Le Tour 2008 - help me plan my holiday!

hammerite

Afternoon all,

I made the suggestion a few weeks back to my OH that we go to France next year to catch some of the tour. She wasn't so sure initially, but has really got into it, so I figured I need to strike while the iron is hot and get something booked!

We have a little boy, so won't be able to go until the last week (when school holiday starts). We are planning on hiring a camper van with our bikes on the back.

Any ideas as to the route of Le Tour for next year? I've tried doing some research, but the only route info I have is for the grand depart from Brittany (too early). I'm hoping that given that next years tour will travel anti clockwise we will hopefully get some of the Alps in the last week, is this likely?

Any help would be useful, especially if you've done something like this.

andyp

The Tour route won't be announced fully until October but it is confirmed to be starting in Brittany next year. There will be a lot of speculation in the weeks leading up to the unveiling but usually a lot of it is wrong, i.e. everyone was claiming Mont Ventoux would be included this year.

Usually the route alternates between going clockwise or anti-clockwise around France so it would be fair to assume that the Alps will come after the Pyrenees next year. However, next year will be the first time that Christian Prudhomme has sole ownership of the race so he may change that. He has dropped strong hints that he'll change the somewhat formulaic format of the race in interviews I've seen.

hammerite

Thanks Andy, so perhaps booking the hiring of the camper may be a good idea at the moment, but hold fire on any solid plans with regards to routes, sites etc.......

Probably the wrong type of site for this question but does anyone know what the protocol is with camper vans in france? Would I be expected to stop overnight at a campsite, or can I just pull over at the side of a road?

knedlicky

hammerite wrote:

Probably the wrong type of site for this question but does anyone know what the protocol is with camper vans in france? Would I be expected to stop overnight at a campsite, or can I just pull over at the side of a road?

Although the local ordinances of towns or regions sometimes make further restrictions, I think the basic rules about 'wild camping' in France, Germany, Switzerland and Austria are:
if it's not definitely forbidden, it's allowed; it should be on land to which the public are permitted access (which can sometimes include private land); it should normally not be in woods or forests, in nature-protected zones, or within town/village borders; it should not be for any long duration (more than 2 nights).

Your best bet is to get above the tree line if in the mountains, or if on lower ground, pull into one of those rough bare patches of ground at the side of a minor road (where you see at lunch times, the French setting up table and chairs for an al-fresco meal).

hammerite

Thanks Kned, that it pretty much as I thought. I can't see that kipping in a camper van is much different to pulling up in your HGV by the road and going for a kip.

Although I hope that there aren't too many HGV's up in the alps or else there'll be no room for any camper vans!!

hammerite

Bump for anyone who may have just returned from their holiday this year! Any advice appreciated.