TRIP DETAILS:
Duration: 11 days (10 nights)
Dates: Friday 03 July to Monday 13 July
Start: Nice Finish: Lourdes – Toulouse
Accommodation: Selected 3 & 4 star Hotels
Group Size: Maximum 30 people (3 Staff)
Cost: AUD$8750 – Reserve your place now.
Optional Extras:
Grand Depart Exclusive Access Package
Bike Rental $500 (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
You’ll stay in some lovely accommodation during the tour including:
- 2 nights on the Cote d’Azur just outside Antibes.
- 1 night in Provence in the Chateau de Mazan close to Mont Ventoux.
- 3 nights stay in the Med Resort town of Port Camargue.
- 2 nights in Luchon in the French Pyrenees.
- 2 night in the Parador de la Seu d’Urgell just outside Andorra in Spain.
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- Izoard VIP Area
- 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
- Saturday, July 11: Stage 8, Andorre-la-Vieille – Saint-Girons: 176km- Ride a Stage Day
- Sunday, July 12: Stage 9, Saint-Gaudens – Tarbes: 160km- Start Village & Rider Area
Who is this trip for?
Our Exclusive Access Trips are exactly that. As an Official Tour Operator to the Tour de France we are given a limited number of places each year to offer our clients.
The tour has 3 main features:
- The opportunity to ride the stage Andorre-la-Vieille – Saint-Girons on the same day as the race, crossing the finish line and having your photos taken on the Tour de France Podium where in just a few hours the Winner of the Stage will raise his hands in victory.
- You are also invited to the start village in Saint-Gaudens. Inside the village there are many displays and exhibitions of sponsors. You can collect a few souvenirs, have your photo taken with famous people and riders, try some of the snacks they have available, enjoy a drink and relax in this special environment that few get to enjoy. An Official of the Tour de France will then take you on a visit of the rider’s enclosure where you will get close up with all the riders and get to take many photos that will be the envy of your friends back home.
- You are also invited to be the guest of the Tour de France at the exclusive VIP finish area called the Izoard in Montpellier which is just near the finish line, offering a perfect location and refreshments to suit the occasion. Prior to this we take a tour of the Technical Zone to see how it all comes together behind the scenes. This is where all the media gather and it will amaze you. Cables, Trucks, Broadcast Studios and of course, famous people!
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DETAILED ITINERARY
Day 1 Friday, 3 July 2009
Your 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 Vence just above the famous Cote d’Azur. Nice is easily reached by train from Paris, or by flights from many international and European airports. 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. For those that arrive in time and want a slightly longer ride there is the option of a beautiful ride of about 65 km from Vence via the Gorges du Loup. This can be an easy ride with a stop in the village of Pont du Loup for coffee, or a harder ride passing over the 960 meter Col de Vence if you really want to test yourself. Our short local ride is an easy one and will take us to the neighbouring village of St Paul de Vence, a picture postcard hilltop village with fabulous views over the Mediterranean coast. Tonight we will have a welcome dinner where you will meet your fellow travellers and our staff, who will answer all your questions on your upcoming adventure.
Overnight: Antibes area
Meals: Dinner
Day 2 Saturday, 4 July 2009
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. We will ride to the time trial course via the coastal city of Nice and the famous Promenade des Anglais, or for the fitter riders a hilly route through the hills of Provence Cote d’Azur. Tonight is free to explore the charming town of Vence and dine in one of the many restaurants on the fresh Provencal cuisine.
Overnight: Antibes area
Meals: Breakfast.
Day 3 Sunday, 5 July 2009
The race leaves from Monaco this morning and heads west through Provence to the town of Brignoles, a distance of some 182 kms over terrain that although not mountainous is challenging and will test the riders at this early stage of the race. We will take the opportunity to ride to see the race as it passes through the countryside not far from our base in Antibes early this afternoon, with the exact route of our ride to be decided once we know the roads the race will use. This is lovely cycling country with dramatic gorges and small hilltop towns making our ride today even more interesting.
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 the Chateau de Mazan, at Mazan, a small Provencal village near the base of Mont Ventoux.
Mazan is in the area of Provence known as the Luberon, made famous by authors Marcel Pagnon (Jean de Florette) and more recently Peter Mayle with his ‘Year in Provence’ series. It is an area of contrasts with crowded towns full of well to do Parisians escaping the city for the simple country life, as well as isolated and rugged gorges and forests with the never ending chirping of the cigales (cicadas) a familiar background noise during the summer heat.
On arrival at the hotel enjoy a dip in the pool before a buffet dinner in the hotel’s popular restaurant. Nestled at the foot of the legendary Mont Ventoux, the Chateau de Mazan is located in the charming village of Mazan, in the heart of Provence.
In this elegant 18th century building, former residence of the famous Marquis de Sade, we welcome you to a sumptuous setting blending charm, gourmet dining and comfort.
We put at your disposal our landscaped garden. With its Provencal vegetation of incomparable fragrances, the rotunda, where you can nap in the shade of the mulberry trees, and the hundred year old olive tree, our park is the ideal place to relax.
The swimming pool, in natural colors, offers refreshment and well-being.
Our convivial bar welcomes you in a lounge with a retro decor and ambiance.
The decor has been conceived by the owner, Daniele Lhermie, with taste and love, just like in a private house.
Overnight: Mazan
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 4 Monday, 6 July 2009
The Tour de France stage for today is from Marseilles to La Grande Motte, close to where we stay for the next 3 nights at La Grande Motte. As much of this stage is over some of the ‘less interesting’ country of the race we will take the opportunity to ride one of the most famous cols of the Tour 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. If all goes to plan we will be able to leave Malaucene just in time to catch the race as it makes it way to La Grande Motte this afternoon.
Your hotel tonight is Le Spinaker. It is an oasis of tranquillity cradled by the Mediterranean. Sun-drenched pretty white bungalows overlook lawn-terraces and an inviting swimming-pool. Flavours from the South abound in Jean-Pierre Cazals’ cooking – is a tribute to the delights of fresh seafood. Pure bliss!
Overnight: Port Camargue
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 5 Tuesday, 7 July 2009
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 Port Camargue with a 38 km team time trial from Montpellier.
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.
This morning we will have a ride from the hotel, returning for a shower before heading off to see the finish from a privileged position.
You are also invited to be the guest of the Tour de France at the exclusive VIP finish area called the Izoard in Montpellier which is just near the finish line, offering a perfect location and refreshments to suit the occasion.
Prior to this we take a tour of the Technical Zone to see how it all comes together behind the scenes. This is where all the media gather and it will amaze you. Cables, Trucks, Broadcast Studios and of course, famous people!
Overnight: Port Camargue
Meals: Breakfast
Day 6 Wednesday, 8 July 2009
Today the Tour de France stage takes the race south from Cap d’Adge to the city of Perpignan, close to the Spanish border. This morning we’ll head off on our bikes from the hotel and travel along the flat coastal roads to the south of Montpellier which take us on to the race route where will follow the roads to see today’s stage start.
It’s an easy 80 km ride over quiet roads with interesting coastal scenery that we don’t often get the chance to experience during the Tour de France. We’ll enjoy lunch in the Cap d’Adge where we’ll wait for the race start, joining in with the locals as they welcome ‘Le Tour’ to their small town.
After we’ve seen the start we’ll head back to Port Camargue by vehicle arriving in time for us to explore the waterfront area before dinner and a restful night before tomorrow’s trip to Spain.
Overnight: Port Camargue
Meals: Breakfast
Day 7 Thursday, 9 July 2009
As the race heads south into Spain today we will head east for the Pyrenees where we will base ourselves for the next two nights to put us in the perfect position to see the race as it enters the Pyrenees. Along the way we will stop for lunch and some sightseeing in the amazing walled medieval cite of Carcassonne, a UNESCO world heritage site that has to be seen to be believed. From a distance it looks like a mirage, or a giant movie set, and has in fact been used for many films over the years. Wandering around inside the cite is just as interesting with its tiny alley ways and massive fortifications. It gets crowded as it is one of France’s most popular historic sites but well worth the visit if only to have a hearty meal of the local speciality cassoulet in one of the many restaurants.
From Carcassonne we will drive up to Andorra, where will be able to choose from a couple of very scenic cycling routes to our hotel, the Parador de la Seu d’Urgell in the Spanish Pyrenees. The riding in this part of the Pyrenees is superb with challenging cols to ride. Tonight we will dine in the restaurant of the Parador and enjoy the
regional cuisine of the Catalan Pyrenees.
Alongside the Romanesque cathedral of La Seu d’Urgell towers the Hotel, in a monumental and natural setting which attracts numerous hikers, mountain lovers and an infinity of tourists who take a step closer to Andorran heaven.
The world-famous Parc Olympic del Segre Canoeing Championships are held here in the summer.
Of note in the interior are the ancient Renaissance cloister and a pleasant covered swimming pool.
Seventy-nine rooms, a covered pool, sauna, solarium, coffee shop, air conditioning in all rooms… make this Parador a tempting offer of accommodation from which to explore the most beautiful and attractive areas of the Catalan Pyrenees.
Overnight: Parador de la Seu d’Urgell
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 8 Friday, 10 July 2009
This morning we will ride from our hotel into Andorra along the course and up to the finish of today’s stage at Andorre Arcalis almost 50km away.
For those wanting an easier route we’ll offer an option to go out by vehicle and return by bike.
Afterwards we will return to the hotel where the race will pass later this afternoon. It’s not usual for us to have a hotel on the course, especially in such a great location.
We can later watch the end of today’s stage with the locals on television in a cafe before heading to our Parador for dinner.
Overnight: Parador de la Seu d’Urgell
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
You have the opportunity to ride the stage Andorre-la-Vieille – Saint-Girons on the same day as the race, crossing the finish line and having your photos taken on the Tour de France Podium where in just a few hours the Winner of the Stage will raise his hands in victory.
After we freshen up and have a celebratory drink we will watch the finish of the stage.
We will be allowed to take a place right on the finish line next to the race commentator to see the race finish.
Today’s 176km stage for the Tour de France passes over:
Km 23,5 – Port d’Envalira – 23,2 km climb to 5,1 %
Km 102,0 – Col de Port – 11,4 km climb to 5,5 %
Km 132,5 – Col d’Agnes – 12,4 km climb to 6,5 %
This is the first time that Col d’Agnes has been used in the Tour de France, although it passes through this region of Ariege regularly.You will have the option to ride the entire route or part of the route depending on your desire.
We will have an officially accredited Bikestyle Tours lead vehicle and a following vehicle and a former professional riding with you to offer assistance and advice. You will head off looking (and feeling) like a Pro Tour Team in your Bikestyle Tours outfit along the Tour de France route.
Our Bikestyle Tours vehicles will be available to help you through the day in any way you need including a little helping hand if need be.
The closer you get to the finish the larger the crowds will get and the bigger the lift. By then you will feel like someone has their hand on your back pushing you along.
A Very Special Experience, one you will never forget!
A Celebration Dinner will be provided tonight.
Setting up from the end from 19th century the Majestic hotel is a building of quality, lately restored. Its ideal situation will enable to benefit in summer as in winter from many activities as well sporting as cultural. The Majestic Hotel profits from an exceptional site within the Ramel Park : it is opposite the Casino, with less than 300 meters from the thermal baths.
Overnight: Hotel le Majestic, Luchon
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 10 Sunday, 12 July 2009
The final stage in the Pyrenees will take the race from Saint Gaudens to Tarbes, just to the north of Lourdes. Along the way it will climb two legendary cols, Col d’Aspin and Col du Tourmalet, at 2115 metres the highest point for the tour in the Pyrenees.
Today, you are invited to the start village in Saint-Gaudens. Inside the village there are many displays and exhibitions of sponsors. You can collect a few souvenirs, have your photo taken with famous people and riders, try some of the snacks they have available, enjoy a drink and relax in this special environment that few get to enjoy. An Official of the Tour de France will then take you on a visit of the rider’s enclosure where you will get close up with all the riders before they head off on this epic stage. Make sure you get to take plenty of photos that will be the envy of your friends back home.
As this is one of the most popular stages of the tour the crowds will be huge, adding to the atmosphere and excitement. After the stage has started we can head off across to Lourdes to see the race pass there in a few hours and have a look around this religious town. It’s religious tourism at its best!
Or we can return to Luchon have a wander about this pretty town and possibly have a ride before packing our bikes for departure tomorrow.
Overnight: Hotel le Majestic, Luchon
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 11 Monday, 13 July 2009
It is a rest day for the Tour de France today and the end of our tour. You have the option today of staying on in the Pyrenees and enjoying some more rides or transferring to Lourdes by coach or to Toulouse airport for your onward flights.
Meals: Breakfast
Tour cost $8750 per person twin share and includes:
- Transport throughout.
- Services of 3 experienced tour guides and our coach driver.
- Transfers on 3 July from Nice airport or rail station to hotel
- Transfer on 13 July to Toulouse airport or Lourdes rail station
- 10 nights accommodation in selected 3 and 4 star hotels with private facilities.
- Buffet breakfast daily
- Mechanical assistance with your bike
- Sightseeing as listed
- Maps and Bikestyle guide to the Tour de France
- Bikestyle cycling jersey
Our Tour de France Exclusive Access Package will include:
- Ride a stage of the Tour de France (fully supported) from start to finish prior to the pros!
- Official Bikestyle Tours outfit.
- A photo on the TdF Podium after completion of the stage.
- VIP viewing afterwards in one of the most exclusive areas, the Izoard.
- Access to the VIP Zones where you have the opportunity to meet Tour Sponsors, Riders and Legends of past Tours in the Start Village.
- Access to the Technical Zone and Press Room for chosen stages.
- A TDF welcome package (Backpack, T shirt and cap) for each participant.
- A discount in the TDF store for each VIP participant (20%).
- Official road book and Tourist guide.
- Accommodation guide for each participant.
- Tour de France celebrity meetings (with the help of A.S.O officials) at the village.
