Think you could ride the 2016 Tour de France? Here's your chance!

Have you ever wanted to ride the entire route of the Tour de France? Well, there are still five places left on next year’s Tour de Force, which follows the same route the pros will take, one week ahead of the main event.

Starting at Mont St Michel in Normandy on Saturday 25 July and finishing in Paris on Sunday 17 July, people undertaking the full route are termed “lifers,” while shorter “Tour tasters” packages of between two and 10 days are also available.

- Tour de France 2016 route unveiled in Paris (+ videos)

You can find full details of the those packages as well as costs and other details of the event, which is aimed at raising money for the charity the William Wates Memorial Trust, on its website.

Here’s what Tour de Force has to say about it:

We offer a fully supported event that follows the same route as the pros, just one week ahead of the actual Tour. The route is fully signed and supported with medics, physios and massage therapists, mechanics (including spare parts and spare bikes), luggage transfers and rider transfers between stages where needed. Hotels are all included in the cost as well as all food (3 course evening meal and breakfast in the hotel and at least 4 feed stops during the day, evey 40km or so). Phil Deeker of Rapha/Cent Cols Challenge fame is our lead cyclist and we pride ourselves on running the best supported and friendliest event out there.

Choose from one of 10 Tour Tasters of between 2 and 21 days. Our Tour Tasters will be devised around 1 week after A.S.O. release the Tour de France route. Be part of the incredible camaraderie created on tour and fundraise for the William Wates Memorial Trust who support charities that help disadvantaged young people to stay away from a life of crime and violence and to realise their own potential. By signing up to take part in the Tour de Force, you commit to a fundraising minimum (see here https://www.tourdeforce.org.uk/tour-taster-examples/ for full details).

We provide masses of support for your fundraising effort - see our Charity Resources pages.