This year is the 99th edition of the Tour de France. Affectionately called La Grande Boucle, the unintended early release of the official route for 2012 sparked the beginning of avid fans fervor and thus began the debate of whether Cadel Evans can defend his crown. (Or is it to be the year of the Schleck brothers…?)
My Virtuoso partners at Butterfield and Robinson have had their planning team hard at work putting the finishing touches on a trip for avid cyclists to witness many of the race’s epic moments. If you would like details, please give me a call.
Here’s a sampling:
The week starts high in the Vosges mountains for the uphill finish of Stage 7 at Planche des Belles Filles, a newcomer as a finish for the Tour. We follow the peloton the next day with a ride through the nearby Jura mountains in Switzerland, and will be there again along the fences to witness the stage finish in Porrentruy. After two days of mountain stages we should have an indication of who the real contenders are.
From there we power through to Besançon for the highlights of an individual time trial, before heading south to the imposing peaks of the Alps. Here, with Lake Annecy at our backs, we’ll ride the cols of the Parc Naturel Massif des Bauges before pedalling the famous hills and villages of the Chartreuse Massif.
Our final day of riding we will tackle the legendary climb to La Toussuire (1705m), arriving in plenty of time to join the screaming, flag-waving fans awaiting the arrival of the leaders. Our last dinner together will be a celebration of what we have ridden together mixed with some healthy of discussion of the racing yet to come.
The Tour Biking
July 7-13
6 Nights / Challenging
Start / Finish: Basel / Chambery
US$5,995 ($500 single supp.)
Call me if you want to Follow the Yellow Jersey!