Custom Getaways

Once at our hotel, we'll check-in and those who wish to ride can assemble or get fitted for their bikes (if renting). A short ride to ensure proper operation will ensue.

Those who prefer not to ride will be able to relax a bit.

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 nice dinner will follow!

July 7th

Hotel Location: Champagne region
Todays' stage is the second shortest inline stage and will arrive in the beautiful city of Reims. The cathedral in Reims (one of 4 Unesco World Heritage sites in the city!) saw the coronation of all French kings from the 11th Century forward - apart from Louis VI and Henri IV.

We'll see the stage finish in this wonderful city and to get there, we'll have the opportunity to ride over some of the scenic roads which make up the "Champagne wine-road"

Hotel Location: Beaune
The stage starts in Epernay famous throughout the World for its Champagne! We will ride in the morning to get to the stage start and have the afternoon to indulge in a bit of wine tasting. We'll make sure we visit some of the 110km of wine cellars containing 200 million bottles of "bubbly" located below the street surface!

We'll then keep our journey south to rally the heart of the Burgundy region ; Beaune. Beaune is one of France's most interesting cities: its famous basilica, hospice, bell tower and ramparts are part of its heritage.

Hotel Location: Beaune
Our viewing of the stage will be at the finish of today's stage in Gueugnon. The ride from Beaune is pleasant and we will be able to ride from our hotel directly to Guegnon. This is also the final chance for the sprinters to leave their mark on the race before tackling the mountain stages!

The publicity caravan and the excitement it brings will be coming through Gueugnon roughly 1.5 hours before the stage finish.

Hotel Location: Crozet
After a few exciting, but flatter stages, the peloton reaches the first mountain stage today.  Both the start (Tournus) and finish locations (ski station of Les Rousses) are hosting their first Tour de France stages and will be eager to provide a good sowing. The atmosphere should be festive.

While not quite the high mountains just yet, after the first flat 40km the stage will be relentless. The most notable climbs will be the col de la Croix Serra and the final 14km climb to Les Rousses. This stage could be reminiscent of the stage to Verbier in the 2009 Tour.

We will drive out from Beaune after breakfast and stop along the course to ride to les Rousses.

Once in Les Rousses, thanks to our passes, we will gain access to the exclusive VIP Izoard hospitality area located about 50-75 yards from the finish line and overlooking the course. Here hostesses will serve drinks and snacks while you watch the live broadcast on Big Screen 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.

Once the stage is over, we will make our way to our next hotel which will be "home" for the next 3 nights of the trip and will enjoy a fantastic dinner.

Hotel Location: Crozet
Our hotel location is very convenient to get to the stage start in Les Rousses where we will be treated to the "Start Village". The village should open around 10:00am or so. There, 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 race is off, we will take to the highway to beat the peloton to the col de la Ramaz. Those who wish to ride will be dropped off along the way and will be able to ride to the climb. After the "Voiture Balais" (broom wagon) has gone by, we'll ride down to a nearby village to follow the stage finish on TV. Seeing the stage from a cafe with the local, like-minded crowd, is always a great experience.

Hotel Location: Crozet
Today is the first rest-day on the 2010 Tour de France and while there is no racing happening, the pro-riders must keep their legs moving. We'll plan on visiting some of the teams hotels. The timing of the day will be determined once we have more information on the hotel locations (June), but in all likelihood, we will ride in the morning around Lake Geneva and those who wish to ride the most can ride a metric century from our hotel to Morzine. Shorter options will be available as usual.

We'll also plan on spending a bit of time in Geneva to catch up on some shopping!

Hotel Location: Corps - route Napoleon
This second stage in the Alps goes over great classic climbs of the Tour; col de la Colombiere, Col des Aravis, Col des Saisies and col de la Madeleine. If you've 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 over the final two climbs on this stage. We will need to cross the finish line around 2:00pm, which means that a relatively early start will be in order today. All so worth it!

Of course, we will be dropping off a bit further down the way those who wish to keep the ride distance lower. From the top of the col de la Madeleine, the ride distance is 32km mostly downhill. 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 course to enjoy the excitement of the climb, climb the podium, etc.

We'll then be able to tour the press and media/technical areas.

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 to one of our favorite hotel/restaurants in the Alps. Hopefully today's ride will have us all very hungry this evening!

Hotel Location: Corps - route Napoleon

Happy Bastille Day!!!
This final stage through the French Alps should run right by our hotel, making it very convenient to see the race. Of course this should take place around 3:30pm or so. It just so happens that our hotel is also located en joyable 50km ride to Bourg d'Oisans; the village at the base of Alpe d'Huez. It would be a crime to be so close and not use the opportunity to ride cycling Mecca! We will head out early in the morning and ride the 21 switchbacks of Alpe d'Huez. This will leave us enough time to be back to see today's stage go by.

We will enjoy a final dinner together this evening to celebrate these memorable past few days together.

Hotel Location: n/a

We will be transferring to Lyon airport (which also has a TGV train station) in the morning.

 WHAT'S INCLUDED

- Transfer from Paris airport

- Transfer to Lyon airport

- All transfers throughout trip as needed

- Hotel rooms based on double occupancy (9 nights).
- All breakfasts at the hotels
- All but two dinners

- Deluxe Air-conditioned, Minibuses with on-course accreditations

- VIP access to Izoard pavilion (Stage #7 - July 10th)

- VIP access to stage start and rider's enclosure (Stage #8 - July 11th)

- Exclusive VIP ride of stage #8 with official Tour Vehicle escort just hours before the peloton
- Crossing of finish line in Saint Jean de Maurienne (Stage 8 - July 13th)
- Tour de France Podium photo finish

- Visit of technical/media areas

- Viewing of 7 stages in total

- riding Alpe d'Huez

- Bi-lingual and bi-cultural group Leader

- Bike Mechanic

- Guides

- Support Staff

- Excellent staff to guest ratio of about 1:3 / 1:4

- Tour de France Road Book (not available to the general public) showing full details of stages, profiles etc etc

- Tour de France tourist guide (not available to the general public)

- Tour de France welcome package

- Discount card for Official Tour de France stores

- Cycling Jersey

- 2 or more ride distances daily

- Detailed cue-cards, directions, maps, profile of stages, etc.

- Special Tour de France gift

- Memories to last a lifetime!

 OPTIONS

- Rental Bikes. Full carbon Frame w/ Ultegra group with compact cranks (34x 25/27 low gear)
- Trip Insurance