At Steadyrack, we see bikes as more than just a way to get from A to B—they’re built for adventure, rich with history, and made to carry stories as well as riders. So ultra-cyclist and Steadyrack brand ambassador Jack Thompson told us he was planning to retrace the original 1903 Tour de France route, we knew this wasn’t just another ride. It was a tribute. A challenge. A return to cycling’s rawest roots–and we wanted to be taken along for the ride.

This wasn’t Jack’s normal style of adventures. It wasn’t about breaking records–it was about going back in time and experiencing the 1903 Tour de France route for himself. What started as an idea born in a conversation with a photographer on another project, it quickly turned into Jack’s next adventure. Jack set out to ride all six stages for the inaugural Tour, from Paris to Paris, across 2,411km in just six days.

“As a kid, I dreamt of riding the Tour, but I never loved racing. This was my way of living that dream in my own way.”

Taking off with original-era gearing–just two gears, Jack averaged over 400km a day, which he explained as equally brutal and beautiful. The temperature peaked at 46 °C, and with no real climbing or descending gears, each pedal more and more demanding. But that was the point. Jack didn’t want it to be easy.

Between the long, lonely roads, endless headwinds, and the sheer fatigue of six consecutive 15+ hour days, Jack was definitely tested. However, the magic that came with his journey was worth it. Incredible sun rises, rolling landscapes that looked like that hadn’t changed much since 1903, and a constant sense of appreciation or the original riders who did it with no sports nutrition, no carbon bikes, and no real road network.

“What did I learn? Simplicity has power. Stripping back the tech, the strategy, the performance metrics—it reminded me why I ride in the first place. For the adventure. The unknown. The respect for those who came before.”

The Ride in Numbers

·        Total Distance: 2,411 km

·        Duration: 6 days

·        Daily Average: ~405 km per day

·        Total Elevation Gain: Approx. 20,000m

·        Bike Setup: S-Works Reoubaix SL8 with original-era gearing

o   Chainrings: 48T & 35T

o   Rear cog: 16T

·        Top Temperature: 46°C

·        Nutrition: Heavy fuelling on simple carbohydrates + AG1 for gut and immune support

·        Start/Finish: Paris to Paris, following the 1903 route through all six original stages

 

We’re proud to support riders like Jack, who continue to inspire us—and cyclists around the world—with every bold journey they take on. He rides not for the spotlight, but for the story. Because the most meaningful rides aren’t just about the road ahead—they’re about honouring where we’ve come from. Jack’s journey through cycling history is a powerful reminder that the past still has lessons to teach, and that the spirit of adventure never gets old.

 

Photography credits: @inglourious_arnav