July 7: Number pickup, preparations. In the morning we have time for a short ride of about 1-1.5 hours to test the bikes, loosen the legs, but not work too hard. After, we can change, and go to Albertville to pick up timing chips, souvenirs, and Etape package. Take some time to visit the Village for the ambiance of Etape and following a lunch we return to our hotel to watch the Tour stage finish in La Planche des Belle Filles. We will make another check of bikes, have a briefing meeting to go over Etape and give some last advice about the stage and preparations, then have a good pre-ride dinner at 7pm and early to bed with all preparations made for an early reveille. (B,L,D)

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Hotel Montmelian

2

Chambery

In beautiful surroundings south of Chambery, in Savoie, (8 kms from city center),at the foot of the ...

July 8 Etape du Tour Acte 1: Albertville to La Toussuire; 140km The line up for the start begins very early, so we have to be up early to have a good breakfast and peacefully reach the start line and travel from Chambery. 4:30 am - breakfast. 5am - depart the hotel. 5:45am you will be on your bike and by 6:30 am you will be in the right place in line awaiting the start, surrounded by thousands of bikes and cyclists in an amazing ambiance! Our staff will be on hand to ensure nutrition prior to start, and we'll be at a point along the course to add to the feedzones provided by Etape. We'll meet you at the finish line and usher you to our private tent where you can eat, drink, change clothes and get a massage. When all of our group is in, we'll pack up and go to a new hotel for dinner and bed only 30 minutes from the finish! Great job, Acte 1 in the bag! (B,D)

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Chalet Hotel de La Balme

2

Saint Sorlin d'Arves

La Balme, installed directly on the slopes, two steps from the village center, welcomes you in a atm...

Etape Act 1

July 9 Recovery Day This is the perfect day to travel to the Mediterranean coast between Marseille and Montpellier, to our beach and spa hotel at Port Camargue in the South of France. In the afternoon, you can enjoy a thalasso therapy treatment to aid your recovery from yesterday. (thalasso therapy is sea water hyrdro therapy.) Everything will be done to help your complete recovery including 'pressotherapie" and massage and a "totale relaxe corps" of 25 minutes. Time to swim after too and watch the Tour which today is the first full individual time trial at Besancon. Dinner on your own.(B,L)

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Hotel Mercure Thalassa Port-Camargue

3

LE GRAU DU ROI

Located 4 km from the centre of Le Grau du Roi looking across to the largest beach in the Camargue. ...

July 10 Transition Day: Today is the day that participants in Act 1 depart, and Act 2 arrive. Those staying on for both Acts remain on tour and will have a moderate ride of 50km with lunch on the route. Depart in late morning with those departing, and return from Montpellier rail station at 11am with new arrivals. The afternoon consists of another round of Thalasso Therapy spa treatments, and some free time to go to the beach, setup/tune up your bike. The hotel is a Thalasso Therapy (sea water hydro therapy) center; Dinner on your own. Overnight in coastal hotel. (B,L)

Hotel Info

Hotel Mercure Thalassa Port-Camargue

3

LE GRAU DU ROI

Located 4 km from the centre of Le Grau du Roi looking across to the largest beach in the Camargue. ...

July 11 Travel to Pau: Depart at 8am and travel 4 hours with a stop at Carcassonne to visit the medieval cite and have a snack. Upon arrival at Pau we will get the bikes down for a relaxing 35km ride. Return to our hotel in Pau with dinner on your own. Being in Pau is the perfect location for Etape and the following stages of the Tour. Pau is the heart of Pyreneen Tours past! We can catch the Tour on TV and the finish in Bellegarde.(B,L)

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Hotel All Suites Pau

3

Pau

Holidays, studies, transfers, business trips... Whatever accommodation you are looking for, All Suit...

July 12 Riding & Preparation Day: In the morning at 8:30 we'll transfer to start a ride. climbing ride over the biggest difficulty in this Act 2 Etape course, the Tourmalet. Use the opportunity to know learn where to go harder and where to expect to be slower, and to know what is ahead. Lunch in Bareges or at the col summit. For those who want to add more, either Luz Ardiden or Hautacam are possible. In the afternoon we'll go to the Village to collect timing chips and numbers again. Return to the hotel in Pau and a dinner you can have out on your own to enjoy the ambiance and Tour excitement. (B,L)

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Hotel All Suites Pau

3

Pau

Holidays, studies, transfers, business trips... Whatever accommodation you are looking for, All Suit...

July 13 Final Ride & Village: A short and easy 30km ride to check your bike and finalize it for tomorrow will start the day. We can go on foot to the Village de l'Etape where you can get your numbers, timing chip, souvenirs, and pass some time in the ambiance of the event. Back to the hotel to watch the pro stage of the Tour on TV, and then a meeting to go over final preparations and plans with your guides. Dinner at 7pm, bed early! (B,L,D) We will prepare to leave the hotel early in the morning so all will be packed to leave tonight.

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Hotel All Suites Pau

3

Pau

Holidays, studies, transfers, business trips... Whatever accommodation you are looking for, All Suit...

July 14 Bastille Day! Etape Acte 2; Pau-Bagneres de Luchon: Up early again with a hardy breakfast at 5am, and short trip to the start line early(5:45am). You need to be lined up by 6:30 am with a 7am start of Etape. Your guides will provide support on the course during this Etape stage again and will meet everyone at the finish line with drinks, food, and change of clothes in our own encampment. Bike break down and prep for departure. Travel to St Gaudens (about 55 min) in the direction of Toulouse after all participants have arrived. Dinner included and our last night together. Congratulations - you have completed at least 1 if not both stages of the Tour de France in 1 week! (B,D)

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Hotel Restaurant du Commerce

2

Saint-Gaudens

At the foot of the Pyrenees, 50 rooms individually decorated and combining tradition and modernity: ...

Etape Act 2

July 15: Departure: We will drop at the train station in Toulouse. From here you have air and train options to return or travel onward. If you brought your own bike, it will be boxed and you can depart with it most easily by air.


For those bringing your own bike, do not forget to calculate the cost of bike bag fees; shipping a bike by a freight company can cost upwards of 500 euros each way. Bike rentals/hire are available on first come basis.
Plan arrival by noon in Toulouse at the station. A shuttle to the Toulouse airport leaves approximately every 20 minutes.