What a trip this is
going to be! Individual time trials, Pyrenees, Arrival in Paris
coupled with some great hotels, restaurants, views, etc...We want
to be there already!
The Tour does not go up Mont Ventoux this
year, but we found a way to fit it in our busy schedule.
Welcome to the Cycling Mecca; the Tour
de France!
At the time
we publish this; our packages are within a couple of days of filling up it
seems. We will have a waiting list however, and the top spots on the
waiting list should feel fairly confident, so again, contact us now!
Pick-up in Avignon at the train station
around 5:30 PM. Exact time will be determined by train schedules from
Marseille and Paris. Avignon
is convenient from both Marseille (one half hour train ride) and
Paris (2.5 hour train ride).
We thought we should get this trip off
to a great start, so we have chosen to spend the night in Carcassonne
at the Hotel de la Cite.
Standing
between two historic landmarks, the Roman Château Comtal and the
Gothic Basilica of Saint-Nazaire, the Hôtel de la Cité is set in its
own glorious gardens. With its solid stone walls, wood paneling and
stained-glass windows, the Hotel offers luxurious hospitality.
This will
also be a good time to get to know one another and naturally get the
bikes ready for action! Our bike mechanic will help with the setup.
We will be cycling from our hotel to
the area of Toulouse where we can stop to have lunch on the side of
the road, watch the "Caravane" go by and cheer on the race.
The next three nights will be spent in Toulouse which will give
us a chance to unpack and get settled a bit.
- July 18th -
Tour Stage 12 / Gaillac -
Cap' Decouverte / 48.5km (30 miles) /
Individual Time
Trial
We are riding from the hotel to our
viewing point along the route of the Indi. T.T. Lance did loose one
last year, and while he will likely be the hands down favorite, this
is "Le Tour de France" and anything is possible.
As one would expect
from a city as large as Toulouse, restaurants abound, so we will try
to go for something different every night we spend in the "Pink City"
(it's nickname given by the color of the clay used to make the bricks
that the city has become known for).
Tomorrow marks the start of the Pyrenees!
- July 19th -
Tour Stage 13 / Toulouse -
Plateau de Bonascre / 197.5km (123 miles)
Here they are; the Pyrenees!
We will be cycling from the area of Mirepoix to the top of the Col
de Pailheres (elev. 2001m - 6560') where we will get to watch
the race.
- July 20th -
Tour Stage 14 / Saint Girons -
Loudenvielle / 191.5km (119 miles)
Today's ride takes us from Saint Girons
to the Col du Portillon. If you are tracking the itinerary
while reading this, you may
be worried about the length of this ride. If we were to follow the
same route; yes, it would be near a century, but… we will be cutting
from Saint Girons directly to Castillon, thereby reducing greatly the
mileage (down to around 40-45 miles). From the Col de Portillon we
will ride back down to catch our bus which will take us to our hotel
for the next 3 nights in the heart of thePyrenees
Big day as we ride to the
Col du Tourmalet! There are several options for riding today as our
hotel is just on the other side of the Luz Ardiden peak. Some may want
to leave from the hotel and go around the mountain, others may want to
start further and keep their legs for the Tourmalet.
Viewing and Lunch is
in the Tourmalet.
- July 22nd -
Tour Rest Day
A well deserved rest day...
for the Tour that is. No obligation here but there is this other place
around the mountain called Luz-Ardiden which we bypassed yesterday.
Since it is "right around the corner"; care to go for a ride?
Today may be a good day
also to get extra help from our licensed massage Therapist "Olivier"
who will be traveling along throughout the trip. Of course you are
more than welcome to call upon him at the end of the climb - our
viewing spots along the road will also have a massage table.
Our last day in the
Pyrenees! We will be riding from Oloron to the Col Bagargui and back
down to Tardets.
Overnight in Bazas
in a hotel located on a 10 acre park. Those who have acquired a taste
for good French wines will be able to treat themselves over the next 2
days.
Today's
ride will take us through
the famous vineyards of the Bordeaux region before we stop to
watch the arrival of the Dax-Bordeaux stage.
The night will be spent at
a hotel in the Bordeaux area.
- July 25th -
Tour Stage 18 /
Bordeaux - Saint Maixens
l'Ecole / 200km (125 miles)
Today is our chance to
catch the start of the race in Bordeaux. The unofficial start is a
great time to snap pictures.
We will then ride north and
catch our bus to get to our Hotel in the heart of Nantes.
This is the final bus
ride. The hotel has been selected to be within close range of the
train station.
- July 26th -
Tour Stage 19 /
Pornic - Nantes /
49km (30 miles) / Individual Time
Trial
The end is nearing!
Lance will have a
chance today to add another stage victory in this final Time Trial. We
will cycle the area of Nantes in the early morning and catch the race
in Nantes.
While the bikes are
being transferred to our hotel in Paris, we will take the TGV
(high-speed train) into the French capital.
- July 27th -
Tour Stage 20 / Ville d'Avray
- Paris Champs Elysees / 160km (100 miles) /
ARRIVAL
This is what every
professional cyclist aspires to; the arrival of the Tour de France on
the Champs-Elysees!
History will be made
as we will be celebrating the arrival of a hundred years of “the
Tour”. Will history be repeated? Will Lance be wearing yellow? Will he
tie the four other great cyclists who accomplished this feat?
We will find out as
we watch the arrival from our viewing suite overlooking the
Champs-Elysees. We will be able to watch the start of the race on TV
as it enters Paris while celebrating and catching the mood of the
immense crowd below.
Once the Tour
festivities are over, we will head back to the hotel to get ready for
a great dining experience. Jacket and tie are required to board our
dinner-cruise along the Seine river. Great food and unbelievable
sight-seeing of Paris by night will end our “sensory overloaded
day”!!!
- July 28th -
Tour... not until next year!
Goodbyes or....... Option to Visit Paris for a few
days
(read about this option below)
Basically everything from the time we pick up to the time we drop off, but
to be more specific:
- Transfer from and to Airport or train-Station
- Hotel room based on double occupancy
- Touring bus and trailer for bikes
- Van Support - Moped
- RV for viewing spots - lunches and live TV feed of
the Tour
- All breakfasts at the hotels - Lunches picnic style
- Dinners - throughout the trip
- Bike Mechanic, local bike guides, support staff
- Licensed Massage Therapist
- Detailed
cue-cards, directions, maps, profile of stages, etc.
- Other "goodies"
We have selected a good mix of hotels/restaurants; going for the enjoyment
of stared restaurants/hotels in some areas less logistically intensive and
giving priority to location in other areas. All hotels are 2 stars or
better.
Length of time can vary, but based on a departure on the 31st of July -
which would give you 3 days in Paris after the Tour - the rate would run $340 per
person and include the following :
- Hotel Room (3 Star hotel)
The Hotel we have selected is located within close
walking distance of the "Arc de Triomphe" and the "Champs-Elysees"
- Breakfast daily at the Hotel
- Monuments and Museums Pass
This pass will provide access to over 70 Monuments
and Museums in Paris and close suburbs. For a complete list of all the
Monuments and Museums this pass covers,
click here.
- Transportation Passes
The perfect complement to the Monument Pass. Paris
has a very extensive public transportation system. Buses, Metros,
Trains and the RER can get you within minutes of anywhere you wish to
go in Paris and suburbs. It has been said that in Paris, it is
impossible to be more than 10 minutes away from the nearest Metro
stop. We will provide you with a 3 day pass which entitles you to as
many rides as you wish.
We just couldn't stand being within "striking distance" of the "Mont Pele"
and not go there. The 16th of July is a rest day for the Tour de
France and it is also the day our Alps Package ends and our Pyrenees to
Paris package starts. Since Marseille is fairly close to the Mt Ventoux,
we thought some of you may welcome this opportunity to ride the (arguably)
most famous climb.
If you wish to join us that day and are finishing the Alps package, no
problem you are already set. If you will be starting the Pyrenees package
we would need you to join us in Marseille on the 15th so we can get an
early start. Those who end their stay after the Mont Ventoux will be
dropped off after the ride, in Avignon instead of Marseille. Avignon is
convenient to both Marseille
(one half hour train ride) and Paris (2.5 hour train ride).
The rate for this option will vary based
on the number of people interested but should be around $75 to $100.
Those interested are invited to let us
know now so we can start planning and give you a better idea of cost.
Lance being interviewed at the top of Mt Ventoux
Jaja taking Lance's place in front of the mic.
Stage winner Virenque and Jaja start competing for
"the dots"!
Interview pictures taken at the top
of the Mont Ventoux.
Ironman France
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