01-Jul-2016

Day 1

Today's Ride:

We start our ‘Grand Depart’ tour with a pick up at Paris Orly airport and transfer to the heart of La Manche to our new hotel where we will do some preparation training for the days ahead.

The laneways and roads of Normandy are a classic French affair, narrow hedgerows that undulate through tranquil rural France. Experience first hand classic riding through small sleepy towns via the labyrinth-like network of narrow roads that offer the essential elements of a memorable ride before Le Tour has started.

The indulgences continue with a welcome dinner in the gastronomic style that we expect in France, fine dining and wine to welcome you to France and Le Tour.

02-Jul-2016

Day 2

Stage 1: Mont Saint Michel>Utah Beach, 188km

Today's Ride:

The 2016 Tour de France will start in spectacular fashion at the foot of Mont Saint Michel and finish at the remote Utah beach, site of the D-Day landings. Reminiscent of a standard road race, entirely within la Manche, the stage has all the ingredients for a classic clash of the Titans as the sprinters battle for line honours and the first Yellow Jersey of Le Tour.

As spectacular as the stage finish may be, we have planned a ride that will follow the coast. A favourite area of Phil’s, he remarked “Riding in this corner reminds me of Southern Ireland, remote, narrow roads, windswept hollows that reveal stone cottages shrouded in coastal mist.”

Riding South with the English channel on our right and with spectacular views en-route we plan to position ourselves nicely to spectate the stage in the closing kilometres where the remnants of any breakaway should have been caught, and, where the strongest teams will be stringing out the peloton to a long single line of riders. The stampede to the line via the narrow twisted lanes with the sprinters trains in control will be well worth viewing.

We will return to our hotel and wander down to the village to sample the produce of France.

3-Jul-2016

Day 3

Stage 2: Saint Lo>Cherbourg-Octeville, 182km

Today's Ride:

The second stage of the 2016 Tour de France will start in Saint-Lo and cross the Cherbourg where the peloton is expected to fragment and the General Classification contenders will be forced to show their hand on the Côte de Cherbourg and the final climb of the Côte de la Glacerie setting the stage for the podium in Paris.

From our Hotel in Bricquebec we will ride down the spine of the Cotentin Peninsula. The brilliant riding will continue on tiny quiet roads and our jaunt will take us to the Village depart in Saint Lo. The stage start is your chance to see the riders arriving in the team buses, the mechanics making last minute frantic adjustments to the latest state of the art bikes. Watch the riders sign the registry and make their way to the start line.

Once the peloton rolls out we plan to chase the race in our vans to the stage finish area of Cherbourg-Octeville. Intersecting the race at the top of the Côte de la Glacerie the most critical point of the stage, we will be positioned just before the finish line and outside of the town periphery. This will be the ultimate in finish line spectating as the tension builds for the finale.

At stage end we will linger and celebrate the finale in town for a meal and ale before heading back to our hotel.

04-Jul-2016

Day 4

Stage 3: Granville>TBA

Today's Ride:

Le Tour de France sets a demanding course for riders and spectators alike. Mounting our steeds, humbled once the new rides of the pro peloton have been inspected we will ride to intersect the race as the peloton leaves La Manche and heads in the direction of the Somme.

We will traverse the laneways of Normandy, not yet tiring of the Abbey’s, chateau’s and villages of the regional natural park in our path to a race intersection that will be early enough for us to engage in and be part of the publicity caravan. The spoils of le tour are as much about the free swag from the caravan as the race itself. Position is important, Aussie rules high marking skills handy and as much free swag that can be carried eliminates the necessity to shop for gifts for family at home.

A breakaway is likely with a relaxed peloton meandering by waving to bystanders until their work day starts half of the way into the stage. Once they pass we move to our next destination, a private estate in beautiful Deauville where finally, our tour almost over we can relax and celebrate le Tour de France.

05-Jul-2016

Day 5

TBA

Today's Ride:

Today is the end of the Phil Anderson Cycling Tours 2016 Grand Depart Tour. Le Tour is heading South with the start of Stage 4 most likely Saumur.

Phil Anderson can drop you to the closest TGV station in Rennes unless you choose to linger in our current accommodation for a little longer.

Thank you for traveling with PAC Tours.