Gravemaurice Posted October 27, 2013 Share Posted October 27, 2013 Hi, I posted a while back that we were ordering a new Elddis Autoquest as our first motorhome after years of envious spectating- it should be ready anyday soon (we hope) as we were given a potential mid October delivery schedule. Anyhoo, we followed Le Tour a bit this year (pre-motorhome ownership) and potentially would like to go back again next year with the van and head for some stages possibly the mountains this time. The route for the 2014 Tour has now been announced/published and I was wondering if anyone a) else was planning to head for the hills (or any other stages) or b) had any suggestions for the areas through which the race will pass; 13/ Friday 18 July 2014 - Saint-Étienne > Chamrousse - 200 km 14/ Saturday 19 July 2014 - Grenoble > Risoul - 177 km 15/ Sunday 20 July 2014 - Tallard > Nîmes - 222 km 16/ Tuesday 22 July 2014 - Carcassonne > Bagnères-de-Luchon - 237 km 17/ Wednesday 23 July 2014 - (Spainish stage) Saint-Gaudens > Saint-Lary-Soulan - Pla d'Adet - 125 km 18/ Thursday 24 July 2014 - Pau > Hautacam - 145 km I hope there are some others out there who have an eye on next years tour and it would be great to get any help or advice on these areas/regions. Thanks in very much in advance for any advice!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Jones Posted October 27, 2013 Share Posted October 27, 2013 Hi Maurice We'll be back in the UK by the time the 2014 Tour starts, after 3 weeks in France (never mind, we can watch it near Chelmsford!). I'll have a look at the map tomorrow and see if I can make any specific suggestions, but from previous visits: 1) you're right to go for the mountains - the race goes slower, and the peloton is more spread out, so you can actually identify and cheer individual riders (as we did for Wiggo and Cav in 2012!). 2) as a general principle, get to the top of a hill the previous lunchtime, then drive down the route the riders will be climbing, until you find a suitable space by the roadside. Park, level up, switch on the fridge, and put out your chairs, ideally just a couple of feet from the road (any further back and someone else will park in between you and the road!). Then just sit outside with your favourite tipple and welcome the camping-caristes of all nationalities who'll gradually join you during the afternoon. Have fun! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starvin marvin Posted October 28, 2013 Share Posted October 28, 2013 Agreed, go for at least a cat3 climb, then move off as soon as the road reopens and leapfrog at least a stage to get onto another climb. Timetrials are also as these last all day and lots of vans stop overnight in various towns or villages along the route. Enjoy, we're not going next year but will be there for 2015 fingers crossed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yeti Posted October 29, 2013 Share Posted October 29, 2013 We are going to Harrogate to watch t'Tour! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gravemaurice Posted October 29, 2013 Author Share Posted October 29, 2013 Thanks for the tips - any advice is always helpfull. Prior to us going last year I got great advice on a cycling forum so value the experience of others who have been or are even going for their first time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mac111051 Posted October 30, 2013 Share Posted October 30, 2013 Will they be bringing the caravan over to England, just wonder what that will look like going round the M25 and up the M1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michele Posted October 30, 2013 Share Posted October 30, 2013 Apparently they will come right past the front door . Yipee lucky us avid tour followers in this house ..What Caravan are you talking about ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sshortcircuit Posted October 30, 2013 Share Posted October 30, 2013 Preceding the cyclists is a procession of sponsor throwing out balloons, t shirts, hats etc and this is called 'the caravan' and is a spectacle on it's own. Can take about 15/20 minutes to pass and then when the tour comes its just 'whoosh' and they have gone. Have parked at roadside for two tours and it was a case of park where you can. Goodness nows how the UK councils are going to accept this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michele Posted October 30, 2013 Share Posted October 30, 2013 Ah brilliant .Ok best to get on our bikes then and go find this caravan with a bit of luck we may even get a freebee T shirt , that would be nice Hubby & son would love that . Thanks . :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gravemaurice Posted October 30, 2013 Author Share Posted October 30, 2013 If you check the detailed official timetable/route issued a month before the race it tells you what times the caravan and peleton will pass points along each stage, road by road, depending on the average pace. In France people came out purely for the caravan. It just totally ramps up the atmosphere and is fairly spread out and itself can take half an hour to pass. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smifee Posted October 30, 2013 Share Posted October 30, 2013 I went this year to Le Col de Pailheres in the Pyrenees. Got there 6 days before the race was due and the next day all the decent roadside spots were taken. Later arrivals were either pitching on inclines, right on the edge of a sheer drop.or on the huge flat area, away from the road, at the top of the Col. Three days before the race Gendarme patrols began checking the route and moving those they considered to be a problem and continued the patrols until the arrival of the race. Local authority dished out rubbish sacks and constructed dumps for the sacks. The day before the race our little 'village' had to repel boarders when several car loads of Spaniards arrived intending to pitch their tents in front of the Motorhomes when anyone took their chairs inside. This was prevented by taping off the area. They pitched their tents on a slope some distance away but were very noisy. A joint Gendarme and Spanish Guarda Civil patrol were checking the route that day and stopped at our 'village' for about 20 minutes but had left before the invasion. If you want to get lots of the freebies from the caravan you need to wave and shout to those lobbing the stuff out. It's mostly tat like key rings or wrist bands but the official Tour merchandise vans, which arrive ahead of and following the caravan, sell t-shirts, hats etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AliB Posted October 31, 2013 Share Posted October 31, 2013 The publicity caravan should definitely not be missed. I used to love the Michelin men riding motorcycles no-handed. They don't seem to have them now. I guess they all fell off. Still it must be good job for student to drive a go-cart disguised as a Vittel bottle around France. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mac111051 Posted October 31, 2013 Share Posted October 31, 2013 This will give you some idea what it,s like Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Jones Posted October 31, 2013 Share Posted October 31, 2013 michele - 2013-10-30 5:37 PM Apparently they will come right past the front door . Yipee lucky us avid tour followers in this house ..What Caravan are you talking about ? Can we come and park on your drive then Michele? I'm not TOO far away, but wild-camping by the course is part of the tradition! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michele Posted October 31, 2013 Share Posted October 31, 2013 Why not Tony why not x :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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