tour de france in paris question
Jul 9th, 2007, 06:29 AM
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tour de france in paris question
My family will be in Paris on July 29, the last day of the tour de france. I would love to see a bit of it but am not sure the best way to do this. Advice? Just hang on the Champs with the masses or somewhere else? Not that into cycling so don't want to spend an entire day in paris standing waiting for them to come by but would like to soak in the atmosphere a bit if that is possible.
Jul 9th, 2007, 06:49 AM
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Sorry, Keefmick, but to get anywhere near the Champs Elysee you will have to be there mega early. As an example, I dropped my daughter off at her (ambulance) duty station at 10 on Saturday, then wandered down The Mall towards the finish line - it was already very busy, with all the best pitches already staked out, and this for a 3 p.m. start. I ended up on Whitehall, near the start, but nowhere near the barriers. Oh, and a number od streets were closed to everyone who didn't have race ID.
Paris will be busier than London was, for sure; if you want to be part of it, resign yourself to spending most of the day there. It is great fun, though, I must admit.
Paris will be busier than London was, for sure; if you want to be part of it, resign yourself to spending most of the day there. It is great fun, though, I must admit.
Jul 9th, 2007, 07:37 AM
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There's a map of the route of the final stage at
http://www.letourdefrance.com/2007/T..._2000.html#ici
so you can see how it gets to the Champs Elysees - maybe there are other vantage points (up the Eiffel Tower? but no doubt a million other people will have the same idea). The link 'Itineraire Horaire' gives you estimated times.
http://www.letourdefrance.com/2007/T..._2000.html#ici
so you can see how it gets to the Champs Elysees - maybe there are other vantage points (up the Eiffel Tower? but no doubt a million other people will have the same idea). The link 'Itineraire Horaire' gives you estimated times.
Jul 9th, 2007, 08:15 AM
#4
Some of the best viewing areas are in the Tuileries. Not very crowded because most people can't figure out how to get there when the metro access is closed (as it will be), and I'm keeping the secret.
But in my opinion, the very best viewing area is on the outer Seine corner of the Louvre. You have a perfect straight 800m view of the riders coming at you, and then they make a sharp turn to go into the Louvre tunnel right in front of you.
If it rains, you can guess what will happen sooner or later...
But in my opinion, the very best viewing area is on the outer Seine corner of the Louvre. You have a perfect straight 800m view of the riders coming at you, and then they make a sharp turn to go into the Louvre tunnel right in front of you.
If it rains, you can guess what will happen sooner or later...
Jul 9th, 2007, 10:19 AM
#7
I will also say that it is best to see the end of the Tour on TV. Watch a few loops in person and then run back to your hotel room. The France 2 television coverage is spectacular. The finish line will be crossed around 5:30 pm.
Jul 9th, 2007, 10:57 AM
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kerouac,
that is my plan--get into the mix for the caravan and a few loops to get the atmosphere etc and then watch the finish on tv--i am staying in the marais district--can i walk (reasonably) or ride the metro--will the metro be shut down due to the race, at least in that area?
that is my plan--get into the mix for the caravan and a few loops to get the atmosphere etc and then watch the finish on tv--i am staying in the marais district--can i walk (reasonably) or ride the metro--will the metro be shut down due to the race, at least in that area?
Jul 9th, 2007, 11:04 AM
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It's easy enough to be on the Champs-Elysees at the end without getting there hours ahead of time. It's real easy, I've done it several times. I was there the last time Lance Armstrong won and didn't get there until at least 3-4 pm. You just can't see anything because people lined up right along the street get there earlier, so it's several people deep. If you were 7 feet tall, you'd be okay. All I could see (I'm only 5'6"
was the top of their helmets racing up and down, up and down. But it wasn't at all difficult to be there, and you could buy jerseys or whatever as souvenirs for any cycling-buff friends.
I wandered down towards the Tuileries and could see the big-screen projection when they gave him the trophy, though.
was the top of their helmets racing up and down, up and down. But it wasn't at all difficult to be there, and you could buy jerseys or whatever as souvenirs for any cycling-buff friends.I wandered down towards the Tuileries and could see the big-screen projection when they gave him the trophy, though.
