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"The Alps" Package July 7th to July 15th This trip will take us
through 2 of the mountain ranges in France. We will first visit the
Vosges region which is a beautiful region in the Summer. 100 years ago
the Tour de France first went over the Ballon d'Alsace. The stage on
July 10th will not only commemorate the event by going over this
climb, but will also include the Grand Ballon as well as 4 other climbs.
The race could get interesting in a
hurry! We were able to secure hotels in strategic locations so as to maximize the number of nights in each hotel. Because France uses the metric system and all the markings will be in km, we too, use the metric system when referring to distances. |
Itinerary - What is included? - Options
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2005 TOUR DE FRANCE - ALPS PACKAGE |
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Rate : $3685.00 |
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8 nights, 9 days - July 7th to July 15th |
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Pick up in Strasbourg - Drop off in Lyon |
| Highlights: the Vosges , Classic climbs of the Alps, Helicopter to Courchevel |
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OPTION: Pre-trip in Paris July 4th to July 7th - Trip insurance |
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- July 7th - |
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Hotel location: Gerardmer |
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| Pick-up in Strasbourg. The pick-up time will be determined once we have everyone's travel arrangements (probably early afternoon). | ||
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Our first hotel will be home for the
first three nights of this trip. This is a hotel we use every chance we
have, when we are in the Vosges. We have chosen this hotel for its
convenient location to the Tour route, as well as its central
location to many of the great climbs of the Vosges. In addition, we
have been told that one of the cycling teams will be staying at the
hotel as well. Which one? We do not know but this is the nicest hotel
in town... We will setup bikes and those who wish to can go for a short test ride. |
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- July 8th - |
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Hotel location: Gerardmer |
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| Short ride: 44km (27.5 mi.) - Long ride: 88km (55 mi.) | ||
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Tour Stage 7 / Luneville - Karlsruhe / 225km (140.5 miles) |
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 Ballon d'Alsace |
A flat stage will take the race into
Germany today. Leaving from the hotel, today's ride will take us over the col de Grosse Pierre and Ballon d'Alsace. The second stage of the 1905 Tour de France, featured the first mountain stage ever. The ballon d'Alsace was the first climb of this mountain stage. The riders had to switch bikes at the base of the climb in order to have more appropriate gear ratios. At the top of the climb they would get back on their original bikes. Henri Cornet, top contender at the time, would have to wait 20 minutes at the top; he had made it up, but his support vehicle had broken down! |
 Col de Grosse Pierre |
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- July 9th - |
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| Hotel location: Gerardmer | ||
| Short ride: 43km (27 mi.) - Long ride: 68km (42.5 mi.) | ||
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Tour Stage 8 / Pforheim - Gerardmer / 235km (147 miles) |
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Another good ride today. A couple of
ride options and a couple of viewing locations.
Our hotel is located at the arrival of today's stage so this could be a good time to go for an early ride, come back to the hotel and simply enjoy the arrival in town. Another option is to ride out and meet the race in the final climb just outside of Gerardmer; the col de la Schlucht. The Alsace and Vosges regions love to decorate their villages and towns in the summer making for beautiful sight-seeing and riding. There are actually contests throughout France and distinctions for the nicest Villages. Our tentative rides call for cycling some of these villages. |
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 Ballon d'Alsace |
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| - July 10th - | ||
| Hotel location: Saint Jean de Maurienne | ||
| Short ride: 24km (15 mi.) - Long ride: 43km (27 mi.) | ||
| Tour Stage 9 / Gerardmer - Mulhouse / 170km (106.5 miles) | ||
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We'll be leaving the hotel
relatively early this morning and ride the Tour route to view the race
in the day's toughest climb; the Grand Ballon.
The ride length are purposely shorter, but there are options to add an extra climb and a few miles (about 14 miles) for those who desire. Once the race has been by and you have had a chance to see how "they" measure up, we will then have a lengthy transfer into the Alps for our next hotel and our next mountain range! |
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 Grand Ballon |
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| - July 11th - | ||
| Hotel location: Saint Jean de Maurienne | ||
| Short ride: 45km (28 mi.) - Long ride: 80km (50 mi.) | ||
| Tour Stage: REST DAY | ||
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The rest day is for the
riders of the Tour de France... not for us! There are many cycling options available today, but a trip to Alpe d'Huez and it's 21 switchbacks is a definite! Other possible climbs could include the Glandon or possibly a section of the Lautaret. We've got all day to ride, so let's enjoy! The hotel is the same as last night and will be the same on the 12th and 13th so the focus is on riding, the Tour and having fun! |
 Alpe d'Huez |
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- July 12th - |
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| Hotel location: Saint Jean de Maurienne | ||
| Ride: 60km (37.5 mi.) | ||
| Tour Stage 10 / Grenoble - Courchevel / 192km (120 miles) | ||
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The first of the stages in
the Alps will be a mountain top finish in Courchevel. The last time
the Tour finished at Courchevel, the late Pantani won the stage in
front of Jimenes (41") and Heras and Armstrong (both at 50"). Our ride will take us up the famous col de la Madeleine in the morning and we will then take a helicopter into Courchevel to see the Arrival! |
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 Col de la Madeleine |
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- July 13th - |
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Hotel location: Saint Jean de Maurienne |
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Short ride: 50km (31 mi.) - Long ride: 95km (59 mi.) |
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Tour Stage 11 / Courchevel - Briançon / 173km (108 miles) |
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The Tour is going over 3
big climbs today and we are ideally located to see the race in the
final 2. From the hotel we will ride to the infernal duo of the Telegraphe and Galibier! The col du Galibier is one of the higher climbs the Tour encounters (the col de l'Iseran is higher but seldom used in Tour itinerary) and is considered to be "the King of climbs". The summit of the climb is home to a memorial to Henri Desgranges, founder of the Tour de France.
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 Telegraphe + Galibier |
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- July 14th - |
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| HAPPY BASTILLE DAY! | ||
| Hotel location: Faverges de la Tour | ||
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Short ride: 56km (35 mi.) - Long ride: 65km (41 mi.) |
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Tour Stage 12 / Briançon - Digne les Bains / 187km (117 miles) |
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| While the Tour heads out of
the Alps, our final ride will take us up the Col de la Croix de Fer. We will then pack up bikes and go catch the arrival of the Stage on TV in one of our favorite Chateaux, not very far from Lyon airport. |
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 Col de la Croix de Fer |
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- July 15th - |
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Tour Stage 13 / Miramas - Montpellier / 162km (100 miles) |
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| All good things must come to an end.... a bus transfer will take you to Lyon airport where you can either catch a flight home or a Bullet train to Paris (or elsewhere...) |
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| - Transfer from and to Airport or train-Station |
| - Hotel room based on double occupancy |
| - All breakfasts at the hotels - 4 Lunches, French-picnic style - All but one Dinners (wine included) |
| - Air-conditioned, Touring bus with Video and Restrooms |
| - Support vehicle with water and snacks |
| - RV for viewing spots - lunches and live TV feed of the Tour |
| - Bi-lingual and bi-cultural group Leader |
| - Bike Mechanic |
| - Bike Guides |
| - Support Staff |
| - Luggage transfer from hotel to hotel |
| - 2 ride distances daily |
| - Detailed cue-cards, directions, maps, profile of stages, etc. |
| - Other "goodies" |
The rides mentioned above are tentative rides. Exact cycling itineraries, distances, etc will be provided upon arrival in France as we may need to make some adjustments once the exact Tour itinerary is released in late May, early June. Additional ride mileage can be easily added on some days.
Lance Armstrong finishing on top of the Mont Ventoux
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