Tour de France advice sought…..

[Where to next?]

Hi all,

We’re heading to France in July to follow the Tour and would be keen to hear any advice from fellow Funsters.

I’ve read that 10,000 motorhomes follow the tour so I think we’ll need to have some plans rather than just turning up and hoping we’ll be able to park and spectate. Especially if we want to spectate in the most popular areas such as the top of the hill climbs or at the finish.

I’m therefore considering if we’d be better watching every other stage thus allowing to watch on day 1 then get ahead during day 2 and watch again on day 3 etc.

We’ve not taken the MH to France yet but from reading lots of the threads here, I’ve joined Passion which we’ll look to use along with local aires. I also believe that fields are opened up along the course allowing motorhomes to park whilst spectating.

Still conducting research and any advice based on your experiences would be most helpful.

 

[63720]

Be there early, if it's a popular location, preferably 7-10 days early. We're hoping to get to the Alps all being well.

 

[suavecarve]

It very much depends upon what you want to see, even in the mountain stages such as Alpe D'Huez, it is entirely plausible to get there in the morning and see the race, but this will be in the valley not on the numbered turns and then the 7-10 days for turn number 7 (Dutch) will be necessary.
More or less each stage will have a long flat part at some point where you can park up late and escape early (or stay the night) just make sure your wheels are off the road surface.
Enjoy

 

[Sheddy]

This year on Bastille Day they are on L' Alpe d'Huez which will be a key stage, we were there several years ago on a stage when they climbed it twice !
We were there 10 days beforehand, it was packed a week before the stage but folk still managed to "squeeze in" the day before. The camaraderie with the motorhome folk was great, a bit noisy at night with some of the partying, but controlled well by the Local & National Police. The link shows where we parked, it is a very short section of dual carriageway, there is a bus stop, and a public toilet in the chalet nearby which was opened as a bar the day before the stage. We parked, as was required facing down hill on the up hill side of the road and used large ramps to get level. 1000L Elsan containers were available nearby as was fresh water.
We had the 'toad' which allowed us to get about most days, but would have enjoyed it just as much without it.
https://earth.app.goo.gl/?apn=com.g...cq9-TjkpAEQtoe-CPikpAGTo9pHjXqee_IVCo_teom-m_

 

[Orion]

……. just make sure your wheels are off the road surface.

Ramps or levelling systems okay then?

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[suavecarve]

Ramps or levelling systems okay then?

That would be posh in a couple of places we stayed overnight !
I suppose if you got there early there might be enough room to back up onto ramps !

I would be tempted to try something different on each of the days, flat part, descent, cat 4 climb, finish, start, major climb, sprint, minor mountain points, etc

 

[Where to next?]

Be there early, if it's a popular location, preferably 7-10 days early. We're hoping to get to the Alps all being well.

Thanks SS. Hadn’t anticipated 7-10 days before! But we’d rather see a fantastic few stages than a largely compromised 15 or so. Getting to a popular stage early seems to be the key….

 

[Where to next?]

This year on Bastille Day they are on L' Alpe d'Huez which will be a key stage, we were there several years ago on a stage when they climbed it twice !
We were there 10 days beforehand, it was packed a week before the stage but folk still managed to "squeeze in" the day before. The camaraderie with the motorhome folk was great, a bit noisy at night with some of the partying, but controlled well by the Local & National Police. The link shows where we parked, it is a very short section of dual carriageway, there is a bus stop, and a public toilet in the chalet nearby which was opened as a bar the day before the stage. We parked, as was required facing down hill on the up hill side of the road and used large ramps to get level. 1000L Elsan containers were available nearby as was fresh water.
We had the 'toad' which allowed us to get about most days, but would have enjoyed it just as much without it.
https://earth.app.goo.gl/?apn=com.google.earth&isi=293622097&ius=googleearth&link=https://earth.google.com/web/search/L%27Alpe+d%27Huez,+Huez,+Is%c3%a8re,+France/@45.08609412,6.05928457,1581.21312577a,190.93045791d,35y,327.69485616h,0t,0r/data=CigiJgokCW5cq9-TjkpAEQtoe-CPikpAGTo9pHjXqee_IVCo_teom-m_


View attachment 611633

Thanks Sheddy. Definitely want to watch Alpe d’Huez so will plan to get there early. I’ve read about the parties in the evenings building up to the stage along with Dutch corner 7 so looking forward to that! Good to hear there are facilities nearby as we don’t want to give up our space whilst servicing the MH. Will be taking a scooter and road bikes so will rely on them for moving around rather than the MH. Not sure you could get the MH out anyway by the look of your photo!

 

[Where to next?]

That would be posh in a couple of places we stayed overnight !
I suppose if you got there early there might be enough room to back up onto ramps !

I would be tempted to try something different on each of the days, flat part, descent, cat 4 climb, finish, start, major climb, sprint, minor mountain points, etc

Good call. Mix it up a bit with some stages easier to access on the day than others. Thanks.

 

[Riverbankannie]

We went to the Alp D’Huez stage some years ago with friends, but they had a small camper, no loo, so wanted a site. We booked a year in advance and had to pay for a week. We spent the days leading up to the stage travelling around and driving to the summits!
Other times, not being so organised, we have turned up to sprint stages in the late afternoon and asked permission of local businesses with large forecourt or driveway, to stay overnight.
You will have fun I am sure and, as you have already found out, better to target some stages. Take plenty of flags and something to make a noise with and chalk for the road - I forgot the chalk one year and had to make do with Vim from the supermarket but that was a mistake !
Do interact with the locals as well as the followers. In one town we got our chairs and table ready in a space just off the road which turned out to be the end of someones driveway (the can was in a side road), the owners were very happy to see us there and brought down their dining chairs to join us. They had a little granddaughter so we all had fun collecting the freebies from the Caravan for her.

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[Rollingwheels]

Hi we had a house in the town at the foot of Alpe D’uez we used to walk up to turn 4 and if you stand on the rocks you can look down and see them along the valley on the approach with the helicopters and police and film crews then watch them up the first few turns, this part is quite steep and it is where anyone who fancies their chances usually makes a break for it, if you need I can give you a spot that is about
1km from the town, also it takes until about 9pm for the mountain to clear, we used to book a restaurant in the town and spend a great evening watching all pass by

 

[colyboy]

Suggest you buy the official TDF race programme which normally comes available in May in Smiths. It’s a great race programme gives you the full details of each stage, km x km and also gives you approx time they will be passing minute x minute. Buy the the yellow boxed race programme which I will understand will be priced £10 ish. If you go on line and put in Tour de France race programme it gives quite a bit of useful info. We are avid TDF follows and will be there this year. We normally try to get on the mountains at least two days prior, it’s a brilliant atmosphere. When parking up anywhere on the route the police will say nothing as long as your wheels are off the tarmac. I have a photo some where of our “fun” flag showing right across the TV screen. Hope to meet up with fellow funsters at the TDF.

COLYBOY

 

[colyboy]

TDF MHF Flag

 

[colyboy]

Re Alpe D’uez. When we were there last time several farmers opened up their fields the day before for parking and staying overnight 10€ ish!

colyboy

 

[Neil S]

We were up the Col’d’ Tourmalet a full 4 days before the stage
And there we’re many parked up when we arrived
We carried extra 50 litres of water plus the 130 in the main tank and a spare cassette .
Plus plenty of beer and food
Watched the TDF on Eurosport every day via satellite to keep up with results of each stage .
You need to be at the popular mountain stages early to get a decent parking spot

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[Where to next?]

Hi all. Thanks for some really useful feedback. Our list of things to take is growing! Programme, extra water, flag, spare cassette, chalk, some form of fancy dress () and arrive early for the popular stages!

I’ll keep my eyes open for Funster flags when we’re there!

 

[Jamesh]

You could park at the bottom and cycle up early doors??

I heard of someone parking up in thier MH as above and waiting for the race to arrive but needed a pee desperately so relieved himself however the peleton passed as he was taking his pee!!

 

[Where to next?]

You could park at the bottom and cycle up early doors??

I heard of someone parking up in thier MH as above and waiting for the race to arrive but needed a pee desperately so relieved himself however the peleton passed as he was taking his pee!!

That was on our minds but not sure if we could carry all of our supplies to the top!

 

[Jenben]

For a historic mountain stage you need to be there quite a few days before and, to be quite honest, it can be boring waiting .

We have been to quite a few stages over the years , the less ‘historic’ mountain stages you can often get there the day before.

If you pick a stage that is a smaller ski resort it’s very easy to park and so it’s well worth reviewing the race route and seeing what little resorts are on it .

Don’t bother with the flat stages as they whizz past so quickly you will be very disappointed.

We normally just park at the road side but surprised ourselves the other year by being able to get a campsite at Grand Bornand for a good price .