Following the Tour De France
Discussion
I’m heading across the channel for the TdF this year as it’s ooop north in the early stages and falls across my 50th birthday so thought I’d go and watch a few stages.
I’ll take my camper (Toyota Hiace) and chuck my bike in the back so I can ride out at points as well.
Any of you followed in this way? I’m interested to know how it works with parking up/sleeping etc along the stage routes like you see so many do on the tv coverage.
Is it a matter of finding a spot and then getting on with it and sleeping where you stop overnight, or do people move on to campsites?
Appreciate you only see a small part of the race but want to get in the thick
of the action/drama as much as I can and immerse myself in the whole carnival
Will be heading out for a week from stage 5 onwards and will be there for the northern and 2 of the central stages so no Alps or Pyreneean mountains sadly - ferry back to Portsmouth from Caen or Le Havre at the end of
I’ll take my camper (Toyota Hiace) and chuck my bike in the back so I can ride out at points as well.
Any of you followed in this way? I’m interested to know how it works with parking up/sleeping etc along the stage routes like you see so many do on the tv coverage.
Is it a matter of finding a spot and then getting on with it and sleeping where you stop overnight, or do people move on to campsites?
Appreciate you only see a small part of the race but want to get in the thick
of the action/drama as much as I can and immerse myself in the whole carnival
Will be heading out for a week from stage 5 onwards and will be there for the northern and 2 of the central stages so no Alps or Pyreneean mountains sadly - ferry back to Portsmouth from Caen or Le Havre at the end of
I’ve done the TdF a few times when it’s had stages in the Brittany, Normandy and Mayenne areas as in laws have a place there that we base ourselves at. Been over in the car and ridden over on the road bike, bike is good as you can ride parts of the stage before and after the Peleton has been through. I’ve actually squeezed up to 3 different places on one stage before just with a bit of planning and using some serious back roads (on the Cherbourg peninsular).
Thing to remember is the French get this every few years in their particular area so whilst there are plenty of spectators in some places you can get close to the action even turning up relatively close to the stage coming through as the locals are pretty nonplussed by it all.
If you can it’s worth seeking out a village that has set a fete up to celebrate Le Tour coming through as the atmosphere is great. As for wild camping in your van I don’t know as always had a roof over our heads but beware of road closures (for cars anyway), it isn’t like UK but they will close them at least an hour so before the Caravan comes through…this is where your bike will come in handy. Again it depends where you are but I’ve never seen the Gendarmerie being particularly bothered by “abandoning the car” close to stage routes as long as you aren’t causing a hazard.
I love watching the TdF in France, way better than the occasional UK visits and although very organised you can get seriously close to the action. As an aside I’ve done the Giro d Italia and that’s even better particularly at the start and end of stages as access to riders is more or less unrestricted. We’ve got the La Vuelta planned in for the near future too, probably going to spectate in the North.
Have a great time, TV only for me this year unfortunately.
Thing to remember is the French get this every few years in their particular area so whilst there are plenty of spectators in some places you can get close to the action even turning up relatively close to the stage coming through as the locals are pretty nonplussed by it all.
If you can it’s worth seeking out a village that has set a fete up to celebrate Le Tour coming through as the atmosphere is great. As for wild camping in your van I don’t know as always had a roof over our heads but beware of road closures (for cars anyway), it isn’t like UK but they will close them at least an hour so before the Caravan comes through…this is where your bike will come in handy. Again it depends where you are but I’ve never seen the Gendarmerie being particularly bothered by “abandoning the car” close to stage routes as long as you aren’t causing a hazard.
I love watching the TdF in France, way better than the occasional UK visits and although very organised you can get seriously close to the action. As an aside I’ve done the Giro d Italia and that’s even better particularly at the start and end of stages as access to riders is more or less unrestricted. We’ve got the La Vuelta planned in for the near future too, probably going to spectate in the North.
Have a great time, TV only for me this year unfortunately.
I'd say pick a time trial stage, and go to where it ends. We watched the Giro TT finish in Ortona last year (or the year before) and it was a day long party. You get to see the riders individually, and you can move around to different locations too. When the local guys go through, the atmosphere goes mental! Most other stages there's a few in the breakaway, then the bunch, then the stragglers. You spend a lot of time hanging around waiting.
I see Le Tour website now has timings for each stage, which is handy for planning.
We ve booked 2 weeks holiday near Dinan, which coincides with the tour passing through, so will get to see Stage 7 at least as passes the end of the road.
I am looking at the Stage 5 time trial in Caen, but trying to work out the best plan for getting to the start/finish. It s approx 90 minute drive and we ve got bikes if needed but also got a toddler in tow so limited to a few km from wherever we park up.
Seems there is park and ride but not huge capacity, so guessing these will fill up.
Anyone on here know the area?
We ve booked 2 weeks holiday near Dinan, which coincides with the tour passing through, so will get to see Stage 7 at least as passes the end of the road.
I am looking at the Stage 5 time trial in Caen, but trying to work out the best plan for getting to the start/finish. It s approx 90 minute drive and we ve got bikes if needed but also got a toddler in tow so limited to a few km from wherever we park up.
Seems there is park and ride but not huge capacity, so guessing these will fill up.
Anyone on here know the area?
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