"Alps, Time Trial, Ventoux and Arrival" Package 2

July 20th to July 27th, 2009

This trip will cover the important final stages of the 2009 Tour de France and offer an opportunity to view up to 6 stages of the Tour including the Alps, the final Time Trial, Mont Ventoux and the Arrival in Paris. Optional Grand Stand seating on the Champs Elysees is available for the arrival in Paris!

Please read below for a daily itinerary.

Registrations:
A 25% deposit per person is required to reserve a spot. If places are still available when we receive your application along with deposit, you will receive notification of your registration. If the trip is sold out, you will be given the option to be placed on a waiting list or choice of another trip. Waitlist order is on a first come first serve basis as well. Please email us to receive a registration form our complete reservation procedure:  Email

ITINERARY   -   What is included?   -   Options

Our first hotel is in fact a beautiful Castle and will be "home" for the first 4 nights of this trip. 

Once checked-in, those riding will assemble bikes, our mechanic will be on hand to help and, time allowing, we'll take a short ride to ensure proper working condition of the bikes.

It will then be time to get together over a welcome toast, do proper introductions and go over the next few day's fun and action... of course a nice dinner will follow!

Cormet de Roselend

Today the peloton will face one stage and three countries; start in Switzerland, ride through Italy and finish in France. All this over "just" 100 miles.

Those who wish to ride the most will once again be able to put a good-day in the saddle. Leaving from the hotel the ride will be rolling before getting to the Cormet de Roselend. Up the Cormet de Roselend and back down into Bourg Saint Maurice to catch the arrival of today's stage. 2 other ride options will either leave from the hotel to rally Albertville (50km), or start in Albertville and ride over the Cormet de Roselend into Bourg Saint Maurice (60km). The longer distance will do both.

Once the stage is over we will bus back to our "chateau" for a bit of R&R and nice dinner.

- July 22nd -

Col des Saisies

With 5 categorized climbs this stage is going to create havoc in the peloton.

The Col de la Colombiere is usually quite difficult from the North side, but the Tour Organizers have decided to add the col de Romme which presents a great challenge with

8.8km at an average grade of 8.9%!!!

(Alpe d'Huez averages 7.7%)

Once again, we will ride out from the hotel and make a detour through the "massif des Bauges" before diving back down to Albertville and then the Col des Saisies where we will watch the race go by. Once again the ride distance is right at 100km for the longest ride. Those who prefer to ride a shorter distance, will avoid our initial leisurely detour and ride straight to the Col des Saisies (68km). Those who still wish to ride a shorter distance will be dropped off about 40km from the end of the ride. Once the stage has been by, we will catch the stage arrival on TV.

Massif des Bauges

- July 23rd -

Hotel location: outside Chambery

Tour Stage 18  /   Annecy - Annecy  /  Time Trial / 40km (25 miles)

With the Tour de France end nearing, all the the stages become more important. Today's individual effort around Lake Annecy will be a great opportunity for the Yellow Jersey contenders to gain time on their rivals.

This time trial also includes a short but steep climb up the col de Buffy which has the potential of creating substantial time losses.

We will be viewing the stage for our private and preferred viewing location. We are currently working on 3 different options and will select the best toward the early part of 2009. We will be directly on the course however and will also have live TV feed to monitor the progress of the stage throughout the afternoon.

In order to get to Annecy, we will ride from our hotel. There are a few climbs during the ride and the total distance today is only 55km. Because this is a time trial the stage will be ongoing throughout the entire afternoon and it will be necessary to arrive in Annecy early.

We will spend our final evening in our Chateau and get ready for another great cycling day tomorrow.

cote de Bluffy

- July 24th -

Tour Stage 19  /   Bourgoin Jalieu  -  Aubenas  /  195km (121 miles)

Alpe d'Huez profile

After the past few days spent in the Alps, the Tour will head out on a transition stage to rally the Provence region.

We'll be leaving the Alps ourselves, but will first pay a visit to one more climb before doing so; Alpe d'Huez.

Those who wish to ride the most will be able to tackle the Col du Glandon (HC) before going up the (in)famous 21 switchbacks that have become cycling-mecca.

We'll then drive on to the base of Mont ventoux for our overnight.

Schleck & Cunego on AdH - 2006

- July 25th -

Hotel location: Malaucene

Tour Stage 20  /   Montelimar  -  Mont Ventoux  /  167km (104 miles)

This is THE stage! The one everyone is talking about! There are so many scenarios possible on the day. Regardless of who is wearing the Yellow Jersey, it will not be safe until this final climb is completed.

 The last time the Tour de France went up Mont Ventoux was in 2002. At the time, Virenque had won the stage followed by russian Botcharov and Armstrong fished 3rd. Lance Armstrong has always said that he would like to win atop Mont Ventoux. This very well could  be his final opportunity!!!

We will, of course, be in the final climb today to see the stage unfold from our preferred viewing location  setup with food, drinks and TV..

The longer cycling distance will be about 70km and end with the climb up Mont Ventoux, The shortest will go directly from Malaucene to Bedoin and then Mont Ventoux for a total of 40km.

Once the stage has gone by, we'll simply be able to ride back down to the hotel on the Malaucene side.

Armstrong in 2002

Ventoux Profile

- July 26th -

Hotel location: Paris

Tour Stage 21  /   Montereau Fault Yonne  - Paris Champs-Elysees   /  160km (100 miles)

This is what every professional cyclist aspires to; the arrival of the Tour de France on the Champs-Elysees!

Who will be wearing yellow on the Champs Elysees tonight? We will find out today as we watch the arrival from the side of the "World's most beautiful Avenue".

First however; getting to Paris!

We will be using the same transportation mode as the riders themselves, i.e. taking a bullet train from the Provence region to Paris. Then a quick metro ride will have us within a short stroll of our hotel. The timing of today's stage is still something the organizers are working on. Because of the distance between Mont Ventoux and Paris, the stage may be starting/ending later than usual (or the Ventoux stage could be a "Matinee"). Regardless we will be on site to experience it all!

Once the Tour festivities are over, we will get ready for a great dining experience. This year again we will be renting an entire boat for our dinner-cruise along the Seine river. Great food and unbelievable sight-seeing of Paris by night will end our “sensory overloaded day”!!!

Our hotel is located within walking distance of the Champs Elysees, the Grand stands and the dinner cruise.

Our position as Official Tour Operators for the Tour de France, allows us to offer seating in the Official Grand Stands alongside the Champs-Elysees as an option.

- July 27th -

Departure

- Cycling Jersey

- Daily information with maps, cue sheets, other Tour information

- Detailed tour itinerary

- Pre-departure information detailing the trip, hotels, contact information, what to bring, and other essential info.