That most venerated of cartographic specialists, Ordnance Survey, has produced an app to enable cyclists to ride every single metre of road that the Tour de France has covered since it first visited the UK in 1974.
The great British mapping institution has teamed up with Chris Boardman on the free, iOS only, OS Ride maps, which also provide metre by metre details of the routed of historic UK Tour stages from 1974, 1994 and 2007, as well as routes for the three upcoming stages in Yorkshire and South East England in July.
Boardman said: “The Tour de France is one of the most challenging events in the sporting calendar and I am really looking forward to it visiting Great Britain in 2014. With OS Ride, all cyclists can experience the thrill of the stages for themselves, while using trusted and accurate maps from Ordnance Survey.”
While entire stages routes are mapped, Ordnance Survey has also introduced segments, splitting stages into manageable chunks so riders of a wider range of abilities can tackle the courses, says Boardman.
Besides mapping every single metre of Tour de France road in the UK, Boardman has selected five top scenic rides all over the UK, including around Aviemore in Scotland, Llandegla in Wales, and the Peak and Lake District National Parks as part of the app package.
The app will allow rides to plot their speed, distance and time data, and plan their off-course itineraries, such as dropping in at tourists attractions and making pit stops.
The app is free from the iTunes App Store.