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Paris cafe/bar to watch Tour de France stage

Paris cafe/bar to watch Tour de France stage

Old Jul 4th, 2010, 07:24 PM
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Paris cafe/bar to watch Tour de France stage

Going to France next Saturday and will be following the Tour de France. All hotel arrangements have been made and just working on last minute details. After spending several days in the Pyrenees and the epic finish on the Tourmalet, we will be taking a train to Paris on Saturday, July 24 and want to make sure we see the time trial in Bordeaux. Any recommendations on a great location (bar, cafe, some place with big screen TVs) for watching the stage that very well could determine the victor's ride into Paris on Sunday. We are avid cycling fans!
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Old Jul 4th, 2010, 11:12 PM
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Just about all big cafés now have big flat screen TV or a video projector, and plenty will be showing the Tour de France, so just go to wherever is convenient to where you will be. Most people who are interested will be watching TV at home anyway. Don't expect people to jump and shout like at a football game.
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Old Jul 5th, 2010, 12:09 AM
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Hi Tammylouky, You are one of the few Fodorites who I know will be at the finish on the Champs Elysees together with myself & DH!
We are thinking of taking the RER B to Longjumeau mid-morning on Sunday just to see what the festivities are like there for the start of the last stage. It's only a thought at this moment as the last thing we want is to be delayed and not get back to the Champs on time.
The other option could be to take a casual train ride out to Longjumeau on Saturday afternoon just to have a look and maybe watch the time trial there? They are bound to have a big screens up in several places. If we don't do either we will probably be at a sports cafe called 'The Frog & British Library' at 114 Avenue De France. Metro nearby is Bibliotheque F.Mitterand near Rue de Tolbiac.
Its in the 13th which is good as we can then go for a wonderful Chinese dinner at La Lune afterwards.
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Old Jul 5th, 2010, 07:25 AM
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Hey tod, we will definitely be on the Champs for the finish, hopefully about 8am on Sunday! If all goes as planned we will be at stages 9,13,14,15,16,17 with a break in between to ride Alp d'huez and Mt. Ventoux. Thank you for the recommendation for the 'The Frog & British Library', that sounds like a great place for the Saturday time trial and a perfect location since we are staying near the Censier. Maybe we will see you there, that would be fun!!!
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Old Jul 5th, 2010, 08:03 AM
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I'll be in Paris for the finish on the Champs also - my first trip to France and also wondering where's the best place to watch the final stage??? I'm excited for it and don't care about the crowds, just want to make sure we can see a bit of the colorful blur and the awards ceremony.

I'll be riding Alpe d'Huez too on 7/19 before we head up to Paris - when will you be there?
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Old Jul 5th, 2010, 08:42 AM
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Tammylouky & Jaywarren - On Sunday afternoon near the time of the arrival of the riders, we will most probaby be around Quai des Tuilleries but I haven't looked at the exact route the riders take when coming onto the Champs for their final laps.
I just remember from last year and previous years seeing them pass by time and again with the Seine on one side.

If we get to the Frog & British Library I will wear a small South African flag(pin) on my shirt! BTW, we don't ride bikes but just love the Tour.
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Old Jul 5th, 2010, 09:30 AM
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Hey Jaywarren, we'll be on Alpe d'Huez 7/12. I've never been to the finish, but my BF and friends we'll be meeting up with have been. We're hoping to get as close to the Place de la Concorde as possible. I know the crowds are going to be HUGE. Our plan is to buy some lawn chairs or something when we get to Paris Saturday.

Hope to see you tod and Jaywarren! I'll plan on wearing my white shirt with I heart cycling (big red heart and a pic of a biker).
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Old Jul 5th, 2010, 09:55 AM
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Here is the link for the Frog & British Library with all their information, like opening times etc.
http://www.placesinfrance.com/the_fr...brary_bar.html

You can also walk around the area you are staying in/ or anywhere else in Paris for that matter by going to:
http://tinyurl.com/c9rapm
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Old Jul 5th, 2010, 09:55 AM
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Not sure if any of you are expecting this, but you cannot see the riders on the Champs-Elysees from sitting at any cafe. There are crowds lining the sidewalk several people deep that prevent that. There is kind of one exception, the upper floor of the McDonalds is a perfect watching spot, and there are some tables near the windows. I have no idea how you get one of those. Some people who work in those buildings around there can get views from upper floors, also--Andersen Consulting used to have a building on the Champs, I remember.
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Old Jul 5th, 2010, 10:26 AM
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Thanks Christina, but I knew there would be no way we would be able to see the riders from a cafe. I'm expecting the crowds to be AT LEAST 4-5 deep, if not 10 plus! We can't wait!!!
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Old Jul 5th, 2010, 11:00 AM
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One time I did see it I was near Tuileries, got there early and stood for 3 or 4 hours. At the time, I did not know what was happening, just that people were lining up, so I did too!

I might plan on being in the area early, tour around and check back regularly to see when crowds start building then pick a spot.
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Old Jul 5th, 2010, 11:05 AM
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tammylouky-are you renting bikes in Bourg d'Oisans or will you have your own? I'm told renting a road bike for a day from http://www.cyclesetsports.com/ shouldn't be a problem on a Monday but I'm only there for 36hours and want to be as sure as I can. Any insight?
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Old Jul 5th, 2010, 11:21 AM
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My own viewing area is the "Louvre-Seine" corner inside the Tuileries. The Tuileries do not get very crowded because most people can't figure out how to get in (you can't cross the street, and the metro stations close quite early). It's really quite simple, just come from the Louvre and walk over the Seine-Rivoli tunnel that the riders will be going through.

Plenty of time for a lovely picnic in the gardens, because the cyclists won't arrive before 15:30. It's best to have a radio with you to listen to the arrival information, but all you really need to do is listen (and watch) for the helicopters. When the helicopters arrive, the Tour is not far behind.

Maybe we'll see each other if it isn't raining. (Otherwise, I am perfectly happy to watch it on television at home)
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Old Jul 5th, 2010, 01:22 PM
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jaywarren-we are bringing our bikes. I did look into renting a bike in Mt. Ventoux, but they didn't have my size (I have a very small bike frame). But, I would go ahead and reserve a bike as soon as possible. I seem to recall a big amateur race taking place in July, but not sure where, and a lot of bikes are already rented out. I'm guessing the bike shop will also rent a helmet, shoes and pedals.

kerouac - Thanks for the great tip! Love the idea of being able to have a picnic while we wait for the riders to arrive. Do you know the Paris radio station ID that will be broadcasting the Tour? My iPod picks up FM signals. However, my French is not very good and I doubt I would be able to understand the commentators speaking that quickly.
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Old Jul 5th, 2010, 09:00 PM
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Thanks to share your nice informative information in this forum site if you really want to explore in Paris you must enjoy the cycling ride the town of Paris people coming cross the Europe to see that beautiful city the best idea of bicycling.
http://www.welcometoharlem.com
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Old Jul 5th, 2010, 11:25 PM
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Thanks for that tip, kerouac - I had been hoping that a local would suggest a good spot! If the weather is good, it sounds ideal. We've followed the tour for many years from Australia, and are looking forward to soaking up some of the atmosphere in Paris this time around. Di
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Old Jul 23rd, 2010, 07:07 AM
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Came to Paris this week for vacation and to catch the end of the Tour de France. Went to the Frog and British Library to catch Stage 18 of the Tour on a recommendation from this forum. Finally found it. Partly our fault as we did not have a great map but it was really out of the way and not a great location for tourists. Not much around. Went inside and it was pretty slow. No TV's were on so we asked if they could turn one on so we could eat lunch and watch the Tour. Waitress said she would have to ask her manager and said it would be 5 minutes. I thought she was kidding but off she walked. Like I said it was really slow. I went to the restroom while waiting and my wife told me the manager, who was standing at the end of the bar then looked at her, smiled, and shook her head no, and then walked off. The waitress came back, shrugged her shoulders and said sorry.

Needless to say we didn't stay. Not sure what their problem was but the place was more than half empty, and they were definitely not busy, had no TV's on and surely could have turned one TV on in a corner somewhere. They might have good food and drinks, don't know, but I do know the customer service is lacking.
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