So… I was beginning to think that I might have bitten off more than I could chew with trying to see a mountain stage in this year’s Tour de France. One is that I would be in Holland and it would be a really long drive (+/- 10 hours) down to the Grenoble area or Lézat-sur-Lèze (+/- 14 hours). Additionally it’s looking like getting a good spot on a mountain is pretty difficult, at best, and maybe a real pain in the rear with an 8 and 10-year old in tow.
I (and the kids) really want to see the Tour, but I don’t want to be so worn out that I need a vacation from my vacation, if you know what I mean.
Considering the foregoing:
Any comments?
Any suggestions as to a good leg to view?
Best city or way to see the bikes and busses before a start?
Did this two years ago. We arrived in Grenoble when the stage finished at Alpe d’Heuz. Being at a mountain stage with kids would be tough if you want to be on the climb as you have to get there a couple of days in advance and camp. We contacted the Grenoble Cycling club guys who were great help
they suggested we go to the finish in Gap which was good advice. With kids the there is plenty to amuse them as the finish line area is a big all day long party especially when the caravan comes through a few hours ahead of the race. Also you have the large screens covering the race all day long. If you want to be close to the finish line you have to get their early. (you have to any way if you want to park).
The start the next day was goood also but much better being at the finish with the armosphere and other things goind on.
I was at the Paris stage back in 1990 when LeMond won. We got there very early, staked out a spot, and over the next few hours we just stood around and tried to avoid some french pervert who kept trying to rub up aginst my sister - there wasn’t even a crowd around us…
Anyway, after a few hours the big screen TV’s went up, showing the cyclists on the road, then the parade went by, and finally the peloton got there and did the finishing circuits. At the end of the race, LeMond happened to stop right in front of us and started giving interviews.
It was pretty cool, except for the whole pervert thing - but what can you expect? It is France…
Best city or way to see the bikes and busses before a start? <<
Early in the race, like Stage 1 or 2, and then it just depends on the town and how it’s laid out. Last year at Stage 1 there were no fences and minimal security. I could have walked into the CSC bus and we stood right outside of it for an hour with no problem. Stage 2–buses drove into a large square which was fenced off. As they get further into the race, the security goes up.
Another idea is to go to the finish town and don’t worry about being right on the fences at the finish. Get where you can see the big screen, or, find out where the buses are and if there is a bar, sit there and watch the finish on TV and then wait for the riders to come right to you to the buses. Again, this will depend on the lay out of the town.
If you go to the mountains, instead of trying to be on the mountain, go to a spot at the lower part of the mountain, or on the way to. Thoughh for something like the Alpe d’Huez, even the bottom of the Alpe was people 5-10 deep.
Last year I saw three stages. I was able to hang right with the team buses in the warm up area for the Alpe d’Huez TT. Got to watch all the sprinters warm up and then at rider 30 (Zabel), I started a 4K walk up the mountain, so that I could catch all the favourites 25% up the mtn (ie Ullrich, Kloden, Basso, Lance, Mancebo etc). Next day, in the morning, we rode to the top of the Col de Glandon before the Tour Caravan and the Gendarmes kicked us off the road (well they kicked up off, but we kept riding as soon as they left). This was a great way to see the Tour as the roads were closed and then the roads open up as soon as the broom wagon goes by. The worst stage was watching the start at Annemasse. We could get nowhere near the riders.
My recommendation would be to try and watch a TT with your kids as there was lots of access to riders and team vans/buses/techs. If you can get down on July 10th for the mountain stage from Gerardmer in the Vosges mtns (home of the former Ironman France) to Mulhouse in the Rhine valley. There is an interesting looking climb at le Ballon D’Alsace at 65 K from the finish. This is also not far from Stassbourg, which is a nice city to take your family, nor is it far from the Black Forest on the German side (a “must visit” location). Stassbourg, should be no further than 7 hours at full tilt autobahn speed from Holland. You can also use the opportunity to visit Luxembourg on the way there or back. A very nice spot indeed.
Come to thing of it, you could try an catch the finish at Karlesruhe Germany on July 8, go to Stassbourg for family time on July 9th and then catch the Gerardmer-Mulhouse stage on the 10th
…and if there is any possible way that you can get down to the Alpes for the July 13th stage from Courcheval to Briancon, you can see the epic battle over the Madeleine, Telegraphe and Galibier. If there is one stage to watch on this year’s Tour, this would be it.
You can get to the base of the Telegraphe very easily as there is an autoroute (4 laner) running the length of the valley between Madeleine and Telegraphe (between St Jean and St Michel de Maurienne). Its 4 lane highway all the way from Holland to Albertville to the base of the Telegraphe.
After the tour goes by, you can head over the Galibier and down the road 50K to Bourg d’Oisin, rent a bike and do Alpe d’Huez the next day.
Oh man, just writing this tour guide stuff makes me want to hop on a flight and get there for the July 13th stage…
