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04/07/2009, 14:12 Judith Joined on 01/02/2006 Posts 703 Le Tour - how soon to arrive to get a good view? This year the tour is passing through the village next to us,  so it seems logical to go along and see it, if only to say "we was there!".  So, how soon is it sensible to arrive - and other tips.  The caravanne is scheduled to arrive about lunch time, with the timing of the cyclists about an hour or so later.  Will not be able to get hubby to wait around for ever, but I am small, so like to be able to see over the heads if poss.  There are no hills - it's a bit flat round here! Any advice gratefully rec'd.  Ta. Judith ex W1 and 47 and now in the Aude    Report

04/07/2009, 14:49 Nell Joined on 14/08/2007 24 Posts 318 Re: Le Tour - how soon to arrive to get a good view? 2007 they were in this area.... We thought we would drive into Perigueux around 9:00 for a quick shop before the TDF which was scheduled to come through around 15:00......  The grass verges were packed with people and everyone was set up with their picnic tables and chairs ready for a day out I think the secret is - Get there early and treat it like a day at the beach - take your table/chairs/umbrella/picnic/drinks and enjoy the atmosphere as much as the cycles    Report

04/07/2009, 14:53 Lou Joined on 20/01/2006 Hautes Pyrenees - 65 Posts 138 Re: Le Tour - how soon to arrive to get a good view? Hi Judith Partly it depends on how you're going to access your "spot" - the gendarmes will close the road the Tour comes along potentially up to several hours beforehand. If you've got side roads you can use and you choose a relatively "unpopular" spot then just before the caravane could be ok. Otherwise you could be looking at getting there a few hours before to stake out your place. If the weathers good - take a picnic, a hat ad a book and relax and chat to the neighbours while you wait.....in my opinion (having seen at least one stage every year for the last 5 or 6 years!) it's definitely worth the wait - a real event. Regards Lou    Report

06/07/2009, 16:19 Judith Joined on 01/02/2006 Posts 703 Re: Le Tour - how soon to arrive to get a good view? Thanks everyone.  The newspapers today have been quite helpful as to what is happening when, and today I passed a sign saying the road will be closed etc etc.  So all that remains is to decide where we are going to go where there may not be too many people (!!!!), so we can get as good a view as is possible. Judith ex W1 and 47 and now in the Aude    Report

07/07/2009, 1:16 Stefan Joined on 23/08/2004 Posts 213 Re: Le Tour - how soon to arrive to get a good view? I think you've had some good advice - treat it as a cross between a day on the beach ( flat stage) and a pop concert ( mountain stage finish)...and if you ever get the chance to attend one the latter do it , the mountain stages are really, really special, be aware the Gendarmes sometimes close the road the previous day. Anyhow, great event, not to be missed...all we've got to do now is get Cav over the mountains in one piece and all the way to Paris....    Report

08/07/2009, 16:11 Judith Joined on 01/02/2006 Posts 703 Re: Le Tour - how soon to arrive to get a good view? Well, we've just got back from out day out.  An interesting experience, but one we probably won't bother to repeat!  We arrived in good time, to do a recce and chose our spot, not too far out of the town, just after the level crossing, and up a slight incline, and near road humps (which incidentally were one of the highlights - not that the cyclists had any problem with them, but the cars did!!)  We took a picnic, and found a seat and I read my book, and we watched the developments.  The level crossing caused the caravanne to come along in fits and starts (it was very entertaining to see how many times the barrier came down - and we wondered what would happen - would the train stop for the tour or the tour stop for the trains!!!).  We thought there were rather more support vehicles than riders, espeically when the first posse of riders (perhaps 5) came through - well ahead of the rest of the field, but they were so completely surrounded by gendarmes, support vehicles and such that it did not feel like a cycle race at all. Then the rest of the cyclists whent through in once big group, again almost completely surrounded by hangers on (and the road was only just big enough for one car!!!). It must be said that the helicopter taking photos was more entertaining than the cyclists!. In retrospect, we got there a little too early, but we did chose a reasonably good spot, it was not too crowded, and we did see the cyclists as a blur as they sped past.  Without the caravanne it would have been a non event however.  I've come back with a bit of sunburn, a couple of free hats and a bag, and the free bottle of water was useful (though we'd taken our own of course).  And though you will see more on the TV, I can now say, " I was there". Judith ex W1 and 47 and now in the Aude    Report

12/07/2009, 12:54 Stefan Joined on 23/08/2004 Posts 213 Re: Le Tour - how soon to arrive to get a good view? Sounds like the norm "on the flat" Tour spectator experience....personally if time off work allows ( and sadly it doesn't this year, *****!!!) then like many others we'll travel across half of France and camp out for days if it's somewhere like the Tourmalet or Ventoux....that's where you really do need to be get the real Tour atmosphere but I'll freely admit you need to be "into" your cycling to commit that amount of time.......then again I wouldn't walk down the road to watch the Open or Formula 1 - each to their own I guess...    Report

13/07/2009, 13:20 Iceni Joined on 23/08/2004 Lot 46 Posts 3,409 Re: Le Tour - how soon to arrive to get a good view? The Antargaz part of the caravane was parked in St Cere (north 46)  this morning and had probably been there overnight. Not sure that this is on a direct route from Tarbes to Limoges so maybe they were all visiting someone's auntie ? John  Di How do I get MY free website?    Report

19/07/2009, 15:45 Mr Coeur de Lion Joined on 01/05/2005 In the middle of nowhere (36) Posts 2,218 Re: Le Tour - how soon to arrive to get a good view? We saw it arrive at Issoudun last Tuesday and despite getting there about 2 hours before the race ended and it being Bastille Day, we were only 300 - 400m from the finish line and got a very good view of the last corner, although disappointingly there were no crashes. Here's my write up and pics of the day if you're interested.    Report

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