11-Jul-2014

Day 1

TDF Stage 7: Epernay > Nancy, 233km

Today's Ride: 30km on some quiet back-roads to introduce you to this beautiful region.

We will collect you from Zurich airport hotel in the morning and transfer to our hotel in the Haut-Rhin region of Alsace. After settling into your rooms, we’ll assist with assembly of your bike or, if you’re hiring one of our Malvern Stars, with fitting it to your measurements. With this out of the way we should have timed things well enough to watch stage 7 of le Tour on television before heading out on our first ride together. The site of today’s stage finish, Nancy, happened to be the site where Phil took the yellow jersey in his second Tour back in 1981.

The evening will be finished with a group dinner where we can get to know each other and Phil.  Phil might recap memories of the finish in Nancy when he took Le Tour’s lead back in the early 80s'.

12-Jul-2014

Day 2

TDF Stage 8: Tomblaine > Gérardmer La Mauselaine, 161km

Today's Ride: 100-130km in the hills with a view of the finish of stage 8 of le Tour in Gérardmer.

These early stages over intermediate terrain should provide excellent racing. It’s possible that the General Classification riders will embark on risky early attacks, whilst perennial French favourites Sylvian Chavanel and Thomas Voeckler will be looking to capitalise on their ever-ambitious attacking strength in their own moves. Shortly before the hilltop finish in Gérardmer La Mauselaine will be the Col du Grosse Pierre, a hill known locally as “the impossible climb”. This narrow and steep road is expected to create havoc in the peloton and will be great viewing. 

We leave the hotel by vélo and head west, skirting the Vosges range, finishing close to today’s stage finish. We haven’t hit the high mountains yet, but this is France—there is no escape from at least a little climbing. We’ll have lunch close to the finish line while the ambiance of Gérardmer builds in excitement. 

13-Jul-2014

Day 3

TDF Stage 9: Gérardmer > Mulhouse, 166km

Today's Ride: 80km in the hills.

You might remember this area of the Vosges from Heinrich Haussler’s sensational and rainy stage win in 2009. Organisers of le Tour were disappointed that year that the General Classification riders didn’t fight harder. Will we see a beautiful solo breakaway victory like Haussler’s again, or will the bigger players be on high alert?

Stage 9 passes close to our hotel so we have planned a ride to intersect the race so we can take in the entire circus as it rolls past, from the publicity caravan to the broom wagon.

We’ll ride from the hotel into Vosges again to find le Grand Ballon, the highest peak in today’s stage at 1343m, where we’ll stop to view the race go by in its closing stages. These mountains should challenge you as much as the TdF organisers expect this new range to test the peloton.

14-Jul-2014

Day 4

TDF Stage 10: Mulhouse > La Planche des Belles Filles, 161km

Today's Ride: 120km with decent hills.

La Planche des Belles Filles is the second Mountaintop finish in this years Tour, but will be much harder than the first. It promises to provide some aggressive racing as the GC contenders test each other. Chris Froome defied Sky team orders back in 2012 to take a win on this climb in front of team leader Sir Wiggins, who still took the Malliot Jaune at the top. No-doubt he would like to send a message to his rivals by doing the same again this year, and we’ll be there to see if he’s still capable of pulling it off.

Today’s ride will be our most challenging yet and good ramp toward the Alpes. We’ll be departing early in order to reach the final climb of La Planche des Belles Filles ahead of the race for some great spectating of the early shots being fired in the general classification battle. La Planche des Belles Filles is 6km long and reaches 1013m. The average gradient is a relatively solid 8.5%, but at the top you will find a short section of 28%, which you might agree is a little more than relatively solid.

15-Jul-2014

Day 5

TDF First Rest Day

Today's Ride: 30km, undulating.

As the pros take their rest day, so do we. Today will be a transfer south to the Alps. With a long journey ahead of us, there is the option of a short early morning roll through the Rhine Valley with the likely possibility of a coffee stop.

Those who choose to forgo the bike altogether today may like to visit nearby Colmar, an amazingly well preserved historical town that will enchant with walks through the old town and so-called “little Venice”.

Following our relaxed morning we’ll depart south on our journey into the Alpes, where the high mountains await us, and the Tour de France.

16-Jul-2014

Day 6

TDF Stage 11: Besancon > Oyonnax, 186km

Today's Ride: 100km in the mountains, including the Col du Granier and the Col du Coq.

Today we escape le Tour for a moment to ride a hugely spectacular and mountainous loop on the Plateau de Chartreuse.  After leaving Grenoble, our first mountain will be the Col du Granier. We will climb the side that le Tour used in 2012, which is just under 10km long and has a maximum gradient of 17%.

After traversing the stunning Plateau de Chartreuse we’ll have a rest and lunch in the small town of St Pierre de Chartreuse before our next major mountain. The Col du Coq is 12.8km long at an average gradient of 8.5%. 

This is some of Phil’s favourite riding in the Alpes and will be a highlight of the tour.

17-Jul-2014

Day 7

TDF Stage 12: Bourg en Bresse > St Etienne, 183km

Today's Ride: 45km or 90km

Alpe d’Huez is the classic Alpes experience and needs no introduction here. So while le Tour misses it this year, we won’t be forgoing the opportunity so quickly.

Today we plan to have an early start from our hotel and ride deep up the valley to tackle the infamous 21 hairpin bends of l’Alpe d’Huez.  At 14km, this isn’t the longest climb in the Alpes, but with an average gradient of 7.7% it certainly doesn’t make for an easy day out. Every cyclist knows Alpe d’Huex: it is a climb embedded deep within the mythology of bicycle racing. From the famous “look” Lance Armstrong gave Jan Ulrich before attacking in 2001 to the three up attacks the Schleck brothers and Carlos Sastre inflicted Cadel Evans in 2008, every time the Tour comes here legends are born.

Today will be a challenge so to make sure everyone can Alpe d’Huez we’ll have two ride options, 45km and 90km.

18-Jul-2014

Day 8

TDF Stage 13: St Etienne > Chamrousse, 200km

Today's Ride: 70km loop before climbing to Chamrousse, or 25km ride to Chamrousse

Today’s Tour stage to the ski resort of Chamrousse (1750m) will be critical. The climb will be close to our hotel and we are spoiled for good riding to warm-up on before meeting the race. If your legs are no longer responding to the ambitions of your mind after the preceding two days, you might choose to take it easy today by riding directly from the hotel to a good position for spectating the Chamrousse climb, where the racers will suffer instead.

Today’s ride offers a choice of either a 70km loop out of Grenoble before climbing to Chamrousse, or a direct 25km ride to a point on the Chamrousse finishing climb at which to stop and watch the race go past. The climb itself is 20km in length with an average gradient of 7%. The last time this climb was used in the Tour de France was in 2001 for a Time Trial that Lance Armstrong “won”.

Tonight is our final evening together, and after all our achievements in the Alps, a celebratory farewell dinner in Grenoble will be in order.

19-Jul-2014

Day 9

TDF Stage 14: Grenoble > Risoul, 177km

Today's Ride: -

This morning our Alsace to Alps Tour comes to une fin. After breakfast you will have the choice to either extend your stay in our wonderful accommodation, or we can assist in a transfer into Grenoble TGV station for your onward travels.  You may wish to stay to watch the peloton as stage 14 rolls out of the city.

Today is the end of services provided by Phil Anderson Cycling Tour Travel representatives unless you are travelling with us to the next stage of the Tour de France.