Tour de France Holidays 2020 Postponed
TOUR DE FRANCE HOLIDAYS
Following the French President’s address on Monday evening, where large-scale events were banned in France until mid-July as a part of the fight against the spread of COVID-19, the organisers of the Tour de France, in agreement with the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), have decided to postpone the Tour de France until August.
Sadly we are unable to share amazing cycling this year, STAY SAFE everybody…
Sunday 12th July – View Tour de France Stage 15 Lyon > Grand Colombier (Alps)
Ride Option:
Distance 95km/60mi Ascent 1875m/6150ft route Grand Colombier (1501m)
Distance 65km/40mi Ascent 850m/2800ft route Mont Prince (696m)
Distance 50km/30mi Ascent 400m/1300ft route Seyssel
INCLUSIONS: Breakfast, TDF Lunch on the Rhone
NON CYCLING GUEST: Share all the tour day and Rhone River Valley
This is the day the Tour de France battle starts in the French Alps, in 2017 when Le Tour used these roads the stage was decisive for all the wrong reasons with rain and crashes resulting in many of the favourites out of the race. It’s called the pre-alps and shadows the largest river in France the Rhone, it will be a huge stage for the professional peloton as they take on one of the most difficult climbs in France the Grand Colombier (1505m) cat HC – 17.4km @ 7.1%.
We will enjoy our own great day of cycling before we catch up with the action at our unique live viewing spot. After a gentle climb out of town it’s not long before we are into the picture postcard undulating French countryside and heading into our neighboring valley. A local café stop is never far away as we approach the ‘Bugey pyramid’ the name given to this massive green backdrop to the Rhone River. Experience this amazing landscape and Rhone valley perfect for cycling as much or as little as you wish with the Practice Bicycle team in the French Alps.
Just as important with a great cycling holiday is a well-deserved gem restaurant lunch, its then time for the greatest sporting show on earth with the publicity caravan before the peloton arrives and our first live action of the 2020 Tour de France.
Tuesday 14th July – View Tour de France Stage 16 La Tour du Pin > Villard de Lans (Alps)
Ride Option:
Distance 110km/68mi Ascent 1600m/5300ft route Col de Porte (1326m)
Distance 90km/55mi Ascent 1200m/3900ft route Saint Pierre de Chartreuse (815m)
Distance 50km/30mi Ascent 350m/1200ft route Chambery
INCLUSIONS: Breakfast, TDF Chartreuse Restaurant Lunch
NON CYCLING GUEST: Share all the tour day in the Chartreuse Nature Park
Today the Yellow Jersey battle hot’s up with the professional peloton hitting the Alps for the three consecutive decisive alpine stages. After yesterday’s rest day the Tour de France route heads deep into the mountains of the Vercors, these mountains that comprise the Chartreuse Regional Nature Park are not particularly high in altitude, but are technically difficult and the Tour de France peloton will have to be very alert all the way to the finish line in Villard de Lans.
Flexibility with our premium small group Tour de France holidays allows for the best ride options, as we head from Lake Annecy to Lake Bourget nearly all downhill and perfect for a café stop. Skirting the edge of the Chartreuse Park full of mountains, forests, limestone cliffs, gorges and Alpine meadows, making it paradise for nature lovers including cycling. Once on the TDF stage route feel just like a pro cyclists as we head to your unique live viewing spot in the heart of the parklands, why not test your legs with the Col de Porte (1326m) before descending in time for your well-deserved recovery restaurant lunch and all the stage action of what could be an unpredictable great day at the Tour de France.
Once the show has passed by we will return to Annecy in the comfort of the support vehicle.
Wednesday 15th July – View Tour de France Stage 17 Grenoble > Méribel Col de la Loze (Alps)
Ride Option:
Distance 115km/71mi Ascent 2200m/7200ft route Col de la Loze (2304m)
Distance 85km/53mi Ascent 900m/3000ft route Meribel (1075m)
Distance 45km/28mi Ascent 100m/300ft route Albertville
INCLUSIONS: Breakfast, TDF Restaurant Lunch in the Alps
NON CYCLING GUEST: Share all the tour day in the French Alps Ski Resorts
Today is the intriguing Alpine stage of this year’s Tour de France, with it being the second of the 3 stages around 168km long, encouraging attacking racing day after day! This stage also includes two massive climbs, Col de la Madeleine (2000m) and the new summit finish Col de la Loze (2304m), none of the professionals will know this climb especially the final 7km which is a new alpine road above the ski resort of Meribel. What these 2020 Tour de France final Alps stages lack in distance they certainly make up for with altitude and intensity. Could this be the day that this years Tour de France winner will be wearing the yellow jersey at the finish line on top of the world?
We will have an early start today with your great choice of tailored rides to join the race route and all the spectacle on the slopes of Meribel. This world class ski arena will be the setting for world class professional cycling action as the very best fight for the yellow jersey on challenging roads of the French Alps. Feel like a pro yourself and enjoy your own memorable ride along these amazing valleys and pick how much challenge you would like in the saddle to our ‘unique viewing spot’ and the decisive action of stage 17.
With all the local knowledge of the Practice Bicycle team, escape in the Alps with the best flavours of the mountains and a hearty restaurant lunch at the roadside atmosphere and spectacle of the Tour de France race. Today we will return to the shores of Lake Annecy in the comfort of the support vehicle.
Thursday 16th July – View Tour de France Stage 18 Méribel > La Roche-sur-Foron (Alps)
Ride option:
Distance 65km/40mi Ascent 1750m/5750ft route Col des Fleuries (932m) + Plateau Glieres (1440m)
Distance 50km/30mi Ascent 1350m/4400ft route Montee Plateau Glieres (1390m)
Distance 45km/28mi Ascent 1200m/3900ft route Col des Glieres (1440m)
Includes: Breakfast, TDF Lunch on the Plateau
Non cycling Guests: Share all the spectacular Tour day in the Grand Alps
Plateau Glieres is the only place to be in this year’s final Tour de France day in the Alps. With over 4000m of climbing and 4 category climbs on today’s stage, tired legs cannot hide it’s been almost 3 weeks of racing through France only the very best will get on the podium in Paris after this classic Tour de France stage!
These are the daily roads of the Practice Bicycle team and you have an endless choice of fantastic rides on offer, ride these incredible roads one last time as much or as little as you wish.
Following the Tete du Parmelan, it’s not long before your in the forrest of the Col de Frettallaz (670m) and all the splendour of Alpine views. These secret country roads have everything from Chateaux’s to Plateau’s perfect to escape and appreciate all the pleasures from great riding as we head towards the TDF route. This historic area was a strong hold of the French Resistance during World War 2 and an impressive memorial awaits us at the summit.
Warm up your own Tour de France legs today on the Col des Fleuries or head straight to the Col des Glieres, before we catch up with all the entertainment of the Tour de France peloton.
Once refreshed with famous local food we are at the ideal spot with time to relax and enjoy the rest of this special day and one last memorable moment to absorb the professional peloton in the French Alps during this year’s Tour de France!
*As with all the Practice Bicycle Tour de France Holidays you always have the option of taking it easy and enjoying the comfort of the support vehicle and all the spectacle of the day at a more leisurely pace.
