The PNC Kentucky Derby Festival Tour de Lou is a cycling ride throughout our city! It’s a non-competitive, un-timed, 12-, 25-, 35- or 62.1- (Metric Century) mile ride for riders of all experience levels. 

Prefer to ride on your own schedule? A Virtual Ride option is also available. Choose your preferred distance, ride at your own pace, follow your favorite route, and spread your miles over multiple days.

The 2026 routes for participants in the 12-mile, 25-mile, 35-mile & Metric Century will start and finish at the Big Four Lawn (1101 River Road), adjacent to the Big Four Bridge, and will offer scenic views of the waterfront as participants kick off and finish their ride.

This will be a looped course, touring Louisville’s historic parks and neighborhoods.  It’s a open course, following the rules of the road, with mechanical and safety support. Full course and route details will be released soon.

All registered participants of the 2026 PNC Tour will receive:

• • The 2026 PNC Tour de Lou Medal
  • An Official PNC Tour de Lou Ride T-Shirt 
  • Post-Ride Party featuring live music and a sweet treat. Plus, riders (ages 21 and older) will receive a post-ride beverage. We encourage you to invite your friends ands family to come out and cheer you on as you finish and enjoy the festivities!
  • Plus, course support including rest stops with water, nutrition and restrooms, along with mechanical services and basic first aid

Not at all! We welcome riders of all fitness and skill levels. Plus, we provide a free training program geared toward beginner and intermediate riders.

When you register for the event, you’ll select your anticipated route and mileage – 12, 25, 35 or 62.1 (Metric Century) miles. You can change it before the event, and even on Ride Day if needed.

Yes, for safety reasons, all riders must wear a helmet and carry a water bottle or hydration pack.

You can use whatever bike you are comfortable riding on! You can even partner with a friend or family member on a tandem bike.

Absolutely! However, you are responsible for charging your bike, as we don’t have charging stations available on Ride Day.

Your safety and the safety of all cyclists is our top priority. To ensure we’re doing all we can to promote a safe environment, participants must be 12 years and older to take part in the event.

Sorry, no pets are allowed on the route

Routes will have staggered start times:

• 62.1 Mile (Metric Century): 8 AM 
• 35 Mile: 8:15 AM 
• 25 Mile: 8:30 AM
• 12 Mile: 9:00 AM

12-mile route: (11.6 miles with 117 feet of elevation gain and 114 feet of elevation loss)

25-mile route: (26.9 miles with 445 feet of elevation gain and 448 feet of elevation loss)

35-mile route: (35.5 miles with 860 feet of elevation gain and 865 feet of elevation loss)

62.1-mile route: (63.5 miles with 2,124 feet of elevation gain and 2,130 feet of elevation loss)

The Finish Line will close at 4:00 PM. Riders must maintain an 8-13 mph or faster pace to complete the ride.  

Free parking is available in multiple surface lots close to the Start and Finish Line.

• Yellow Lot: 1401 River Road
• Lincoln Memorial Parking Lot: 601 River Road
• Turquoise Lot: 1301 River Road

Packet Pick-Up will be offered the week leading up to the ride. Packet Pick-Up will be on Friday, April 10th (4 PM – 7 PM) & Saturday April 11th (10 AM – 6 PM).

Where: Location TBD

Day of packet pick-up will be available at the Big Four Lawn. We suggest that you arrive no later than 30 minutes prior to your ride to get ready to go!

Yes! We will have Rest Stops throughout each of the route distances. Riders will be able to refuel with water, nutrition and restrooms. Details about where they are located will be included in the final map of the Ride Routes.

Whether the reason is mechanical, non-emergency medical, or help with directions, we have a Rider Hotline available to call, so we can get you the support you need ASAP. That number is (502) 572-3858. A wristband will be provided at Packet Pick-Up with this information, so it’s easily accessible.

SAG (Support and Gear) teams are also on the route and are responsible for patrolling designated sections of the course, offering essential support to participants throughout their journey. Whether it’s assisting with a flat tire, supplying water between Rest Stops, or responding to incidents with medical aid and scene safety. Their efforts are crucial to ensuring a smooth, safe, and successful event experience for everyone involved.

Each route will be fully marked with signage for each distance. Be on the lookout for oversized signs with special instructions at route deviation points

Jerseys can be purchased during online registration and can be picked up during Packet Pick-Up. This year’s jersey, as well as past jerseys, are also available to purchase at KDF.org.

Click here to pre-order a jersey