How do I get information regarding viewing from road side the various stages of this year's Tour including road closures etc?

Would the local Tourism office provide such info so that locals can participate?

If anyone can please advise.

s

Swag -

This site should give you all the info you'll need. Just click on the "etape par etape" link and then zero in on the stage you are interested in. You'll get the detailed route and then just pick your spot.

A bit of advice - find a place to view it that's on a decent uphill stretch. Otherwise, they will zip by so fast if you blink you'll miss the whole thing.

And remember that the advance troops/publicity caravan come through a good hour before the riders. Roads will be closed before then, so you'll need to get there well ahead of time. And getting all that useless free stuff is kind of part of the fun...

-Kevin

quote:

A bit of advice - find a place to view it that's on a decent uphill stretch. Otherwise, they will zip by so fast if you blink you'll miss the whole thing.

How true. A few years ago I chanced upon the Daughine Libéré in Lourmarin, and was told that Lance - then with US Postal - was going to fly through.
We were so excited and like everyone else all my life I wanted to yell: GO POSTAL LANCE !!!
But Lance and les postiers zipped by so fast you could have made me believe it was Sheryl Crowe in drag.

Thanks Kevin for your advice.

I will be in the Dordogne, staying near Bergerac. The only stage suitable is Stage 8 between Figeac and Toulouse. Still quite a drive away but will look into getting there the day before, stay overnight then hunt for a vantage point on the day, bright and early! Wish me luck!!

s

swagman,
Both Figeac and Villefranche de Rouergue are beautiful towns and would make for a wonderful overnight stay.

quote:

a wonderful overnight stay.

Yes, but if my Languedoc hotel-booking experience last weekend is anything to go on (see this thread), the hotels will already be fully booked!

Jonathan

An interactive image of the route has been produced by google. Faces have been blurred.


Google Street View of Tour de France route .

Peter

We shall be driving Papillon to the Col de Galibier on a monday for the wednesday race. Park where we can, but it is running south to north this year so the short side of the mountain is uphill. See this site for a peek.

site 1

or here and wait for the download of photos.

swagman,
Once I had a good meal in this ferme-auberge just outside Figeac. The food (farm-fresh foie gras!) and the view were great. The owner showed me one of the b&b rooms, which looked quite nice too.
The ad is hopelessly long-winded, but the place is worth a try.