Its great to be at the Le Tour
TOUR DE FRANCE 2021 ITINERARY
Friday 2 July – Arrival Day â Lake Annecy stage route TdF 2009
Ride options:
Distance 40km/25mi Ascent 210m/700ft route Lake Annecy
Distance 45km/28mi Ascent 370m/1200ft route TDF Time Trial course
Distance 55km/34mi Ascent 780m/2550ft route Forclaz
Includes: Geneva Airport Transfer, Welcome Drinks & Dinner
Non-Cycling Guests: Share the spectacular tour day around Lake Annecy
Our first ride together and what a ride it is, the breathtaking lap of Lake Annecy, the cleanest Lake in Europe, surrounded by the Forrest mountain of Semnoz on the west and the massive La Tournette (2351m) and the Grand Alps to the east. The perfect way to begin the most exhilarating week of riding with Practice Bicycle Tours at the Tour de France 2021 from Annecy the French Alps!
Leaving Annecy at a leisurely pace, it is not long before we are following the contour of the Lake. Itâs easy to see why we like to take in this gentle ride, so much to see in such a short period of time! This amazing route was also the Time Trial stage of the 2009 edition of the Tour de France, great memories of a classic day at the races. For those wishing to take on gravity on their first day with Practice Bicycle we can complete the full Time Trial route and try and emulate Alberto Contador with his winning effort, plus an optional classic Col often in the second most famous French bike race the Criterium Dauphine.
Stopping for a café and patisserie at one of our favourite bars on route is the icing on the cake and slows us down enough to experience the pace of French life before the action really hots tomorrow!
Complete the perfect opening day at your 2021 Tour de France with a Welcome Aperitif together followed by gastronomique dinner at one of Annecyâs finest Restaurants to experience the best flavours of French cuisine!
Saturday 3rd July â View Tour de France Stage 8 OYONNAX – LE GRAND-BORNAND (Alps)
Ride Options:
Distance 45km/27mi Ascent 620m/2000ft route Allonzier-la-Caille
Distance 65km/40mi Ascent 850m/2800ft route Seyssel
Distance 120km/75mi Ascent 1450m/4700ft route Mont Prince
Includes: Breakfast, TDF Restaurant Lunch
Non-Cycling Guests: Share all the tour day and Rhone River Valley
This is the day the 2021 Tour de France battle starts in the French Alps, in â98 Le Tour used these amazing roads, and we aptly named a section of this route after the great sprinter Robbie McEwan, as we watched his suffering to complete during a difficult day in the Alps. The major Cols feature at the finish of todays stage although the peloton will be working ridiculously hard to get there.
We will enjoy our own great day of cycling straight from our hotel front door as we head to the race route and all of todayâs action at our unique live viewing spot. After a gentle climb out of town it is not long before we are into the picture postcard undulating French countryside and heading into our neighbouring valley and local roads. A local cafĂ© stop is never far away as we approach the âBugey Pyramidâ the name given to this massive green backdrop to the Rhone River. Experience this amazing landscape and 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 experience, 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 2021 Tour de France.
Sunday 4th July – View Tour de France Stage 9 CLUSES – TIGNES (Alps)
Ride Options:
Distance 60km/37mi Ascent 1100m/3600ft route Gorge de lâArley
Distance 80km/50mi Ascent 1650m/5400ft route Col des Saisies
Distance 140km/87mi Ascent 2050m/6700ft route Chain des Aravis
Includes: Breakfast, TDF Alpine Restaurant Lunch
Non-Cycling Guests: Share all the tour day in the Grand Alps
If yesterday was the entrĂ©e of this yearâs Tour de France in the French Alps, then today is certainly the main course with 5 categorised climbs and lots more!
Flexibility with our premium small group allows for the best ride options, riding from your Hotel is an absolute pleasure with the team from Practice Bicycle as we head from Lake Annecy to catch up with the spectacle of the Tour in the mountains. For all fans of cycling itâs the pinnacle to watch live the best cyclists in the world on the most majestic cycling roads in the world.
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 Grand Alps, why not test your legs with a classic Col before descending in time for your well-deserved recovery restaurant lunch and all the stage action of what will be an unforgettable day at the Tour de France.
Once the show has passed, return to Annecy in the comfort of the support vehicle or add more amazing kilometre with the team that live it.
Monday 5th July â TDF Rest Day â Villages & Mountains – stage route TdF 2013
Ride Options:
Distance 45km/28mi Ascent 460m/1500ft route Cercier
Distance 65km/40mi Ascent 850m/2800ft route Cote de Puget
Distance 80km/50mi Ascent 1750m/5750ft route Cret de Chatillon
Includes: Breakfast, Restaurant Lunch by the Lake
Non-Cycling Guests: Share all the tour day in the tranquil countryside of France
With the Tour de France pro cyclists taking a well-deserved rest day (Repos) ahead of their final week of demanding racing, you too can also choose to relax a little today with a comfortable ride OR if you prefer to keep adding to your Cols ride list, challenge yourself with some of Practice Bicycle Tours favourite TDF Cols. With the teamâs local knowledge of over 20 years of exploring âCycling Paradiseâ it will be an amazing day of riding whichever you decide.
The TDF spectacle ended on these amazing roads in 2013, pick your ideal ride on famous roads of the Tour de France to enjoy the absolute best cycling in the French Alps. Its tranquil and beautiful at the same time with the perfect café stop never far away. For those who prefer to climb mountains rather than look at them, the Semnoz was the final mountain of the 2013 Tour de France in Annecy and that day is still very much in our memory, it would be amiss of us not to include it in your bike tour options during your cycling holiday. It is a great route and gives you a taste of what it must feel like to be a Tour de France rider with the opportunity to ride a section of a classic Alps Tour stage! What we might like to call your very own TDF stage on our local roads here in Annecy.
Top off a perfect cycling day with lunch by the lake before returning to your hotel to relax and get ready for all the Tour atmosphere tomorrow.
Tuesday 6th July – View Tour de France Stage 10 ALBERTVILLE – VALENCE (Start)
Ride Options:
Distance 45km/28mi Ascent 100m/300ft route Albertville
Distance 90km/55mi Ascent 650m/2100ft route Tamie
Distance 155km/96mi Ascent 1750m/5700ft route Col du Pre
Includes: Breakfast, TDF Farewell Dinner
Non-Cycling Guests: Share all the tour day and stage start atmosphere
You have watched them challenged on the twists and turns of pre-alps roads, witnessed the up-close suffering on the slopes of the Grand Alps now enjoy the buzz and excitement of the stage start.
Immerse yourself in the Le Tour, with team buses, riders and support crews all preparing for the biggest sporting show on earth. Enjoy exploring the âVillage Departâ and all the glamour of the best professional cyclists in the world and their multi-million dollar support teams and equipment on display, take advantage of the riders âSign On Podiumâ the perfect spot for a great photo opportunity.
Join the roadside party as the publicity caravan departs throwing its goodies in all directions before the show begins and the peloton contuse its journey to Paris.
This is also our last ride opportunity together at the Tour de France 2021, with several days of riding you can really appreciate the benefits of riding from your hotel each morning and the extra rest that our proven formula of âUnpack Once, Cycle Everydayâ allows. Itâs all about the Tour and make the most of these classic cycling roads.
This evening celebrate your own unique cycling holiday at the Tour de France from Lake Annecy with a memorable farewell dinner at one of Practice Bicycle favourite restaurants.
Wednesday 7th July â Departure Day from Annecy
Includes: Breakfast, Geneva Airport Transfer
Today is your departure day, Practice Bicycle are available to assist you with packing your bike ready for your onward journey from Annecy. Your team will say goodbye this morning and transfer you to Geneva International Airport (Switzerland) for your midday departure.
Practice Bicycle wish you a âBon Voyageâ, safe cycling until we Practice bicycle together again.
