TOUR DE FRANCE 2013 THE COTE d'AZUR TO THE PYRENEES CYCLING HOLIDAY Monday 1st to Monday 8th July 2013 With or Without Bikes

If you want to be in Corsica for 'Le Grand Depart' of the 2013 Tour de France before joining us on this trip, you can book this tour as well.
Details here - Tour de France 2013 - The Corsica Stages.
Please note that if you would like to do the above, we advise to fly from Corsica in the morning so you can join us to watch the time trial in the afternoon. You will arrive in Nice on the 2nd of July.

The first high mountain stages of the 2013 Tour de France will take place in the Pyrenees and on this tour you will see 2 of the most important mountain stages of the race. It is on these stages that riders with any ambitions of a high placing in Paris must show their faces. We have seen in previous Tours de France that the first mountain stages are more exciting than some of the final stages. It is on these stages that you’ll get to see which riders are hot, and which are not.

Apart from watching the Tour de France, there will be the option for those with bikes to ride the famous Mont Ventoux climb. For those bringing bikes you will be able to ride the famous climbs the feature on the 2013 Route du Tour such as the climbs of Port de Pailheres, Ax les 3 Domaines and the famous Col du Tourmalet (not on 2013 route).

This tour will start in Nice, and you fly into Nice on Monday 1st July. After following the Tour de France for a week across southern France and into the Pyrenees, the tour will end in Toulouse, and you can book your return flight out of Toulouse.
There will be no transport provided back to Nice.

Monday the 1st of July:
Arrange your own flight into Nice airport, where we meet you and offer regular transfers from the airport to the centre of Nice where we will spend 2 nights on a Bed & Breakfast basis at the 3* Hotel Mercure Promenade des Anglais.

Tuesday the 2nd of July:
The Tour de France Team Time Trial is back!!….and today the riders of the 2013 Tour de France will face a 25km Team Time Trial based on the famous Promenade des Anglais. Our location at the Hotel Mercure Promenade des Anglais is ideally located for the stage, as it is situated on the stage route.

Prior to the stage, we offer a guided bike ride to the nearby famous Col d’Eze that features so prominently in the Paris Nice race. After riding the Col d’Eze we will return to Nice via the principality of Monte Carlo.

In the afternoon we will watch the exciting Team Time Trial.

Wednesday the 3rd of July:
Today's stage of the 2013 Tour de France leaves from Cagnes sur Mer and follows the Cote d’Azur to the city of Marseille (one of the original stage finishes from the 1st Tour de France in 1903). This will be a stage for the sprinters.

After breakfast we travel to see the stage. Depending upon the final stage routings, we will either see the stage at the feed station or at the intermediate sprint. For those with bikes we will offer a guided bike ride on the stage route from Cagnes sur Mer to the feed station or intermediate sprint, whilst those without bikes will be taken there by bus.

After seeing the stage we travel to Avignon, where we spend the next 2 nights at the excellent 3* Hotel Lavarin on a Half Board board basis with evening meal and breakfast included.

Thursday the 4th of July:
Today's stage of the 2013 Tour de France will be another stage for the sprinters as the riders cross the Camargue region on a 176km flat stage from Aix en Provence to Montpellier. We will either see the stage at the feed station or at the intermediate sprint.

Our location in Avignon is very close to the day's stage route and those with bikes will be able to ride to the stage from the hotel.

Alternatively, you may want a day off from the Tour de France. Today we offer a guided bike ride to the mythical mountain of Mont Ventoux, the Giant of Provence, that will feature as a stage finish later in the 2013 Tour de France. If the non-cyclists don’t want to see the stage today, there will also be the opportunity for them to visit the Tom Simpson memorial and Mont Ventoux summit.

After seeing the stage, or riding / visiting Mont Ventoux, we return to the hotel in Avignon.

Friday the 5th of July:
Today the riders of the Tour de France 2013 leave the city of Montpellier and head for the city of Albi on a 205km stage that will be hilly but not mountainous…A good day for a breakaway to succeed.

After breakfast, we leave the hotel in Avignon and travel to the city of Montpellier where you will see the stage start. Here you will get the chance to see and meet the riders as they sign on and get ready for the stage.

After seeing the stage start we shall travel to the Pyrenees and the town of St Girons, where we will spend the next 3 nights on a half board absis with evening meal and breakfast included at the excellent 3* Hotel Echyenne. Our location in Saint Girons could not be better for accessing the next two important mountain stages of the Tour de France.

On arrival in St Girons, there will be the opportunity for a guided bike ride, and the Col du Portet de Aspet and Casatelli memorial site is not too far away.

Saturday the 6th of July:
The first high mountain stage of the 100th Tour de France leaves from the town of Castres and finishes at the Ariege ski station of Ax les 3 Domaines. There are only two major climbs on this stage, but they are both very difficult, the first is the very difficult 2000mts climb of the Port de Pailheres, that comes just 26km from the finish, followed by the 10km climb to the stage finish at the ski station of Ax les 3 Domaines.

Our location in Saint Girons is ideal for accessing the stage. After breakfast we leave the hotel on the bus and travel to the town of Ax les Thermes, which is located at the foot of both the Port de Pailheres and the final climb to the ski station of Ax les 3 Domaines. Prior to arriving in Ax les Thermes, those with bikes will be dropped off in the town of Foix from where we offer a guided ride of approx. 45km along the Ariege valley to Ax les Thermes and up the final climb to the ski station of Ax les 3 Domaines. The stronger riders may be able to ride to Ax les Thermes from the hotel in St Girons (85km).

Alternatively those with bikes can travel on the bus to Ax les Thermes and ride either the climbs of the Port de Pailheres or the final climb to Ax les 3 Domaines. Those without bikes will be able to walk from Ax les Thermes onto the final climb of the stage. After seeing the stage, we rejoin the bus in Ax les Thermes and return to St Girons.

Sunday the 7th of July:
The second Pyrenean stage will start from the town of Saint Girons and will finish in the spa town of Bagneres de Bigorre. This is a very difficult stage and sees the riders face 5 cols (Portet de Aspet, Mente, Peyresourde, Val Louron Azet and the Hourquette d’Ancizan) before a descent into Bagneres de Bigorre for the finish.

Our location in the stage start town of St Girons could not be better for accessing the stage, we are located in the stage start town!!!

After breakfast we leave St Girons and travel to the stage finish town of Bagneres de Bigorre, from where we offer a guided bike ride to the summit of the Col du Tourmalet prior to seeing the stage on the final climb of the day, the Col Hourquette d’Ancizan or returning to Bagneres de Bigorre for the finish. Those without bikes will spend the day in the town of Bagneres de Bigorre where they will see the stage finish.

After seeing the stage, we rejoin the bus in Bagneres de Bigorre and return to St Girons. Alternatively, you may want to spend the day in St Girons and see the stage start.

Monday the 8th of July:
After breakfast you will be taken to Toulouse Blagnac airport for your return flight. We expect to arrive at Toulouse airport at approximately 10h30. Please book your departure flights accordingly.

£1349 per person, based on two people sharing a Twin room with bath OR shower for the duration of the tour. £1349 per person, based on two people sharing a Double room for the first 4 nights and a either a Twin or Double room (preference unavailable) for the final 3 nights, all with bath OR shower. Single supplement for the sole occupancy of these rooms is £799 £1419 per person, based on two people sharing a Double room for 4 nights and a Double Junior Suite for 3 nights. Single supplement for the sole occupancy of these rooms is £929. Twin to share: If you would like to join us as a single traveller but you want to avoid the single supplement then you can make use of our 'twin to share' option. We will pair you up with another rider (of the same sex) and you can enjoy the event without having to pay extra. Simply click on the green button and select the twin to share option. What's Included: 2 nights at the Hotel Mercure Promenade des Anglais**** on bed and breakfast basis 2 nights at the Best Western Lavarin*** in Avignon on half board basis 3 nights at the Hotel Eychenne*** on half board basis Bike storage at the hotels Transfers for you and your bike from and to Nice airport and Toulouse airport respectively Various pre-mapped riding options with GPX files and maps The services of our Sports Tours coach representative and riding guide What's not included: Your flights to and from France Any other meals and drinks to what is included above Travel insurance (Very important)

HOW TO BOOK: Click on the green button below. Adults 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 At time of booking we require a non-refundable deposit per person plus any applicable entry fee. The balance of your travel package must be paid, at the latest, 12 weeks before departure to avoid the cancellation of your trip. IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Visas are not required to enter France. You need a passport or a National Identity Card (see the website of the Identity and Passport Service (IPS)) to enter France. As a British passport holder or National Identity Card holder you may stay as a visitor for three months. For links to important websites, click here. All other non-UK passport holders must check their own country's entry requirements for France. For details of insurance for our travel packages, please visit our insurance page. There is additional information about our other Concierge Services on our special web page.

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