watching alp d'huez stage

bossman13
bossman13 Posts: 106
edited December 2007 in The bottom bracket
on hols in switzerland next year and thinking of making the quick hop over border to take in the alp d'huez stage (july 23rd)

anyone been before or got any good tips for watching this stage live? might have the family/kids with me so not really looking for a 'get there at 7am, camp out, wait for them to arrive' type strategy!

thanks

Comments

  • hammerite
    hammerite Posts: 3,408
    I've not been there before, but I'm planning this year so would like similar advice. We're booking a camp site in Bourg-d'Oisans so will try to see the end of the Cuneo-Jausiers stage, the Alp d'huez stage and the beginning of the Bourg-St-Ettienne stage.

    We're planning to stay at the camp site all week so I might get some decent riding in and do the usual touristy stuff too.

    here's my thread about campsites in the area if you are interested.... http://www.bikeradar.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12550083
  • terryw
    terryw Posts: 7
    Yes, have been on the Alpe a no. of times for the Tour. It will be solid from a few days before, getting there on the day, even at 7am may not be a good idea. I usually try and get there at least 24 hours before race day. If you have a small tent any roundabout/green space will do if you can find it and then walk down to a suitable spot-it will be a long day if you want a good position, don't forget the sandwiches and sunshade..
  • tatanab
    tatanab Posts: 1,283
    I went there in 1996. I knew the crowds would be too dense at the top to see anything if I arrived on the day so I knew I'd have to watch from furher down. Cycling up, I only got a bit over half way before I decided that there were so many people I may as well stop there. I sat in the baking heat against a bare mountain side for about 5 hours before the riders arrived. It was a magnificent spectacle, with Pantani powering away off the front.

    Will your family really put up with sitting, as I did, for several hours?
  • hammerite
    hammerite Posts: 3,408
    tatanab wrote:
    I went there in 1996. I knew the crowds would be too dense at the top to see anything if I arrived on the day so I knew I'd have to watch from furher down. Cycling up, I only got a bit over half way before I decided that there were so many people I may as well stop there. I sat in the baking heat against a bare mountain side for about 5 hours before the riders arrived. It was a magnificent spectacle, with Pantani powering away off the front.

    Will your family really put up with sitting, as I did, for several hours?

    Not sure if mine will, that is why we've booked a campsite for the week at the bottom of the alp d'huez, if they get fed up they can go back to the campsite or try and find me if I get a spot.

    But the news you have to be there so far in advance may mean we have to give up on a chance of getting to Jausier or close by on the Tuesday. Not sure I could wangle 3 days running!!
  • matthewbradford
    matthewbradford Posts: 44
    Hello bossman13,

    I went to Alpe D'huez last year with my wife and 2 girls who were aged 18 months and 3 at the time. We arrived in Bourg D'Oisans about mid-morning, parked in a side street and walked to the start of the climb from there. This was relatively easy even with a pushchair, coolbox etc etc. Watched 4 stages altogether

    Managed to do the same this year at Grand Bornand and the Telegraph. My oldest daughter has started school this year so I don't know whether we'll be able to get to the alps next year.
  • hammerite
    hammerite Posts: 3,408
    matthewbradford wrote:
    Hello bossman13,

    I went to Alpe D'huez last year with my wife and 2 girls who were aged 18 months and 3 at the time. We arrived in Bourg D'Oisans about mid-morning, parked in a side street and walked to the start of the climb from there. This was relatively easy even with a pushchair, coolbox etc etc. Watched 4 stages altogether

    Managed to do the same this year at Grand Bornand and the Telegraph. My oldest daughter has started school this year so I don't know whether we'll be able to get to the alps next year.

    Depends what area you are in. Where I am the schools break up just in time for the last week of TdF, which is great timing as the little one and OH (she's a teacher) will have just broken up.

    In fact I'm planning on picking them up straight from school and heading down straight away.
  • matthewbradford
    matthewbradford Posts: 44
    you were right about the schools hols. Looks like a mad dash down to bourg d'oisans when the kids break up to watch the stage. :lol:
  • hammerite
    hammerite Posts: 3,408
    Mine breaks up on Friday 18th, so we'll be taking it steady down probably getting to Bourg on the Sunday 20th ready for Wednesday. We may try to get to Jausiers on Tuesday, but probably as the family may not appreciate 3 days of standing about to watch Le Tour (think I can get away with 2 days though :D )
  • pneumatic
    pneumatic Posts: 1,989
    My kids loved watching the Tour last year at Cassis and didn't seem to mind the 4 hour wait in baking sun. However, a question:

    Does the publicity caravan actually climb the Alpe? Without it, it would be only 20 percent of the spectacle that the kids so much enjoyed.

    Personally, I would have reservations about driving a 40 foot plastic bottle up the 21 lacets, but you never quite know with the French!

    Surely they don't, do they??

    Fast and Bulbous
    Peregrinations
    Eddingtons: 80 (Metric); 60 (Imperial)
  • martincroxall
    martincroxall Posts: 102
    The caravan cerainly went up there when it was the TT stage a few years back. I've never seen so many people fighting over so much crap! Actually watch out for the Belgians, they are the outright world champions at catching rubbish from the caravan.
    You hear that? He's up there... mewing in the nerve centre of his evil empire. A ground rent increase here, a tax dodge there? he sticks his leg in the air, laughs his cat laugh... and dives back down to grooming his balls!
  • APIII
    APIII Posts: 2,010
    martincroxall wrote:
    The caravan cerainly went up there when it was the TT stage a few years back. I've never seen so many people fighting over so much crap! Actually watch out for the Belgians, they are the outright world champions at catching rubbish from the caravan.

    I don't know, I think the middle aged French women give the Belgians a run for their money. They also deploy young children at stategic points to gain maximum advantage :)
  • pneumatic
    pneumatic Posts: 1,989
    APIII wrote:
    martincroxall wrote:
    The caravan cerainly went up there when it was the TT stage a few years back. I've never seen so many people fighting over so much crap! Actually watch out for the Belgians, they are the outright world champions at catching rubbish from the caravan.

    I don't know, I think the middle aged French women give the Belgians a run for their money. They also deploy young children at stategic points to gain maximum advantage :)

    I had SIX children with me; the locals didn't stand a chance!

    It's not all crap, I am very fond of my washing-powder sponsored carrier bag.

    OK, it IS all crap!

    Fast and Bulbous
    Peregrinations
    Eddingtons: 80 (Metric); 60 (Imperial)
  • hammerite
    hammerite Posts: 3,408
    pneumatic wrote:

    I had SIX children with me; the locals didn't stand a chance!

    It's not all crap, I am very fond of my washing-powder sponsored carrier bag.

    OK, it IS all crap!

    I go to a lot of conferences and exhibitions, and our lad is quite used to receiving crap. He loves it!
  • Steven Martin
    Steven Martin Posts: 280
    Crap?!? They were throwing little sausages and bottles of water and sweeties at me at the top of the Galibier, and it was VERY welcome! If you get near a sprint or a finish or a mountain top you can get free caps.
    And all the little key-rings with the pseudo-Euro for supermarket trolleys are good too!

    I love it all!

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