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Stage 4, Wednesday, July 7, 150 km, Cambrai → Reims
10.00am, meet at our hotel in Paris, transfer in the Topbike air-conditioned mini-bus to the Champagne region, east of Paris. Firstly we’ll go to Reims, where today’s finish is held, and see the sprinters enjoy a win, as the peloton winds it’s way south, from Amsterdam to the Alps. Later we can roll out for a flattish ride around our local environs. In our accommodation tonight we can enjoy an aperitif before our welcome dinner, prepared by our hosts. (we ride 40k easy)
Stage 5, Thursday, July 8, 185 km, Epernay → Montargis
Today’s TdF stage is fairly flattish and the start is not too far from Baulne-en-Brie, so we will ride over to Epernay to see the spectacle that makes up the start of the biggest annual sporting event in the world. After viewing the riders at first hand, we can soak up a bit of the local atmosphere, in the company of the locals and watch the stage finish in a local bar. We can return to our accommodation by bike or in the air conditioned van. Another home cooked meal in our accommodation tonight. (60k easy)
Stage 6, Friday, July 9, 225 km, Montargis → Gueugnon
As the race is on the move, so will we be. We’re off to the alps and will leap in front of the race today, while maybe visiting a feedzone en route to see if we can score an errant bidon, thrown from a favorite rider. We’ll be moving into the heart of the alps region, and basing ourselves at Les Gets for the next few nights.
Stage 7, Saturday, July 10, 161 km, Tournus → Station des Rousses
Today’s stage is rolling eastwards towards us, as it makes it way into the Alps, but as we are already here, we will be doing our own ride. We’ll complete a loop that will take us north to Thonon-les-Bains on the shores of Lake Geneva, back up towards Annemasse, where we will join tomorrow’s stage route, leading us back into Les Gets over Col de la Ramaz (1,615m), this will give us a 125k loop, and shoule be enough for all. Anyone who wants to continue on, and complete the stage to Morzine Avoriaz will be up for another 46k and at least another 1000m of ascent. It’s there if you want it! Plus watching the end of today’s stage (hilltop finish) on the tele. (125k plus, hard)
Stage 8, Sunday, July 11, 189 km Station des Rousses → Morzine-Avoriaz
Today they are on the way to us, and passing through Les Gets, so we can ride early and return to sit on a chair at a course side café. Alternately we can walk or ride to a strategic viewing point somewhere else on the course, on the flat, or up on a mountain, or even venture to the hilltop finish at Avoriaz, above Morzine. (riding difficulty? It’s all up to you today)
Rest day, Monday, July 12 Rest day in Morzine-Avoriaz
Today will be a day for ourselves, one where we can complete a few highlights of previous tours. Morzine, and the climbs of it’s environs have been used for many years in the Tour de France and there is no end of famous (or infamous) cols to climb. In 2006 the 17th stage visited these three in the final 70k, Col de la Colombière (Alt 1618m, Ascent of 11,8 km at a 5,9% gradient) Côte de Châtillon (Alt 735m, Ascent of 5,1 km at a 4,9% gradient) and the Col de Joux-Plane (Alt 1700m, Ascent of 11,7 km at a 8,7% gradient). If we can knock them over before breakfast, we’ll be having a good day!
Stage 9, Tuesday, July 13, 204 km Morzine-Avoriaz → La Toussuire
If we do everything planned, there’ll have been:
5 Days of race viewing, incorporating 1 stage start, 1 stage finishes, 1 KOM and 2 roadside views, we’ll also have ridden over 300k and climbed a few mountains while we were at it. After enjoying breakfast together, and seeing the race pass by one more time, we’re off to Lyon for a final drop off. For all of those not staying on, it’s pack-up time, and off to further destinations, au revoir.
Included in your tour is all transport from Paris to Lyon for you, your bike and one bag. Accommodation, all breakfasts, all dinners. Your experienced and knowledgeable guides, maps, training tips, coaching (if required) and mechanical back-up for your bike. Please pack your bike in a collapsible bag or disposable cardboard box. Please also see our recommended list of things to bring, it is most important to bring front and rear flashing lights.
NB: The itinerary above is to be used as a guide only, as Topbike Tours are well known for making use of all (and creating some extra) opportunities, expect that variations from the above can happen at any time.
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