Cyclists’ Guide to the Tour de France

Experiences

Not only is it one of the most high profile cycling events in the world for professional cyclists, it's also a massive hit for spectators. Running from Saturday 3rd July to Sunday 25th July, it will cover over 3,600 km from start to finish.

For cycling enthusiasts travelling to the Tour de France, the journey across the Channel is quicker than you think with Eurotunnel, lasting just 35 minutes. There's no need to fret about getting your bike there either. Eurotunnel run a cycle service with a standard return cost of just £32. The pick-up and drop-off points are the Holiday Inn Express Folkestone and the car park of the Centre d'Affaires in Calais respectively.

If you're not overly familiar with France, but are keen to be a part of the action, please read on for Tour de France facts, tips on where to stay, must-see attractions and ultimate "must-dos" if it is your first time at "le Grande Boucle".

A brief Tour de France history

A journalist with a dream was the initial driving force behind the idea of the Tour de France back in 1903. Géo Lefèvre, as part of a group of sixty fellow cyclists, set out onto the streets of Montgeron, attracting much attention and gathering a significant crowd of spectators. From this point on, the Tour de France was born and France was set under a global sporting spotlight.

Lance Armstrong holds the record for the highest number of Tour de France wins, having won seven consecutive times.

The media

An integral part of the event, taking place an hour before the race starts, is known as the Tour de France publicity caravan. This parade features sponsors of the Tour de France, who throw candy and souvenirs out into the crowd below. More recently sponsors have introduced dancing girls to further increase the popularity of this event. If you are attending for the first time, be sure to get involved.

In order to keep track of the progress of the riders, you need only to look up into the sky for helicopters. Being a highly publicised sporting event, the helicopters, with camera crew in tow, are a good indication of where all the action is happening.

This year's contenders

Last year's winner of the Tour de France (and winner of two previous Tour's) Alberto Contador is still a "maybe" to start this year's race as he is currently fighting a potential ban as the result of Cycling's governing body finding a banned substance in a doping test carried out on the second rest day of last year's tour.

Whilst Contador's participation is still up in the air, it opens up the door for a number of competitiors to claim the famous Yellow Jersey. The bookies early favourite is Andy Schleck (winner of the Young Rider classification in 2008-2010) whilst his older brother Frank Schleck looks to be another close contender.

According to most experts and bookies the brightest hopes for an Englishman to pull on the Yellow Jersey lies with Bradley Wiggins. Wiggins has won a number of gold medals in the Summer Olympics and his highest previous finish in the Tour de France is fourth (2009).

No matter who turns up at the starting line, the race is certain to be exciting from start to finish!

And they're off!

This year the race commences at the Passage du Gois. This will make for quite a spectacle considering the nature of this unique town. It is home to a beautiful isthmus, which joins the mainland to the island of Noirmoutier. The passage periodically floods twice daily at high tide and caused significant controversy when a cyclist fell on its slippery surface during stage two of the 1999 tour. Now that it will be used as the grand start for Tour de France 2011, let's hope things get off to a flying start rather than a falling one.

To get to the Passage du Gois from Calais it takes 6.5 hours by car, covering 658km. Driving back to Calais from the final stage in Paris should take just under 3 hours and covers a distance of 296 km.

While in Vendée it might be a good idea to stopover in Marais Poitevin. This marshland, home to some of the local wildlife, has been noted as a star attraction. Nicknamed "The Green Venice", a trip down the picturesque canals in traditional barques is sure to make for an enjoyable day out. As a cyclist this is the ultimate town to visit, boasting an array of terrains including seaside, forest and marsh tracks.

The first several stages are essentially an opportunity for the "sprinters" to show their strengths and the main contenders for the Green Jersey (awarded to the best sprinter based upon points amassed from top finishes and intermediary sprints) tend to do battle in the first week or so.

These stages can be a lot of fun and are very nervous for the riders as group sprint finishes can cause a great deal of crashes. However, given the speed with which the riders pass, it will be difficult to see much of the riders during these early stages and many veteran visitors to the Tour will wait for the more definitive mountain stages.

Other attractions near Marais Poitevin

You may also be interested in visiting Ile d'Yeu and its castle ruin or the open-air historical theme park whislt you're in the area. Puy du Fou is the second most visited French attraction after Disneyland Paris, featuring sword fights, chariot racing and much more.

There are, of course, some beautiful Blue Flag beaches to visit, with plenty of opportunity to engage in water sports and beach activities such as sand-yachting and kite-surfing. If you're travelling with children, family-friendly resorts include St. Jean-de-Monts and La Tranche-sur-Mer.

It goes without saying that this coastal town serves delicious fresh fish platters, with prices starting from €7.50. Muscadet or a Loire make for a fine wine accompaniment to any fish dish.

Many choose the self-catering option or camping. If you are the ultimate adventurer and outdoor type, camping may be the best way to maximise your countryside experience. For more tips and advice see our guide to camping in France.

The Decisive Stages – The Mountains

It is never easy to predict the "decisive" stage in the Tour de France when the eventual winner "breaks" the rest of the peloton and establishes himself as the leader. Although the General Classification (GC or Overall Competition) for the Yellow Jersey tends to be won by a number of small victories (a matter of seconds over stages lasting for 100+ miles) the days in which the favourites look to establish themselves tend to be on the "mountain stages".

The nice thing about the mountain stages is that it slows down the riders a bit as well. Rather than seeing a blur as the peloton passes through a small village, the mountain stages usually split the riders apart and if you stand in the right place you may be able to get a great photo of your favourite rider, hand them a water bottle, and cheer the riders on as individuals.

In order to watch the mountain stages it is important to arrive on the mountain-side well before the publicity caravans come by as these treacherous roads tend to close in plenty of time to allow the riders and the spectators' safety.

If you have brought your bicycle along and fancy a ride up some of the most gruelling stages of the Tour de France, be our guest, though for many finding a stage that is accessible by car may make more sense. Please be aware that generally you must stop riding your bike an hour or so before the publicity caravan arrives, so please allow plenty of time to get to your viewing spot (or bring a tent and camp out for the full experience)!

As a general rule we would advise arriving to the mountain-top or the part of the climb from where you wish to view the stage at least 3-4 hours before the peloton is due to arrive. This is to ensure you have a view of the road but also will allow you to take in the atmosphere before the race! Some people arrive days or even weeks in advance so depending on what the aim of your holiday is, please be sure to plan accordingly!

Tip: for this year's race many are predicting that Stage 18 from Pinerelo to Galibier – Serre Chevalier will be a definitive stage of the race. The stage comes on the eve of perhaps the most impressive and popular climbs of the Tour de France – the Alpe d'Huez. Although l'Alpe d'Huez is a venue that any Tour fanatic could not imagine missing (for its history), the previous stage (Stage 18) may well have a bigger outcome on the final standings in the GC.

The seasoned veterans may want to sit the famed Alpe out this year in favour of Stage 18, though it's hard to deny that most first-time visitors to the Tour will want to experience L'Alpe d'Huez.

For those planning to watch Stage 19 on the Alpe, we would suggest arriving considerably earlier than suggested for other stages.

Other Mountain Stages of Interest:

• Stage 12: Cugnaux to Luz-Ardiden
• Stage 13: Pau to Lourdes
• Stage 14: Saint-Gaudens to Plateua de Beille
• Stage 17: Gap to Pinerolo

Rest Days and the Individual Time Trial

The "rest days" for the riders and the spectators as well are often not rest days at all but rather transit days from one stage to the next – most years anyhow.

This year, however, during the longest haul between stages the event organisers have not left as much time between the finish of the final individual time trial in Grenoble for spectators to make the five hour drive back to Paris for the final "winners parade" of sorts.

As the individual time trial is the end of the official competition – and it is another great chance for the spectators to cheer along each of the riders – the final "competitive" stage of le Tour in 2011 should be very exciting. The time trial this year is 41km long and is thought to favour a time trial specialist, so look for a new face to take the Stage Victory whilst all the serious GC competitors will be fighting for ever second.

The true enthusiasts know that this is the last real opportunity for the GC to be decided so many of the die-hard Tour followers will opt to stay in Grenoble for the time trial. Although it is a great opportunity to watch the individuals, some of the newer visitors will want to be in Paris to see the eventual winner pull on the winner's jersey (the "Golden Fleece) and lift the winner's trophy high into the air.

It is tradition that no one try to pass the leader of the GC on the final day so that they and their team may enjoy the parade into Paris as a celebration for their hard work – and the riders on the winning team have been known to enjoy a glass of champagne or two on the ride in. Once in Paris, however, the sprinters are back on form and fighting for the final few points in the Green Jersey competition.

A Trip to Paris for the Final Stage

Although the route of the Tour de France varies each year, the final stage has always been hosted by the country's capital, Paris. Climaxing along the Champs-Élysées, the finale has become a long standing French tradition, attracting a magnificent crowd each year without fail. If you wish to be a part of this extraordinary experience, be sure to plan ahead in order to secure a good viewing spot – seats along the finish line can be very pricey, though you are certain to rub shoulders with some cycling royalty.

If you haven't yet visited one of the world's most recognisable monuments, the Eiffel Tower in Paris, then it's well worth visiting while in the capital. The Arc de Triomphe, a devotion to Napoleon Bonaparte, is also a good place to visit while in town. The beautiful Arc with its fabulous view is the perfect location for the perfect Tour photo. For those with a strong appreciation for art, a must-do is the Louvre Museum. The glass pyramid houses the world famous Mona Lisa by Leonardo Da Vinci.

As a break from site-seeing, shopping in one of the world's fashion capitals is an exciting alternative. For some hot tips on where to go, why not try our guide to shopping in Paris?

In terms of places to eat, Cafe Delmas in Place Contrescarpe is a relaxed, stylish and child-friendly café to try. You can rest assured that the food is of a high-quality as the café is a trusted hotspot for locals wanting a tasty Sunday brunch.

If you're looking to spoil yourself with the ultimate 5-star experience during your stay in Paris, you might like to try the Hôtel Royal Saint-Honoré or the Hôtel Pont Royal.

Picture credits: Cyclist group by kei-ai, Cheering spectator by gingertammycat, Speedy cyclist by HayneZ, Devil Guy by Loving Photography, rain cycling by roblisameehan.

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