Question about the Champs Elysees...
 

Has anyone seen the peloton race on the Champs Elysees in person?

Just read this editorial, and got to thinking about the Champs Elysees.

If you have seen it, what did you think?

I've always wanted to visit France anyway... :p

Too busy to watch on the Champs Elysees. I've been three times, and best place to watch was on the Galibier. Go early and go high.

Oh, and the Tour of Flanders is even more fun to watch than the Tour. If you have a car or even better a scooter you can see the riders more than once. It's worth bringing your bike to ride up the cobblestone climbs as fast as you can - and then see how fast the pros do it.

I was there in 1975, which was the first year they started the finishes in Paris (I was racing in Europe at the time and living in Belgium). Before that they finished in Vincennes at the velodrome.

I've seen the finale there twice, 2001 and 2005. 2001 was good, by 2005 the place was a mad house. It will be a long time till I do it again. You have to get there at about 8 to 8:30 to secure a good spot and then make sure you have a buddy to hold it when you go try to find a loo. This also involves much elbowing and shoving to get back to your spot.

Mountain stages are way better. You hang out on the side of the road, drink some beer and wine, party with a bunch of different nationalities, then you get to ride down. Its way better.

Only problem is that they go by so fast and you only see them once.

I went in '03. I got there at about 8:00 AM, at the farthest point down (towards Concorde) that the general public can go. This way you get to watch the whole stage on the megatron they have set up right next to you for the VIP bleachers. Then you get to see the award ceremony. And the peloton goes by 10 times. I thought it was pretty cool.

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