Tour de France Alpine Stages.

[Gipsy]

We are intending to ride some of the passes at the upper end of the Routes Des Grandes Alpes, and want to coincide with the tour as it goes over the Col du Colombiers. Does anyone have any experience of doing this sort of thing. I'm particularly interested in traffic conditions/road closures. Looking forward to the mayhem and bustle, but forwarned is forarmed. Any info gratefuly received.

 

[Wapping]

We are intending to ride some of the passes at the upper end of the Routes Des Grandes Alpes, and want to coincide with the tour as it goes over the Col du Colombiers. Does anyone have any experience of doing this sort of thing. I'm particularly interested in traffic conditions/road closures. Looking forward to the mayhem and bustle, but forwarned is forarmed. Any info gratefuly received.

Yes.

I have bumped into the Tour in various places in France over the years.

(a) The sections of roads WILL be closed for several hours (if not a half day) before the stage.

(b) There are large yellow signs put up on the route telling you exactly when.

(c) It WILL, on the popular mountain stages, be crowded at all of the popular viewing points. Motorhome City.

(d) The roads re-open quite quickly once the entire circus has passed. Obviously backwards re-opens faster than forwards.

(e) I camped the night before when I watched it in the Pyrenees. Col Marie Blizzard or something like that, right on the top where a timing arch was placed. A beer tent sprang up, along with the usual hotdog tents, advertisng banners, kids spraying the road with nmaes. In short, a reasonable sized party out of literally nowhere, all very good natured.

(f) The local tourist office is a good source of info. They will know, to the minute, what time the roads shut, when they re-open, what the access roads are, what time the 'caravan' and race will pass any given point along the day's route.

I will go and watch any large sporting event. It's great fun to see the Tour, for sure.

 

[darkhorse]

Would love to follow the whole of the tour one year, but I suppose it would be better in a camper van given the amount of time you have to wait at the side of the road every day

 

[Twotter]

I've always fancied having a go as a camera bike rider

Though I did read something once about professional cyclists sometimes attending to calls of nature en-route so to speak

 

[Wapping]

Would love to follow the whole of the tour one year, but I suppose it would be better in a camper van given the amount of time you have to wait at the side of the road every day

It's the way to do it and, believe me, you will not be alone. It is no exaggeration to say there was miles of them from most of the countries of Europe, with Brit's definitely in the minority.

 

[Decster]

Would love to follow the whole of the tour one year, but I suppose it would be better in a camper van given the amount of time you have to wait at the side of the road every day

it will be broadcast on French tv life all day so you watch the tv in the camper van(or a portable outside) having a picnic and then the race arrives, then back to the tv to see who has won the stage.....