Professional Cycling For the Fans - TDF Travel Question: Pyrenees 2012

I am going to my first Tour next summer and want to catch the Pyrenees.

When will the full course be announced?

Given that the full course isn't announced yet, what is my best timing bet for booking a week long trip? Is next year definitely counterclockwise (Alps first, Pyrenees second)?

Thanks in advance...

The route is announced in the last week of October. Can't help you with whether it is Alps or Pyrenees first.

The urban legend is they always run it counter-clockwise in odd years and clockwise in even years - alternating back and forth (so if for some reason they circulate the same way as a prior year, it would be assumed the next would continue the sequence of alternating CW and CCW).

So if you wanted to guestimate, this year was CCW so next should be CW. And as you know the Depature is Liege Belgium, fair bet they won't traverse middle France and hit the Spainish side first, so I'm willing to bet the Alps will come first with the Pyrenees in the last week.

Now, if you book based on my post, and I'm wrong, I disclaim any liability and this is not an offer of trip insurance ...

But you'd be pretty set going for the weekend prior to the finish.

The official route announcement is on 18th October.

The start is in Liege, Belgium and the second stage starts in Vise, Belgium. It's hard to see that the race would run anti clockwise again, as they would need either some long stages, or long transfers toget down to the Pyrenees by the end of the first week or so.

There are also strong rumors that the tour will visit Switzerland next year, which is logistically difficult if the race runs anti clockwise (it would have to visit Italy again to do this, which would be unlikely given it was there this year).

There is a website called velowire where the blogger does a MASSIVE amount of research into the tour route. Hs accuracy rate is phenomenal.

http://www.velowire.com/article/509/en/tour-de-france-2012---rumours-on-the-race-course-and-stage-cities-.html

I think you'd be pretty safe in relying on the race going through the Pyrenees In the last week. If the guy in the above mentioned blog is right, it's hard to see how they I'll use the 'legendary' climbs of the tour next year (Galibier, ADH, Tourmalet).

I went to the tour this year, both in the Pyrenees and the alps. I enjoyed the Pyrenees better. The geography just makes it easier to see the tour on multiple days, as well as getting around the area, especially if you're looking to do some riding as well.

Enjoy it!!, it's an amazing experience!

It's hard to see that the race would run anti clockwise again <-- this depends of what andy Shreck needs to win the tour. :P