A mate and I have always threatened

[Greedo]

to go and watch the LeTour.

This year we are probably going to go given Armstrong is back. Despite your opinion of the man and mines is I don't mind him, I reckon this year might be a bit more interesting with him in it.

So my question is what's the best way going about it. Camping, Mobile home, B&B's etc...

Also having never really seen a race live apart from a bit of the Tour of Britain when it's started in Glasgow which isn't that grest, what's the best advice. Obviously a day in the mountains will be far more entertaining than one of the days when the whole peleton flys by in a couple of mins, but what are the logistics etc.... going up the mountain 1/2/3 days prior etc....

Any advice folks would be very much appreciated???

 

[Crackle]

Never done a mtn stage Greedo, general advice is 2 or 3 days in advance. Done about 7 other stages including 2 team time trials and two stages in the UK, one of the TT's near the timing gate so you could see the splits and as the last team went through we retreated into the bar to watch the end. Also done a start but we got there too late to grab a place to see the sign on, couldn't get near. Best place is in a village on a bend because the riders have to slow down and you get a good view as they accelerate out. Get to any other stage an hour or two in advance, find a spot, drink a beer and grab the freebies off the publicity caravan.

 

[papercorn2000]

See them on a mountain finish.

Camp within riding distance of the mountain and ride in. Select a spot with some shade a few hours before the race is due. Make sure that you have plenty of water (or beer) and enjoy the whole carnival atmosphere. On a stage finish in the mountains, they can be coming by for 20 minutes or more. Then carefully back down (on some stages, I have managed to get ahead of the cars and its practically closed roads back to the campsite!) home, BBQ and more beer. It's what holibags are made for!

 

[Will1985]

You want to go to the Giro - be somewhere in the last 2km of the long TT and then up Vesuvius would be amazing.

Unlike the heavyhandedness of the British police I experienced on stage 1 (couldn't ride from Ashford towards Canterbury at 8am), I've found that cyclists in Europe can ride the course much later in the day before the caravan arrives but you have to stop when the police tell you to.

The logistics of putting thousands on a mountain makes things complicated - in a car or camper you have to be up there the morning before at the latest as the roads can be closed to vehicles the evening before. Flat stages aren't as bad, but best to chose your spot early. It is better to park cars further away from the route and walk the final kilometre.

 

[Chrisz]

(couldn't ride from Ashford towards Canterbury at 8am),

Plan your vantage point and route in/out!!

During the ToB and the TdF in Canterbury I had no difficulty at all in getting to where I wanted to go - take a decent map of the area and plan accordingly

Other things to check/plan are weather forecasts and popularity of the venue/vantage point. If the weather looks like being really carp, I'd recommend finding a small village the route passes through and park yourself on a streetside cafe to watch. If you do go for a mountain stage (usually the best spots) remember that they are extremely popular (get there early and pick your spot) and that, as you are in the mountains, the weather can change quite dramatically - take lots of spare clothing (waterproof coverings etc. - ponchos are excellent).

 

[User269]

You must do it. It's the most amazing experience.

My advice is Black ops, secure the area days before, dig in, build defenses, no washing etc., then...........take 'em by surprise! Make sure you've also got air support.

 

[Chrisz]

You must do it. It's the most amazing experience.

M dig in, build defenses, no washing etc., then...........take 'em by surprise! Make sure you've also got air support.

You ever tried to dig in on a mountain? It doesn't work! Much better to get to the top first, hide up and call in air strikes from there If, however, you have the septics in support you would be safer taking a decent scoped long rifle with you and picking them off one by one.

 

[yenrod]

Nah seriously - would luv' to check it out myself !

May even look at an air ticket to paris...

 

[Noodley]

I was at the Tour in the Alps a couple of years back at got a great vantage point on the infamous Floyd Landis stage to Morzine...we had time to have lunch in the chalet then walk to the cable car which stopped a few hundred metres before the summit and walk the rest. There were loads of people there who had been there the night before and had been arriving all day (we had a steady stream past the chalet from at least 6am).

I had the opportunity to drive the short distance from the chalet to the Arrivee very early in the morning and walked about the finish area. Nobody challenged me on what I was doing there and I had a good nose about. There were a few teams staying near our chalet and I bumped into a few pro riders...rumours of me drinking with Floyd are unfounded

We made it to the Depart the following day and again got great views. I'll see if I can find some pics later...

 

[gbb]

Well worth it, anybody remember when the Prologue was in London? Awesome beyond words.

What a fantastic day...the atmosphere was amazing. You could get up close to all the support vehicles and riders warning up...a day i'll remember for a long while.
That makes me think....cos it was spread out, it made it interesting. If you go to one of the stages ? Whooooooooosh......and they're gone Although, on one of the climbs would be something to see.....

You got to do it Greedo

 

[Will1985]

Plan your vantage point and route in/out!!

During the ToB and the TdF in Canterbury I had no difficulty at all in getting to where I wanted to go - take a decent map of the area and plan accordingly

The point was that it was inaccessible unlike on the continent. The Messenger had published closure times for other parts and I should have been ok at 8am, so in the end I took the A28 via Wye.

 

[arranandy]

I went last year to see a couple of stages in the Pyrennes. It was an awesome experience, not just seeing the riders close up but the whole thing with the crowds, publicity caravan, weather, etc. I would recommend it.

Going again this year to see the stage finish and start in Barcelona on the 8/9th July. Flights already booked and as my bro-in-law lives in Barcelona I have no problems with accomodation.

 

[Noodley]

I'll see if I can find some pics later...

The Chicken (with Evans sucking his wheel ):

Here's Jens at the depart:

 

[Crackle]

OK Noodley. If we're doing piccies, here's a favourite of yours in his very last team time trial

 

[fossyant]

I saw it in Dublin.... stayed a couple of days - it was great. France won there round of the Euro or what ever, it was like being in france.

Ullrich jumped over the crash barriers right next to me on the prologue - wasn't a happy bunny as he'd didn't win it...right moody bugger.