Tips for Your What To Do and What To Avoid while at the Tour de France

 

  1. Don't try to follow the Tour on a day by day basis. You can ‘theoretically' drive 200 km per day, but its tiring, and when the routes of the Tour are closed to the race, then you have to make a wide detour – definitely not recommended, especially in France in July with summer vacationers on the roads!

  2. Instead, pick a place where you can stay for a few days and catch a few stages, then jump ahead
    .
  3. Avoid the crowds – arrive early! Think you want to be on Alpe d'Huez the day of the stage finish there? Get there at least a couple days early and plan to sleep in your car along the road side. If you want a hotel in the Alpe d'Huez area – you will have to book multiple nights.

  4. Can't arrive a few days early but still want to see a big stage? Bring your bike, and then drive up close enough to ride the rest of the way. Getting around at any stage finish or departure is hard, you will have to walk, but beats walking many kilometers and back.

  5. See a time trial – go to the start! Forget the finish, yeah, that's where you see the final result, but much better to get a glimpse of the pros on their trainers warming up than crossing the line and being whisked away to the team bus.