Detailed ItinerarySaturday, 14th July You will be collected from the airport and taken to our hotel near the centre of Paris. Sunday, 15th July
Today we begin our journey with Franck our bilingual, bike riding driver in an air-conditioned bus with bike trailer as we travel to Grenoble. It will take most of the day so we will depart our hotel straight after breakfast. Those with jet lag will have the opportunity to get some sleep. Grenoble will be our base for the next three days and is ideal for seeing the Tour. Grenoble is a cosmopolitan, university city with a big square and a beautiful old quarter with varied restaurants and bars. A must see tourist attraction is the Bastille, an old fort which overlooks the city. You can get there by walking or the preferred option of the Telepherique (cable car) that takes you across the river and up to the Bastille. Monday, 16th July Today is the first opportunity to see the Tour de France and it will also be the last chance for the sprinters. We will drive 70 km to Aix les Bains where we will today's stage finishe and also try to visit our first bike shop in Aix les Bains. For those not wanting to see the race there is plenty to see and do in Grenoble. Or for those wanting a bike ride one of our guides will stay back and take you on a tour of some of the surrounding mountains.
Tuesday, 17th July Well this is one of those must see stages of the Tour de France if you're a bike rider. Our hotel is 50 km from Bourg d'Oisans at the base of Alpe d'Huez. The bus will travel to Bourg d'Oisans soon after breakfast in order to get close to the climb. You can either ride from the hotel with our guide or take the bus and ride from Bourg d'Oisans up the 21 corners that are folklore in the Tour de France. It is an amazing feeling to ride Alpe d'Huez on race day. You'll be cheered on as you make your way through the sea of people to the summit. After the stage the bus will return to the hotel. Once again, you can choose to take the bus or ride the downhill trip home. Wednesday, 18th July We are in a good position to see the Time Trial from Grenoble to Chamrousse. The course is only 32 km so those who wish to ride will leave soon after breakfast. They will be able to ride the course before the race and watch the finish at Chamrousse (or along the course) or return to Grenoble via another road to see the start. Non-cyclists can visit the start, do some shopping and/or other tourist activities. Thursday, 19th July The drive to our next base, Lourdes in the Pyrenees is the longest of the trip so an early start is important. It's a rest day in the Tour so we won't miss a thing. We will travel down the Rhône Valley and along the Mediterranean to the Pyrennes, passing some magnificent scenery including walled medieval cities. If you have studied any Christianity you will know that Lourdes is famous as one of the places the Virgin Mary appeared to a young Bernadette in 1858. Since then, the sick and lame have come to bath in the waters of the river Pau. It also a mecca for cyclists who want to visit the Pyrennes. It is similar in situation to Grenoble in the Alpes, i.e. at the foothills of all the great mountains. Friday, 20th July
Today the race enters the Pyrenees. Those wanting to see the Tour will take the bus to Ax les Thermes and can then ride the final climb to Plateau de Banascre or watch it in Ax les Thermes. Alternatively, those wanting a day closer to home can ride the many climbs in the area, including the Hautacam where Lance decimated his opposition last year, or take on the brute, Col du Tourmalet. There is a 20 km bikeway (converted rail track) from Lourdes to Argeles Gazost at the base of the Hautacam and the Tourmalet. Or you can take a day off and play tourist in Lourdes. Saturday, 21st July It is an 80 km ride via the Col d'Aspin (1300m) to the finish at Pla d'Adet near St Lary-Soulan if you wish, or Franck will drive you to St Lary-Soulan where we can take our bikes or walk to the final climb. For the trip home it's bus or bike. You can even check part of tomorrow's course out on the way home and go via the Tourmalet! Sunday, 22nd July Today we can choose to see the race in one of a number of locations. The start at Tabres is 20 km north of Lourdes and the climbs of the Aspin, Tourmalet and the final climb to Luz Ardiden are approximately 40 km away to the south. It seems possible to see the start and finish but the way these guys go up mountains now, I'm not sure we'd make it! Can you do 60 km on the flat in the same time a pro can ride 120 km over two climbs? That is the question! For non-cyclists, Franck will take you to the final climb at Luz St Sauveur via Argeles Gazost and the scenic Gorge de Luz. Monday, 23rd July Today is a Free Day in Lourdes. Once again we can play tourist, sleep or inflict some more pain on our legs with some more mountains. A must-do ride is the loop down to Argeles Gazost, up the Soulor, then the Col d'Aubisque and down the other side and through the valley back to Lourdes. There should also be the opportunity for a bit of "Star Spotting" around Lourdes as the riders take their second rest day. Tuesday, 24th July Today we travel to our hotel 10 km outside the beautiful city of Bourges. Here we are ideally situated to see the region and the racing. The Famous Loire Valley has many beautiful chateaux and is one hour's drive to the northeast.
Wednesday, 25th July While the tour catches up with us we will take the opportunity to do some sight seeing in the Loire Valley. The town of Blois is nearby and probably the two most magnificent of all the chateaux in the valley, Chambord and Chenonceaux. You cannot help but be amazed by these buildings. It will also be possible for cyclists to take bikes and ride a circuit from chateau to chateau and meet the bus for the trip home. The Loire is a great place to ride a bike and will make a bit of a change from the mountains of the past week or so. Thursday, 26th July If you haven't already seen enough of the Tour you can go to Montluçon for the stage finish. It should be a bunch sprint, but you never know! For the rest, the bus will drop you in Bourges on the way to Montluçon and collect you on the way back. Alternatively you can stay at the hotel or go for a ride. Friday, 27th July The bus will take us to St Armand Montrond which is the finish for today's Time Trial stage. From there you can watch the riders finish or go out onto the course with your bike and watch it there. There is also the opportunity to ride from the hotel down the valley which is approximately an 80 km round trip. This will possibly be your last chance to ride. Saturday, 28th July
Today we drive to Paris via Orlean where the Tour will start its 19th stage to Evry with the leader of the race now virtually assured (without mishap) of being declared the winner in Paris. We should arrive in Paris in the early afternoon allowing time for doing the things people do in Paris. Our hotel is centrally located near Gare du Nord railway station. If you like walking it is within two or three kilometres of the Opera (shopping district), Montmartre/ Sacre Coeur, the restaurants of Les Halles as well as the Centre George Pompidou, the Louvre and the Champs des Elysees is about three and a half kilometres. I prefer to save my legs and use the Metro which is quick and easy! Sunday, 29th July Today is the final stage. A parade through Paris for the winners and the riders who have survived. They will do at least ten laps of the Champs des Elysees as well as a lap of honour by each team after the race. It's a great chance to see the riders up close and relaxed. Will Lance be in Yellow?Last year the Mayor of Paris organised a ride for all cyclists called l'Arrivee du Tour. It was a 30 km ride on closed roads following the Tour course through the streets of Paris. Each rider was given a yellow, green or polka dot jersey and entry was free! 10,000 participated! It was great. We will arrange registration for participants of out tour if it happens again. Monday, 30th July If you are leaving by plane we will take you to the airport. If you have other arrangements you should notify us and we will try to accommodate you.
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