| Watch for the 2009 Tour route to be announced in October 2008 |
Our fully supported trips continue to be lower cost,
affordable alternatives for France bike trips. We continue
to offer smaller group sizes (8-10 people maximum) and
great lodging at French bed & breakfasts as well as family
owned, small hotels.
New for 2008 are our self-guided trips. We provide you
with all luggage transfers, lodging, maps, and routes. You
arrive ready to ride and lead your companions or travel
independently. Also new from Experience the Tour are
travel services including reservations for airlines, ground
transportation, and extensions to your trip.
affordable alternatives for France bike trips. We continue
to offer smaller group sizes (8-10 people maximum) and
great lodging at French bed & breakfasts as well as family
owned, small hotels.
New for 2008 are our self-guided trips. We provide you
with all luggage transfers, lodging, maps, and routes. You
arrive ready to ride and lead your companions or travel
independently. Also new from Experience the Tour are
travel services including reservations for airlines, ground
transportation, and extensions to your trip.
| 2008 Pro Tour bike trips from Experience the Tour |
| Pick from one of the following trips or contact us to customize a trip of 11, 15, or more days! |
Brittany and the Grand Depart, - begins July 2nd or 6th
Home to the great Bernard Hinault, this cycling crazed region
of France is perfect for the 2008 grand depart. This trip
includes the little known team introductions, giving fans great
access to the riders and the festivities of the prestigious Tour.
The racing will be furious along historic roads with unbelievable
team tactics and sprint finishes.
Home to the great Bernard Hinault, this cycling crazed region
of France is perfect for the 2008 grand depart. This trip
includes the little known team introductions, giving fans great
access to the riders and the festivities of the prestigious Tour.
The racing will be furious along historic roads with unbelievable
team tactics and sprint finishes.
L'Etape (Pyrenees), - begins July 2nd or 5th
This trip includes a special event with 8,500 cyclists riding or
racing the route of stage 10 on Sunday, July 6th. The Pro Tour
competitors will complete stage 10 on July 14. L'Etape -
meaning "the stage" - is open for registration for only a few
days each year before all slots are filled. We spend the other
days of the trip riding the cols (mountain passes) made famous
for fabulous climbing and breath-taking sights.
This trip includes a special event with 8,500 cyclists riding or
racing the route of stage 10 on Sunday, July 6th. The Pro Tour
competitors will complete stage 10 on July 14. L'Etape -
meaning "the stage" - is open for registration for only a few
days each year before all slots are filled. We spend the other
days of the trip riding the cols (mountain passes) made famous
for fabulous climbing and breath-taking sights.
The Pyrenees, - begins July 10th
The beautiful climbs of the Pyrenees are the focus of the 2nd
week of the 2008 Tour. The cycling mecca of
Bagneres-de-Bigorre, made famous by French champion,
Laurent Fignon,the amazing col du Tourmalet, and the infamous
Hautacam where Armstrong demolished the competition are all
a part of the excitement. Join fans from France, the Spanish
Basque region, and people from all parts of the world as we
ride the critical climbs and experience the first days in the big
mountains. The race will not be won in the Pyrenees, but for
some it will be lost!.
The beautiful climbs of the Pyrenees are the focus of the 2nd
week of the 2008 Tour. The cycling mecca of
Bagneres-de-Bigorre, made famous by French champion,
Laurent Fignon,the amazing col du Tourmalet, and the infamous
Hautacam where Armstrong demolished the competition are all
a part of the excitement. Join fans from France, the Spanish
Basque region, and people from all parts of the world as we
ride the critical climbs and experience the first days in the big
mountains. The race will not be won in the Pyrenees, but for
some it will be lost!.
The Alpes, - begins July 17th
The infamous climbs of the Alpes will be decisive for the 2008
Tour. We will ride Alpe d'Huez and enjoy the thrill of this final
climb during stage 17. We will experience the climb into Italy
over the highest point of the Tour, le col de Larche. This trip
also includes our favorite climb, the col du Galibier and the col
du la Croix-de-Fer. The cycling options for this trip are
outstanding, the settings awe-inspiring, and the racing both
brutal and decisive.
The infamous climbs of the Alpes will be decisive for the 2008
Tour. We will ride Alpe d'Huez and enjoy the thrill of this final
climb during stage 17. We will experience the climb into Italy
over the highest point of the Tour, le col de Larche. This trip
also includes our favorite climb, the col du Galibier and the col
du la Croix-de-Fer. The cycling options for this trip are
outstanding, the settings awe-inspiring, and the racing both
brutal and decisive.
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
Pyrenees, Provence, Mt. Ventoux, and the Alpes, - begins
July 10th
All three mountain regions are fabulous in their own ways. Why
choose when you can enjoy the experiences of the cycling,
the culture, the scenery, and the competition of July 2008 in
these varied regions in one 15 day trip. Not only will you
experience different regions of France, but also Italy and the
proximity to Spain. When asked which region we prefer we
can only reply that it's impossible to choose as they all have so
much to offer!
July 10th
All three mountain regions are fabulous in their own ways. Why
choose when you can enjoy the experiences of the cycling,
the culture, the scenery, and the competition of July 2008 in
these varied regions in one 15 day trip. Not only will you
experience different regions of France, but also Italy and the
proximity to Spain. When asked which region we prefer we
can only reply that it's impossible to choose as they all have so
much to offer!
Paris and the Alpes , - begins July 17th
In addition to our amazing Alpes trip, we travel to the famous
cycling cities and communities of Saint-Etienne, Montlucon,
and Saint-Amand-Montrond where we have experienced great
racing in previous Tours. In 2001, as in 2008,
Saint-Amand-Montrond was the finish of the time trial stage
before Paris, where we watched Armstrong crush Ullrich and
the rest of the competition. Montlucon was the site of a
breath-taking sprint finish along the main boulevard. The route
changes each year, yet key villages and cities return regularly.
The trip concludes in Paris and of course the fabulous finishing
stage on the Champs Elysees is not the be missed.
In addition to our amazing Alpes trip, we travel to the famous
cycling cities and communities of Saint-Etienne, Montlucon,
and Saint-Amand-Montrond where we have experienced great
racing in previous Tours. In 2001, as in 2008,
Saint-Amand-Montrond was the finish of the time trial stage
before Paris, where we watched Armstrong crush Ullrich and
the rest of the competition. Montlucon was the site of a
breath-taking sprint finish along the main boulevard. The route
changes each year, yet key villages and cities return regularly.
The trip concludes in Paris and of course the fabulous finishing
stage on the Champs Elysees is not the be missed.
Le Grand Boucle or "the whole enchilada", - begins July 2nd
Experience all the Tour and this great countryside has to offer by joining us for the entire grand loop of the country,
from the first days in Brittany, through the massif central, into and over the great Pyrenees, onto the Alpes and its
famous climbs, to the almost always decisive penultimate time trial stage, and finally enjoying the excitement and
ceremony of the finish in Paris on the Champs Elysees. This 27 day ultimate experience begins and ends in Paris.
Experience all the Tour and this great countryside has to offer by joining us for the entire grand loop of the country,
from the first days in Brittany, through the massif central, into and over the great Pyrenees, onto the Alpes and its
famous climbs, to the almost always decisive penultimate time trial stage, and finally enjoying the excitement and
ceremony of the finish in Paris on the Champs Elysees. This 27 day ultimate experience begins and ends in Paris.
| Copyright © 2007 Experience the Tour. All rights reserved. Revised: 12/16/07. |
Once again cycling enthusiasts can truly experience Pro Tour cycling on a bike trip with Experience
the Tour. Choose from several 8 day, 8 night trips or consider from 6 days to 26 days, depending
on your desires. Paris, the Alpes, and the Pyrenees.
the Tour. Choose from several 8 day, 8 night trips or consider from 6 days to 26 days, depending
on your desires. Paris, the Alpes, and the Pyrenees.
Photo: Chris Rodriguez
http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/europe/lgcolor/frcolor.htm
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