Professional Cycling For the Fans - Le Grand Depart
Bikeforums.net is a forum about nothing but bikes. Our community can help you find information about hard-to-find and localized information like bicycle tours, specialties like where in your area to have your recumbent bike serviced, or what are the best bicycle tires and seats for the activities you use your bike for.
cycleone
06-20-07, 09:35 AM
Hey
As a Londoner I am really looking forward to watching the Grand Start of the TDF go through the city.
I have a couple of questions for my fellow Londoners:
1. does anyone know what the best vantage point for watching this section of the race. I think I am going to try and catch it at the serpentine section. I imagine it will be very busy, but worth it.
2. Does any one know if there is a good guide to the TDF as I need to brush up a bit before the event begins?
Many thanks
C
Try the londonfgss site, lot of people there are going to see the start.
fixedpip
06-21-07, 05:01 AM
2. Does any one know if there is a good guide to the TDF as I need to brush up a bit before the event begins?
Theres an official Tour De France magazine/guide out. Saw one at my local SPAR so should be pretty readily available in rest of the UK. Haven't flicked through it but it probably contains a lot of useful background information (its a fiver I think).
I saw Elvis
06-22-07, 01:05 AM
I'm no Londoner (although I lived there for 15 years)
For the prologue, I'm planning to be on constitution hill (tube side of Green Park) as both the out and back sections are on opposite sides of the road so you should see the riders twice. I'd avoid the finish it will be crazy.
Don't forget the riders will be warming up on the route from 14:00.
The other option is to try and get on one of the corners where they will slow down so the turn from west carriage drive onto serp road could be an option. :)
For stage 1 personally I think there are 2 choices either Canterbury for the sprint or one of the climbs on the route. If you want to see the riders sign on then go to the start, but one sign on is much like another.
This months pro cycling has a Le Tour guide, covering route riders etc.
Enjoy, get there early and save the drinking for after.
fixedpip
06-25-07, 08:14 AM
London Cycling Campaign has reserved spaces in the viewing areas for people how ride to the prologue.
May be a good way of securing a decent viewing point as well as make the day a little more interesting.
http://www.lcc.org.uk/index.asp?PageID=886
Having just done the 2nd section by bike (Greenwich/Dartford) To actually see the riders I'd suggest Bostal hill (Plumsted) going up.
If you want to see the first accident of the TdeF then Bostall Hill going down. I triggered the 30mph 'slow down' warning sign, there is a sharp right hander at the bottom of the hill