Road Cycling - 2004 Tour de France-viewing it live

I was wondering if anyone has some insight into viewing the Tour de France live.

I am going to France in July and plan on watching the Alpe d'Huez uphill TT stage and the final stage in Paris on the famous Champs Elysee. I don't know the best viewing point for either stage and if someone can give me some insight it would be much appreciated. I need to know specifically for Alpe d'Huez how early I would need to get there by car before the roads are closed and where I can leave my car. Also, any suggestions on the best place to watch from would be much appreicated. I am staying in Grenoble and plan on driving there but if there is a better way to get up the moutain from the base of the climb please let me know, especially if that would be less of a hassle.

As for the Paris stage, does anyone know where they set up the large screens from and how early I would need to get there to secure a spot.

Thank you in advance,

Jeff

EuroSport carries the race but not in the US.. Tour de france on EuroSport.com (http://www.eurosport.com/home/pages/V3/L0/S18/E6083/sport_Lng0_Spo18_Evt6083.shtml)..

Alpe d'Huez: Get there two or three days early.

I was wondering if anyone has some insight into viewing the Tour de France live.

I am going to France in July and plan on watching the Alpe d'Huez uphill TT stage and the final stage in Paris on the famous Champs Elysee. I don't know the best viewing point for either stage and if someone can give me some insight it would be much appreciated. I need to know specifically for Alpe d'Huez how early I would need to get there by car before the roads are closed and where I can leave my car. Also, any suggestions on the best place to watch from would be much appreicated. I am staying in Grenoble and plan on driving there but if there is a better way to get up the moutain from the base of the climb please let me know, especially if that would be less of a hassle.

As for the Paris stage, does anyone know where they set up the large screens from and how early I would need to get there to secure a spot.

Thank you in advance,

Jeff

I have no answers to your questions. Sorry. But I just wanted to let you know that if you need someone to carry baggage, or do otherwise menial tasks in return for being taken along, then I'm your man! You lucky bugger!

I was wondering if anyone has some insight into viewing the Tour de France live.

I am going to France in July and plan on watching the Alpe d'Huez uphill TT stage and the final stage in Paris on the famous Champs Elysee. I don't know the best viewing point for either stage and if someone can give me some insight it would be much appreciated. I need to know specifically for Alpe d'Huez how early I would need to get there by car before the roads are closed and where I can leave my car. Also, any suggestions on the best place to watch from would be much appreicated. I am staying in Grenoble and plan on driving there but if there is a better way to get up the moutain from the base of the climb please let me know, especially if that would be less of a hassle.

As for the Paris stage, does anyone know where they set up the large screens from and how early I would need to get there to secure a spot.

Thank you in advance,

Jeff
Viewing a time trial is a bit different than watching a massed start stage. No matter where you stand, the bicyclists (generally speaking) are going to be passing by you one by one. In spite of that, most of the crazy viewers are going to up at the top of Alp d'Huez, running alongside the racers and being a basic pain in the ass. Find yourself, very early, a place to stand, not too far up the road, preferably in some shade, in a curve (there are plenty those along the stretch) and bring a picnic. If I remember correctly, there are a number of places to park near Bourg d'Oisan. There will most surely be police directing the traffic, though you'll want to park your car, if you have one, very early in the morning, to get a spot. I'd be willing to bet that the hotels are already booked up for that stage. Do you have a tent, or something?

I have no advice for the final stage. My wife and I have always said we'd be there for the final in the case that our son Sven ever finishes the race, however, he hasn't had much luck with the Tour de Fance.

c.j.monty

Thank you very much for the reply! The responses haven't been too fruitful other than yours. My girlfriend and I are staying in Grenoble instead of Alpe D'Huez or Bourg D'Oisans since those places where apparently booked several months ago.

Your son isn't Sven Montgomery from Switzerland who rides on Fassa Bortolo is it? If it is WOW!

Anyways Thanks again!!!

Cheers,

Jeff

As for the Paris stage, does anyone know where they set up the large screens from and how early I would need to get there to secure a spot.

IIRC, the big screens are essentially set up for the benefit of viewers in the posh VIP sections around the finish line and at Place de la Concorde. Everyone else will have to crane and strain to get a glimpse.

If you want to be anywhere on the Champs, I would get there as early as possible. Last year, there were people encamped along the barriers when we rode by in the Grand Randonee early in the morning, and by the time we got there ourselves around lunchtime, the crowds were already five or six deep.

ADH is going to be a zoo this year. Because it's a time trial, the mountain will be shut down for most of the day. And, because it's ADH and a very important stage, I've heard they are expecting 500,00-750,000 people on the mountain. After the stage, it would not be surprising for it to take you 8-12 hours to get back to Grenoble. So, bring a pack with plenty of food, water, and sunscreen.

Can't reply to the 'Huez site..But I saw the Tour pass in two seperate cities. A little town outside of Vitre, on the Loire..And another year in the center of Toulouse.
Of course Toulouse had gobs of people about and we had a downtown hotel. We just walked to the park where they all passed us by.
As to VItre....We were in a rural area outside of town. Lots of space, but all the French still show up at any town center in mass. They were like 2-3 people thick lining the street. people started showing up like an hour before the scheduled passing of the riders.
Probably easiest if you line up outside of an urban area, if you want to avoid the crowds...What we were doing. OUr Loire bike toured dove-tailed with the passing of the TDF...Since we were all touring on our bikes, had no parking problems.
The Huez is so crowded, think I would bike ahead and be waiting for them and not have to worry about a car. You are taking a bike?
Oh, yes...Contact the Syndicat d' Initiative. Tourist office of the area you are visiting..They will give you great advice as to where to see the tour..Often they are on line.

i was wondering about alpe d'huez myself. could anybody suggest when one should arrive there to get a good spot with an rv?? thinking about renting an rv and "hopping" the tour. anybody ever done this without a tour company?

as for paris. we went last year - pretty amazing.
few suggestions: bring some comfy camping chairs, cooler and an umbrella. we got there around 9.30am and only got a "second row" seat in a fairly good spot near the finish. problem was that we had no chairs and it had rained the day before and the entire morning, so no way to sit on the grass. had to buy expensive french umbrellas because it would not stop raining. after all it was great, but if i do it again, comfy chairs and be there at 8am to get a front seat.

mk

this would be my suggestion (from someone who has attended the TdF before both in mountain top finish stages and others):

Alpe d'huez: get there the morning before race day (or the afternoon 2 days before). ride your car up the climb and scope out the gradients of the climb. you will see some to be steeper than others. you will also be able to mark wide viewing spots and other indications of where you might like to be. once you have made the entire climb in your vehicle, mark your area of where you want to be. most RVs will be showing up the afternoon (2 days before race) or the morning before race day. if you plan to use an RV, find your spot and park. bring plenty of food and entertainment and your flag (flags are a good way for others from your country to spot you and chat with you). if you are only in a car and staying at a hotel you will need to mark your spot with paint or other visible cues. chances are you will not find any spot for your car come race morning. your best bet is to park and stay overnight in the car...or drive to the base of the climb that morning and walk up to your spot (remember, hundreds of others will be waiting there in your spot at that time).

RV hopping is great. you can get the race route from the website. once you get to france you will want to buy several local department maps that show you all the roads so you know how to pass the tour route and get ahead for your next viewing.

for the paris finish i also agree with getting there very early in the morning of race day. most "good" spots will be chosen and attended by 9:00am again, walk along the champs elysee the afternoon before the race. you will see the tour company setting up for the tour and where they will be planting the big screen. you can also discover your spot for best viewing. mark your spot and return there before 9:00am. bring sun screen, weather protection, reading material, food and water, chairs...

be aware that as the race gets closer, if you are on the road and in first position and there are people 3-5 deep behind you...if you give them an inch they will take it and more to move up into your position. everyone wants to be right on the road. my other adive: don't get caught up in all the picture taking...enjoy the moment as much as you can. scream and jump up and down. it passes by so fast. there will be plenty of pictures to see in magazines, internet, and on OLN to view when you get home. live the moment while you are there!

jeff
atlanta, ga

Thank you very much for the reply! The responses haven't been too fruitful other than yours. My girlfriend and I are staying in Grenoble instead of Alpe D'Huez or Bourg D'Oisans since those places where apparently booked several months ago.

Your son isn't Sven Montgomery from Switzerland who rides on Fassa Bortolo is it? If it is WOW!

Anyways Thanks again!!!

Cheers,

Jeff
Sven is now riding for Gerolsteiner. Check out < cyclingnews.com> for Sven's latest exploits in the Giro d'Italia. He ain't too bad! But as Yogi Bera once said, "It ain't over until it's over."

Jerry Montgomery :)

Cheers for the tips, just yesterday organised a week in Paris with my brother - Monday to Sunday, the last week of the tour. Yay! First time out of the country in my life too...

i just want to go on record and say i hate you!!!!! :p




just kidding to see the tour in person i am sure will be an awsome thing. have fun and enjoy. be safe the fans look crazy over there :eek:

I've seen a number of good tips to view the Alp d'Huez time trial. Just thought I'd add another thought resulting from a recent article I read in the German "TOUR" magazine. Last year on the Alp d'Huez there were nearly 900,000!!!! people strung out along the stretch up the mountain. This year the count will most certainly be over the million mark. Be forwarned! Get there early. Just how early is anybody's guess.

Jerry Montgomery



this would be my suggestion (from someone who has attended the TdF before both in mountain top finish stages and others):

Alpe d'huez: get there the morning before race day (or the afternoon 2 days before). ride your car up the climb and scope out the gradients of the climb. you will see some to be steeper than others. you will also be able to mark wide viewing spots and other indications of where you might like to be. once you have made the entire climb in your vehicle, mark your area of where you want to be. most RVs will be showing up the afternoon (2 days before race) or the morning before race day. if you plan to use an RV, find your spot and park. bring plenty of food and entertainment and your flag (flags are a good way for others from your country to spot you and chat with you). if you are only in a car and staying at a hotel you will need to mark your spot with paint or other visible cues. chances are you will not find any spot for your car come race morning. your best bet is to park and stay overnight in the car...or drive to the base of the climb that morning and walk up to your spot (remember, hundreds of others will be waiting there in your spot at that time).

RV hopping is great. you can get the race route from the website. once you get to france you will want to buy several local department maps that show you all the roads so you know how to pass the tour route and get ahead for your next viewing.

for the paris finish i also agree with getting there very early in the morning of race day. most "good" spots will be chosen and attended by 9:00am again, walk along the champs elysee the afternoon before the race. you will see the tour company setting up for the tour and where they will be planting the big screen. you can also discover your spot for best viewing. mark your spot and return there before 9:00am. bring sun screen, weather protection, reading material, food and water, chairs...

be aware that as the race gets closer, if you are on the road and in first position and there are people 3-5 deep behind you...if you give them an inch they will take it and more to move up into your position. everyone wants to be right on the road. my other adive: don't get caught up in all the picture taking...enjoy the moment as much as you can. scream and jump up and down. it passes by so fast. there will be plenty of pictures to see in magazines, internet, and on OLN to view when you get home. live the moment while you are there!

jeff
atlanta, ga

They're going to be shuttling people to Alp d'Huez. In other words, park and ride to the climb. That's the only way to go.

I live up here (ADH) and last year there were apparently 600,000 and this over there are expecting over a million! The road from Vizille will be closed from 6AM but there are fears it may be earlier, and from Briançon at the barrage de chambon (to come the back way up via the col de sarrene) it will close at 8 AM. These times are for cyclists as well as cars. There is the Villard option and the Vaujany cable car which will be running from 6.30AM if the main drag via Bourg is really bad.

I do have studios available for that period if anyone is interested. I've found a few owners prepared to rent for a couple of days, prices work out if the appartment is filled to capacity at about 75euros a night each. If anyone is interested then give me a shout; sarahdarling80@hotmail.com or if someone just wants a little advice.

Oh, I'm setting up a BBQ and Bar in front of my place - between bends 2 and 1 with eurosport, fantastic view (just on the road but slightly elevated look down over the bends to Huez village) resonable prices and a way of meeting people from all over. it will take place the evening 20th and all day 21st. Everyone welcome!!!!

Should add the buses will be running apperently every minute from Grenoble ( they haven't said where from yet) but only taking people to Bourg, and the only little problem with bourg is at the bottom the road has very high stone walls on one side so there is less room for people as most of them are impossible to climb, towards to top the land opens out and there are huge flattish fields which can hold a lot more people.