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Tour de France Pyrenees Special for 2 – 4 People Only. Stay in several Team Hotels and view behind the scenes action. Also, see and ride the Pyrenees Mountain Top Finish Stages as well as others.
This is a 2 week custom tour during the 2015 Tour de France. It is led by Dick and Sandy, with Bruce Hildenbrand joining the crew for the last 8 days. Sandy is our “TdF route advisor” and has real insider knowledge that gets us very close to the riders. You will be staying in Team Hotels where possible, and riding parts of 3 mountain top finishes, Stages 10, 11 & 12, as well as seeing stages 13 &14 and riding the entire routes of stage 19. The 2nd week you have the option to do the 8 Day/7 Night Tour in the Alpes during stages 18, 19 and 20, then to Paris for the finish, stage 21. It is very difficult to get rooms at hotels where the race teams are staying so we only have a couple rooms, hence we can only take 2 – 4 people. You do not need to ride on this tour if you just want to watch the race and hang out with the racers.
For pickup in France there are several options: 1) Dick will be at CDG in Paris the morning of 11 July (Saturday). He will meet you and you will drive to the Dordogne for the night to pick up the roof racks for our van and tools etc. On Sunday you will drive to the Toulouse (TLS) airport and pick up Sandy, then continue on to Pau where we catch up with the race. Or 2) arrive Toulouse (TLS) on 12 July and Dick will pick you up as he drives from the Dordogne to pick up Sandy at TLS; or 3) Fly directly to Pau (PUF) and Dick will meet you at the Pau airport on 12 July (Sunday). For options 2 & 3 you need to depart the USA on July 10. For option 3 you can depart the USA on 11 July.
Part Une: Tour de France Tour – 8 Day Team Hotels Tour with Dick & Sandy:
Day 0: July 11 – Saturday -Meet Dick Powell at Paris CDG Airport (option 1 above) in the morning and drive to the area where Dick lived for 19 years and meet his former caretaker and they will install the roof racks on the van. You will stay in a lovely B&B as will Dick in a nearby village and eat at a gourmet Bistro. There is no charge for the transportation, but the B&B and dinner are not included in the tour cost.
Day 1: July 12 – Sunday – We will drive to Pau via Toulouse Airport (TLS) option 2 above, where you could be picked up or you will arrive in Pau on your own (option 3 above) and taxi to your hotel. If your flight arrives in the late afternoon you will be met by Dick and Sandy and taken to your hotel. The hotels are included in the tour price. All meals are on your own during the first 8 days of this tour. We will normally eat together but that is optional.
Day 2: July 13 – Monday -Rest Day in Pau. Assemble bikes and go for a local ride. Hang out with the teams. It is possible to visit several hotels. It is also possible if you ride the countryside you will encounter Teams on training rides.
Day 3: July 14 – Tuesday -See Stage 10 to La Pierre Saint Martin. Ride the whole stage early or drive part of the way to the finish and ride the remainder. We will drive back to the hotels after the stage finish.
Day 4: July 15 – Wednesday -See Stage 11 to Cauterets or somewhere along the route. You can ride it all or drive part way. After the race we drive to Tarascon-sur-Ariege which is on tomorrows Race Route in a lovely hotel.
Day 5: July 16 – Thursday – Ride and see the stage finish at Plateau de Beille, or do the climb in the morning and watch the race from the hotel as described in Dick’s blog: https://outfittertours.com/2014/11/watch-tour-de-france/. After the race drive to Rodez for 2 nights. Teams will be at the hotel the 2nd night after the stage finish.
Day 6: July 17 – Friday -See Stage 13 finish in Rodez. Ride this beautiful area. There are some wonderful towns to visit like Conque, or ride the tour route into Rodez. Stay in Team Hotel.
Day 7: July 18 – Saturday – See Stage 14 start in Rodez. Drive to Valence for the final 2 nights of this special tour.
Day 8: July 19 – Sunday – We will ride to Tournon sur Rhone and visit the Cite` du Chocolat Museum (http://www.citeduchocolat.com/en). Our ride is through Michelin 3 Star sites, Corniche du Rhone*** and Panorama***. We will return in time for the Stage 15 finish and there will be teams at our hotel.
Day 9: July 20 – Monday – Departure or drive to St Jean de Maurienne for 8 Day/7 Night Alpes to Paris Tour – If you are departing today we will van you to the TGV station in Valance. If you are doing the Combo, We will van to St. Jean and you will be able to cycle the local climbs as time allows: the Madeleine, Glandon, Croix de la Fer and others.
Part Deux: Tour de France Tour – 8 Day Group Tour:
Arrival in St. Jean de Maurienne
The other clients will arrive by train today, assemble their bikes and take a warm up ride. You can ride the entire Queen Stage route from St Jean de Maurienne to La Toussuire if you desire. In the late afternoon begin Part Deux, the 8 Day 7 Night Tour. All breakfasts and most dinners are included.Day 10: July 21 – Tuesday – Ride All or Part of Stage 19
You can choose to do the whole or part of the route of Friday’s Queen Stage 19 which starts near our hotel and climbs Col de Chaussy, Col du Glandon, Croix de Fer, Col de Mollard and then to the Ski Station La Toussuire for the finish. You then coast downhill to your hotel. Dinner is on your own in town this evening.
Day 11: July 22 – Wednesday – Col du Telegraph
We head to Valliore over Col du Telegraphe, part of Stage 20. Dinner is included at our hotel tonight.
Day 12: July 23 – Thursday – Galibier & Alpe d’Huez, Stage 18
We climb the beautiful Col du Galibier, then downhill for 50km to see Stage 18 pass just below Alpe d’Huez. After the stage you climb or van up to your hotel at Alpe d’Huez. Dinner is included at the hotel tonight.
Day 13: July 24 – Friday – Stage 19 Viewing
You can enjoy Alpe d’Huez or ride down then up the Glandon to watch Stage 19 pass as it heads to the finish at La Toussuire. Dinner is on your own in town tonight.
Day 14: July 25 – Saturday – Stage 20 Viewing
Stage 20 comes right past your hotel via the Telegraphe, Galibier then up the famous 21 turns of Alpe d’Huez. We’ll have suggestions for the best viewing spots on the mountain and in town. If you stay in town you can walk to the podium ceremony, just a few blocks from the hotel. Our farewell dinner is included at our hotel.
Day 15: July 26 – Sunday – Paris & Final Stage Viewing
Today we transfer to Paris. A morning departure will put you on the Champs Elysees in enough time to see the pros ride into town for the final stage! Train tickets are included in your tour fee! Make sure you wait for the parade of teams and podium ceremony after the stage finish. Afterwards, walk past the Arc de Triomphe to our hotel. Dinner is on your own in Paris.
Day 16: July 27 – Monday – Departure
Departure day! Transportation to the airport is easy from our hotel. Or stay in Paris for a few days. Bon voyage! We hope you enjoyed your tour with Outfitter Bicycle Tours!
What is included:
- All hotel accommodations except 11 July if you arrive early.
- Luggage transfers from hotel to hotel.
- OBT cycling jersey!
- Tour photo book, using shared photos you take during your tour.
- Meals as explained in the tour itinerary pages above. Usually this means all breakfasts, no lunches, and some dinners on the 7 Night Tour, none on the 12th through 19th
- Detailed route notes, maps, and tourist information for the 7 Day. We will all figure it out for the 12th – 19th.
- Outstanding routing instructions! This includes GPS course downloads for your GPS unit, traditional cue sheet, and written prose describing each turn and the surrounding area. These methods are then supported by a road map. 12 – 19 July excluded.
- Your personal guides, helping you with support vehicles. On road support will always be near. From greeting guests when they arrive, to handling luggage transfers, mechanical issues, etc – our guides assist guests in every way. They also set you up on your rental bikes, and can help with routing, and any other questions.
What is not included:
- Transportation to and from the start and finish locations.
- Bikes, but ask if you want to rent a bike.
- Travel and Health Insurance.
- Admission to sightseeing venues, unless explicitly mentioned as included.
