TOUR DE FRANCE 2010

PYRENEES TO PARIS-
ALL PYRENEES STAGES, BORDEAUX TT & PARIS FINALE
With or Without Bikes

Friday 16th to Monday 26th July 2010

On this tour you will see all the Pyrenean high mountain stages of the 2010 Tour de France, which includes the summit finish at Ax 3 Domaines, climb of Port de Bales and Col d´Aubisque and the spectacular summit finish on top of the Col du Tourmalet. After the spectacle of the Pyrenees you´ll spend 2 nights in the wine capital of the world, Bordeaux and see the stage to Bordeaux & Bordeaux to Pauillac Time Trial. On Sunday morning we have reserved our private TGV fast 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 the feature on the 2010 Route du Tour such as the climbs of Ax 3 Domaines, Port de Bales, Col du Tourmalet, Col d´Aubisque…..

Following the Tour de France for 10 days 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 2 nights in the beautiful city of Toulouse, 4 nights in Lourdes, 2 nights in Bordeaux.

Friday 16th 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 built up in a special bike trailer.

Saturday 17th July:
After breakfast you will be able to load your bike onto the special bike trailer. We shall leave Paris and travel to the city of Toulouse, where we shall spend the next 2 nights on B&B basis at a 3* Hotel in the city. This will give you plenty of opportunity to sample the restaurants and night life of Toulouse. Apart from being a beautiful city, Toulouse offers good access to the first 2 Pyrenean mountain stages of the 2010 Tour de France.

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 Lourdes 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 town of Lourdes where we shall spend the next 4 nights on Dinner B&B at a 3* hotel.

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 Lourdes 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 in Lourdes.

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 Lourdes.

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 Lourdes 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 Lourdes.

Friday 23rd July:
After 4 incredible mountain stages in the Pyrenees, today sees the return of the sprinters on a 190km flat stage between Salies de Bearn and Bordeaux (wine capital of the world). After Paris, Bordeaux is the most visited city on the Tour de France, and it is a renowned sprinters finish.

After breakfast we shall leave Lourdes and travel to the stage. Depending on the final stage details, we shall either see the stage at the feed station or the finish in Bordeaux.

Those with bikes will be able to ride part of the stage route. After seeing the stage, we shall spend the next 2 nights in the city of Bordeaux on Bed & Breakfast basis, which will give you the opportunity to explore the city and its restaurants.

Saturday 24th July:
The Only Individual Time Trial of the 2010 Tour de France will be a 51km test through the Bordeaux vineyards between the City of Bordeaux and the town of Pauillac.

Our base in Bordeaux offers excellent access to today’s all important time trial, and those with bikes will be able to ride from the hotel in Bordeaux onto the Time Trial circuit to see the stage, whilst those without bikes will be taken to the time trial by the touring bus.

Subject to confirmation, we hope to be able to offer a visit of a vineyard on the Time Trial route with wine tasting and purchasing opportunities.

After seeing the stage we shall return to our hotel in Bordeaux.

Sunday 25th July:
After 3 weeks of grueling racing through the mountains of the Jura, Alps, Massif Central & Pyrenees, the Tour de France finally arrives on the cobblestones of the Champs Elysees.

After an early breakfast you will be taken the short distance to Bordeaux from where we have chartered our own private TGV fast train to Paris Montparnasse, arriving approx 10.30hrs, from where you will be taken by our busses direct to the Champs Elysees in time to see the final stage of the 2010 Tour de France arrive and complete its 8 lap finale.

Our touring bus will drive from Bordeaux to Paris and will meet you in Paris after the finish, and take you to our Paris transfer hotel, where we shall spend 1 night on B&B basis. Those people on early transfers tomorrow will have to box up their bikes tonight.

As an Official Tour Operator of the Tour de France we can offer you a wide selection of Grandstand seats on the Champs Elysees, from basic Grandstand seats to luxury hospitality and privileged grandstand seats. Click here for more details.

After seeing the stage the rest of the evening is at your leisure in Paris. For those who want to finish off the tour with a special evening we can offer a dinner dance cruise on the River Seine, aboard a typical Parisian River Boat.

Monday 26th 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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