Tour de France - Who's going?
Discussion
Afternoon all.
The title says it all really.
After watching the two stages in England last year myself and a mate are planning on heading off after the Le Mans Classic to take in Stage 10 on Bastille Day. Hopefully we'll make it up the Col du Tourmalet to watch them come over.
Anyone else heading over for it?
The title says it all really.
After watching the two stages in England last year myself and a mate are planning on heading off after the Le Mans Classic to take in Stage 10 on Bastille Day. Hopefully we'll make it up the Col du Tourmalet to watch them come over.
Anyone else heading over for it?
Hi there 936ADL,
Funnily enough, leave to go on hols on Tues with family, and we're only about an hours drive from Nantes (finish of Stage 3) on the 7th, AND I have permission from SWMBO to bugger off for the day and go to see it...then, back to the UK on the 8th, wash pants and pack other car, then go back to France for the Le Mans Classic as well with some mates.
One of them in particular is a keen cyclist as well, however, Stage 10 is MILES away from Le Mans in Pau!...and thats the day we're due to drive back to the UK.
So in summary, yes and no!...
Funnily enough, leave to go on hols on Tues with family, and we're only about an hours drive from Nantes (finish of Stage 3) on the 7th, AND I have permission from SWMBO to bugger off for the day and go to see it...then, back to the UK on the 8th, wash pants and pack other car, then go back to France for the Le Mans Classic as well with some mates.
One of them in particular is a keen cyclist as well, however, Stage 10 is MILES away from Le Mans in Pau!...and thats the day we're due to drive back to the UK.
So in summary, yes and no!...
Yep - start driving on Friday lunchtime. Hopefully doing the Etape on Sunday (Pau - Hautacam), then a bit of chilling before the Tour proper arrives.
Stage 9 plan is to get onto the Peyresourde, Stage 10 to get to La Mongie. On the Peyresourde you can look down at the zigzags to see the riders well in advance, while the atmos at La Mongie is supposed to be amazing. A fair bit of climbing on these two days with sprog in child seat and Mrs on her own bike.
A word of warning - if you haven't been to the mountain stages before, depending on the local roads and access to various locations, the roads can be closed the evening before, and from 10k or more away from the stage itself. If you miss it and don't have bikes, you have no chance of seeing it other than finding a bar somewhere. It is potentially worth doing a recce the night before to see what the situation is.
Also - check the weather forecast - I did the Tourmalet last year and it was 30c in the valley, but low single figures in the fog on the climb itself.
Might try to get to the start of Stage 11 at Lannemezan as well. Fortunately we have friends who live near Pau, so great access to the autoroute that runs along the Pyrenees. It really is a stunning part of the world - still dream about living there.
We also have a Michelin map which highlights the 'picturesqe routes' which in very many cases are the big cols - very useful as the routes on the TdF website are not in great detail.
Stage 9 plan is to get onto the Peyresourde, Stage 10 to get to La Mongie. On the Peyresourde you can look down at the zigzags to see the riders well in advance, while the atmos at La Mongie is supposed to be amazing. A fair bit of climbing on these two days with sprog in child seat and Mrs on her own bike.
A word of warning - if you haven't been to the mountain stages before, depending on the local roads and access to various locations, the roads can be closed the evening before, and from 10k or more away from the stage itself. If you miss it and don't have bikes, you have no chance of seeing it other than finding a bar somewhere. It is potentially worth doing a recce the night before to see what the situation is.
Also - check the weather forecast - I did the Tourmalet last year and it was 30c in the valley, but low single figures in the fog on the climb itself.
Might try to get to the start of Stage 11 at Lannemezan as well. Fortunately we have friends who live near Pau, so great access to the autoroute that runs along the Pyrenees. It really is a stunning part of the world - still dream about living there.
We also have a Michelin map which highlights the 'picturesqe routes' which in very many cases are the big cols - very useful as the routes on the TdF website are not in great detail.
Exige46...you sound like a man who's done lots of research and has considerable experience of the TdF...
Now...If I still manage to hold onto my day-pass to drive up to Nantes to see the end of Stage 3, what sort of time do you reckon they'd be coming through?
From that, what would you say I ought ot be planning for in terms of times to get there and be positioned?
I imagine that being a city, significant amount of roadage will be shut, but that I'd be able to hop on to a bus from *wherever* to get to the city centre?
Any advice in general? (self confessed TdF virgin)
Cheers
S
Now...If I still manage to hold onto my day-pass to drive up to Nantes to see the end of Stage 3, what sort of time do you reckon they'd be coming through?
From that, what would you say I ought ot be planning for in terms of times to get there and be positioned?
I imagine that being a city, significant amount of roadage will be shut, but that I'd be able to hop on to a bus from *wherever* to get to the city centre?
Any advice in general? (self confessed TdF virgin)
Cheers
S
Not really - 2 yrs ago saw the Alpe D'huez stage and one other - we were ok as we were staying near to the foot of the Alpe and all had bikes. Last year in the Pyrenees we missed out big time due to the early road closures and having a baby too young for a child seat - don't want to miss out again!
Details for your stage are on the following link - the TdF website is generally pretty good. One of the tabs on the map should give you timing. The caravane is the carnival of vehicles chucking out cheap tat causing massive scrums. It gives you expected arrival times based on different average speeds as well. We haven't been into a big city to see Le Tour, other than London - I don't think it will be that busy, but local schools etc will get the afternoon off. Obviously the closer to the finish you get, the busier it will be. If the weather is good, there will generally be a party atmosphere. If I was by myself, and the sun was out, I would get there maybe an hour before the caravane is due, and find a nice cafe with outdoor seating, and chill out.
I would imagine access in a city should be fine, other than on the tour route itself.
http://www.letour.fr/2008/TDF/COURSE/us/300/etape_...
Details for your stage are on the following link - the TdF website is generally pretty good. One of the tabs on the map should give you timing. The caravane is the carnival of vehicles chucking out cheap tat causing massive scrums. It gives you expected arrival times based on different average speeds as well. We haven't been into a big city to see Le Tour, other than London - I don't think it will be that busy, but local schools etc will get the afternoon off. Obviously the closer to the finish you get, the busier it will be. If the weather is good, there will generally be a party atmosphere. If I was by myself, and the sun was out, I would get there maybe an hour before the caravane is due, and find a nice cafe with outdoor seating, and chill out.
I would imagine access in a city should be fine, other than on the tour route itself.
http://www.letour.fr/2008/TDF/COURSE/us/300/etape_...
....exactly what I was after.How did it go, 936?
Le Mans was cracking, wasn't it?
We were actually camping with a couple of chaps (and their other halves) who had arrived at Le Mans after cycling down near Pau, cycling the route but a week beforehand. They made it into a bit of a road tour, including visiting the Millau (sp?) Bridge - very envious!
Cheers
S
Le Mans was cracking, wasn't it?
We were actually camping with a couple of chaps (and their other halves) who had arrived at Le Mans after cycling down near Pau, cycling the route but a week beforehand. They made it into a bit of a road tour, including visiting the Millau (sp?) Bridge - very envious!
Cheers
S
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