TRIP DETAILS:
Duration: 6 days (5 nights)
Dates: Friday, 3 July to Wednesday, 8 July 2009
Start: Monaco Finish: Montpellier
Accommodation: Selected quality 4 and 3 star hotels
Group Size: Maximum 40 people (5 Staff)
Cost: AUD$3250.00 – Reserve your place now.
Optional Extras:
Grand Depart Exclusive Access Package
Bike Rental $250 (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 takes in the beautiful Cote d’Azur, a detour to the lavender fields of Provence for a day to give you the chance to ride the famous Mont Ventoux and the Mediterranean coast including the resort village of La Grand Motte visiting 4 stages and culminating including the Teams Time Trial in Montpellier.
You’ll stay in some lovely accommodation during the tour including:
- 2 nights in Menton on the Cote d’Azur overlooking the Mediterranean.
- 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
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
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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 its beautiful scenery and palatial 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 centre. 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 Malaucene 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 Malaucene 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 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 to Le Cap d’Agde for the start of today’s stage and our last look at the Tour de France for 2009. You can mingle with the crowds and get those last few photos of the riders.
After we’ve seen the race you will be transferred to Montpellier.
You have the option today of staying on in Montpellier to explore this lively university town 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: {tdf_parismaxims} 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 8 July to Montpellier airport or train station
- 5 night’s accommodation, in selected 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
