LA ROCHELLE : 6 - 9 July, 2020

Monday 6 July - Rest day in La Charente-Maritime
Please make your way to our hotel today, the Best Western Hotel De La Breche. Alternatively you can make use of our airport transfers. Today we will provide airport transfers at 15.30 and at 18.30. At time of booking, please indicate that you will require an airport transfer.

You'll be centrally located in Niort with a stay at Best Western Hotel De La Breche, minutes from Church of Notre-Dame and Chateau de Niort. This 4-star hotel is within close proximity of Niort Cathedral and Rene Gaillard Stadium. Our stay here will be on a bed and breakfast basis, except the 2nd evening where an evening meal is included (see below). There are many dining options within walking distance of the hotel.

This evening our host will hold an informal welcome meeting in the hotel bar to introduce themselves and give an overview of the next few days.

Tuesday 7 July - Stage 10 - 170km - Île d'Oléron Le Château-d'Oléron > Île de Ré Saint-Martin-de-Ré
It is the first time in the history of the Tour de France that a stage runs between two islands. We expect a hard stage where the wind from the sea may play a role. It may therefore not finish in a sprint today in Saint-Martin-de-Ré. The stage will be marked by the Vauban buildings in Royan, Rochefort or La Rochelle, but also by a course mainly set by the sea… and the crossing of marshlands swept by wind.

Today we will take you to the finish at Ile de Re, a stunning location for today's finish. The journey from Niort to L'Ile de Re will take us about 1 hour and 15 minutes. We will leave Niort early so we have some time to visit La Rochelle before heading over to Ile de Re and the finish area before the roads close ahead of the arrival of the riders.

As we will get back late this evening, we will have the evening meal this evening at the hotel (included with your tour).

Provisional timings (may change once final stage logistics have been confirmed)
14:30 - Opening of the Tour de France Izoard Area
15:45 - Publicity Caravan passes the Izoard area
17:35 - Estimated finish time for stage winner
18:15 - Izoard Area closes

Izoard finish-line hospitality

The Tour de France sets up a limited number of areas located on course within the final portion of the stage. These have names like Izoard and Galibier. Access to these areas is usually reserved and by invitation only. You will see famous ex-cyclists, sponsors and team guests. Typically these areas are within 200 metres or so of the finish line. There is also a spectator friendly elevated viewing area. You will be served with drinks and snacks and there is a big screen to watch the LIVE action as it unfolds. After watching the finish, you will celebrate the victory with Champagne before watching the daily podium ceremony.

Wednesday 8 July - Stage 11 - 167 km - Plage > Poitiers
The Tour bids farewell to the ocean. The 2020 Tour leaves the coast and enters the deeper French territory through the marshlands of Poitou. The scene is set for a bunched sprint in Poitiers with a final 1.5-km straight that could suit Arnaud Démare. He was the winner in Poitiers when he won his French National champion's jersey back in 2014.

The exact location and timings of the Relais Etape will be announced at a later date but we will make our way there after breakfast. It is a lunch time experience where you will have food and drinks and the stage will be on TV. You will see the caravan and of course the riders come past.

After the Relais Etape we will return to the hotel and you are free to make your own arrangements for the evening meal in Niort.

Relais Etape
The Relais Etape is a hospitality area which takes the form of a small village in a prime position along the route, just a few kilometres from the finish line of each stage. This inspiring package mirrors the excitement of the race and includes:

• A clubhouse

• Welcome aperitif and unlimited buffet

• Entertainment and live coverage of the race on a giant screen

• Champagne celebration of the day's action

• Tour de France gift

Thursday 9 July
After breakfast, you can continue to make use of your room until the time of our airport transfer which is 12.00. You will get to the airport for 13.00 in time to check in for flights after 15.00.

If you selected no transfer required - making own way, you will be free to check-out before 12.00 and follow your own travel itinerary plans