"Final week-end Deluxe" Package

July 22nd to July 27th

Non-Cycling

Time Trial, Ventoux and Arrival

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

Please read below for a daily itinerary.

This trip is limited to just 6 participants.

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 us

- July 22nd -

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 as the second to last climb. While not as famous as other climbs on the day (Cormet de Roselend, Saisies, Colombiere), this climb will be a great challenge; 8.8km at an average grade of 8.9%!!!

(Alpe d'Huez averages 7.7%)

We will be there to see who crosses the finish line first as we will have passes to access the exclusive VIP Izoard hospitality area located about 50-75 yards from the finish line.

Here hostesses will serve drinks and snacks while you watch the live broadcast on Big Screen TV. 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.

Once the stage is over, we will make our way to beautiful Annecy (The Venice of the North) and check into the nicest hotel in town located directly on the banks of the Lake!
 

- July 23rd -

Hotel location: Annecy

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

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.

Cote de Buffy

- July 24th -

Hotel location: Provence

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

We will be treated to the "Start Village" in Bougoin J. The village should open around 10:00am or so. There, 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 drive further south to the Provence region. Our hotel is located just outside one of the most important villages in the Cote du Rhone vineyards; Chateauneuf-du-Pape and is a "Chateau" itself.

- July 25th -

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.

The evening will be spent in the same hotel as last night.

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

- 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.