"Yellow Jersey 2" Package

July 23rd to July 27th

Time Trial, Ventoux and Arrival

This trip will cover the important final 4 stages of the 2009 Tour de France and offer great viewing/cycling opportunities on each of these stages.

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: info@customgetaways.com

- July 23rd -

Hotel location: Grenoble

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

We will be picking-up at Geneva airport at 9:00am in order to make the drive to Annecy in time for today's time-trial.

Arriving a day prior (or more) and spending some time in Geneva would allow you to get over jetlag and make the pick-up time easier on the 23rd. We'll be happy to help with arrival logistics - simply contact us.

We will make our way directly from Geneva to Annecy. 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. There will be a bit of time in Annecy before the start of the stage. The exact timing of the stage will be announced around mid-May, however, we anticipate the first rider to be on course around 11:00am.

With the Tour de France end nearing, all 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 from 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.

Once the stage is over, we will make our way to our first hotel in Grenoble.

Cote de Buffy

- July 24th -

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

Ever dreamed 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!

Those who wish to ride on this trip will be able to ride approximately the final two thirds of the  stage (120km). This means we'll need to get an early start, but it is so worth it!

Of course, we will be dropping off a bit further down the way those who wish to keep the ride distance lower. Custom Getaways vehicle(s) 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 and you will cross the finish line on closed roads.

You will then climb the official Tour podium to have your picture taken.

Those not riding will be driven over the final kms, will enjoy the excitement of the stage, climb the podium, etc.

For the peloton's arrival, we will 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").

Once the stage is over we will make our way to our hotel for the next 2 nights near Mont Ventoux.

- July 25th -

Hotel location: Provence

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 finished 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.

Those who wish to ride will be able to ride from the Hotel up Mont Ventoux. We will offer two cycling distance of approximately 60km and 30km (the climb up Mont Ventoux is 22.7km at an average of 7.1%)

Once the stage has gone by, you will have the option to ride or bus back to the hotel.

Those not riding will be transported to our viewing location by vehicles with on course accreditation.

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 Official Grand Stands setup alongside the Champs Elysees by the Tour organizers.

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.

- July 27th -

Departure

- Cycling Jersey or Polo Shirt

- 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.