2012 Topbike Tour de France 2 itinerary:

Topbike TdF Tour July 13-23, 2012
(Montpellier – Paris, Province to the Pyrenees to Paris experience) Itinerary

Stage 12, Fri 13 July, Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne > Annonay 220 km
11.00am, meet at Montpellier railway station, transfer to our accommodation in Sommieres (approx 1h). After everyone arrives and we have assembled bikes, we can roll out for a ride in our local environs, on roads used in many Tours de France in days gone by. We may even traverse the road used in this sketch. We’ll dine inhouse tonight, in Topbike’s most favorite hotel (in the world) with a meal prepared by our hosts. (Bike 50k easy)

Stage 13, Sat 14 July, Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux > Le Cap d’Agde 215 km
This morning, after breakfast, we’ll saddle up and head out to the roads today’s stage will use, not far from our hotel. We’ll ride part of the stage, basing ourselves at either a sprint point or feedzone and await the complete tour caravan, plus the main event, 180 skinny guys in lycra riding through the sunflowers. Plus, it’s Bastille day, so fireworks in town, guaranteed tonight. We’ll again dine inhouse (Bike 70-80k, med).

Stage 14, Sun 15 July, Limoux > Foix 192 km
Today’s stage starts in Limoux, to our west. We’ll transport 210k (2.5h) into Limoux to watch the TdF circus assemble, sign on, leave the safety of the buses and take to the road. Once the peloton has departed, so will we, taking a circuitous route towards our new digs, arriving with plenty of time to freshen up, while watching the end of today’s stage on the tele. Dinner in house, or should I say ‘in-chateau’ as we are bedding down in a medieval castle tonight. (Bike 50-80k medium)

Tour De France see it live….

Stage 15, Mon 16 July, Samatan > Pau 160 km
Today as the race heads away to the west, we’ll enjoy another day in the wonderful eastern Pyrenees and traverse a loop over roads used in Le Tour’s stage 14 in 2010. From Couiza we’ll head south through Quillan. At Axat we’ll turn right into the Gorges de St Georges, before turning right to confront the Port de Pailheres (14.9 km, 8.1 % avg, 1207m asc, 2001m). After the descent we’ll turn right and head for home through the Plateau de Sault. All up 140k, with plenty of climbing. We should be home in time to watch the important parts of today’s stage on the tele. Dinner tonight, once more ‘in-chateau’. (bike <150k, hard)

Rest Day, Tues 17 July
A rest day for the riders makes for a transition day for us, as we head west to meet up with the race once more, and ride the main parts of the upcoming stage 17. We’ll transport to St Lary, and commence our ride of 90k, over two small cols, Portet d’Aspet (18.14k, 557m asc, 3.1 % avg, 1069m) & Col des Ares (6.7 km, 310 m asc, 4.6% avg, 797m) before crossing the valley over to the climb of Port de Bales (18.87 k, 1185m asc, 6.3%avg, 1755m). Descending once more we will arrive at the base of Col de Peyresourde, both sides of which are used in this year’s tour. At some time we’ll ensure we enjoy a picnic en route, atop one of the cols. Our accommodation tonight is in Arreau, in a hotel we have used many times, conveniently located on tomorrow’s stage, albeit on the other side of Peyresourde. (<100k, 2500m asc hard).

Stage 16, Wed 18 July, Pau > Bagnères-de-Luchon 197 km
Plenty of options coming our way today, including the race going past the front door of our hotel. So up early to the top of Tourmalet (features today), a loop over Horquette d’Anzican (used for the first time in 2011’s stage 12) returning over Col d’Aspin (again, featuring today), head out to one of the party places on the Peyresourde, or just stay put and see the complete circus pass under your hotel window. The agony of choice! (Bike what you like, 0k-60k-120k-140k, and allow for a lot of climbing!)

Stage 17, Thurs 19 July, Bagnères-de-Luchon > Peyragudes 144 km
There is only one choice to consider today. We can ride out from the hotel to today’s stage start in Luchon, farewell the riders as they head off to cover 3 cols (Mente, Ares & Port de Bales) returning to the base of their final ascent, where we can meet them once more, on our way home. So we can view today’s stage start, and the final climb, covering little more than 65k from our base, on our ‘sweat-wheels’. Believe me, convenience like this comes along only very rarely in a grand tour!

Stage 18, Fri 20 July, Blagnac > Brive-la-Gaillarde 215 km
After 5 days in the Pyrenees it’s time to wave farewell and start heading towards Paris, tonight’s destination is Martel (320k, 3.5h). We’ll hit today’s transitional sprinter’s stage at some point, maybe close to the finish as our hotel tonight is 30k from today’s stage end. A good day for a picnic on the route, not far from a bar, with a tele to watch the finale. While not a chateau, tonight’s accommodation is quite smart and up with the best we use anywhere in France.

Stage 19, Time trial, Sat 21 July, Bonneval > Chartres 52 km
We’re on the road again, headed towards Paris, planning to catch a bit of ITT action en route. If this is anything like 2011’s race, this could be THE decisive stage (439k, 4.5h). Post stage we’ll continue on up into central Paris (122k, 1.5h) for two final nights, capping off our Tour de France experience.

Stage 20, Sun 22 July, Rambouillet > Paris Champs-Élysées 130 km
We’ll have an early start, hitting the road for an early morning’s ride around Paris. After arriving back at our hotel, located less than 500m from the Champs Elysees, we can enjoy breakfast before promenading around the corner to view the ultimate spectacle, the 3 week race that laps a nation (and the only sporting event that you need to get a haircut during the course of). It culminates with its final laps on one of the world’s most famous boulevards, as the sprinters have their ultimate battle, and hopefully it will be another win for the Aussies!

Monday, July 23:
If we do everything planned, there’ll have been: 7 Days of race viewing, incorporating 2 stage starts, 2 stage finishes, 2 KOMs, 2 roadside views and one hotel on the route. We’ll also have ridden over 400k, climbed many mountains including the famous Port de Pailheres, Portet d’Aspet, Col des Ares, Port des Bales, both sides of Col de Peyresourde, Tourmalet, Anzican and Aspin. I think that’s enough for anyone! After enjoying breakfast together, for all of those not staying on, it’s pack-up time and off to further destinations, au revoir.

See the Topbike riders do part of Etape 18 of 2011 Tour de France - Col Agnel and Col d'Izoard

This tour includes:

• all transport from Montpellier to Paris for you, your bike and one bag (in the Topbike air conditioned mini-bus).
• Accommodation
• all breakfasts and all dinners
• Full Topbike kit
• 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.