Amstel Gold Race

For many Dutch riders, the Amstel Gold Race tour is the perfect spring goal. It’s unique because it offers six route options, helping spread riders across the hilly, narrow roads of South Limburg. All routes start and finish in Valkenburgat the Amstel Gold Race Experience (home of the Shimano Experience Center), with practical perks like showers, bike rentals, and a solid pre-ride coffee stop.

The day feels close to the real race, with the pro finish setup already in place. Just remember: you don’t finish on top of the Cauberg, the line is about 2 km after, so pace it and save something for the run-in. Routes pass through Limburg and Belgium’s Voer region, with elevation ranging from 780 m (65 km) to 2960 m (240 km). Besides the Cauberg, highlights include the long Camerig, brutally steep Keutenberg, historic Eyserbosweg, and the smoother Loorberg.

Training depends on your distance and fitness, but the repeated climbs add up fast. As a guideline, for 65–100 km aim for ~4 hours/week for 3 months (ideally holding 27–28 km/h in training). For longer routes, you’ll want to ride strongly for 5 hours and train 6–8 hours/week for 3 months.

Ronde van Vlaanderen (We Ride Flanders)

If there’s one event that captures the spirit of the spring classics, it’s We Ride Flanders. It’s the full experience: suffering on the legendary bergs, shuddering over the famous cobbles, and soaking up an atmosphere that’s unmatched along the route and at the finish in Oudenaarde.

In 2026, the longest distance, 240 kilometers, again starts from Antwerp and finishes in Oudenaarde, following the pro storyline as closely as possible. The other distances - 80, 130, and 160 kilometers, start and finish in Oudenaarde. No matter which distance you choose, the appeal is the same: riding the roads you’ve seen on TV, feeling the brutal honesty of the cobbles, and earning every kilometer.

La Marmotte Granfondo Alpes

Last year, 1 in 10 La Marmotte Granfondo Alpes riders trained for the event with JOIN. La Marmotte is one of the world’s most famous granfondos and a true bucket-list challenge for riders who love big Alpine days. It starts in Bourg d’Oisans and wastes no time, sending you straight into the Col de Glandon (21.3 km at 6.9%). From there, the route builds into a classic sequence: the Col du Télégraphe (12.1 km at 7.1%) followed soon after by the legendary Col du Galibier (17.5 km at 6.9%), where the final kilometers sit above 8% and well over 2000 mbefore topping out at 2642 m, often with unpredictable mountain weather.

And just when you think you’re done, La Marmotte delivers its final test: Alpe d’Huez. After more than 160 km of riding, you climb 14 km at 8%, with brutal early ramps of 10-11%. In total, the event packs 177 km and 5368 vertical meters, which explains why around 10% of starters don’t finish and the last finisher often takes 13+ hours. In JOIN, La Marmotte is recommended for riders at level 28–38, a reflection of just how demanding (and rewarding) this ride is.

Mallorca 312

Mallorca 312 has become a full cycling festival, bringing passionate amateur riders together on fully closed roads across the island. It’s one of those events where the energy of the crowd and the shared challenge make the day feel special from the first kilometer to the last. Riders can choose between three iconic routes - 312 km, 225 km, or 167 km, each offering a different balance of difficulty and scenery. No matter your distance, Mallorca delivers that rare mix of challenge and pure riding joy.

REBOUND (May 30, 2026)

REBOUND is built on a simple idea: it’s for everyone. There’s no single start line and no single route - just you, your bike, and a distance goal. On May 30th, 2026, riders can start from any location and choose their challenge, whether that’s 25 km, 40 km, 80 km, 160 km, or the traditional big one: 320 km. For those who want even more, the XL option stretches to 570 km. The beauty of REBOUND is that it scales to any rider, but still gives you that event-day feeling: a reason to commit, show up, and do something you’ll remember.

Choose your goal and enjoy the payoff

Whether you’re drawn to the punchy climbs of Limburg, the cobbles of Flanders, the giant cols of the Alps, or the festival vibe of Mallorca, one thing stays the same: events feel better when you’ve trained with purpose. The finish line isn’t just the end of the ride, it’s the reward for weeks of small decisions that stacked up. Pick your event, build your plan, and let JOIN guide the process so you can arrive at the start line confident, and finish proud.