TdF2015

I'll be spending a day on a stage of the Tour de France this year, with an organized tour group. I'll have access to the starting village, then see the riders go by at some point, then be there for the finish, as well.

This is definitely a bucket list item, and I want to do it right. I'm wondering if folks who have done this would be willing to share thoughts on what they wish they'd known before going. Was there something you wish you'd had with you? (A jersey to get signed, a better camera, ...) If you were doing it again, how would you make it better, or how would you prepare better?

Many thanks for any information you can provide.

[Summer 2015 itinerary - London, Paris, Tour de France, Vigo/Santiago de Compostela/A Coruna, Rotterdam/Amsterdam, Newcastle, Loch Ness, Edinburgh -- suggestions for sights to see are very welcome.]

Robert2533

A better camera would work, but things happen so fast, you have to be in the right position, which can be difficult.

The only times I've see the tour live was twice by accident when the roads where blocked and twice in Paris at the finish when Miguel Indurain was racing. The rest of the time we watch it on TV.

kerouac

I was at the start of the Abbeville stage a few years ago and quite liked the ambience of the "departure village," the frenzy of the media teams from everywhere in the world and being able to see the slow, civilised start before things heat up later in the day. And even at the beginning, we got all of the publicity caravan and the goodies they throw to the crowd. There are not huge crowds in a departure city -- mostly just locals -- because the real drama is at the arrival, so there is no suspense and no exploits to see. Nevertheless, I liked it.

Since I had a car, I moved along later in the day to another passage point and saw quite a bit more action. I made a report of it all: http://anyportinastorm.proboards.com...de-france-2012

This year I am returning to see part of the Tour along the Arras-Amiens stage on July 8th. It will be passing through just about all of the battlefields and memorials of that part of France, so I will try to start at Notre Dame-de-Lorette and catch the Tour a bit farther south an hour or two later. It should be possible since the route crosses over and under A1 autoroute several times, so I will be going faster than the riders. Traffic might be a problem.

hetismij2

Learn how to pan if you want photos - the pelaton goes by so fast even the best camera can end up with just a blur.
The chances of getting anything signed are slim.

Haven't seen the Tour (even though it starts down the road this year I won't be going), but the Giro came through town a few years back. Managed a good photo of Bradley Wiggins to go with the one I took at a time trial in Amersfoort a couple of years earlier.

TdF2015

Thanks, kerouac - I saw your earlier posts about seeing the TdF. I will be going from Abbeville, on the stage after yours this year. Thanks for all the great images.

I watch the Tour on TV every year, but I really want to see the whole caravan itself, and I look forward to visiting the start and finish, as well.

I just realized that stage 8 will end in Amiens -- I didn't realize that, or it didn't sink in yet! I booked a room in Amiens for two nights before going to Abbeville, because I figured Abbeville would be completely filled. So I guess I'll get to see the finish of Stage 5, in addition to all of Stage 6! What a treat - totally unexpected!


Thanks again.

Christina

I've only seen the finish several times as I often go to Paris in JUly. I enjoyed it but am not a bicycling fanatic so never was willing to spend the time you'd need to get a really good position along the street to see the riders well. So I never really saw them, maybe the tops of their heads sometimes, and then I have been in the area to see the presentation of the award, but only on the jumbotron.

They have a lot of souvenir stuff for sale in Paris at various stands along the Champs-Elysees. I've gotten a Tshirt and tote bag.

But there wasn't anything that was a surprise, the route and timing are all announced online well in advance. Some people aren't aware it is preceded by a caravane publicitaire which is a bunch of cars, etc. decorated by various advertising companies (in the US, we'd call these "floats" in a parade). Some of them throw things to the crowd as favors (I got a coffee spoon that way which a French coffee company's name on it). And while these are just raw advertising, they are very clever and energetic and I always find it fun to see them. And you can see them a lot easier than the actual race, I guess because a lot of people don't care. They are a couple hours before the bicyclists show up in Paris, as I recall, but I think the website announces the caravan's arrival also.

Hre is info and some videos of that http://www.letour.fr/le-tour/2014/fr/caravane.html

kerouac

<I>I just realized that stage 8 will end in Amiens -- I didn't realize that, or it didn't sink in yet! I booked a room in Amiens for two nights before going to Abbeville, because I figured Abbeville would be completely filled. So I guess I'll get to see the finish of Stage 5, in addition to all of Stage 6! What a treat - totally unexpected!</I>

That's great. I have never been at the end of a stage, but if you are staying in the city, I'm sure it is great to be there as well.

<I> I enjoyed it but am not a bicycling fanatic so never was willing to spend the time you'd need to get a really good position along the street to see the riders well.</I>

One of the best things about seeing the Tour in a minor town is not having to spend any time to get a good position along the way. Even though the Tour is reputedly the #1 event in the world in terms of physical spectators along the way, there are so many kilometres involved that in most places there is no problem being right in front. Anybody who has watched the Tour on television knows this. Only places like Paris or l'Alpe d'Huez have real crowd problems.

di2315

If you want to get photos, try to find a spot to stand where you're on a bit of a curve in the road - the cyclists flash by in the blink of an eye, and are gone before you know it on the straight stretches.

The only way I've had decent photos is to work my camera position out well before they appear, then just keep clicking the button as quickly as possible. I don't bother trying to look through the camera at that time . . . doing that means you miss the actual event completely!

I haven't ever tried to photograph a particular cyclist; by the time you manage to locate them, they've already disappeared.

We had great fun with the caravan goodies, and happened to be standing with a very friendly group - all complete strangers to each other - who made sure that everyone had their fair share of souvenirs - enjoy! Di