General Cycling Discussion - Tour De France 2011

Hello All,

I am new to this forum and although I don't cycle any more I used to cycle/race regularly and am still an avid fan.

I will be in France through July and would like to see one leg of this years tour. Based on my travel schedule I am hoping to catch the race from Saint Paul Trois Chateaux to Gap on July 19.

Since I've never been to the Tour (or France), I'm trying to determine the best place to hang out and watch the race.
- I realize that things will vary depending on where I staion myself, however is it best to be at the start of the race, the finish line or along the course at a specific point

The following link outlines the course details so any advice would be appreciated.

Thank you.

If it had been a real mountain stage I would have said somewhere along the route probably on a hairpin bend but the stage you've picked they will be travelling at a fair speed.

If it were me I'd watch the finish in Gap and stay to see the departure the following day. Accomodation will be a problem. Maybe if you stayed a bit out of town and cycled in.

Yes, I would have also preferred a Mountain stage and was hoping to get to Luz Ardiden or Alp Dhuez. Unfortunately timing, does not allow it.

Thanks for replying

If I were to go, it is the finish I'd love to see. So many people in such a wonderful setting. I think the experience would last longer as well

+1 for the finish line, get there early to get your spot and enjoy all the pre-finish activities and publicity parade

Somewhere were there's a climb would be ideal, as they'd be riding by 'slow enough' (relative term!) so you'd actual see the individual riders. Free souvenier suggestion: If you can get near the start of a climb, it'll be easy to pick up some free water bottles; all the riders toss their bottles off the roadside before heading up the mountain to reduce weight. My brother and his wife have a few from the late 1980s.

Thanks for all of the great suggestions.