"Polka Dot Alps" Package

July 18th to July 24th

This trip covers every stage of the alps in both France and Italy, including the stage ending at Alpe d'Huez!

You will see the Tour from the inside. When we mean VIP access, we mean visit of the Press rooms, Technical Zones, visits guided by a representative of the Tour de France organization, visit of the Riders Zone, meeting personalities that have marked the Tour (former Tour winners, personalities, etc...).

You will also be able to ride the final part of stage #15 on July 20th, just a few short hours before the Yellow Jersey and the peloton. This experience will include sag-wagon by our own accredited, on-course vans, being escorted by an official Tour de France vehicle over the final few kilometers, crossing of the actual finish line and pictures of yourself on the official Tour de France Podium.

With VIP access on the 19th, 20th and 22nd and our private viewing Chalet on the 23rd, each race day will feature something special and we will try to visit one of the teams on the rest day (21st) as we have in the past.

You've dreamed of it; Can you stand not to be part of it?

Please read below for day by day description of the trip.

This trip is open to cyclist as well as those who prefer not to ride and restricted to 20 people to preserve its exclusive character.

- July 18th -

Hotel location: Sigoyer

Our first hotel is conveniently located for the stages on the 19th and 20th. The village of Sigoyer offers a beautiful location, gentle rolling hills and rocky cliffs, exceptionally pure air and most notably the ruins of an impressive medieval castle.

Upon arriving, we will check in and those riding will assemble bikes, our mechanic will be on hand to assist those who need a bit of help. Time allowing, we will take short ride to make sure everything is in proper working condition.

It will then be time to get together over a welcome toast, do proper introductions and go over the next few day's fun and action... of course a wonderful dinner will follow!

- July 19th -

Hotel location: Sigoyer

Tour Stage 14  /   Nimes - Digne les Bains  /  182km (113.5 miles)

The pro peloton is making its way into the Alps on a transition day.

Our ride will leave from the hotel and intercept with the course itinerary to arrive in Digne les Bains. For our first day on the Tour, we kick things off in a terrific way as we will be at the stage arrival in Digne to see who crosses the finish line first and will have passes to access the exclusive VIP Izoard hospitality area overlooking the finish line.
Here hostesses will serve drinks and snacks while watching the live broadcast on Big Screen and TV. After seeing the stage finish from this exclusive viewing area champagne will be served to celebrate the stage winner.
The Izoard bus is among the more exclusive areas at stage finishes and you should expect to see/meet plenty of Tour celebrities.

- July 20th -

Hotel location: At the base of Prato Nevoso

Tour Stage 15  /   Digne les Bains  - Prato Nevoso  /  216km (134 miles)

Ever dreamed of riding a Tour de France stage along roads filled with spectators and raise your arms to the sky as you cross the finish-line? Today is the day it comes true!

Those who wish to ride on this trip will be able to ride the better part of today's stage (up to 140km) including the col de Larche and the climb to Prato Nevoso. A shorter distance will be 108km and start from the top of the col de Larche. The shortest distance will be about 50km and feature the climb to Prato Nevoso "only".

Of course this means we'll need to get an early start, but it is so worth it!

Custom Getaways vehicle(s) with on-course accreditation will be accompanying you and providing an extra lift if necessary, and an official Tour de France vehicle will escort us over the final few kms of the course and you will cross the finish line on closed roads.

You will then climb the official Tour podium to have your picture taken.

Those not riding will be driven over the final kms, will enjoy the excitement of the climb, climb the podium, etc.

For the peloton's arrival, we will be directly overlooking the finish line to see how the pros stack up as we will have special access to the "Bulle Mangeas". Daniel Mangeas is the French commentator for the Tour de France ("La voix du Tour").

Once the stage is over we will make our way back to the base of the climb for the evening.

Pratonevoso

Col de Larche

- July 21st -

Tour Stage: Rest Day

Today marks the second and final rest day on the 2008 Tour de France. From our hotel we have access to many great climbs of the Alps, including the routes of the terrific Fausto Coppi cyclo-sportive.

Most times, when staying near the same town as the teams on a rest-day, our connections with some of the teams in the Peloton, will enable us to visit with them, see the team bus, see the mechanics at work, etc... This is the case on this particular trip.

Today and tomorrow's stage are quite possibly the 2 most important stages in this year's Tour.... and we have great plans for both!

The pro peloton will be going over a "short" stage which features two monstrous climbs; the col de la Lombarde and col de la Bonette. The arrival will take place after the steep 24k downhill of the later climb.

We will be treated to the "start Village" in Cuneo toady. This village should open around 10:00am or so, so we will have a bit of time before making the short drive over this morning.

In Cuneo, we will be greeted by a person from ASO who will show us around the area and explain how things work. Thanks to our passes, we will access the rider's area, meet some of the racers, see them warm-up, meet Directeurs Sportif, personalities, possible visit of team bus, etc.

Tour starts are often a favorite part of our trips as the interaction with the riders/teams is unparalleled.

Once the peloton is off, we will do our own ride from Cuneo to our next hotel in the Olympic ski resort of Sestriere; 115km including the climb to Sestriere. Of course, shorter options will be available and an Epic ride is on tap for tomorrow for those who wish, so the amount of riding for today might be influenced on your decision to ride more or less tomorrow!

Sestriere

Col de la Lombarde

Col de la Bonette

Today's stage will finish with the climb to Alpe d'Huez, which is most likely, the world's most famous cycling climb. A win on Alpe d'Huez is every cyclist's dream. in addition this is the final "high mountain" stage of the 2008 Tour and two other monuments of cycling - col du Galibier and col de la Croix de Fer - are also featured today. Of course we'll be in Alpe d'Huez to witness history in the making.

This is an exciting day and we have planned exciting things... starting with an epic ride for those who wish. Leaving from our hotel we will be able to ride to Alpe d'Huez. On the way: descent to Cesana Torinese - Col de Montgenevre - down to Briancon - Col du Lautaret - down to Bourg d'oisans - climb to Alpe d'Huez for a total of 115km. Shorter options will incude a drop-off at the top of the col du Lautaret for the downhill to Bourg d'Oisans and climb to AdH (54km)

 Our viewing location on the climb is as good as it gets as we will be seeing the stage from  Chalet located on switchback #2 (second to last switchback). The views from this location are second to none, anywhere on the climb to Alpe d'Huez. We will be able to see from the Village of Huez up to our location.  We will also have lunch at the Chalet.

Once the stage is over we will ride down to meet up with our bus to take to our final hotel and final group dinner!

View from the chalet over switchback #2.... not in the summer!

Schleck & Cunego on AdH - 2006

(view from our Chalet)

Beloki, Armstrong, Mayo, Hamilton (2003)

Alpe d'Huez profile

Montgenevre

Lautaret

- July 24th -

Goodbyes and transfer to Grenoble TGV train station or....... Option to Extend a few days in Paris to see the Arrival