Tour No. 2

We’ll follow the last ten days of the TdF as it travels into Paris. With a group limited to 13 places only, we shall ride everyday and meet the tour everyday possible (NB there is one rest day). This will be a tour for riding and relaxing and following Le Grand Boucle without spending hours every day waiting for, and chasing the race. With a small group you’ll receive personal and attentive care for the length of the tour.

The 2010 Tour is has just been announced and our new itinerary is now below:

Topbike TdF Tour July 16-26, 2010
(Toulouse – Paris, the Pyrenean experience) as at Oct 09                                              
Stage 12 - Friday, July 16:
11.00am, meet at Toulouse airport/railway station, transfer to our accommodation (approx 2.5h).  After everyone arrives and we have assembled bikes, we can roll out for a ride in our local environs, which although north of the Pyrenees, are still not completely flat, allowing us a small amount of preparation for the following days .  (Bike 50k easy)

Stage 13 - Saturday, July 17:
This morning is a good opportunity to saddle up and test ourselves along the very roads the peloton will traverse later in the day.  We’ll run in from the northern side of the stage finish town, Revel, following the final 50k of the race course.  Once we have arrived in Revel, we’ll have plenty of time to enjoy lunch, along with finding a position to spectate, and await the complete tour caravan, before the sprinters fight it out during a bunch kick.  Or will a breakaway be granted success, now that we are starting the third and final week of the largest annual sporting event in the world?  Once everything has quietened down, we’ll jump in the Topbike Van for a trip to our next location (168km, 2.5h), in St Lary (Bike 50k, med)

Stage 14 - Sunday, July 18:
While today’s stage starts in Revel, we’ll be thinking a day ahead and pre-riding the cols the pros face tomorrow.  Riding out of the hotel we’ll immediately be on the next day’s stage route, facing the Col du Portet d’Aspet.  At 1,069m it’s not too big, and the following col des Ares (797m) does not frighten me either, but the Port de Bales (1,755m and 70k from the hotel) is worth taking note of.  If you would like to ride all 3 of these, just like the pros will, remember, you have to get home again, even if it is just to watch the end of today’s hilltop finish stage live on the tele.  Some might settle for just spinning on the rollers and looking at the mountains….  (Bike 140k, hard or bike nothing, easy)

Tour De France see it live….

Stage 15 - Monday, July 19:
There are a multitude of choices today, as our hotel is on the route, we can choose to go for a ride in the morning, either flat(ish) or mountain, returning to our ‘digs’ to freshen up and spectate as the circus travels through our little town.  Or, we can once more bike up to the nearest KOM, the Col du Portet d’Aspet, just 10k away from St Lary.  It’ll be the KOM for me.  (bike, as easy or hard, as you choose to make it)  
 
Stage 16 - Tuesday, July 20:
Another day of choice awaits us.  Our next location is on today’s stage route, and is within a comfortable ride-able distance, depending on the route you take.  Going the shortest way is 82k, with two smallish cols, followed by today’s first climb the Peyresourde (15.27 km, 6.1% avg), alternately, for the ‘hard nuts’ you can follow yesterday’s stage over the 3 climbs (Col du Portet d’Aspet 1,069m, Col des Ares 797m, Port de Bales 1,755m) and again, tie in the aforementioned Peyresourde, giving you 125k to achieve.  Both routes get you to the same place, you’ll just be in a different condition when you arrive.  Again, alternately, you can ride in the bus with me, the ‘comfort’ option. (Bike 0k-82k-125k, easy-med-hard, your call)

Rest Day - Wednesday, July 21:
What to do on a rest day in the last week of the Tour de France?  Well, Spain is just down that road a few k (and over that big hill) so let’s ride there!  Or put your feet up, or ride into Lourdes and light a candle while praying for a miracle, or ride a long loop of 144k that traverses the Tourmalet from the west (the direction of tomorrow’s stage), or enjoy a long lunch, or a picnic in the mountains.  So much choice and only one rest day!   (Bike what you like)

Stage 17 - Thursday, July 22:
The riders have had their rest day in Pau and are now headed back for a stage finish on top of the Tourmalet, we’ll ride over the Col d’Aspin and up the east side of the Tourmalet and find a place amongst the hilltop madness to watch the riders arrive (Bike 85k, hard)

Stage 18 - Friday, July 23:
Today we’ll be off to Bordeaux, and if the course of today’s stage is conducive, we’ll stop by a feed zone and spectate as the teams speed by.  Today’s stage is transitional and will probably be one for the sprinters.  We’ll be staying in Paulliac tonight, where tomorrow’s time trial will finish. Once we arrive we’ll get out for a light spin around the local vineyards (Bike 30k easy)

Stage 19 - Saturday, July 24:
In 2010 the TdF organizers have returned to the traditional idea of a Time Trial on the penultimate day, and at 50 kilometres it will be extremely relevant as to the result.  While there has been a large amount of climbs in this year’s boucle, there is no doubt that today’s TT will proclaim who wear’s the prestigious Maillout jaune (yellow jersey) into Paris tomorrow.  If we’re up earlier enough, we can ride into Bordeaux and follow the TT route back into Pauillac, where we can watch the professionals follow us in.   

Stage 20, Sunday, July 25:
We’ll have an early start hitting the road for a morning’s drive up to Paris.  After arriving in our hotel, located less than 500m from the Champs Elysees, we can check-in 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) culminates with it’s final laps on one of the world’s most famous boulevards, as the sprinters have their final battle, and hopefully it will be another win for the Aussies! 

Monday, July 26:
If we do everything planned, there’ll have been:
8 Days of race viewing, incorporating 2 stage starts, 2 stage finishes, 2 KOM and 2 roadside views, we’ll also have ridden over 400k, climbed many mountains including the famous Tourmalet, Peyresourde, Cols du Portet d’Aspet, des Ares, Port de Bales.  It’ll be the end of a great tour, so after enjoying breakfast together, 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 Toulouse to Paris for you, your bike and one bag.  Accommodation, all breakfasts and all dinners.  Full Topbike 6 piece kit, including long and short sleeve jerseys, Thermal long sleeve top, Vest and 2 pr knicks.  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.


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. 

  See the race day action of Alpe D'Huez