Cycling enthusiasts understand that biking is more than just a fun activity – it’s a way of life. As such, finding new and exciting places to discover while riding is a common desire. There’s really no better way to explore a new destination, experience the sights and sounds, and enjoy the exhilaration of the great outdoors than atop a bicycle. For those cyclists looking for new and unforgettable adventure, one of the most spectacular rides in the world is biking the Champs Elysees on D-Day.

What is the Champs Elysees?

The Champs Elysees is one of the most famous streets in the world, a stretch of road that is simply teeming with historical significance. It is lined with a number of ancient and fascinating monuments, including the Arc de Triomphe, which is one of the most famous monuments in all of Paris. Rising up at 50 meters high, the Arc de Triomphe is a spectacular archway that is exquisitely carved to honor those who fought and died for France in the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. On the outside, it boasts the names of all French victories and generals, while the infamous Tomb of the Unknown Soldier from World War I lies beneath its vaults. Another famous monument found along Champs Elysees is the Place de la Concorde, Paris’ largest main public square.

In terms of cycling, the Champs Elysees holds a significant place. Every year since 1975, it has been the finishing point of the Tour de France, perhaps the most esteemed cycling race in the world.  The avenue stretches nearly 2 kilometers, and with its many buildings, cinemas, cafés, specialty shops and perfectly planted and pruned horse-chestnut trees, the Champs Elysees has been given the nickname of “the most beautiful avenue in the world”. There is simply no better way to experience it than through the freedom of a bike ride.

Riding the Champs Elysees

Our Pyrenees to Paris VIP tour offers travelers the opportunity to ride the unforgettable Champs Elysees and experience it first-hand.  This option is available for this tour only, so it is a rare and limited opportunity. In fact, this is the first time Discover France has ever offered this exclusive VIP access, through which you will have the chance to ride on the Champs Elysees ahead of the pros, cross the finish line and then go to your own private reserved seats in the Tribune Grand Palais. Enjoy a spectacular 10km ride that includes the loop around the Tuileries, under the tunnel by the Louvre, onto the Rivoli, Place de la Concorde and all the way up to the Arc de Triomphe! After crossing the line you will have access to the Tribune/Grand Stand from which you can watch the ceremonial finish. For cycling enthusiasts, it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity and a journey not to be missed.

The Tour de France is the world’s most difficult sporting event and as such it attracts the most elite athletes humanity can produce. People come from all over the world to marvel at what these super humans can do over the course of 3 weeks. The 99^th annual Tour de France, scheduled to take place from Saturday June 30^th through Sunday July 22^th 2012, will be one for the record books and just like previous years Discover France has exclusive VIP access. Only a few tour operators are selected to offer privileged access that cannot be topped to their clients. Special access that Discover France is offering on their tours this year includes:

D-Day

This experience is as close as anyone will get to feeling like a pro in the Tour de France. On this day, you will ride the final kilometers of a specified stage and cross the finish line just prior to the pro peloton. Following that you can access the official podium for photos in your favorite jersey. Then watch the finish while enjoying food and drinks in a reserved VIP area. Talk about feeling like a rockstar?

Izoard Bus

What is the Izoard Bus? That is the most common question we get from our VIPs. It is a special ‘wagon/bus’ placed on the finish line. This ‘bus’ is set up at the end of every stage and transferred each night to the next stage finish. Here you have the opportunity to visit with the media while we await the arrival of the peloton.

Village de l’Etape

Feel the tension and nervous butterflies of the pros as they sign in. That’s right; at the Village de l’Etape you have special access to the sign in area where the pro teams arrive to start the race and where media, event officials, and former pros gather prior to the stage start. We will also visit a team bus and have ASO assistance to get us through the village. This is the time to meet some legends of cycling and cycling media and collect lots of souvenirs.

Other Options

Throughout our tours, clients are presented with other VIP opportunities for additional costs. We can organize for our VIP clients a complete day including helicopter flight following the peloton. New in 2012 in the chance to ride in one of the official tour cars that trail the peloton. If you are going to watch the race unfold, you won’t want to miss the finale! We have Paris finish line tribune seating in both that Grand Palais and Elysee. All these additions are worth the price of admission and will just enhance your TDF experience that much more.

As an official tour operator we have special guides/access as well as passes to access the closed areas, signage for our vehicles, privileged parking access, and we are mentioned in publications by ASO to the media. While millions line the streets or watch the race on TV, you have the opportunity to be one of the few that get to experience one of the world’s greatest sporting events up close and personal. Don’t miss this unforgettable experience!

If you ask any cycling enthusiast where the best place to train is, the overwhelming response is likely to be Spain.  Sure, there are certainly plenty of other places that offer good opportunity to train, yet even with so many other choices, Spain still remains at the top – particularly for professionals.  Here are just a few of the many reasons why the pros prefer to train in Spain – known affectionately as “the 3 C’s”.

Climate

The country of Spain features a fabulous range of three main climates, each ideal for cycling in its own way.  Some of the country falls within the Mediterranean climate, which is characterized by warm, dry summer weather.  The north quarter of the country features oceanic climate, which is known for its warm summers and cool winters.  Finally, the country’s southeaster quarter is semiarid and quite dry.  Depending on preference and what race is being trained for, cyclists have the pick of which climate best suits them, all of which are quite pleasant and comfortable for riding and training year round.

Culture

Even when training, there’s still plenty of time to get off the bike and enjoy the sights a bit.  Spain is one of the most beautiful countries in the world to visit.  It features exquisite old architecture, a plethora of artwork (ever hear of a guy named Picasso?) and some of the most mouthwatering food on earth.  With such a long, rich history, Spain offers cultural discovery that is both fascinating and unforgettable.  When you’re not riding, you have the option to explore, learn, shop and dine to your heart’s content.  You certainly won’t be bored!

Climbing

With the natural border of France and Spain being the magnificent Pyrenees mountain range, it’s no surprise that climbing would make the list. The high altitude and varying terrain provide the perfect setting to prepare for more difficult races and the breathtaking sights along the way, from lush plant life to fauna and panoramic views make it as enjoyable as it is challenging.  In fact, the mountain range is the setting of several stages of professional cycling races, including the infamous Tour de France.

If the climate, culture and supreme climbing opportunity aren’t enough to convince you that Spain is the ideal place to train, perhaps the fact that so many well-known cyclists have named it so will. Tyler Hamilton, George Hincapie, and Lance Armstrong have all spent months at a time training in various areas throughout the country, particularly Girona.  Additionally, Johaan Bruyneel, winner of a remarkable 13 Grand Tours, has been quoted as saying that Spain is “the best winter training base in Europe”.  These gentlemen know a thing or two about training.

For more than six decades cycling has been an incredibly important sport in the country of Spain. It is home to such world-renowned racing tournaments as the Vuelta a España, the Tour de France and the Giro d’Italia.  In addition to this, Spain’s superb climate, rich culture, and fantastic terrain and climbing opportunities make it the ideal place to train, for both professionals and novices alike.

Mâcon to Bellegarde-sur-Valserine

This stage, number 10 in the tour, offers climbers the chance to make up any time they may have lost in the previous time trial stage.  But if they want it, the competitors will have to work for it because stage 10 covers 194km and features a grueling 20km ascent that brings bikers to an altitude of 1501m.  The route runs through the big mountain pass of Col du Grand Colombier and is most certainly a test of endurance.  If you can tackle this pass on Discover France’s Alpes Challenging Tour, you will know exactly how the 2012 Tour participants feel.

Albertville to La Toussuire – Les Sybelles

Covering a distance of 140km, this stage (number 11) presents cyclists with back to back 2000m climbs, enough to challenge even the most seasoned competitor.  The first climb, Col de la Madeleine, brings cyclists to the 2000m high summit at the 40km mark of the stage.  Then it’s immediately on to the second climb, Col de la Croix de Fer, which appears right after la Madeleine’s decent.  This climb pushes bikers upward to an altitude of 2067m.  Etape du Tour competitors will face these mountains as they complete a full stage of the TDF. So arduous is this stage that it has the potential to single out possible winners of the 2012 TDF and leave finishers of the Etape with a lifetime of bragging rights.

Limoux to Foix

This stage kicks off the Pyrenean series of the tour and covers a distance of 192km.  It is the 14^th stage of the race and features two incredibly steep climbs that reach gradients of a grueling 14%.  These two challenging climbs are called Port de Lers, at 1517m, and Mur de Péguère, at 1375m, steep slopes that will undoubtedly reveal the fittest competitors of the race.

Pau to Bagnères-de-Luchon

Stage 16 of this tour stretches on for 197km and features four significant climbs sure to challenge even the strongest cyclers.  The climbs that are the most strenuous are known as the Tourmalet, the Aspin, the Aubisque and the Peyresourde.  Only those with the most powerful leg muscles will win out on these ascents and those proudly boasting yellow jerseys risk losing their position in the race during this stretch, with four grueling days remaining. This stage has already developed a reputation as one of the toughest stages in the 2012 Tour, so we wouldn’t they make it the 2^nd Etape du Tour open to the public.

Bagnères-de-Luchon to Peyragudes

This stage, number 17, is the last high mountain stage in the tour.  That means it is the leg of the race that will most likely reveal the tour’s winner.  Stretching on for 144km, competitors must power on tirelessly if they hope to finish on top.  The key is to start out strong and keep pushing onward with everything you’ve got to ascend the steepest slope of the Col de Menté, continue on to Col des Ares and finally charge toward the summit of Port de Balès to reach the coveted red pennant.  With so much at stake and such a demanding conclusion, no racer is out of danger during this stage.

Competitive cycling, as with any race, is not for the faint of heart.  Only the fittest competitors who can power their way through some the most difficult climbs on earth will come out on top and be able to say they are victorious.  The five stages listed here can make or break the tour and will most certainly separate the winners from the losers and prove who has what it takes to be a champion!  Participants on Discover France TDF Cycling Tours have the opportunity to ride all or a portion of these select Tour stages.  Are you up for the challenge?

One of the nicest things about the Tour de France, the most popular and highly regarded bike race in the world, is the fact that the route it takes changes each year.  This means that even those participants who have competed in the race during years past can enjoy new and different terrain and a chance to cycle through areas they’ve never visited before.  The 2012 race, scheduled to run from Saturday June 30^th to Sunday July 22^th 2012, as well as Discover France’s TDF Tours, will wind through the following five new towns, each boasting its own unique features.

Abbeville

This lovely little town located in Northern France is the starting point of the 4^th stage of the Tour, which covers 214km.  Abbeville has a long, rich history that dates back possibly as far as the Stone Age.  There are a number of well-known landmarks and monuments located there, including St. Vulfran’s church, a beautifully constructed building built in honor of Saint Wulfram of Fontenelle the Archbishop of Sens, and the Boucher de Perthes Museum, which features art and other artifacts dating back as far as the 16th century.

Annonay

Located just a few kilometers from the famed Rhine River in the Rhone-Alpes region of Southern France, Annonay will be the final destination for riders in the 12^th stage of the Tour.  An industrious little town, it is also quite scenic, built on the hill overlooking the location where the gorges of the Deûme and the Cance meet.  There are also a number of vineyards nearby boasting exquisite wines of the area.

Porrentruy

This friendly little town in Switzerland is where the Tour’s 8^th stage concludes.  It’s a beautiful location, surrounded by the natural splendor of the Allaine River, and the rolling hills and forests of the Petit Fahy and the Grand Fahy.   Porrentruy is home to a number of historic buildings, many of which feature interesting architectural styles.  For instance, the Catholic Church of Saint-Pierre is a gothic basilica that was built during the years of 1330-1350 and houses a number of valuable relics from the gothic era and the impressive Château de Porrentruy, some of which was built in the year 1271, and which was once home to the Bishop of Basel.

Samatan

A place of true cultural discovery and both architectural and natural beauty, the town of Samatan is the starting point of stage 15 of the Tour.  Samatan has been given the nickname of the Mecca of foie gras and often considered the capital of “pink gold”, due to the unique pink bricks used in much of the area’s architecture.  There’s plenty to do and see in this charming little town, particularly when it comes to gastronomy, as it boasts a number of unique dishes and some of the most delectable cuisine around.

Visé

Stage 2 of the Tour begins in this town, which borders both Belgium and the Netherlands.  It’s relatively small in size with an area of only 27.99km, and is located in the province of Liege.  Known affectionately as the “City of the Goose”, Visé is home to a number of cultural monuments including museums and other historical sites.  There are also some fantastic natural landscapes to enjoy here.  Visé may be small in size, but it possesses a larger-than-life personality all its own.

Boasting a grueling 20 stages and covering a total distance of 3,479 kilometers, the 2012 Tour de France will weave its way through a number of different areas and towns and cover a variety of terrain from gloriously flat stretches to demanding mountain climbs.  Riders and spectators alike can enjoy the change of pace each year’s route provides, including these five new towns which embody the spirit of the race and provide the perfect setting to usher in a new champion. Regardless if the town is in the Rhone-Alpes, Midi Pyrenees or even Belgium, all of these towns listed are visited on Discover France’s TDF Tours.

The Tour did recently announce for 2013 – Corsica and Nice – will start the 100th anniversary of the world’s greatest race!  See details on the Le Tour website

Other info:

VIP Guided cycling tours – challenging level and moderate level riding

VIP Guided non cycling tours – around the time trials, opening stages, and finish stages.  Some new options for small groups will be possible!

Non vip Guided cycling tours – looking to do some challenging riding and catch a little of the Tour in person?  These are for you!  Focus on the cycling and catch most of the Tour drama on TV from the comfort of our quality hotels after a hard and satisfying day on the bike.

Shorter tour options, Paris finish only, Relais Etape, and Guided comprehensive Etape tours are also planned.

Here are five compelling reasons to grab your bike and join a tour:

VIP access

As one of only 4 VIP official tour operators of the Tour de France, Discover France VIP tours offer unparalleled access to the 2012 Tour including the opportunity to ride the race course prior to the arrival of the pro-peloton, meeting the cycling pros and media with an official Tour de France guide at the Village and Izohard Bus, and crossing the finish line to take your place (and commemorative photo) on the awards podium! This special access to the 2012 Tour events can’t be found anywhere else except on our VIP cycling tours.

Different Degrees of Difficulty

Our VIP tours include challenging cycling or moderate cycling to suit every rider’s ability. Our challenging tours are for those who ride long, hard, and often and want to cover the big mountains at the Tour de France. Our moderate cycling tours are for those who ride a lot for fun, but want to enjoy other aspects of the tour and country. Discover France has spectator only tours for those not wanting to ride, but still looking to experience everything else offered including luxurious lodging, gastronomic dining, fantastic sites, and the unique French countryside and culture!

Guides

All of these exciting TDF tours include expert guides to lead the way and make sure every trip runs smoothly.  The guides are professionally trained and certified and are highly knowledgeable about the race and routes. They are multilingual as well and are experienced at guiding groups of foreigners over the big mountains and around the melee of the Tour de France. We are confident that our guides will show every guest the time of their life.

Excitement of the Tour

The Tour de France is one of the most well-known and widely attended sports events in the world. For almost a month, the professional riders race by millions of cheering spectators. The excitement and suspense is why so many people wait anxiously for July to come. We offer biking aficionados the opportunity to be at the finish line watching a hair-win sprint, or at the top of the giant cols observing the strength and determination of the pros first hand, or in Paris as the Tour winner receives the yellow jersey. Mostly, we offer the opportunity to experience the Tour de France exhilaration in a way few will ever get to.

New Acquaintances

Whether you are traveling with a small group, a partner, or by yourself, you will meet plenty of other excited bike enthusiasts. Guests join our tours from around the world to enjoy the Tour de France. New friendships will be made at the top of Tourmalet, or backstage in the company of the pros and their teams, or while sipping champagne at the Champs Elysees finish line. Two past TDF guests met as strangers with one thing in common, the love of cycling; they are now planning their third biking trip together. The memories and friendships that develop on our tours will last a lifetime.

The Tour de France is one of the most amazing experiences for tourists, especially cyclists who are seeking adventure while also experiencing rich culture and history. The list above offers just a few of the many reasons you should grab your own bike and experience it for yourself.  It’s sure to be an unforgettable ride.

We will announce our Etape tour service in the next few days.  Check back, or contact us, or subscribe to get a notice.