MOUNTAIN STAGES : 15 - 29 July, 2019

• Monday 15 July 2019 : Arrival day in Paris
  Please arrange your own flight to Paris Charles de Gaulle. We will collect you from Paris Charles de Gaulle airport at 10:00hrs & 17:00hrs for transport to our hotel, the Hotel Mercure Porte de Versailles EXPO. We will spend 1 night in Paris on bed & buffet breakfast basis. We have arranged for you to keep your bike boxes at the hotel for the duration of the trip in a secured room so all bikes will be transported fully assembled on our special bike trailer throughout the Tour.
  
  This evening we will take the opportunity to go through the programme of the 2019 Tour de France tour to come. This is also a good opportunity to get to know your fellow group members. Check-in is available from 14:00 and checking out is at 11:00
  
  Bike rental : If you have booked a bike with us then it will be available for you tonight.
   

• Tuesday 16 July 2019 : Transfer to the Pyrenees
  The riders of the 2019 Tour de France will enjoy their first rest day in Albi near Toulouse.
  
  Our itinerary:
  In the morning we will take you to the Gare de Montparnasse and we will take the TGV to Lourdes in the Pyrenees, not far from our hotel in Bagneres de Bigorre.
  
  The first hotel on our tour is the Hotel Carre Py in Bagneres de Bigorre at the foot of the Tourmalet. We will stay here on a half board basis so with breakfasts and evening meals included. We will transport your bike and luggage separately and these will go ahead of you. This afternoon we will have some time to prepare the bikes and go for a short spin in the area.

 

• Wednesday 17 July 2019 : Albi to Toulouse
  The riders of the 2019 Tour de France come into Toulouse with a flat stage so this should be a great opportunity for the sprinters.
  
  Our itinerary:
  Today we will make our way to the Izoard hospitality area in Toulouse from Bagneres de Bigorre. It will take about 2 hours to get there and on arrival our official accreditation will mean that we can park near the hospitality area. If you don't want to make the journey to Toulouse then we also propose a guided ride today in the Bagneres de Bigorre area so you will not go to Toulouse.
  
  Izoard finishline hospitality in Toulouse
  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.

 

• Thursday 18 July 2019 : Toulouse to Bagneres de Bigorre
  The real Pyrenees will start in the valley and that should motivate the usual breakaway suspects to give it a go but it'll carry on with climbs up Peyresourde and La Hourquette d'Ancizan. Only the best climbers among them will be in a position to triumph as they head down to Bagnères-de-Bigorre.
  
  For the cyclists:
  We have a treat in store for you today. The cyclists can join us for our 'cross the finish line' VIP experience. We will ride on the very roads that the peloton will ride on just hours later. After you have crossed the official finish line on we will all have our photos taken on the winners podium.
  After this we will have time to get changed at the hotel and we will wait for the riders to arrive.
  
  Cross the finish-line experience
  We have a treat in store for you today. The cyclists can join us for our 'cross the finish line' VIP experience. We will ride on the very roads that the peloton will ride on just hours later. After you have crossed the official finish line in Gap we will all have our photos taken on the winners podium.
  After this we will join the spectators and we will wait on the finish grandstand (no hospitality included) in comfort for the riders to arrive.
  
  Your day includes:

  • The support of the Sports Tours International team and support vehicle

  • Cycle the final portion of the stage along the same route as the pros just hours later

  • Crossing the finish line on your bike

  • A photo on the top step of the official podium
     

• Friday 19 July 2019 : Pau Individual Time Trial
  Today gives some of the riders a bit of respite whilst others will be ready to grab their opportunity on the only time trial of the 2019 Tour de France.
  
  Our itinerary:
  Destination for both spectators and cyclists is the 'Relais Etape' in Pau to enjoy the time trial in comfort.
  
  Relais Etape Hospitality
  For both riders and spectators we offer the 'Relais Etape' experience. Enjoy a sit down lunch, a comfortable setting with a large screen to watch today's deciding stage. The 'Relais Etape' is an area on the course of a Tour de France stage which takes the form of a small village in a prime position along the route, just a few kilometres from the finish line. We will accommodate a ride to this area for those who are cycling and spectators will be taken directly to the 'Relais Etape' to enjoy the day.
  
  This inspiring package mirrors the excitement of the race and includes:

  • A clubhouse to accommodate all guests

  • 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

 

• Saturday 20th July 2019 : Tarbes to Tourmalet
  The start of today's stage is from Tarbes and the finish comes just 117km later on top of the Tourmalet.
  
  Our itinerary:
  As the riders will come up the Tourmalet from the other side, we are in an excellent location in Bagneres de Bigorre to access the summit. Today we will have a prime position for the day at the official 'Izoard' finish hospitality venue. Watch the start and the course on big TV screens before watching them finish LIVE from your prime viewing position at 4 km from the finish on the Tourmalet climb. Our hotel is excellently located so it is very easy to get back to our hotel after we have enjoyed all of the racing today in the Izoard hospitality area at the finish. 
  
  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 Tourmalet, Izoard and Galibier. Access to these areas is 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.

 

• Sunday 21 July 2019 : Move to Nîmes 
  The Tour de France will make their way out of the Pyrenees today with a stage from Limoux to Foix. We will take a break from the Tour de France and we will make our way from Bagneres de Bigorre to the next hotel on our tour, the Hotel Royal in Nîmes where we will stay for 3 nights on a bed and breakfast basis. Once we are settled in today we will give you the option to explore Nîmes. If there is demand we will take the cyclists out for a guided ride in the afternoon.

 

• Monday 22 July 2019 : Tour de France rest day and Mont Ventoux day
  For the cyclists we offer a guided ride of the Giant of Provence, the Mont Ventoux today. Even though it doesn't feature on the race route, we wanted to take the opportunity to scale this iconic mountain. We will take you to Pont du Gard from where we will ride some of the route of Stage 17 past Orange but instead of going to Vaison La Romaine we will go to Bedoin and climb Mont Ventoux from that side. Our guided rides are fully supported and planned by our bike guides and can be shortened and lengthened based on your needs.
  
  Non-cyclists:
  We suggest that the spectators take the opportunity to explore Nîmes today. Nîmes is renowned for its remarkable ancient Roman monuments such as the Arena and the amazingly preserved Roman temple, the Maison Carrée. The palpable presence of its ancient past has earned the city the moniker 'the French Rome'. We expect Nîmes to be bustling with Tour de France related activities so it will be a great place to explore.

 

• Tuesday 23 July, 2019 : Nîmes to Nîmes 
  Today will see a loop around Nîmes and the peloton will have the very special privilege of riding on the Pont du Gard, an ancient Roman viaduct. A bunch sprint in Nîmes is likely.
  
  Our itinerary:
  We are based in Nîmes and we have access to the official start village of today's stage. After the riders are on their way we will lead the cyclists out of Nîmes for a short guided ride before watching the finish in Nîmes.
  
  Village Depart:
  The 2019 Tour de France entourage and organisation travel around with the riders. The team buses park within an enclosed and restricted area. An expo type village is created at the start of each one of the stages. It is usually here that everyone who is linked in any way to the Tour de France like TV, sponsors and celebrities from the cycling world will show themselves. Also local companies will be keen to show off their wares. Your VIP passes will give you access to the village and the rider's paddock. If you into collecting autographs, this is the best place for it. 

 

• Wednesday 24 July 2019 : Pont du Gard to Gap and move to Brides Les Bain
  The stage sets off from Pont du Gard today and will also visit Orange and Vaison La Romaine for an ancient Roman themed stage. After 209km the finish comes in Gap.
  
  Our itinerary:
  We have a full day ahead of us today. After an early breakfast, please have all your luggage ready as we will move on to our next hotel this evening. We will make a stop on the way in Gap for the finish of today's stage. The spectators will go straight to the hospitality venue and the cyclists will have exclusive finish and podium access with our cross the finish line experience.
  
  Cross the finish-line experience:
  We have a treat in store for you today. The cyclists can join us for our 'cross the finish line' VIP experience. We will ride on the very roads that the peloton will ride on just hours later. After you have crossed the official finish line in Gap we will all have our photos taken on the winners podium.
  After this we will join the spectators and we will wait on the finish grandstand (no hospitality included) in comfort for the riders to arrive.
  
  Your day includes:

  • The support of the Sports Tours International team and support vehicle

  • Cycle the final portion of the stage along the same route as the pros just hours later

  • Crossing the finish line on your bike

  • A photo on the top step of the official podium

  • Seat on the grand stand

  • Transport to Brides Les Bains after the finish
     

We will take you from Gap to the Spa town of Brides Les Bains at the foot of Val Thorens this evening where we will have our evening meal on arrival.

 

• Thursday 25 July 2019 : Embrun to Valloire
  Today the Tour de France comes within range as the finish of today's stage is in Valloire after scaling the Col du Galibier from Embrun.
  
  We offer a fully supported ride today to Valloire to watch the finish. From Brides Les Bains we cycle to Moutiers from where we have a short warm up ride before we tackle the Col de La Madeleine from La Lechere which brings us into the Maurienne Valley. We then ride the fairly flat valley road to the top of the valley and we will tackle the Col du Galibier which takes us right up to Valloire. The riders of the 2019 Tour de France will finish in Valloire but from the other side today. This is a tough 75km ride but it is possible to cut it short and make use of our support vehicle.
  After the finish, we will provide transport back to Brides Les Bains where we will enjoy the hotel facilities and evening meal this evening.

 

• Friday 26 July 2019 : Tignes Finish
  The next Alpine stage will start from the town of Saint Jean de Maurienne in the Maurienne valley and finish in Tignes, a popular French ski resort at the foot of the Col d'Iseran just a few kilometres away from Val d'Isere. The riders of the Tour de France will climb the Col d'Iseran from the valley which comes into Val d'Isere before the finish in Tignes.
  
  Our itinerary:
  Cyclists can join us on our guided ride to Tignes today and spectators can come with us on our tour vehicle. We will take you to Albertville from Brides Les Bains and we will ride part of the final stage of the Tour de France. This stretch of road also featured on last year's Tour de France.
  We will climb the Cormet de Roselend from Albertville and then descend into Bourg Saint Maurice. From Bourg Saint Maurice we climb all the way up to Tignes ahead of the finish of today's stage. This a 90km ride and you will be supported by our bike guide and our minibus.

 

• Saturday 27 July 2019 : Albertville to Val Thorens
  Today is the day; the final stage of the 2019 Tour de France. We expect a very busy day so we will provide transport early up to al Thorens where the winner of the 2019 Tour de France and the 100th Yellow Jersey will be crowned. The riders can join us on our guided ride to Val Thorens this morning. We will ride out from the hotel to Moutiers and to the penultimate climb of the day, the Cote de Longefoy before tackling the final climb up to Val Thorens. 
  We will watch the finish and the cyclists can descend back to the hotel after the finish. Spectators will be able to take our transport back down.

 

• Sunday 28 July, 2019 : Transfer to Paris 
  After an early breakfast we will leave the hotel for the train station in Chambery. You will take the train up to Paris. If you have booked Rive Gauche hospitality which starts at 13h00 you will have to go directly when you arrive in Paris. Our tour vehicle will be in situ to meet you on arrival and take you to the Champs Elysees.
  
  You will see the final stage, which will be a late afternoon/ evening stage. During this stage it is possible to take advantage of the 2019 Tour de France official hospitality packages. if you book one of these then the ticket will be given to you during the tour.
  
  We will leave you free to make your own arrangements for meals and transport back to the hotel this evening. Our guides will give you exact details on what public transport to take. It's very straight forward.
   

• Monday 29 July 2019 : Departure Day
  After breakfast we will leave Paris. We offer transfers from the hotel to Paris Charles de Gaulle airport at the following times: 07.30 and 14.00