| Date | Description | Distance Kilometers |
| Saturday 10th July |
14.00 pm, your tour guide arrives to meet you at Blagnac international
Airport in Toulouse. By 16.00 you'll be back at the Lodge to watch Stage
8 finishing at St Brieuc, unpack your bikes and get to know your companions
for your holiday while sampling the first of Nick's excellent meals.
Meet our friend the writer Graeme Fife who will be joining you for the
holiday
|
|
| Sunday 11th July |
First day cycling together, let Graeme show you around, an easy days cycling
taking in the Cols Saraille and La Trappe .
Watch the finish of the final stage in Britany, town of Quimper. |
75 km |
| Monday 12th July |
Rest day in the TDF. You take an easy ride along a valley bottom to St
Girons then climb and descend to visit the Fabio Casartelli Memorial on
the Col de Portet d'Aspet, return over the Col de La Core.
|
120 km |
| Tuesday 13th July |
A 3 Col day,taking in 2 of the big Pyrenean stage to come.
Valley bottom ride to Seix, then Col de la Trappe, Aulus les Bains, then Col d'Agnes. You'll be mirroring the first time TDF has climbed from this direction, returning home via Col de Port, watch the final riders in the time trial based around Raymond Polidors home. Grame and Nick visited Raymond at his home a few years back and Graeme had the pleasure of sharing a skiing holiday with him and many of the other cycling greats so lots of meal time stories to be had. Will David Millar win the time trial? |
90 km |
| Wednesday 14th July |
Bastille day. Great French public holiday.Start the celebrations by riding
up the Col de Crouzette, one of our toughest, the Climb starts 1 km from
the Lodge in the village of Biert then a wonderful descent to Rivernert.
After crossing the river Salat at Lacourt, return via the delightful Col de Catchedegue. Watch finish of Stage 11 Limoge to St Flour ( 2004 Etape du Tour ride) |
75 km |
| Thursday 15th July |
A take it easy sort of day, Maybe take a ride up to the lake at Etang
de L"Hers, enjoy stunning views which the TDF riders won't have time to
appreciate on Saturday. Alternatively don't touch your bike and read and
swim in our river pool.
|
Max 30km |
| Friday 16th July |
Coach to Bagneres de Bigorre. Ride the legendary Col de Tourmalet, With
Nick and Grames knowledge of every metre of the climb you'll be able to
pick your vantage position to watch Lance try to repeat his 2002 win at
La Mongie, Chef's night off, we all eat together at a favourite restaurant.
|
Max 60km |
| Saturday 17th July |
The big one. The crucial Pyrenean stage. Probably a day when your spilt
for some of your holiday companions, the strongest will ride heading for
the Plateau de Bielle via the Col de Port from the Lodge, the other riders
watch the tour pass on the valley bottom , rendezvous point with the coach
and Nick at a restaurant where you'll eat when you're ready, and look forward
to hearing Graeme's account of meeting riders and others in the press enclosure.
|
Max 130 km |
| Sunday 18th July |
After the excitement of the Pyrenees the TDF riders can expect an easy
day in stage 14 Carcassonne -Nimes before the well earned rest day.
Your rest day from the bikes, early departure for Carcassonne to see the start of the Stage, maybe get some autographs. Then take in a visit to Carcassonne's old city, a very popular tourist attraction, Early evening meal in the lively restaurant that we know and love , see Carcassonne at it's best in the evening. |
No cycling |
| Monday 19th July |
TDF rest day in Nimes, you can rest too or if you are keen to ride why
not take a ride to the Town of Foix, our departement capital famous for
it's castle. Return via the beautiful Crete route rejoining the Col de
Port route by descending the steep Col de Peguere or continue to take in
more of the view to the Col de Crouzette and descend home via Biert.
|
85-105 km |
| Tuesday 20th July |
TDF riders heading towards the Alps, you can take an easy ride to St Girons,
visit the nearby Roman town of St Lizier.A day to buy a few souvenirs,
visit the bike shops . If you want to make the day a bit longer return
via the Col de Saraille, to take the classic holiday snape of the famous
roofed barns.
|
Max 80 km |
| Wednesday 21st July |
First Alpine stage Bourg D'Oisans- L'Alp D'Huez. You'll be taken by coach
with your bikes to Chaum so that you can ride the Cols of Saturdays stage,
Col Ares, Col de Portet d'Aspet, Col de la Core , Col de la Trappe and
Col d' Agnes.
|
110 km |
| Thursday 22nd July |
Visit Massat Market, It's small, but beautiful and lively, get a taste
of old France listen to the many old people who congregate to chat and
gossip with their life long friends. They talk an ancient language called
Occitan which you can only otherwise hear by sitting in the doctors waiting
room. You'll feel like you've been taken back in time.
Watch the Alpine stage Bourg D'OIsans-Le Grand Bornand |
No cycling |
| Friday 23rd July |
Your final days cycling, You'll want to revisit this route, it is a tried
and tested favourite for all our customers because of the beauty of the
scenery Massat -Col de Saraille-Seix-Col de Catchedegue-Rivernert- Col
de La crouzette. pack your bikes up, swap addresses and emails, its always
an emotional time at the Cycling Lodge preparing to say good-bye to your
new friends
TDF stage 18 Anna Masse to Lons-Le-Saulnler. |
80 km |
| Saturday 24th July |
Departure day, we transfer you to Toulouse for 2.00pm with a stop
on the way to St Girons famous street market, a well worthwhile interlude
to your Journey home.
Final time trial the screens at the Airport in Toulouse always shows cycling so time your flight home carefully if you're very keen to see this. For intercontinental flights leaving early Sunday morning we have several well tested airport hotels to recommend. |