I'm going to be riding various cols in France and Switzerland this summer with a buddy of mine who will be ending a UN peacekeeping tour in Bosnia. We plan to be at Alpe d'Huez/Bourg L'Oisan/Les Deux Alpes area from July 20-22 so that we can catch the two Tour stages in that area, specifically, the uphill TT.

Does anyone have any recommendations on accomodations. I realize that there will be upward of a half a million people in the are and it will be insane. Having served 13 years in the military, I can sleep in a ditch if I have to, but I'd prefer more sane accomodations. I'd like to be able to ride to an area where we can view the action, and also reasonably close to restaurants, cafe's or bars where can hang out before and after and talk Tour trash.

I also plan on doing a "timed ride" up Alpe d'Huez, likely the day after the pros leave, so it would be great if others who are there jump in for the hammerfest....oh yeah, Frank Day, I won't be using any powercranks for this vacation. The ultegras 172.5's will go back on for this !

Also planning to head down to Provence and do Ventoux. I have heard that there are three ways of tackling this beast. Is there any traditionaly route up to the summit of Ventoux. Specifically, which route goes by the Tommy Simpson memorial ?