Stage 10 TDF 2013 - Advice

thefd
thefd Posts: 1,021
edited February 2013 in Road general
Hi all,

I am holidaying in France next summer. We are staying at a place called Les Pas Opton. Stage 10 of TDF leaves from a place called St Gildas des Bois, on Tuesday 9th July. It is about 130km away, and will take about 1h 40mins to get to. We feel it would be worth going to as we are so close, but I have never been to any stage of TDF before. Has anyone got any advice?

Will we be able to rock up and get parked near, or will the whole town be closed off? What sort of time should we aim to arrive. I would like to soak up the atmosphere, and the kids would enjoy getting free merchandise.

Any advice would be welcomed!!
2017 - Caadx
2016 - Cervelo R3
2013 - R872
2010 - Spesh Tarmac

Comments

  • greasedscotsman
    greasedscotsman Posts: 6,962
    Yes, of course you should go!

    Not sure a stage start is the best thing to go and see, but if it's nearby? 100th Tour, rude not to! Not sure how big the town is your thinking of going to is, but the Tour does tend to be very localised. You should be OK to drive there, park up and walk to where you want to see it. You don't tend to see any riders about any more than a couple of hours before the stage start, so I would base when you want to be there on that.

    Only troube with a modern Tour stage is the riders tend to sit on the coach until the last minute, maybe you could head out of town, onto the route to see them zoom past. Nothing beats the "woosh" of the peleton! :D

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_Dn4ox7WtA

    Oh and you could try in Pro Race if you want some more tips.
  • snickwell
    snickwell Posts: 72
    We arrived 5 hours before the race came by - very small village, but packed out to the rafters. Got busier and busier and you end up shoulder to shoulder with locals. All over in about 30 seconds, but brilliant fun.

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