TOUR DE FRANCE 2010 ALL MOUNTAIN STAGES - ALPS AND PYRENEES With or Without Bikes Friday 9th to Saturday 24th July 2010

On this tour you will see all the main high mountain stages of the 2010 Tour de France, which includes the summit finish at Morzine-Avoriaz and the Big 4 Col stage to St Jean de Maurienne.
You will see all 4 Pyrenean mountain stages, including the climbs of Ax 3 Domaines, Port de Bales, Col d´Aubisque and the spectacular summit finish on top of the Col du Tourmalet.
If this is not enough, there will be the option to continue your holiday and see the Bordeaux Time Trial, followed by our private TGV train from Bordeaux to Paris, so that you can see the final stage on the cobblestones of the Champs Elysees.

For those bringing bikes you will be able to ride the famous climbs that feature on the 2010 Route du Tour such as Morzine-Avoriaz, Col de la Madeleine. In the Pyrenees you´ll be able to ride the climbs of Ax 3 Domaines, Port de Bales, Col du Tourmalet, Col d´Aubisque…..There will also be the possibility to ride 2 famous climbs that are not featured in the 2010 route, L´Alpe d´Huez and the mythical Mont Ventoux, as well as last year´s spectacular Time Trial around the beautiful Lake Annecy.

Following the Tour de France for 2 weeks can be tiring, therefore this tour has been designed with the minimum amount of hotel changes. Apart from the first & last 2 nights at our transfer hotel in Paris we shall spend 3 nights in the beautiful town of Annecy (site of last years TT), 2 nights in Provence, 2 nights in Toulouse and 4 nights in Bagneres de Bigorre.

Friday 9th July:
We shall collect clients from Paris Charles de Gaulle airport at 09.00hrs, 12.00hrs, 15.00hrs & 18.00hrs for transport to our Paris transfer hotel, where we shall spend the night on B&B basis. Please indicate on your booking form your required collection time.
We have arranged for you to keep your bike box / bag at the hotel for the duration of the tour as the bikes will travel full assembled in a special bike trailer.

Saturday 10th July:
After breakfast you will be able to load your bike onto the special bike trailer. We shall leave Paris and travel to the French Alps and the beautiful lakeside town of Annecy where we shall spend the next 3 nights on Dinner, Bed & Breakfast basis at a 3* Hotel. Apart from being in a beautiful location our Annecy base offers excellent access to all the Alpine mountain stages of the 2010 Tour de France.
Annecy also offers the non cyclists in the group plenty of activities, including boat trips on the lake and visiting the beautiful old part of town.

Sunday 11th July:
The riders enter the Alps with the 1st high mountain stage of the 2010 tour, a 189km stage that will take them from the ski station of Les Rousses to the ski station of Morzine-Avoriaz. Not only is this the 1st high mountain stage, there are two very tough climbs in the last 50km of the stage (Ramaz & Morzine-Avoriaz), and it is also a summit finish which and will definitely show which riders are hot and which are not……..

After breakfast we shall travel to see the stage finish at the ski station of Morzine Avoriaz. We shall travel on the touring bus to the town of Taninges from where those with bikes can either ride the final 2 climbs of the stage (Ramaz & Morzine Avoriaz) or a shorter ride direct to Morzine. Those without bikes will be taken to the pretty ski town of Morzine (where there is lots to do), form where they can walk onto the lower slopes of the climb to the ski station of Avoriaz
After seeing the stage we shall regroup in Morzine and return to our base in Annecy.

Monday 12th July:
As the Tour de France spends its 1st Rest Day in Morzine, this gives us the chance to visit and explore the beautiful area around Lake Annecy. Those with bikes will have numerous riding options that includes riding last year´s Time Trial course around Lake Annecy (40km) or the TdF climbs of the Col du Colombiere, Col des Aravis, Col du Forclaz etc etc…….

Those without bikes will be able to have the day at leisure in Annecy, and there are lots of things to do, including taking a boat trip or swimming in Europe´s purest lake, or strolling round the pretty old town.

Tuesday 13th July:
Today is the main Alpine stage of the 2010 Tour de France. Starting from Morzine the stage is 204km long and features 4 difficult climbs through the Alps (Col de la Colombiere, Col des Aravis, Col des Saisies, Col de Madeleine) before a descent finish to the town of St Jean de Mauriene.

Our location in Annecy is excellent for accessing today’s stage, and those with bikes will be able to ride from the hotel to the final climb of the stage, the Col de la Madeleine, where all the action of the stage will be. Those without bikes will be taken by the touring bus to the base of the Col de la Madeleine from where they will be able to walk onto the lower slopes of the climb to see the stage.

After seeing the stage we shall regroup at the bus (base of Col de Madeleine) and travel to the city of Grenoble, where we shall spend 2 nights on Dinner Bed & Breakfast basis at a 3* Hotel.

Wednesday 14th July:
The 3rd Alpine stage is quite mild in comparison to the last 2 stages, but still features the difficult climbs of the Cote de Laffrey and the Col du Noyer enroute from Chambery to Gap.

Our location in Grenoble is excellent for accessing the stage, as we are situated at the base of the Cote de Laffrey, and it is here that we shall see the stage. Those with bikes will be able to ride to the Cote de Laffrey whilst those without bikes will be taken by the bus to the summit of this climb.

After seeing the stage, we shall visit one of the most famous climbs of the Alps, L´Alpe d´Huez…..Those with bikes will be able to ride there from the Cote de Laffrey whilst those without bikes will be taken there by the touring bus.

After our visit to L´Alpe d´Huez, we shall return to Grenoble for our final nights stay.

Thursday 15th July:
The Tour de France leaves the Alps with a 180km flat stage from Sisteron to Bourg les Valence and another chance for the sprinters or breakaway.

We shall leave Grenoble and travel to Bourg les Valence to see the stage finish. Those with bikes will have the opportunity to ride from Grenoble to Bourg les Valence via the beautiful Vercours National Park and the spectacular Gorges de la Bourne. This is a hard ride of 95km. There will be an easier and shorter ride options available.

Those without bikes will be taken to Bourg les Valence for the stage finish.

After seeing the stage finish we shall travel to the beautiful Provence region and the town of Avignon, where we shall spend the next 2 nights (Eve meal, B&B) at a 3* Hotel.

Friday 16th July:
Today the Tour de France heads towards the Massif Central with a 210km undulating stage from Bourg de Peage to Mende, with a hill top finish at the aerodrome.

For logistical reasons and our proximity to Mont Ventoux and Avignon, we have decided to take a day off from watching the tour. Those with bikes will have the opportunity to ride the mythical Mont Ventoux (site of last year´s penultimate stage finish), whilst those without bikes will have the opportunity to visit the beautiful city of Avignon, that´s on theatre festival through the month of July.

Saturday 17th July:
As the Tour de France makes its way from the Massif Central towards the Pyrenees with a 195km stage between Rodez and Revel, we shall also leave Avignon and travel to the city of Toulouse.
Prior to arriving in Toulouse we shall see the stage finish in Revel or on the strategic climb of St Ferreol that comes approx 6km from the finish.

Those with bikes will be dropped at the town of Castelnaudary from where they will be able to ride to either Revel or the climb of St Ferreol, whilst those without bikes will be taken by the bus.

After seeing the stage finish we shall travel the short distance from Revel to Toulouse, where we shall spend the next 2 nights on B&B basis at the 4* Hotel Crowne Plaza in the city. This will give you plenty of opportunity to sample the restaurants and night life of Toulouse.

Sunday 18th July:
The 2010 Tour de France finally arrives in the Pyrenees and today is the 1st of 4 fantastic mountain stages, a 184km stage from Revel to Ax 3 Domaines, that features the 2000mts Port de Pailheres just before the final assent to the ski station of Ax 3 Domaines (summit finish).

Our location in Toulouse offers excellent access to the stage, and after an early breakfast we shall leave the city and head to the Pyrenees and the climb to Ax 3 Domaines. Those with bikes will be dropped off in either Foix or Tarascon and will be able to ride to the stage, whilst those without bikes will be taken to the town of Ax les Thermes from where they will be able to walk on to the final climb of the stage to Ax 3 Domaines.

After seeing the stage we shall rejoin the bus in Ax les Thermes and return to Toulouse, where the evening is at your leisure.

Monday 19th July:
The second Pyrenean stage is a classic 3 mountain traverse of the Pyrenees from Pamiers to Luchon over 187km and featuring the Portet d’Aspet and the Casartelli memorial, Col des Ares, and the vicious Port de Bales (1st used in 2007) before a hair raising descent to the finish in Luchon. The Port de Bales was first used in the Tour de France in 2007, and is an extremely difficult climb (20km @ 6.2 average) on a small road with parts of the climb at 14%!!

We have decided to see the stage on the Port de Bales as we can access it easy from Toulouse and exit quickly after the stage, as we are moving on to Bagneres de Bigorre today.

Those with bikes will be dropped off south of Toulouse and will be able to ride to the Port de Bales, whilst those without bikes will be taken to the foot of the climb by the bus.

After seeing the stage on the Port de Bales we shall regroup and travel to the spa town of Bageres de Bigorre where we shall spend the next 4 nights on Dinner B&B at the excellent 3* Hotel Residence.

Tuesday 20th July:
The third Pyrenean stage is an absolute classic…featuring 4 of the best know climbs in the Pyrenees (Peyresourde, Aspin, Tourmalet & Aubisque) over a 196km stage that joins Luchon with Pau.

Our location in Bagneres de Bigorre is excellent for accessing the stage and offers those with bikes the possibility to ride from the hotel to either the climbs of Aspin, Tourmalet or Aubisque. Those without bikes will be taken to either the base of the Col du Tourmalet or Col d´Aubsique from where they will be able to walk on to the climb.

After seeing the stage we shall return to the Hotel Residence in Bagneres de Bigorre.

Wednesday 21st July:
After three vicious stages in the Pyrenees the riders of the Tour de France spend their 2nd rest day in the town of Pau.

This gives those with bikes the opportunity to ride the famous Pyrenees climbs of Aspin, Tourmalet, Aubisque, Luz Ardiden, Hautacam, whilst those without bikes will be able to spend the day at leisure in Bagneres de Bigorre.

Thursday 22nd July:
The Col du Tourmalet first appeared in the Tour de France in 1910 (100 years ago) and to honor this giant of the Pyrenees the final stage of the 2010 Tour de France will finish at the summit of this famous mountain. It will be the 2nd time the 2010 Tour de France climbs the Col Tourmalet, and today it will be the west face from Luz St Sauveur. The stage will leave from Pau and prior to arriving at the Col du Tourmalet the riders will have to face two other famous mountains in the Pyrenees, the Col du Mairie Blanque and the Col du Soulor. Once again another classic stage………..and a fantastic way to finish the high mountains of the 2010 Tour de France

Our location in Bagneres de Bigorre is excellent for accessing the stage and those with bikes will be able to ride to the Col du Tourmalet whilst those without bikes will be taken to the foot of the climb from where they will be able to walk on to the lower slopes.

After seeing the stage we shall return to Bagneres de Bigorre.

Friday 23rd July:
After following the Tour de France for 2 weeks and seeing all the important stages of the Alps and Pyrenees it is time to say “Aurevoir” to Le Tour and commence the journey back to Paris.

We shall leave Bagneres de Bigorre and return to Paris and the 3* Hotel Mercure Porte de Versailles EXPO where we shall spend 1 night on Bed & Buffet Breakfast.

If you want to continue following Le Tour and see the final 3 stages (Bordeaux, Time Trial & Paris Finale), we can drop you in Bordeaux today where you´ll see the stage finish, spend 2 nights in the city of Bordeaux, see tomorrows Time Trial and take the TGV fast train to Paris on Sunday morning in time to see the Grand Finale on the Champs Elysees. Please see supplements below.

If you simply want to extend your stay in Paris then we can book extra nights for you at the Hotel Mercure. Please see supplements below.

Saturday 24th July:
After breakfast we shall leave Paris. We shall offer transfers from the hotel to Paris Charles de Gaulle airport at the following times 07.30hrs, 11.00hrs & 14.00hrs.

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