Spectating at the Tour de France

[Cindy59]

So I am currently trying to arrange a trip for 2015, for my folks to go and watch the TdF live.

 

No one I know, has made this trip, so haven't been able to get advice on where to start.

 

Most travel webpages I find for spectators are based in the UK and Australia, and the few local travel agencies I have spoken to, think I am losing my marbles.

 

So I'm turning to the cycling community.....can anyone give me any sort of advice....pretty please!

[Paul Ruinaard]

I have done it - I went with the Cylelab guys in 2004 for my 40th. We did the last week.

 

Just remember that the iconic sections are closed very early, it is very hot and the mountains are very steep.

 

A typical day involved getting up a climb 2 to 3 hours before and then sitting there hungry and waiting for the peleton to come through, then going down the other side.

 

There are a number of questions/options you need to answer:I still wnat to go back

 

1.) Do you want to ride the climbs?

2.) Are you going to do it via a camper van?

3.) Are you going to do Alps or Pyrenees? They alternate the order. every year.

4.) Do you want to do the last stage in Paris.

 

Honestly - my advice - hire yourself a house in a place like Annecy in the Alps (near Grenoble) for a week. then hire a car. You can probably from there and by using trains get to a number of stages. DO a Depart (start), the time trial, as many big mountains as you can get to and then do the finish in Paris. DO a finish somewhere - if you can a sprint.

 

You need to plan everything like a military mission.

 

The Alps are more hospitable than the Pyrenees which are ore rugged, remote and beautiful but also less packed. Any high mountain finish is really packed, so be prepared. If you are in a car you may need to hike for miles. If on a bike take a big lock and a big backpack full fo food and water. Do a ride up a climb just to say you did - but you underestimate how hot it is up those mountains. we saw 38 centigrade at the op of the Col de la Croix Fer.

 

In Paris people will be standing 20 deep, so just wait and they will eventually get bored and move off - but you will be in the sun for hours, so be patient. I was eventually right on the railings and i had started right at the back. Use the tubes to get in and out of Paris. Just wait as the crowd dissipates fast.

 

You can also catch the trains with a bicycle and then cycle to where the race is coming past. Its not a really great thing to see the peleton at high speed, its the whole caravan that comes along with it. And the road is closed. Do not mess with the Gendarmes, i swear they are like foreign legionnaires - they will knock you off your bike happily if you ride down a closed road near them. They have no sympathy. I saw them grab an MTBer by his back pack and whip him off his bike when he passed one of them on a closed road. Just left him on the tar.

 

Other than that there are lots of sites. Start planning and booking now - as soon as the route is known then it really gets full quickly.

 

My 2 cents worth

[Paul Ruinaard]

Oh BTW welcome - I see its your first post. Don't feed the trolls and done get scared off to quickly by the "more mekaar" Friday brigade. There are some genuinely good folks here.

 

Don't say i didn't warn you though.

[Gnarly]

We used this group, did the last 10 days last year, what a Jol.....www.ronanpensectravel.com

[Selous Scout (aka LegTrap)]

I did the last 8 days of the 2014 TDF with Sports International UK.You can either chose to only be a spectator or cycle some of the route prior to the BIG boys coming through.Your coach will take you to a point and then you either walk around a wait or cycle the section previously mentioned.

You need to choose when you want to watch/cycle ie the big mountain days or the flatter routes.If you are not a decent climber I would suggest you give the big climbs a miss as they are seriously tough.

We hired bikes through Sports INt which were pretty decent Scott's but most of those on the tour took their own.This to me would have been a logistical nightmare as you have to catch train's/busses/taxi's and walk along street's with all of your luggage.

You could do it on your own but I would think some knowledge of the area is needed.Now that we have done the Pyrenees stages we could probably hire a car and do our own thing as we have some idea.

We obviously watched on the Champs Elysees and had a good spot but don't forget they simply fly passed on each lap.

If I knew the area better I think a camper van would be the best way to do it.Just remember that hotel's in France generally have very small rooms.

All in all it is an awesome experience but as already suggested,go prepared.

What we did find a bit strange is that you don't see many stalls selling TDF goodies etc.

[American Flyers]

Few years ago, I did not plan anything and I just brought light small tent with me and pack-bag. I travelled by train or coach. Transport is fantastic and I just put tent up in the mountains next to the road. The TDF riders come past. The best is to bring friend with and have fun... I will try go again in few years time....

[Cindy59]

Oh BTW welcome - I see its your first post. Don't feed the trolls and done get scared off to quickly by the "more mekaar" Friday brigade. There are some genuinely good folks here.

 

Don't say i didn't warn you though.

 

 

 

O great! Don't think will be able to for the entire trip unfortunately! Would you recommend going to see the start or going for the finish? Definitely will be riding included in trips.

 

But thank you!

 

And BTW...thank you for the welcoming...I don't mind the average Friday shenanigans.....

[Cindy59]

We used this group, did the last 10 days last year, what a Jol.....www.ronanpensectravel.com

 

O great! Had a look at the webpage...for interest sake, which package did you go with?

[Cindy59]

Quite fond of the RV/camper idea....just concerned with regards to navigation around france etc etc....