TRIP DETAILS:
Duration: 9 days (8 nights)
Dates: Friday, 3 July to Saturday 11 July
Start: Monaco Finish: Barcelona
Accommodation: Selected quality 4 and 3 star hotels
Group Size: Maximum 40 people (5 Staff)
Cost: AUD$5290.00 – Reserve your place now.
Optional Extras:
Grand Depart Exclusive Access Package
Bike Rental $400 (Cannondale Synapse carbon fibre)
Pre or post tour accommodation to extend your stay
Travel Insurance and Car Rental.
Paris VIP Seating (Final day)
Email us for details
Who is this trip for?
The trip is geared to suit anyone with an interest in Cycling who wants to see the biggest of the Grand Tours, the Tour de France. This (and riding our bikes) is our main focus for the trip. We cater for cyclists of all abilities by providing riding options each day. On most days we offer two rides. We also cater for people who do not ride bikes with visits to the race and other attractions but an interest in seeing the Tour de France is important as it is the main focus of the trip. On some days in the mountains it may be possible to use one of our smaller vans to take non riders onto the major mountains so they can really sample the race on the climbs.
All our rides are escorted and they vary from ’serious’ to ‘relaxed’. We ride on quiet scenic roads and where possible we ride on the race course ahead of the race. This trip does involve some days in the mountains so there will be the opportunity to challenge yourself.
As with all of our tours you’ll be guided by our expert team of ride leaders, drivers and guides. You will experience the Tour de France and see stage starts, finishes, time trials and of course get to cheer the riders along the way.
This tour will follow the Tour and the Mediterranean all the way from the Grand Depart in Monaco through France and onto Barcelona, Spain.
As with all of our tours you’ll be guided by our expert team of ride leaders, drivers and guides. You will experience the Tour de France and see stage starts, finishes, time trials and of course get to cheer the riders along the way.
This tour takes in the beautiful Cote d’Azur, the Mediterranean coast including the resort village of La Grand Motte, the ancient city of Gerona and finishing in cosmopolitan Barcelona. Along the way we will detour to the lavender fields of Provence for a day to give you the chance to ride the famous Mont Ventoux.
You’ll stay in some lovely accommodation during the tour including:
- 2 nights in Menton on the Cote d’Azur overlooking the Med.
- 1 night in the Provence market town of l’Isle sur la Sorgue
- 2 nights stay on the coast of the Mediterranean in La Grand Motte
- 1 night in historical Gerona on the Costa Brava.
- 2 nights Barcelona, one of the most beautiful cities in the world.
Each day we’ll have options for rides to suit people of all abilities so no matter if you feel like a challenge, or an easy day enjoying the scenery, you will find yourself catered for.
Stages you will see:
- Saturday, July 4: Stage 1, Monaco – Monaco (ITT): 15km
- Sunday, July 5: Stage 2, Monaco – Brignoles: 182km
- Monday, July 6: Stage 3, Marseille – La Grande-Motte: 196km
- Tuesday, July 7: Stage 4, Montpellier – Montpellier (TTT): 38km
- Wednesday, July 8: Stage 5, Le Cap d’Agde – Perpignan: 197km
- Thursday, July 9: Stage 6, Gerone – Barcelone: 175km
- Friday, July 10: Stage 7, Barcelone – Andorre Arcalis: 224km
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DETAILED ITINERARY
Day 1, July 3: Welcome to the Cote d’Azur
Our tour starts today with our staff meeting you as you arrive in Nice, with a transfer to our hotel in the lovely hilltop town of Menton just along from Monaco and near the Italian border. Nice is easily reached by train from Paris, or by flights from many international and European airports. If you need any suggestions please feel free to email us.
Once we’ve got you settled into the hotel we will assemble bikes and take a short local ride to make sure you and your bike are all in good working order after your long journey. Maybe we can even go over to Italy for a coffee!
Tonight we will have a welcome dinner where you will meet your fellow travellers and where our staff will answer all your questions on your upcoming adventure.
Overnight: Menton
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 2, Saturday, July 4: Stage 1, Monaco – Monaco (ITT): 15km
Today is the first day’s racing for the Tour de France with an opening time trial of 15 km deciding who will have the honour of being the first rider to wear the yellow jersey. The start will be launched from boulevard Albert 1er in Monaco on the same roads used for the Monaco Formula 1 Grand Prix before leaving the tiny principality and heading into France along the spectacular cliff road of the Moyenne Corniche. This undulating course then winds its way back to Monaco with a finish along the famous seafront. Time trials are a great place to see the riders close up and to marvel at the speed and endurance of the professional athletes.
This morning it should be possible for us to sneak in a ride along part or all of the course for today’s race so we will have an early breakfast and head straight over to Monaco on our bikes. After we have had a ride around the streets of Monaco we will head back to Menton either via the beautiful climbs above the Cote d’Azur or along the coast road via Cap Martin and it’s beautiful scenery and palacial homes.
Tonight is free to explore the charming town of Menton and dine in one of the many restaurants on the fresh Provencal cuisine.
Overnight: Menton
Meals: Breakfast
Sunday, July 5: Stage 2, Monaco – Brignoles: 182km
The race leaves from Monaco this morning and heads west through Provence to the town of Brignoles, a distance of some 182km over terrain that although not mountainous is challenging and will test the riders at this early stage of the race.
We have 2 possibilities this morning. We can take a ride in the morning before heading to see the start in Monaco or we could head down the course and stop at an interesting point to see the race. After we’ve experienced the race and of course the fun of the ‘caravan publicitaire’ we’ll jump in the coach and head off to our overnight stop in Provence and the beautiful market town of l’Isle sur la Sorgue.
L’Isle sur la Sorgue is one of those places in Provence that you have to see. Its colours are nature’s green and the bright reflection of the water shining from the several canals running through its center. The river Sorgue surrounds the city as if to hug it. Walking along the canals you will notice how they run between the narrow ancient streets. There are little bridges to cross and great wheels to look at with mossy blades turning in the river. One kilometre from the city is the “partage des eaux” where the river splits in two and forms a small pond where plane trees and green foliage abound. This is where our hotel for tonight lies.
Overnight: L’Isle sur la Sorgue
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Monday, July 6: Stage 3, Marseille – La Grande-Motte: 196km and Mont Ventoux
The Tour de France stage for today is from Marseilles to La Grande Motte, where we stay for the next 3 nights. This morning we will take the opportunity to ride one of the most famous cols of the Tour and where the penultimate battle for the race will take place in 2009, Mont Ventoux. We’ll ride from our hotel to the village of Bedoin where the traditional route of the Tour de France winds its way up through the forest to Chalet Reynard where the well known ‘moonscape’ of Mont Ventoux comes into view. Over the last 6kms the bare landscape allows you magnificent views over the plains of the Luberon as you pass by the monument to Tom Simpson, who died tragically on the slopes of the mountain in the 1967 Tour de France. After the compulsory photographs at the summit we’ll head back down via the thrilling descent to Malucene where our coach will be waiting to take us to our next stop in the coastal resort of La Grande Motte. For those not wanting to tackle the difficult climb that is Mont Ventoux we’ll offer an alternative easy ride visiting some of the local villages of the Luberon. We will need to leave Malucene by 2pm in time to catch the race as it makes it way to La Grande Motte this afternoon.
Overnight: La Grande Motte
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Tuesday, July 7: Stage 4, Montpellier – Montpellier (TTT): 38km
This morning we can have a nice relaxed start to the day as the stage for the day is quite close to our hotel in La Grande Motte with a 38 km team time trial from Montpellier and return. This year sees the return of the team time trial and it’s bound to be a fast time today for the riders as the roads around here are generally flat. Today’s options will include a short and a longer route from La Grande Motte into the historic centre of Montpellier to watch the teams prepare for and take off on the race against the clock. Depending on the final route of the time trial it is also possible we will run a ride out to a village along the time trial route where you can join in with the locals in cheering on your favourite team. Tonight is free to dine in one of the many quayside restaurants in La Grande Motte.
Overnight: La Grande Motte
Meals: Breakfast
Wednesday, July 8: Stage 5, Le Cap d’Agde – Perpignan: 197km
Today the Tour de France stage takes the race south from the nearby resort of Le Cap d’Agde to the city of Perpignan, close to the Spanish border. This morning we’ll head off on our bikes from the hotel and travel to Le Cap d’Agde along the flat coastal roads to the start of today’s stage. It’s an easy 70 km ride with interesting coastal scenery that we don’t often get the chance to experience during the Tour de France.
After we’ve seen the race we’ll head to Spain, to be exact, Gerona. We should arrive in time for us to explore this beautiful town before dinner. Remember the Spanish eat late so we will stop for afternoon tea on the way. Make the best of the afternoon and evening as we leave again tomorrow morning.
Gerona is a beautiful city where you get a real feeling for its history just by walking through its ancient streets. It’s a walled city which dates back to the Roman period and the old quarter is located within the city walls. There is a well known stretch of houses, built in the 19th century, which make up the part of the city wall destroyed by the French in 1807 while the city was under siege.
Overnight: Gerona
Meals: Breakfast
Thursday, July 9: Stage 6, Gerone – Barcelone: 175km
After Monaco and Marseille, the 2009 Tour stops at the third ‘lighthouse’ of the Mediterranean. Gerona, the capital of Catalonia will host a prestigious new stage that will take place in the southernmost destination in Tour history. The finish will be in Barcelona on the Montjuic made famous in the Barcelona Olympics.
This morning we will leave ahead of the race and ride the course along the magnificent Costa Brava.
The Costa Brava, is breathtaking. The small coves and natural beaches surrounded by rocky mountains covered by pine trees and other vegetation are characteristic of this coastline. There are a number of delightful small fishing villages along the way for us to stop, enjoy a coffee and watch the race pass by. Afterwards we will take the bus to Barcelona and our hotel in the centre of this beautiful city.
After a makeover lasting more than two decades, Barcelona has transformed itself into one of the most dynamic and stylish cities in the world. Summer is serious party time and the city sizzles – it’s always on the biting edge of architecture, food, fashion, style, music and good times.
The buildings, especially the work of the eccentric genius Gaudi, will blow you away. The art is world class with significant collections by Picasso and Miro.
This evening you can explore the downtown areas with its many restaurants, tapas bars and entertainment. You could head down to La Rambla to see the many street entertainers that gather there or wander the streets gazing at the architecture. Or there is always shopping. The shops don’t shut till 9pm!
Overnight: Barcelona
Meals: Breakfast
Friday, July 10: Stage 7, Barcelone – Andorre Arcalis: 224km
The Tour has ventured to Barcelona twice: in 1957 (Privat and Anquetil, winners of two half-stages) and 1965 when the stage connected Catalonia’s French and Spanish capitals, Jan Janssen won.
We should be able to walk to the start this morning and see the riders as they leave Spain after their short stay.
The Tour’s early entrance into the mountains will be sudden, with a Cat 1 pass and one of the highest finishes in its history, at 2,200m elevation. The fact that there are a number of climbs spread out throughout the race, as well as the length of the first Pyrenees stage, should enable a bold, sturdy climber who breaks away early to seize his chance at Arcalis.
We have the afternoon to explore Barcelona but it’s hardly long enough so maybe you should think about staying on a few extra days!
Tonight we will have our farewell dinner and celebrate new found friends, the Tour de France and the beautiful countryside we have travelled through over the past 10 days.
Overnight: Barcelona
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Saturday, 11 July 2009: Adios
You have the option today of staying on in Barcelona and exploring this wonderful city or we will transfer you by our coach to the airport for your onward flights or the train station to continue your journey in Europe.
Meals: Breakfast
Tour cost per person twin share and includes:
- Transport throughout by private luxury coach with custom bike trailer.
- Services of 5 experienced tour guides, including a former Pro cyclist and our coach driver.
- Transfers on 3 July from Nice airport or rail station to hotel
- Transfer on 11 July to Barcelona airport or train station
- 8 night’s accommodation in selected quality 4 and 3 star hotels with private facilities.
- Buffet breakfast daily
- 3 course evening meals on 4 nights
- Mechanical assistance with your bike
- Sightseeing as listed
- Maps and Bikestyle guide to the Tour de France
