Brittany and the Loire Valley
TRIP DETAILS:
Duration: 9 days (8 Nights)
Dates: Thursday, 3 July to Friday, 11 July 2008
Start-Finish: Paris
Accommodation: 3 and 4 Star Premium Hotels
Group Size: Maximum 40 people (5 Staff)
Deposit: USD* $938 - Reserve your trip now
Cost: USD* $3703
Trip Inclusions
*Approximate. We charge for our trips in Australian dollars, so the figure above is a conversion above is from the $AU price.
Who are Bikestyle trips for?
Our trip will take in the first 4 stages of the race including the first stage and the Time Trial. We will have a blend of riding on rolling roads past vineyards to spectacular Chateaux. We will ride parts of the course and visit a start, a finish and some stages out on the road possibly including a feed zone.
Another feature of this trip is the limited travelling. We will stay in our hotels for multiple nights so you can relax and savour the locations.
Thursday 3 July
Pick up in Paris
There will be someone to meet you at the Airport and assist you to your transport which will transfer you to our 4 star hotel close to the Airport. We recommend a mid morning to early afternoon arrival to prevent the possibility of having to wait for your room to be made ready.
We have found from experience that one of the first things most cyclists want to do is to have a short ride to shake out the cobwebs after the plane trip. The area around the airport provides a good base for this.
However the first job will be to assemble your bike and Bikestyle staff will be available to assist if you have any problems. You may have chosen to rent a bike from us in which case we will have it available for you on arrival at the hotel. All you will need is your pedals and essential clothing.
As a result of tighter luggage restrictions and the difficulties of travelling with a bicycle, Bikestyle Tours has a range of hire bikes available for rental. They are equipped with both Shimano and Campagnolo and we have a variety of sizes on hand. For more info see our Bicycle Hire Page.
There will be the option of a ride in the afternoon (we will provide a ride map and suggestions) and there should be time to rest up before the welcome dinner in the evening. Should you prefer to see the sights of Paris the hotel shuttle runs frequently to the terminals from where it is an easy trip by RER train or bus into the city centre.
Tonight there is a welcome dinner where you can meet the staff who will be looking after you on the trip and of course your fellow travellers with whom you will be spending the next 9 days.
Friday 4 July
On the Road
This morning we will take to the road and drive for our meeting with the Tour de France tomorrow. Our bus is equipped with a modern audio/video system and we will have a choice of watching some movies, maybe even some bike races!
We will arrive in Lorient mid afternoon and we will have time for a ride in the afternoon along the beautiful coastline.
Lorient prospered when the Compagnie des Indes moved here in the 17th century and developed into an important naval base, commercial and fishing port. Severe bombing in 1944 destroyed most of the old town and today it is not very interesting architecturally. It does have lively nightlife and some excellent restaurants.
The fishing port is immense (second largest in France) and worth a visit for the auction of the morning catch. The old submarine base, originally built by the Germans, is now deserted - the last sub left in 1997.
Dinner will be provided tonight at the hotel.
Saturday 5 July, Brest to Plumelec, 195 km
Ready, Set, Go…
This morning we will ride to see the finish of the first stage at Plumelec. It’s about 70km to go directly there and we will offer 2 or 3 different riding options of different lengths to cater for our group.
We will be in position to see the first jerseys of the 2008 Tour de France presented.
Christian Prudhomme says it better than I ever could:
For the first time in more than forty years, the 2008 Tour de France will begin with a straight stage. Usually only a small number of specialists in solitary effort can aspire to winning the first yellow jersey. In 2008 however, near to two hundred riders will be dreaming that this Holy Grail is within their reach. A remarkable first stage, from Brest and its great sailing ships to Plumelec, where bold challengers, sprinters and – perhaps – potential candidates for final victory will all have the opportunity to win fame.
In the land of Bobet and Hinault the Tour de France is at home. Brittany wanted the Tour. The Tour wanted Brittany. Roll on 2008!
Christian Prudhomme
Director of Tour de France
After the race we will return to Lorient by bus.
The evening is free to sample the delights of the local restaurants.
You may wonder why we don’t provide all the evening meals. We used to do this but we found that people preferred to be adventurous and try the local product! While hotel food is quite good, it can become a bit much every night. It is great to take a walk and find a restaurant to your liking and sample some of the local food that the area is renowned for.
Sunday 6 July, Auray to Saint-Brieuc: 165 km
The First Yellow Jersey
Again today we are just 35km from the start in Auray.
This morning we will travel either by bus or bike to the start (50km) and then offer two rides back of around 100km and 50km. If we take the shorter option home we will be there in time to see the finish on TV.
Auray is a small, pretty town on the river, its main attraction is its old quarters, particularly St Goustan, with its narrow alleys and streets, lined with superbly preserved 15th century houses.
The renaissance-gothic church of Saint Gildas should definitely be visited with its surrounding wood-faced houses, together with the St Esprit college. The Goélette Museum on the Quai Martin exhibits the history of St Goustan in a converted tunny fishing boat.
The starts are a good place to get close up with the race and riders. Every rider must sign on each morning before the day begins so this is an ideal time to get up close to the riders. The team vehicles are also usually close by which gives you the opportunity to see the latest in technology and equipment. The crowds will be big today. I think a few Bretons may skip church!
On the way home we may have time to visit Sainte Anne D’Auray known as the Spiritual Capital of Brittany for almost 4 centuries. Sainte Anne D’Auray has represented the largest place of pilgrimage in Brittany. Saint Anne, mother of the Virgin Mary and grandmother of Jesus has been venerated there since the 5th century.
On 20th September 1996, Sainte Anne D’Auray welcomed Pope John Paul II. On that day, 150 000 pilgrims greeted him under a radiant sun.
The evening is free to sample the delights of the local restaurants.
Monday 7 July , Saint-Malo to Nantes: 195 km
The Publicity Caravan
We don’t have any details of the stage yet but our plan is to schedule two rides. On both we intend to see the race, quite possibly at the feed zone or near the finish of the stage.
One itinerary might be:
This morning we will have two rides to the feed zone, 100km and 50km. We will see the huge publicity caravan and the race pass and then continue to our hotel in Saumur, on the banks of the famous Loire River.
Publicity Caravan
One of the most original forms of publicity in existence, the Tour de France caravan was originally created in 1930 in response to strictly financial imperatives. The man in charge of the event, Jacques Goddet, having decided to impose the national team formula and provide the riders with bikes, needed to generate significant revenue in order to implement his ambitious reforms. Since then, the caravan has become part of the spectacle of Le Tour, as the brands try to outdo each other creatively so as to make the biggest impression on the 12 to 15 million roadside spectators.
Key figures on the caravan © A.S.O.:
- A 20 km-long procession
- 200 brightly decorated vehicles
- 43 brands represented on average each year
- 15 million gifts distributed
- 45 minutes of rolling entertainment
Of all the Loire’s comfortable towns, Saumur is perhaps the most elegantly bourgeois, with its graceful Château lording it over the handsome townhouses spread out below on both banks of the river and on the large island mid-stream. The town’s 250-year association with the military, as home to the French Cavalry Academy and its successor, the Armoured Corps Academy, has only further elevated its pretensions. Even the local sparkling wines are renowned for their charm.
Dinner will be provided tonight at the hotel.
Tuesday 8 July, Cholet to Cholet: 29 km CLM
The First Challenge
Today we are in excellent position to see the Time Trial.
We have a number of options open to us again. It is possible to either ride from the hotel to see the finish in Cholet or we could travel by bus to the start, watch some of the riders start and then go to the finish to see the final riders finish there.
After the presentation of the jerseys we will drive back to Saumur for dinner.
The evening is free to sample the delights of the local restaurants.
Wednesday 9 July, Cholet to Châteauroux: 230 km
The Race, the River & Chateaux
Today we will combine it all.
Again today we don’t have details of the stage yet but our plan is to schedule two rides. On both we intend to see the race out on the road.
We will leave the hotel by bike and ride to one or more of the many chateaux near us. The include Chinon, Usse and Azay le Rideau. We will stop in one of these towns for lunch and ride to an intermediate sprint or another convenient spot to see race for the last time.
The Loire Valley is known as the Garden of France and the Cradle of the French Language. It is also noteworthy for the quality of its architectural heritage, in its historic towns such as Amboise, Angers, Blois, Chinon, Nantes, Orléans, Saumur and Tours, but in particular for its world-famous castles, such as the Châteaux d’Amboise, Château de Villandry and Chenonceaux.
The Loire Valley is an outstanding cultural landscape of great beauty, containing historic towns and villages, great architectural monuments, its many châteaux, and fine wines.
After the race we will return to Saumur by bus.
The evening is free to sample the delights of the local restaurants.
Thursday 10 July - Last Day
Today we will organise one last beautiful ride through this magnificent part of the world before we get back on the bus for the journey back to Paris arriving early evening.
When we arrive and check in the first task (for those leaving tomorrow) will be to pack up the bikes as many flights leave early in the morning. Bikestyle staff will be on hand if required.
Friday 11 July - Au Revoir
It is time for us to say au revoir. Our staff will help you with the transfers to the airport.
