Le Tour Stage 1 - where to watch...?

[Liam 68]

Morning,
Me & my son are staying in Burnley the night before stage 1 & were thinking of driving somewhere near the most northern part & then biking to a hilly point to watch.
I think some of the roads leading to the actual route will be shut but I have heard there are some 'park & cycle' places...
What are others doing & has anyone else heard of these 'park & cycle' areas...?
cheers
Liam

 

[oldfatfool]

http://letour.yorkshire.com/travel/travel-information-map will show you which roads are closed, by clicking on the roads the extra info shows if they are being used as on road car parking on one side. hth

 

[Archie_tect]

I'll be watching it on the tele.... when we were in Normandy last year as the Tour came through we heard it and saw a few stragglers but the main race was past and gone in seconds- all that build up and excitement and then you stand there thinking, is that it? How the Police and officials keep the road clear, when they're going at that pace, is nothing short of miraculous!

 

[Liam 68]

That's why I think the more hilly the better...!

 

[the_mikey]

I will be watching it on TV, or maybe a tablet, possibly in Leeds.

 

[Pro Tour Punditry]

My experience of watching pro racing at the Tour and Giro is that you have to accept that there are limitations to what you'll "see" but if you are prepared for that and work out what you want to "experience" then you'll have a much better time.

My view is that, from what I have read, Yorkshire have made an árse of things and have focused too much on "paying or restricting access beyond but also including watching" (which is part of the experience) and therefore limiting the experience as they do not fully understand that the experience extends beyond "seeing".

But I might be wrong.

 

[laurence]

I'll be watching it on the tele.... when we were in Normandy last year as the Tour came through we heard it and saw a few stragglers but the main race was past and gone in seconds- all that build up and excitement and then you stand there thinking, is that it? How the Police and officials keep the road clear, when they're going at that pace, is nothing short of miraculous!

closed roads - totally closed roads from the morning until after the event.

the build up is all part of it... the arrival of the caravan.. the wait... the helicopters in the distance... motorbike outriders coming through... official cars... the helicopters getting closer.... the noise, the speed, the colours, a blur soundtracked by snicking of gears,clicking of chains andthe multi-lingual shouts of the riders.... the team cars... riders coming back through the cars.... more vehicles... the voiture balai... the hubbub of the fansas the spectacle fades from view.

you don't stand by the road for hours to see racing, you go to see THE race.

if you want to see all the action in one place, go to the track or watch on tv. if you want to see le Tour as it should be seen, go to the roadside, yell "allez allez" (or "gora gora") as they pass and revel in enjoying the greatest sport, for free, a mere few feet away.

i'm going to be based in York for the weekend... probably getting trains to start and finish towns... still not finalised it yet.

one week to go! allez alles, gora gora.

 

[Bladeboy]

hi I'm going to wakefield Friday and stopping at family's, but not got a clue where to watch the tour. going to ride from wakefield to my destination point, are there any climbs good viewing points not to far a ride out from leeds? sat nav point would be good too cheers for any help........why do I always leave everything to the last min?????

 

[DCLane]

I'm off to Buttertubs on Saturday and Woodhead Pass on Sunday.

 

[Liam 68]

cheers all
planning to park & 'ride' - will reccie the night before!

 

[martinclive]

cheers all
planning to park & 'ride' - will reccie the night before!

We are going to try Park and ride from Wetherby area - try and see the start then cycle to see the finish as well..................will see how well that works!

 

[Kbrook]

Am i right in saying that although roads are closed from very early morning, cyclists are allowed to use them up until about an hour before the caravan travels on it. Planning to ride up to Cray on the morning if I can get through.

 

[laurence]

i have booked the train from york to leeds in the morning... then to harrogate after the start. we'll get the return to york ones at the end where we won't be fussed about waiting. just going to try and get a reasonable vantage point... we have our folding seats ready for the long wait.

day 2 may be spent watching the start in york and then sightseeing - whilst popping into fan parks, etc.

day 3... no idea yet. london still seems subdued about le Tour, but i suspect that will change.