Watching a Time Trial stage of the Tour De France

moray_gub

Any of you guys done this before . Looking for some advice on doing this . I am going to be in the Vendee at that time so going to Cholet for the stage 4 TT just wondered whats folks experience of it was and if its better to go to start or finish or maybe out on course. Been to a tour finish before Plouay 2002 but that was a road stage obviously a TT is different. If i go the start how close do you get to riders etc ? Any advice appreciated.

cheers
MG

micron

If you want to have a chance of getting close to the riders then better head for the finish but get there early. Time checks on the road are good places to be as well. The great thing about the TT to watch is that you can be anywhere and see some drama - I was 'lucky' to be near the spot where Ullrich crashed in that rain soaked TT.

I used to live near Cholet and was at the Festina hotel in Cholet the night Bruno Roussel was arrested - maybe there will be more such drama this year, but hopefully not another scandal

blazing_saddles

+1 Start or Finish.
I was at Fromentine in 2005. Go early and you'll get a good spot, but be prepared to repel all late comers. All the team buses are there (obviously), so you can hang there. Pick up posters etc from same area.
You'll get many of the riders out, warming up, so you'll see them twice. Plus old French guys, walking the main drag, like Jaja and Pou-Pou.

Oh and plan your escape route well. Traffic jams will be horrendous, at the climax. Check out the small, back roads.

I'm doing the 3 Britanny stages, this year, as I have friends who live in the triangle!

OffTheBackAdam

Went to one years back, year a certain Mr 60% won.
We just found a nice grass bank that overlooked the course, lay in the sun, drinking beer and cheering any passing rider.
The start & finish areas get packed, so ifyou want to be there, you have to get in early and stake your claim.
We didn't cut down one of the advertising banners as a souvenir, wrap it in a blanket and walk past Les Flics and my mate never decorated his bedroom with it.
Walked around the entire prologue course in Rheims, when Boardman won, one of my mates didn't go nto the nearest doss house and nearly start a brawl with an assortment of alcoholic French down and outs.

Pict

I'll be in Brittany when the tour is on. Is there Much entertainment for the little ones before the racers arrive?