ITINERARY
ALL THE MOUNTAIN STAGES & PARIS
ALPS, PYRENEES & PARIS
Sunday 8th to Monday 23rd July 2012
With or Without Bikes

On this tour you will see all the main high mountain stages of the 2012 Tour de France, which in the Alps includes the Grand Colombier, the summit finish at La Toussuire, and the Col du Granier. In the Pyrenees you´ll see the stage to Foix, the massive stage that covers the Aubisque, Tourmalet, Aspin & Pyresourde and the final stage to the ski station of Peyragudes that includes the difficult Port de Bales. If this is not enough, you´ll see the Chartres Time Trial followed by the final stage on the cobblestones of the Champs Elysees.

For those bringing bikes you will be able to ride the famous climbs that feature on the 2012 Route du Tour, in the Alps these will be the Col du Grand Colombier, Col de la Croix de Fer, La Toussuire and the Col du Granier, whilst in the Pyrenees you´ll be able to climb the Col du Tourmalet, Col d´Aubisque, Col du Peyresourde and Col Port de Bales…..There will also be the possibility to ride the mythical Mont Ventoux.

Following the Tour de France for 2 weeks can be tiring, therefore this tour has been designed with the minimum amount of hotel changes. Apart from the first & last 2 nights at our transfer hotel in Paris we shall spend 4 nights in the Alps in the beautiful lakeside town of Annecy, 2 nights in Avignon, 1 night in Toulouse, 4 nights in Lourdes and 1 night in Orleans.

Sunday 8th July:
We shall collect clients from Paris Charles de Gaulle airport at 09.00hrs, 12.00hrs, 15.00hrs & 18.00hrs for transport to our Paris transfer hotel, where we shall spend the night on B&B basis. Please indicate on your booking form your required collection time.
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 full assembled in a special bike trailer.

Monday 9th 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 lakeside town of Annecy, where we shall spend the next 4 nights on Dinner, Bed & Breakfast basis at the excellent 3* Hotel Best Western International. Apart from being in a beautiful location our Annecy base offers excellent access to all the Alpine mountain stages of the 2012 Tour de France.

Tuesday 10th July:
Annecy is such a beautiful place we thought we'd have an extra day here to enjoy the town, the lake and the beautiful rides it has to offer. After breakfast the day is yours for riding, sightseeing etc etc. The climbs of the Colombiere, Aravis are within reach of Annecy, but you may want to settle for a beautiful ride round the lake (site of the TDF time trial in 2009).

Wednesday 11th July:
The riders enter the Alps with the 1st high mountain stage of the 2012 tour, a 194km stage that will take them from Macon to Bellegrade sur Valserine. Not only is this the 1st high mountain stage, there are two very tough climbs in the last 60km of the stage (Col du Grand Colombier & Col de Richemond).

Our location in Annecy is excellent for accessing the stage, either the Col du Grand Colombier, Col de Richemond or the finish in Bellegrade. After breakfast we shall travel to see the stage. Those with bikes will have the choice of riding to either Col du Grand Colombier, Col de Richemond or the finish in Bellegrade, whilst those without bikes will be taken to the Col du Grand Colombier to see the stage.
After seeing the stage we shall return to our base in Annecy.

Thursday 12th July:
The 2nd mountain stage in the Alps is a short 140km over some classic climbs (Madeleine, Croix de Fer and Mollard before the final climb to the finish in La Toussuire). This is going to be a very nervous and fast stage with racing all the way from start to finish. A great stage to watch.

Once again our location in Annecy is excellent for accessing the stage. After breakfast we shall leave on the bus and travel to the town of St Jean de Maurienne where those with bikes will have the choice of riding and seeing the stage on either the Col de la Croix de Fer, Col de Mollard or the final climb to the ski station of La Toussuire. Those without bikes will be able to walk from St Jean de Maurienne onto the lower slopes of the final climb to La Toussuire.

Alternatively, those with bikes may want to ride from Annecy (alongside the lake) to Albertville to see the stage start, then ride back to Annecy and see the stage on T.V.

After seeing the stage, we shall return to our base in Annecy.

Friday 13th July:
The riders leave the Alps for the hills above the Rhone Valley with a long 220km stage from St Jean de Maurienne to Annonay-Davezieux. At the beginning of the stage, the riders face two very hard climbs in the Alps, the Col du Grand Coucheron and the Col du Granier.

We shall leave our base in Annecy on the bus and travel to the stage. The bus will park up at the foot of the Col du Granier and those without bikes will be able to walk onto the lower slopes of the mountain. Those with bikes will be dropped off enroute from Annecy to the Col du Granier and they´ll be able to ride to the climb.

After seeing the stage, we shall all regroup at the bus, reload the bikes and travel to the beautiful city of Avignon where we shall spend the next two nights on Dinner B&B basis.

Saturday 14th July:
The sprinters get their chance again with a 215km flat stage from St Paul les 3 Chateaux to le Cap d'Agde, situated on the Mediterranean coast.

Depending upon the final routings of today´s stage, we'll decide where to see the stage. This will be either an intermediate sprint or the feed station, and bike riding routes will be arranged accordingly.

However, you may want a day off from Le Tour, and Avignon has a lot to offer. Our location in Avignon gives us the opportunity to ride the famous Mont Ventoux (Giant of Provence). Those with bikes will have the opportunity to ride the mythical Mont Ventoux, whilst those without bikes will have the opportunity to visit the beautiful city of Avignon, that´s on theatre festival through the month of July.

Sunday 15th July:
After only one flat stage, the Tour de France returns to the mountains and enters the Pyrenees with a mountain stage between Limoux and Foix. Enroute the riders will have to face the difficult climbs of the Port de Lers and the Mur de Peguere. The Mur de Peguere has 14% grades towards the summit.

After an early breakfast we shall leave Avignon and travel to Foix. On our arrival in Foix those with bikes will have the opportunity to ride onto the stage route and see the stage, whilst those without bikes will have some time at leisure in Foix before seeing the stage finish.

After seeing the stage, we shall regroup at the bus and travel to the city of Toulouse where we shall spend the night on B&B basis at the 3* Novotel. The evening will be at your leisure and the hotel is close to the city centre and many bars and restaurants.

Monday 16th July:
Another day for the sprinters as the Tour de France heads to the city of Pau with a 160km starting from the small town of Samatan.

We have many options open to us for seeing the stage, which could be either the stage start in Samatan, the intermediate sprint or the feed station, and once the final stage details are released we'll make a decision on where to see the stage. There will be bike ride options for those with bikes.

After seeing the stage, we shall travel to the city of Lourdes where we shall spend the next 4 nights at the excellent 4* Hotel Eliseo on Dinner Bed & Breakfast.

Tuesday 17th July:
As the Tour de France riders spend their 2nd rest day in the city of Pau, it gives us the chance to ride and explore some of the mythical climbs of the Tour de France.

Within easy riding distance from Lourdes, you will be able to ride the Col du Tourmalet, Col d'Aubisque, Luz Ardiden and Hautacam just to name a few.

For those without bikes, you will be able to spend the day at leisure in the city of Lourdes.

Wednesday 18th July:
Today is without doubt the hardest stage of the 2012 Tour de France. Starting from Pau the riders traverse the Pyrenees mountains on a 197km stage that takes in the mythical climbs of Col d'Aubisque, Col du Tourmalet, Col d'Aspin and Col du Peyresourde before a descent finish to the spa town of Bagneres de Luchon. It's an absolute classic Pyrenean mountain stage that is not to be missed.

Our location in Lourdes is ideal for accessing the stage and from the hotel you will be able to ride to any of the 4 climbs (Aubisque, Tourmalet, Aspin or Peyresourde). For those without bikes, there will be an excursion to see the stage at either of these climbs or the finish in Bagneres de Luchon. After seeing the stage we shall return to the hotel in Lourdes.

Thursday 19th July:
The final Pyrenean stage of the Tour de France finishes at the ski station of Peyragudes (above the Col du Peyresourde) and prior to that it takes in the super hard Port de Bales. After breakfast we shall travel to Bagneres de Luchon, from where we will be able to see the stage start and afterwards those with bikes will have the choice of seeing the riders on either the Port de Bales or the final climb to the ski station of Peyragudes. Those without bikes will be able to walk from Luchon onto the lower slopes of the Col du Peyresourde, which forms the final climb to Peyragudes. After seeing the stage we shall return to our base in Lourdes.

Friday 20th July:
With a road transfer out of the Pyrenees to Toulouse, today's stage starts from Blagnac (outskirts of Toulouse) and after 215km and an undulating stage through the valleys of the Lot & Dordogne, finishes in the city of Brive la Gaillarde.

We have many options open to us for seeing the stage, which could be either the stage start in Blagnac, the intermediate sprint or the feed station, and once the final stage details are released we'll make a decision on where to see the stage. Because of the huge distances we have to travel today, there will not be any bike ride options available.

After seeing the stage, we shall travel to the city of Orleans, where we shall spend the night on Dinner, B&B basis. Orleans will give us good access to tomorrow's all important time trial.

Saturday 21st July:
The penultimate stage of the 2012 Tour de France is a 52km Individual Time Trial between Bonneval and Chartres.

After breakfast we shall travel to Chartres to watch the finish of this all important stage. Those with bikes will be dropped off in the village of le Puiset and they will have the choice of riding to the start in Bonneval, onto the stage route or to the finish in Chartes, but they will have to meet up with the bus in Chartres after the stage.

After the stage has finished we shall travel to Paris where we spend the final 2 nights on B&B basis at the Hotel Mercure Porte de Versailles EXPO.

Sunday 22nd July:
After a relaxing breakfast and packing up your bike, we shall make our way to the Champs Elysees for the final stage of the 2012 Tour de France. We can offer a variety of grandstand seats and hospitality packages on the Champs Elysees (please see below). For those who want to finish off the tour with a special evening we can offer a dinner dance cruise on the River Seine, aboard a typical Parisian River Boat.

Monday 23rd July:
After breakfast there are transfers available from the hotel to Paris Charles de Gaulle airport at 07.30hrs, 11.00hrs & 14.00hrs.

INCLUDES:
15 Nights Bed & Buffet Breakfast accommodation in 3* and 4* hotels based on twin room share
11 Evening meals
Air conditioned coach transportation throughout
Coach transfers to and from Paris hotel and Paris Charles de Gaulle airport at specific times
Special bike trailer for the safe keeping and transport of your bike
Coloured maps with Tour de France route marked
Detailed suggested bike rides
Detailed itinerary and helpful TDF information
Services of our guides 1 riding 1 coach

DOES NOT INCLUDE:
Drinks with meals
Hotel extras (telephone, drinks, laundry)
SINGLE ROOM SUPPLEMENT: NZ$3,150 per person

EXTRA NIGHTS IN PARIS: NZ$105 per person in shared room, NZ$178 in a single room

Paris River Boat Dinner Cruise: $260 – To be confirmed

Hospitality Packages
Sports Tours International will be offering various hospitality packages in Paris as shown below. The prices and availability have yet to be confirmed.

Champs Elysees, Grand Palais Package Includes:
Controlled access
A personal welcome by Tour de France hostesses
Grandstand seats in the official tribune "Grand Palais" located at the lower end of the Champs Elysees on the opposite side to the finishing straight.
Refreshments throughout the afternoon
A VIP "Tour de France" gift

Champs Elysees, Elysees Package Includes:
Controlled access
A personal welcome by Tour de France hostesses
Grandstand seats in the official tribune "Elysees" located on the finish straight of Champs Elysees with view of finish line, podium & large screen
Refreshments throughout the afternoon
A VIP "Tour de France" gift

Champs Elysees, Triumphe Package Includes:
Controlled access
A personal welcome by Tour de France hostesses
Grandstand seats in the official tribune "Triumph" located at the lower end of the Champs Elysees on the opposite side to the finishing straight with view large screen
Cocktails & Refreshments throughout the afternoon
A VIP "Tour de France" gift

Champs Elysees, Le Doyen Package Includes:
Controlled access
A personal welcome by Tour de France hostesses
Gastronomique lunch in Le Doyen historic building
Cocktails throughout the afternoon
Grandstand seats in the official tribune "Grand Palais" located at the lower end of the Champs Elysees on the opposite side to the finishing straight.
Refreshments throughout the afternoon
Glass Champagne to celebrate the arrival of the Tour de France
A VIP "Tour de France" gift

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