Bikestyle 10 Day Tour de France Trip 2002
Cyclingnews.com and Bikestyle Promotions will again offer you the chance to see all the action of the world's greatest bicycle race, the Tour de France. This 10 day trip will give you the chance to see up to 7 stages of the Tour de France. This will be together with rides and sightseeing in some of the most breathtaking scenery in the world from Provence, to the Alpes and Paris. You will be able to follow all the alpine stages, Mont Ventoux, the final Time Trial and the finale in Paris with or without your bike, as well as having ample opportunities to sightsee and experience the rich culture of France. Non-cycling partners are welcome and catered for. Once again we will have the services of Neil Stephens, former pro cyclist and 7 times TDF competitor and Stage Winner. Stevo is a legendary super-domestique and will accompany the trip to provide a unique insight into the world's greatest sporting event. Stevo also accompanies the rides and can still turn the pedals pretty well as many found out in 2001! Friday, 19th July Stage 12 - July 19: Lannenezan-Plateau de Beille, 198 km
We start our trip in Paris where we collect you from the airport. You will be met at the terminal and taken to your hotel. To allow you time to recover and to take in some of the sights of Paris we stay overnight in the center of Paris at the 4 star Hilton Paris on the fashionable avenue de Suffren. The Hilton Paris is located only a step from the Eiffel Tower and Trocadero Gardens, a block from the River Seine, and close to the Palais de Chaillot and the Porte de Versailles Exhibition Centre. Located in a refined and quiet area, this elegant property is an ideal location for a quick look around Paris. Hotel website: http://www.hilton-paris.com/suffren/ Saturday, 20th July Stage 13 - July 20: Lavelanet - Béziers, 166 km Today the trip begins with a coach trip past the rolling plains of Northern France following the Rhone Valley into the Lavender and Sunflower fields of Provence to our destination of L'Isle sur la Sorgue a wonderful little Provencal city of 18000 inhabitants, located in the heart of Vaucluse, 25 km South-East of Avignon. The old town with its many canals has preserved a few traces of its past thanks to hydraulic systems that allow the water wheels to continue working. We will arrive late in the afternoon just in time to see the town come alive as people come out to eat and drink in the restaurants and the squares. If we haven't unpacked our bikes this evening is a good time as tomorrow is Mont Ventoux. Tonight our hotel is the 2 star Hotel Cantosorgue built on the side of a branch of the river, in town but in a quiet place. Hotel Website: http://www.avignon-et-provence.com/cantosorgue/gb/ Sunday, 21st July Stage 14 - July 21: Lodève-Mont Ventoux, 220.5 km
Today is one of the big ones in Tour folklore. Mont Ventoux, known as the Giant of Provence this will be a fantastic day. Cyclists can ride through the beautiful countryside to the mountain (with guide) and climb to the top (so long as you're early). The best place to watch it last time was Chalet Reynard approx 5 klm from the summit where a big screen was located with food, drink, music and lots of viewing spots. I had one of my best days ever at the Tour watching this stage two years ago when Pantani won. Other options for cyclists wanting a shorter ride is to ride to Bedoin where the coach will be and watch the race from there and return by bike or coach to Orange after. The ride is about 60 klm (37 miles) each way if you go to the top. Bedoin is approximately 35 klm (20 miles). Non cyclists who want to watch the race can go to the pretty little village of Bedoin at the base of the mountain and enjoy a day there eating, drinking and shopping or you can walk part way up the climb to see the race from there. The other option for non cyclists, of course is to stay and explore L'Isle sur la Sorgue. There is lots to do here. The antique market (one of the biggest in France) is held here every Sunday. There is also shopping, eating or just people watching too. Today's riding Options: Monday, 22nd July Rest Day Today we will travel to the Alpes where we will spend the next few days in Grenoble, a great town at the base of the Alpes approx 70 klm from Deux Alpes. It is a relatively short (2 hours) but picturesque drive from Avignon to the Alpes. We will need to get going early so we can get to our hotel and tackle Alpe d'Huez in the afternoon. It's a rest day in the Tour so we don't miss anything. Non cyclists will be able to explore the many shops and tourist sites that Grenoble has to offer in the afternoon. Grenoble is a cosmopolitan, university city with a big square and a beautiful old quarter with varied restaurants and bars. A must see tourist attraction is the Bastille, an old fort which overlooks the city. You can get there by walking or the preferred option of the Telepherique (cable car) that takes you across the river and up to the Bastille. Our hotel for the next two nights is the 3 star Grand Hotel right in the center of Grenoble near the old quarter. Hotel Website: http://www.grand-hotel-grenoble.com/ Today's riding Options: Tuesday, 23rd July Stage 15 - July 23: Vaison-le-Romaine-Les deux Alpes, 226 km
After the rest day yesterday the riders will be fresh as the tour hits the Alpes and finishes at Deux Alpes. Cyclists can choose to ride out from our hotel in Grenoble and watch it on the climb or at Deux Alpes or for those who have had enough mountains they can meet the coach at the little village of Venosc at the back of Deux Alpes (with guide). From there a chair lift can be used to access Deux Alpes. Non cyclists can take the chair lift to the top of Deux Alpes or stay back in Grenoble to explore this lively city. After the stage we return to our hotel by bike or coach. Today's riding Options: Wednesday, 24th July
This is the toughest climb on the toughest day of this years Tour so the race today will most likely be decided here, on the Col de la Madeleine. It is an open climb at the top so you can see the race coming for a long way. The riders will have already ridden over the Galibier and Telegraph and the field will be split when it reaches us. The coach will go to little village of La Chambre. Cyclists can either ride from Grenoble to La Chambre and up the Col de la Madeleine of take the coach to La Chambre and ride from there. Either way the scenery and the racing today will be spectacular. For cyclists doing the full Grenoble to Challes les Eaux ride, this day is the hardest. We will depart Grenoble early and follow the river Isere north and then east to La Chambre, at the base of the Madeleine where we meet the coach to collect and or drop off any cyclists and watch the race before making our way to Challes les Eaux. Cyclists can choose ride to the top of the Col de la Madeleine and see the riders pass the summit before going on to our destination for the night, Challes les Eaux near Chambery. There are also a couple of nice villages near the top for food and refreshments. Non cyclists will go with the coach to La Chambre where the climb begins. So it is easy to walk up a few bends to see the race on the climb. It is also possible we may be able to call by our accommodation on the way to La Chambre and drop anyone not wanting to see the race, however we will not be sure of this until the previous day. Our stay tonight is the 3 star Hostellerie Comtes de Challes. It is a residence of the 18th century located in a tree-lined park of 2 hectares. It has accommodated such imminent personalities as President Poincare, the Belgian King and General Charles de Gaulle, as well as artists such as Edwige Feuillère, Arlety, Michele Morgan to quote only some of them. The residence also played a part in the drug scandal of the 1998 Tour when the La Francais des Jeux team were raided while staying there. Nothing was found. Challes les Eaux is a spa town as many in the area are in the Savoy region. You may want to put those tired legs in a thermal spa after today's ride! Hotel Website: http://www.hostelleriedescomtesdechalles.com/ Today's riding options: Thursday, 25th July
Stage 17 - July 25: Aime-Cluses, 141 km
Today you can ride quite a lot of the course if you wish. You can choose to ride either directly to our 4 star hotel on the lake in Annecy and watch the race via television and do some sightseeing OR you can ride toward Albertville, over the Col des Aravis and continue in the direction of the Col de la Colombiere, over the summit and descend to the finish at Cluses where the coach will be waiting for you. We return to Annecy by coach afterward. The direct route is also a very scenic route with some climbing but only to approx 1000 metres before you drop down onto Lake Annecy and the bikeway that takes you into the city and our Hotel. Non cyclists and cyclists not wanting to ride will go straight to Annecy where you will be dropped at the hotel to do some sightseeing as there is a lot to see in this beautiful city which is known as the Venice of the Alpes. After leaving people not wanting to visit the Tour the bus will continue to the finish at Cluses.
Our accommodation for the next 2 nights is the 4 star Impérial Palace on Lac Annecy. L'IMPERIAL PALACE is composed of a four-star hotel, and a casino. Located in the middle of a park, on the border of one of the purest lake in Europe, its 99 rooms and suites, its restaurants and its terraces offer high quality for an exceptional stay. Fully renovated in 1990, this magnificent establishment is in a charming historical city between lake and mountains. Website: http://www.lac-annecy.com/English/Hebergement/himperial.asp Today's riding options: Friday, 26th July Stage 18 - July 26: Cluses - Bourg-en-Bresse, 180 km Today we have the day in Annecy. It was possible to move on to Macon today but Annecy is such a beautiful city with so much to see I decided that we should stay here. The accommodation in Annecy had a bit to do with it too! Today is a "flat" day for the riders although there are quite a few "lumps" in the road to Bourg en Bresse! The coach will go to Cluses for the start and some final photo and autograph opportunities and then return to Annecy to have the rest of the day sightseeing or sleeping! Cyclists today can either go to the start, ride along the course to see the riders pass (although we don't know the exact route yet it should pass near Annecy) or do some exploring of your own. There are some beautiful roads of varying difficulty in the area. Today's riding options: Saturday, 27th July Stage 19 - July 27: Régnié-Durette - Mâcon Ind TT, 52.5 km
This is the final time trial of the Tour. Will it come down to the wire? We leave Annecy and head for Macon for the final time trial of the 2002 Tour de France. It's not more than 2 hours drive away so a mid morning start will be fine. Those who would like to look around Macon can do so while the rest of us watch the race. It will be possible to ride your bike today however I wouldn't be surprised if you're happy to leave it in the bus! If you do however you can ride out through the vineyards to intersect the course and see the riders there. Macon sits on the river Saone and dates back to Roman times. It has an old center with many places of interest and shops to browse. Paris is about 4 hours drive from Macon so we won't be in our hotel before 9pm. We will have dinner in Macon or along the way. Our hotel will again be the Hilton Paris. It is ideally located for the final stage tomorrow and everything that Paris offers at its doorstep. Sunday, 28th July
Stage 20 - July 28: Melun - Paris-Champs-Elysées, 145 km Today we'll watch the final stage on the Champs des Elysees. This is a highlight of the trip and you will certainly enjoy this day. You will be given suggested vantage points and don't forget to wait for the lap of honour! Lets hope the best man has won! They will do at least ten laps of the Champs des Elysees as well as a lap of honor by each team after the race. It's a great chance to see the riders up close and relaxed. Will Lance be in Yellow? Ever since its first running in 1903, the Tour traditionally winds up in Paris. The French capital has had the status of department since 1964 and is divided in twenty arrondissements. Pop. 2.2 million (approx. 9 mil. with suburbs). The finish line has been on the Champs des Elysees since 1975. Tonight you can party all night as there's no bike to ride tomorrow, only a plane to catch. Monday, 29th July Today a shuttle will transfer you to the Airport or if you're staying on to look at Paris then enjoy your day!
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