Friday 18th July.
We shall collect clients from Paris Charles de Gaulle airport at 10.00hrs, 12.00hrs, 15.00hrs & 17.00hrs for transport to our Paris hotel. This airport transfer is included in the tour price. Please indicate on your booking form your required collection time.
We shall spend 1 night in Paris on Bed & Buffet Breakfast basis at our 3* hotel. We have arranged for you to keep your bike box / bag at the hotel for the duration of the tour as the bikes will travel built up in a special bike trailer.
Saturday 19th July.
After breakfast you will be able to load your bike onto the special bike trailer. We shall leave Paris and travel to the French Alps and the beautiful ski town of Serre Chevalier where we shall spend the next 5 nights on Dinner, Bed & Breakfast basis. Apart from being in a beautiful location our Serre Chevalier base offers excellent access to all the Alpine mountain stages of the Tour de France.
Sunday 20th July.
Today the Tour de France enters the Alps with a 216km stage that will take them from Digne les Bains into Italy and the ski station of Prato Nevoso, en route they will face a number of cols including the 2,000mt Col de Larche whose summit forms the border between France and Italy. After breakfast we shall travel to see the stage, and those with bikes will be able to ride to the Col de Larche from our base in Serre Chevalier, whilst those without bikes will be taken to see the stage in the touring bus. After seeing the stage we shall return to our base in Serre Chevalier.
Monday 21st July.
As the Tour de France spends its 2nd Rest Day in Cuneo (Italy), this gives us the chance to visit and explore Serre Chevalier and the region. Those with bikes will have numerous options open to them as the monumental climbs of the Col du Galibier and Col d'Izoard are within easy reach of Serre Chevalier. Those without bikes will be able to have the day at leisure in Serre Chevalier or visit nearby Briancon.
Tuesday 22nd July.
The Tour de France returns to its home country with a short but brutal stage that takes in Europe's highest pass, the 2,802mt Col de Bonette-Restefond before plunging down to the finish in Jausiers. Prior to climbing the Col de Bonette the stage will also tackle the Col de la Lombarde (2,350mt) which will bring the riders back into France and via the ski station of Isola 2000.
After an early breakfast we shall travel to the town of Jausiers, from where those with bikes will be able to climb the Col de Bonette-Restefond to see the stage, whilst those without bikes will see the stage finish in Jausiers. After seeing the stage we shall return to our hotel in Serre Chevalier.
Wednesday 23rd July.
The best is saved for last…..as L'Alpe d'Huez (cycling's mecca) will play host to the final Alpine stage, and what a stage it is going to be. It's an absolute classic stage that takes in the monumental climbs of the Col du Lauteret, the mighty Col du Galibier and the Col de la Croix de Fer before climaxing on the 21 hairpin switchbacks to the ski station of L'Alpe d'Huez. Our location in Serre Chevalier could not be better for accessing the stage as it is located on the stage route, and offers those with bikes the opportunity to see the stage on either the Col du Lauteret, Col du Galibier or the final climb to L'Alpe d'Huez whilst those without bikes will be able to see the stage pass the front door of the hotel! After seeing the stage we shall return to our hotel in Serre Chevalier.
Thursday 24th July.
After breakfast we shall leave Serre Chevalier and travel the short distance to Bourg d'Oisans where we shall see the stage start. Those with bikes will have another opportunity of climbing the Col du Lauteret and descending to Bourg d'Oisans. After seeing the stage start we shall rejoin the touring bus and travel to the spa city of Vichy, famous for its bottled mineral water. We shall spend 2 nights in Vichy on half board basis (Dinner B&B) at an excellent 3* hotel.
Friday 25th July.
Today's penultimate road stage of the 2008 Tour de France sees the riders face up to a 163km flat stage between Roanne and Montlucon. Coming to the end of a three week race such as the Tour de France, fuel is vital….therefore we have chosen to see today's stage pass through the feed station, which we think will be very close to our base in Vichy. Those with bikes will be able to ride to the feed station from our hotel in Vichy whilst hose without bikes will be taken to the feed station by the touring bus. After seeing the stage pass through the feed station we shall return to Vichy for our 2nd nights stay.
Saturday 26th July.
If the 2008 Tour de France hasn't been decided by now, then surely today's 53km Individual Time Trial between Cerilly and Saint Amand-Montrond will. After breakfast we shall leave Vichy and travel to Saint Amand Montrond where you will see the finish of this all important time trial. Those with bikes will have the opportunity of riding out onto the time trial course whilst those without bikes will see the finish.
After seeing the finish of the time trial we shall travel to Paris and our 3* hotel where we shall spend 2 nights on Bed & Buffet Breakfast. We will arrive quite late into Paris but we think it is better for access to tomorrow's final stage on the Champs Elysees. We shall make a dinner stop en-route to Paris.
Sunday 27th July.
After 3 weeks of grueling racing through the Massif Central, Pyrenees and the high Alps the Tour de France finally arrives on the cobblestones of the Champs Elysees. After breakfast you will have time to box up your bike before we take you the short distance to the Champ Elysees where you will see the 2008 Tour de France conclude with an 8 lap finale up and down the cobblestones.
Monday 28th July.
After breakfast we shall leave Paris. We shall offer transfers from the hotel to Paris Charles de Gaulle airport at the following times 07.30hrs, 11.00hrs & 14.00hrs. This airport transfer is included in package price.
