, the 2027 programme will include the ISPO Leaders Summit, International Running Expo (IRX), OutdoorXpo and PadelXpo, alongside a wider programme of sporting experiences, brand activations and industry events.

The Middle East edition will take place in Dubai in September 2027, with a programme developed specifically for the regional market. ISPO Source will connect manufacturing, materials and ingredient businesses with brands looking to develop and expand production, while ISPO Discover will provide a platform for emerging brands to connect with manufacturers, retailers and distributors. At the weekend, The Run Show, PadelXpo and OutdoorXpo will open the programme to consumers, creating opportunities for brands to activate, engage with sporting communities and sell directly to their audiences.

In Asia, the platform will build on ISPO’s established events in Shanghai and Beijing, with each city hosting its own edition of ISPO Sports Week Asia. Both events already connect manufacturers, brands and retailers across the sports industry, with plans to explore how additional sporting events, brand activations and community experiences could complement the existing exhibitions. This builds on ISPO’s experience of working with local partners to connect trade events with wider sporting activities in China, creating further opportunities for businesses and sporting communities to come together.

With five sports events already running in the USA, Snowbound Expo, Brand Match, E.L.I.T.E, Match Indoor and Sports Venue Summit, the organisers have plans to bring ISPO Sports Week to the US in 2028 with announcements expected in 2027.

Mike Seaman, Group CEO of Raccoon Media Group, said: “For over 50 years, ISPO has connected the people and businesses behind the sports industry. ISPO Sports Week builds on that heritage, creating opportunities for brands, manufacturers and retailers to do business while connecting with the athletes, creators and communities shaping demand.

“Brands already invest in trade shows, product launches, sporting events and consumer activations, often separately. We see a huge opportunity to bring these activities closer together, making it easier for businesses to achieve their objectives while creating a much bigger moment for the industry.

“We’re making a significant investment in developing new events and experiences to support that ambition. Amsterdam will remain our flagship, with new regional editions in Dubai and plans for an event in the USA, alongside our established events in China. Together, they provide the foundation for a global Sports Week platform, with each region developing a programme shaped around its own industry and sporting communities.”

For brands, ISPO Sports Week creates opportunities to achieve multiple objectives within one week, from meeting manufacturers, distributors and retail buyers to launching products, telling brand stories, building relationships with athletes and creators through unique activations, and engaging directly with consumers. Businesses can choose the events and activities most relevant to them, whether that’s sourcing, trade, innovation, content, brand activation or consumer sales.

For retailers, it offers the opportunity to discover new products and emerging brands, while gaining a closer understanding of the communities and trends influencing consumer demand.

The ambition is to establish ISPO Sports Week as a defining fixture in the global sporting calendar, with major events taking place in different regions throughout the year. Bringing together trade, innovation and participation, it will create new opportunities for businesses, brands and sporting communities to connect.

For more information, visit isposportsweek.com or to discuss opportunities or arrange an interview contact chris@cgprpublicrelations.com

PARIS, France (November 3, 2026) – Reju, the textile-to-textile regeneration company, today announced that it has been collaborating with six mills to develop fabrics in order to accelerate the integration of regenerated polyester into the global textile supply chain. The work is being carried out with A. Sampaio, RDD Textiles, Tintex Textiles, FOV Fabrics and Utenos in Europe and Swisstex Direct in the United States, thereby growing a network for premium knitting, seamless construction, technical wovens, and advanced dyeing and finishing. The ongoing work is designed to move Reju’s regenerated polyester further downstream, from raw output at its future Regeneration Hubs into finished fabric.

Together, these six mills bring complementary specializations across the textile value chain:

• Sampaio, a +79 year-old Portuguese leader in circular knitted fabrics
• RDD Textiles, a Portuguese seamless and circular knit producer with certifications for recycled content traceability
• Swisstex Direct, a sustainable knitting, dyeing and finishing provider based in Los Angeles, California and El Salvador
• Tintex Textiles, a certified B Corp specializing in smart jersey fabrics with advanced, lower-impact dyeing and finishing technologies
• FOV Fabrics, a Swedish manufacturer of high-tech woven fabrics for demanding technical and functional applications
• Utenos Trikotazas, a vertically integrated circular knit fabric and garment manufacturer in the Baltic States, combining over 50 years of textile expertise with European manufacturing excellence

This gives Reju access to mills spanning circular knit design, chain-of-custody verified recycling, high-volume jersey production, and sustainability-certified dyeing and finishing, the manufacturing capabilities needed to move regenerated polyester from raw material into finished, market-ready fabric at scale.

“Every selected mill with whom we are working adds to our circular textile system,” said Patrik Frisk, CEO of Reju. “As plans for Reju’s future Regeneration Hub network grows, so will our ability to deliver a consistent, high-quality regenerated polyester that manufacturers and brands can then build on.”

Each on-going workstream is tied to specific development projects underway across Reju’s manufacturing network, work that reflects real market demand the company is tracking with its growing roster of brand with whom it has signed development agreements.

The mill announcements build on a year of strong momentum for Reju, including: the €135 million from NIKI the Dutch government funding to support the facility; the selection of Rochester, New York as its first North American regeneration hub and an additional site selection for a future regeneration hub in Lacq, France.

“By bringing mills like these into our ecosystem, we can turn regenerated material into real product,” Frisk added. “It’s how we close the loop, not just in theory, but from textile waste to finished fabric.”

With access to an expanded manufacturing network, Reju is positioning itself to deliver regenerated polyester at the quality and scale required for mainstream adoption, moving the industry closer to a true textile-to-textile circular system.

About Reju

Reju is a materials regeneration company focused on creating innovative solutions for regenerating polyester textiles from post-consumer PET waste. Owned by Technip Energies and utilizing technology originating with IBM Research, Reju is driven by its purpose to unlock infinite possibilities within finite resources. The company aims to establish a global textile recycling circular system to regenerate and recirculate polyester textiles. Learn more at https://www.reju.com/.

About A. Sampaio

With over 75 years of experience, we are market leaders in developing and manufacturing circular knitted fabrics.

We have always based our decisions on the values ​​we value most. Dedication to Work, Trust, Transparency, and Social Responsibility combined with our focus on Technology, Innovation, Know-How, Flexibility, and Sustainability. The blend of all these factors distinctively marks the essence of our business model and A. Sampaio’s path in the national and international textile industry.

We know how to anticipate customer needs and offer the correct solution, from essential fabrics to developments with increasingly innovative and complex structures and raw materials, crossing all creative boundaries.

At A. Sampaio, we pride ourselves on building relationships based on Trust and Transparency. These relationships underpin our company’s and all partners’ success in an economy that increasingly wants to be circular. We create value while respecting the ecosystem and everyone’s future.

About FOV

Thriving at the textile frontier, FOV Fabrics fuses advanced textile functionality with circular sustainability. And boasting a fully vertical process, which includes creative design, cutting-edge R&D as well as the latest production technologies, we believe anything is possible.

Swisstex Direct

Swisstex Direct is a provider of circular knit fabrics with locations in Los Angeles and El Salvador, offering knitting, dyeing, finishing, and collaborative product development for apparel brands. With more than 20 years of experience, the company offers a broad range of knit constructions, natural and synthetic fibers, recycled materials, and performance finishes. As a Bluesign® system partner, Swisstex Direct combines technical innovation with a commitment to responsible textile production, quality, and responsive customer service. For more information, visit swisstexdirect.com.

About Tintex Textiles

TINTEX specializes in crafting circular-knitted fabrics and developing sustainable strategies throughout the entire supply chain.

Based in Vila Nova de Cerveira, Portugal, the company draws on over 25 years of textile experience to create both timeless and contemporary, eco-conscious, and innovative fabrics for the Fashion, Activewear, Loungewear, and Underwear segments.

About Utenos

Utenos Trikotazas, a vertically integrated circular knit fabric and garment manufacturer in the Baltic States, combining over 50 years of textile expertise with European manufacturing excellence and certifications including OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100, GOTS, RWS, GRS, WOOLMARK, SMETA, ISO 9001 and ISO 14001.

About RDD Textiles

RDD is a Portuguese textile company developing innovative textiles, from fibres to finished fabrics. Using emerging technologies and novel raw materials, RDD creates sustainable fabrics through a more environmentally friendly production process. Its focus lies in bio-based, regenerative and recycled materials, along with pioneering dyeing technologies that reduce environmental impact, supporting more responsible production and consumption. By bringing together science, design and technology, RDD rethinks how materials are imagined, made and valued.

SACRAMENTO, CA – November 3, 2026 – The California International Marathon (CIM), known as the “Fastest Course in the West,” will serve up a different kind of challenge this year. Climate activist, author, and elite runner Tina Muir is spearheading twenty-five athletes in the “Carry Your Own” Athlete Cohort, a new initiative designed to promote athlete self-reliance along the marathon course.

“Carry Your Own” is part of a new strategic partnership between CIM and HydraPak, the Official Sustainability Partner of CIM in 2026. Through this partnership, three HydraPak water refill stations will be incorporated into the course to support runners and reduce reliance on single-use cup waste.

Using custom CIM-branded HydraPak gear, the cohort will run the entire marathon carrying their own water and fuel. Traditional aid stations will remain available to all CIM participants, while cohort members will take a different approach. HydraPak refill stations will be found at miles 6.7, 14, and 20.5. All race participants are encouraged to carry their own bottles or handheld systems to take full advantage of these new water refill stations.

“At CIM, we’re always looking for ways to make race day better for our runners and for the community that hosts us,” said Scott Abbott, executive director of the Sacramento Running Association and CIM. “The ‘Carry Your Own’ cohort lets us test whether runners can chase fast times while cutting down on single-use waste. We were excited to find a partner in HydraPak that shares that commitment, and the refill stations give us the infrastructure to find out what’s possible on one of the fastest courses in the country.”

CIM draws runners from across the U.S. who flock to the race to chase PRs and Boston qualifying times. The “Carry Your Own” Athlete Cohort will put a simple question to the test: Can runners pursue and achieve ambitious race goals while carrying and refilling their own hydration and fuel?

“Every runner has a unique fueling strategy, and we believe they should have the flexibility to execute it on race day,” said Jennifer Krupey, VP of Marketing at HydraPak. “Our partnership with CIM is about making it easier for runners to carry the hydration or fuel they want, refill when they need to, and keep moving. We’re excited to help give athletes more choice and control over their race-day hydration.”

“We don’t think runners should have to choose between a PR and a lighter footprint,” Abbott added. “This cohort is a real-world test on a course where every second counts. What we learn from Tina and these twenty-five athletes will help shape how CIM approaches hydration and sustainability in the years ahead.”

For more information about this partnership, please visit runcim.org/sustainability, and for media inquiries, please contact stacy@darbycommunications.com.

ABOUT HYDRAPAK

HydraPak® is the leading original equipment manufacturer of soft flasks, reservoirs, and water storage solutions globally. Founded in Northern California, the company is dedicated to producing flexible and durable hydration products tailored for recreational, athletic, and military use. HydraPak and its proprietary brand, Bottle Bright® cleaning tablets, are category leaders. Over the past 20 years, HydraPak has not only pioneered new product categories but has also become a trusted partner for hundreds of renowned global brands and athletes.

ABOUT CIM

California International Marathon (CIM) is a premier road race founded in 1983. It is a top achievement for marathoners and a major qualifying race for the Boston Marathon and the Olympic Trials. Learn more at runcim.org.

BOULDER, Colo. (Nov. 3, 2026) — SCARPA, the leading manufacturer of footwear for performance mountain sports, today named the eight athletes in its 2026/2027 SCARPA Athlete Mentorship Initiative (SAMI) cohort as the program enters its fourth year. Chosen from more than 200 applicants, the new class of climbers, skiers and mountaineers will spend the coming year working one-on-one with SCARPA athlete mentors toward individual athletic and career goals.

SAMI supports emerging mountain athletes from historically marginalized communities, including BIPOC, LGBTQIA+ and adaptive athletes, as they grow into the next generation of professional athletes, guides and industry leaders. Through SAMI, SCARPA pairs mentorship and education with financial support, SCARPA footwear, and direct exposure to the outdoor industry.

The idea for SAMI grew from the personal and professional experiences of Kim Miller, outgoing  CEO of SCARPA North America, an experienced climber and skier, and a 40-year veteran of the outdoor industry.

“SAMI continues to show us what happens when established athletes open doors for the next generation,” said Miller. “The eight athletes we selected — from a para climbing world championships medalist to an apprentice guide in the Canadian Rockies — represent exactly who we want at every level of our sports, from the crag to the boardroom.”

The 2026/2027 SAMI mentees:

Keenan Griscom (Boulder, Colorado) — Climbing

Corey Ramos (Atlanta) — Climbing

Seneida Biendarra (Reno, Nevada) — Climbing

Jaxen Avila (Denver, CO) — Climbing

Viviana “Viv” Serrano (Los Angeles) — Mountaineering

Jayce Wong (Canmore, BC) — Mountaineering

Marvin Beecher (Salt Lake City)  — Ski Mountaineering

Alex Jessett (Pemberton, British Columbia)— Ski Mountaineering

The mentees will be paired with mentors from the SCARPA athlete team, including Shelma Jun, Lor Sabourin, Angela Hawse, Nina Williams, Joshua Jarrin, Luke Smithwick, Sam Elias, and Will Gadd, based on sport, discipline, individual goals, and location. The 2026/2027 cohort is supported by the following gear partners: Deuter, G3, 22 Designs, Mammut, Skratch Labs, Outdoor ProLink, Petzl and Hest.

Since SAMI launched in 2021, 58 mentees have completed the program. A few projects from past cohorts include Full Circle Everest’s first all-Black Everest expedition, Seeing Beyond’s push for deaf representation on the world’s highest peak, and the launch of All In Ice Fest’s inclusive ice climbing festival.

For more information on SCARPA, please visit us.scarpa.com.

About SCARPA and SCARPA North America

Founded in 1938, SCARPA builds performance footwear for climbing, hiking, skiing, mountaineering, trail running and other outdoor pursuits from its headquarters in Asolo, Italy. SCARPA has been owned and operated by the Parisotto family since 1956. In 2005, SCARPA opened its North American headquarters in Boulder, Colo., staffed and directed by veterans of the North American outdoor industry, to oversee sales, marketing and distribution in the U.S., Canada and South America. For more information about SCARPA footwear, visit www.scarpa.com.

 Nov. 2, 2026 – Thomson Bike Tours, the leading Official Tour Operator to the Tour de France, today announced its 2027 VIP Spectator Tours, now open for booking. Following the official route presentation in Paris, Thomson’s lineup takes fans from the race’s first-ever start in Edinburgh, Scotland to the summit of the Col du Tourmalet and the Grand Finale on the Champs-Élysées.

The 2027 Tour de France begins July 2 in Edinburgh, crossing Scotland, England and Wales before returning to France and finishing in Paris on July 25. It marks the Tour’s first visit to Great Britain since 2014, and Thomson’s spectator program is built to put guests at the center of it.

These aren’t trips for fans who are content to watch from a barricade three rows back. Thomson’s spectator program is designed for people who want to experience the race from the inside: mornings in the VIP Departure Village as riders sign on, time in the Team Paddock as teams prepare before the start, roadside lunches watching the peloton pass accompanied by a former professional and finish line views from the VIP tribune as the stage is decided.

The 2027 Thomson VIP Spectator Tours include:

• The Team Presentation at Edinburgh Castle
• Time-Trial in Toulouse from a private route-side restaurant
• Strategically chosen roadside viewing of the climb to the Col du Tourmalet
• Mountain stage finish in the Pyrenean village of Laruns
• VIP hospitality at the Finale on the Champs- Élysées

Every itinerary is led by Thomson’s dedicated spectator guides, with hand-picked hotels in the heart of each region and free time to explore the towns and landscapes the race passes through. Because the Tour has always been as much about the places it visits as the racing itself.

“The Tour de France is the pinnacle of the cycling calendar, and as passionate cyclists ourselves, we create unforgettable experiences for our guests,” said Peter Thomson, Founder of Thomson Bike Tours. “Whether they want to ride the official course on the day of the different stages, enjoy first-row access to the riders, or experience VIP hospitality, we bring our guests closer to the action. But the 2027 Tour de France will be particularly special for me. As someone born and raised in Edinburgh, the opportunity to see the Tour start in my hometown and race along the very roads I rode growing up as a young cyclist is something I could only have dreamed of. Watching the peloton travel from Scotland through England and into Wales before heading to France will make this an incredibly exciting and personal edition of the Tour, and one I can’t wait to share with our guests.”

Thomson has brought cyclists and fans to the Tour de France for more than two decades, and as a Premium Official Tour Operator, offers access to the race that simply isn’t available to the public. Many of its spectator guests return year after year.

“The atmosphere, the excitement, the in-person connection with the riders and teams — these are all things about the Tour de France that you don’t get to see on TV,” said Norma Dragani, who has joined Thomson Bike Tours for ten of their Tour de France VIP Spectator Tours. “You connect with like-minded people who are just as crazy about cycling as you are. It’s hard to fathom the effort that goes into putting the TDF together day after day. And you don’t have to be a cyclist to enjoy it.”

For fans who want to ride the race’s legendary climbs as well as watch them, Thomson also offers Cyclist Tour de France trips, where guests tackle key climbs just hours ahead of the professionals before switching into fan mode to watch the race live, with a dedicated Non-Cyclist program for partners and friends who prefer to stay off the bike.

For full itineraries, pricing, and booking, visit thomsonbiketours.com.

About Thomson Bike Tours
Founded in 2002 by Peter Thomson, a former professional racer who organized a trip for friends to watch the Tour de France and never stopped, Thomson Bike Tours creates innovative and personalized cycling trips that are equally challenging and rewarding, pairing elite logistics and guiding with an unmatched commitment to the sport. Thomson offers cycling tours to the world’s most famous cycling destinations, including the Alps, Pyrenees, Dolomites, Switzerland, Spain, Scotland, Croatia, Portugal and Colombia, and is the leading Official Tour Operator to the world’s greatest cycling event, the Tour de France. Learn more at thomsonbiketours.com.