"Polka Dot Pyrenees" Package

July 7th to July 13th

The Tour de France will tackle the Pyrenees as its first mountain range in 2009. The peloton will come to the high mountains having ridden a hilly time-trial in Monaco followed by a team time-trial around Montpellier so some riders may be tackling the mountains with a goal of making up some time already.

You will see the Tour from the inside. When we mean VIP access, we mean visit of the Press rooms, Technical Zones, visits guided by a representative of the Tour de France organization, visit of the Riders Zone, meeting personalities that have marked the Tour (former Tour winners, personalities, etc...), access to the podium, etc.

You will also be able to ride a good portion of stage #7 on July 10th, just a few short hours before the Yellow Jersey and the peloton. This experience will include sag-wagon by our own accredited, on-course vans, being escorted by an official Tour de France vehicle over the final few kilometers, crossing of the actual finish line and pictures of yourself on the official Tour de France Podium.

With 3 countries visited - Spain, Andorra and France, VIP access on the 8th, 9th and 10th and the mountain stages on the 11th and 12th and great hotels, this is the Tour de France trip you've dreamed of; Can you stand not to be part of it?

This trip is open to cyclist as well as those who prefer not to ride and restricted to 22 people to preserve its exclusive character.

ITINERARY   -   What is included?   -   Options

- July 7th -

Hotel location: Girona (SP)

Our first hotel is set in the charming town of Girona. Girona has become a cycling Mecca with many pro-teams and riders established in the area - team Garmin, Chipotle is one example.

After checking in, those riding will assemble bikes. Our mechanic will be on hand to assist, if help is needed. A short ride will follow.

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 gourmet dinner will follow!

Hotel location: Girona

A great start to a great trip! For our first encounter with the race, we will be at the stage arrival in Perpignan to see who crosses the finish line first and will have passes to access the exclusive VIP Izoard hospitality area overlooking the finish line.
You will be able to follow the race action live of Big Screen while hostesses serve drinks and snacks. After seeing the stage finish from this exclusive viewing area champagne will be served to celebrate the stage winner.
The Izoard bus is among the more exclusive areas at stage finishes and you should expect to see/meet plenty of Tour celebrities.

Those riding today will be able to ride from Girona and cross the border into France as we head toward Perpignan.

Hotel location: Andorra

Tour Stage 6  /   Girona - Barcelona  /  175km (109 miles)

We'll be leaving Girona today to make our way to Andorra.

Before we do so, however, we will be treated to the "start Village" in Girona. Since we are staying in town, we'll be able to enjoy a bit of down time, before heading to the start. This village should open around 10:00am or so.

We will be greeted by a person from ASO who will show us around the area and explain how things work. Thanks to our passes, we will access the rider's area, meet some of the racers, see them warm-up, meet Directeurs Sportif, personalities, possible visit of team bus, etc.

Tour starts are often a favorite part of our trips as the interaction with the riders/teams is unparalleled.

Once the peloton is off, we will do our own ride and rally our next hotel located in the small independent country of Andorra.

Hotel location: Andorra

Tour Stage 7  /   Barcelona - Andorra Arcalis  /  224km (139 miles)

Today's arrival in Andorra Arcalis is one of the highest in Tour history. and one of the longest in the '09 edition of the race, so time gaps could take place and we'll be there to witness it all.

If you've ever had the dream of riding a Tour de France stage along roads filled with spectators and raise your arms to the sky as you cross the finish-line, today is the day it comes true.!

Our hotel is perfectly located, on course, so we will be riding out from the hotel.

Custom Getaways vehicles with on-course accreditation will be accompanying you and providing an extra lift if necessary, and an official Tour de France vehicle will escort us over the final few kms of the course. You will cross the finish line on closed roads just a couple of hours or so before the Peloton.

Once this ride of a lifetime is complete, you will be invited to climb the official podium where we will take souvenir pictures. Those not riding will be driven over the final kms, will enjoy the excitement of the climb, climb the podium, etc.

We'll be directly overlooking the finish line to see how the pros stack up as we will have special access to the "Bulle Mangeas". Daniel Mangeas is the French commentator for the Tour de France ("La voix du Tour").

Our vehicle passes will allow us to gain priority as we head down the final climb to get back to our Hotel

Hotel location: Luchon

 We will head out in the morning and experience all the pageantry of the Publicity Caravane and see the race go by on the first climb - Port d'Envalira  - where we will also have lunch.
 

We'll then make our way to Luchon where we will spend the final 2 nights of the trip.

Envalira

Hotel location: Luchon

open pasture of col d'Aspin

Those who wish today can go for an epic ride going over the climbs of Peyresourde, Aspin and Tourmalet.

We'll enjoy a final farewell dinner together back in Luchon

Tourmalet

- Grand Touring bus with restrooms setup for proper transportation of bikes

- Exclusive access to VIP Izoard area in Perpignan (stage #5)

- Exclusive VIP access to stage #6 start village including rider's enclosure area.

- Exclusive VIP ride of stage #7 with official Tour Vehicle escort - just hours before the yellow jersey

- Crossing of finish line in Andorra Arcalis (stage #7)

- Tour de France Podium photo finish in Arcalis (stage #7)

- Exclusive access to technical area of stage arrival and viewing location overlooking the finish line in Arcalis

- Support vehicles with water and snacks

- Designated viewing spots

- Bi-lingual and bi-cultural group Leader