Has anybody ever been to France for le Tour?

[stretch]

I am contemplation a trip to next years Tour. It looks like a Bikestyles otur would be good. Has anybody ever been on a tour like this before or would it be cheaper to do it myself?

[rob e]

i was hoping to go next year but the small matter of our upcoming wedding got in the way so, i have approval for 2010 which will be our honeymoon / tdf trip.

Check out Ronan Pensec Travel as well.

[Strawburger]

I'm looking to go next year as well. I am in the same boat, whether to head over and do it by myself or with an organised tour.

I think if you do it with a tour group you have to get one with the right balance of cycling and sightseeing for you. Different tour groups offer different balances - from small 20km rides and heaps of sightseeing vs ones that do 100+kms per day with the focus on riding. All have varying meals & star rating of accommodation.

Most important they all do the viewing of le Tour!

[stretch]

I'm looking to go next year as well. I am in the same boat, whether to head over and do it by myself or with an organised tour.

I think if you do it with a tour group you have to get one with the right balance of cycling and sightseeing for you. Different tour groups offer different balances - from small 20km rides and heaps of sightseeing vs ones that do 100+kms per day with the focus on riding. All have varying meals & star rating of accommodation.

Most important they all do the viewing of le Tour!

Im currently looking at a Bikestyle Tours package that takes you to all the mountain stages and to Paris. You have the option of riding long or short and there are also things to do for days you may not want to ride.

[toolonglegs]

The tours are expensive but when you take into account the prices in France it is no suprise...every thing holiday wise in France doubles in price in July/Aug as 90% of France goes on holidays in those months.I think it depends on route the tour announces for next year as to how easy it will be to follow...Starting in Monaco...defianetly going to Barcelona..will be a funny loop and may not go near the north at all.Just make sure you do the Marmotte on the first weekend on July...the rest of the month will be a smile!.

[timbo]

Perhaps we could have the Toolonglegs BNA Tour de France Tour, with Toolonglegs hosting the tour and all of us poor Aussies bunking in at his place.
Don't worry, we'll hose the place out before we leave.

[toolonglegs]

Cyclotourism has crossed my mind!

[toolonglegs]

Fingers Crossed...Ventoux would be fantastic!!!.
2009 Tour to include Ventoux time trial?

The Mont Ventoux from the valley
Photo ©: Hedwig Kröner

The latest speculation about the 2009 Tour de France route comes from French newspaper La Provence. In its Thursday, September 18 edition, the paper claims that next year's Grande Boucle will include the famous Mont Ventoux.

"It is probable and it would be a time trial," reportedly said local politician Jean-Michel Ferrand. Indeed, Tour organiser ASO has a contract with the General Council of the region Provence to hold one passage of one of its races through the region each year. ASO event Paris-Nice regularly has one of its stages climbing the Ventoux, as it was done this spring to the Mont Serein ski station. But the mountain was last raced in the Grand Tour in 2002, which makes an inclusion in of the next French Grand Tours likely.

Next year, the Tour de France will start in Monaco, so much is already official. From there, it will probably wind its way through the South of France westwards, visiting Spain's Barcelona before or after tackling the Pyrenees. Still, La Provence speculates that a time trial up the mythical 'bald mountain' would not come during the first week - even if the route could allow it - but on the penultimate day of the race, as a location for the final time trial before Paris on Saturday, July 25. Wine village Rasteau would host the start for a 21.5km stage via Bedoin.

Other stage host towns are rumoured to be Pinerolo on the outskirts of Torino, Italy, Sisteron, Aubenas, La Grande-Motte, Montpellier, Sète (for a possible first time trial) and Andorra.

ASO will announce the parcours in late October.

[rob e]

Perhaps we could have the Toolonglegs BNA Tour de France Tour, with Toolonglegs hosting the tour and all of us poor Aussies bunking in at his place.
Don't worry, we'll hose the place out before we leave.

Yes, i would be up for this, not sure if this will get Mrs Toolonglegs seal of approval though. I have got approval for 2 weeks tour following (+3 weeks general sightseeing) in 2010.