Shut Up Legs
Down Under Member
It passes within about 17,000km of my house, more's the pity... 
2027 Tour de France doesn’t come past my house thread
- Thread starter Gweeds
- Start date
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Alex321
Guru
- Location
- South Wales
It passes within about 17,000km of my house, more's the pity...
It may be a few years before thay have a start in Australia
No Ta Doctor
Über Member
It may be a few years before thay have a start in Australia
Obvious answer is to buy a house at Willunga Hill, so every January the TDU will come past your house. And again, and again, and again.
MasterDabber
Veteran
- Location
- Surrey and the Lot in France
The first time i was roadside to watch it was in Basingstoke in 1994. All the offices turned out and there was a good atmosphere. Managed to spot Pantani as well which was a bonus.
The second time was in France in 2012 on their way to Brives. Nice view from where we were on a rolling terrain and an area I'd cycled a lot. Rushed from roadside back to the house put the TV on in time to see Cav win the stage.
The second time was in France in 2012 on their way to Brives. Nice view from where we were on a rolling terrain and an area I'd cycled a lot. Rushed from roadside back to the house put the TV on in time to see Cav win the stage.
N0bodyOfTheGoat
Über Member
- Location
- Hampshire, UK
I've vague memories of old uni mates going to watch the Tour come near Southampton in '94, but I returned to Wirral for most of that year. Just come across this route that suggests ironically on July 7th '94, they cycled down Hampshire's biggest hill into Petersfield!
They went up my closest cat 4 climb in Bishop's Waltham, namely Beeches Hill, but a good ~17 years before Strava existed.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/738197
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ebikeerwidnes
Guru
- Location
- Widnes
Those Red Arrows chappies are just damn cheats
I mean - that Armstrong guy got totally thrown out just for a "few drugs" - that is just ridiculous - those bikes are totally against regs!!!
I reckon they are probably over the minimum weight limits though
Tashman
Well-Known Member
I remember this, I was up on New road watching it come past having got out of QMC early. I was on the back page of the Gazette in the background
Flite
Active Member
In 2012, I took a gamble on the route and booked accommodation at Grinton Youth Hostel.
Come 2014, we went a day early and toured some of the surrounding areas, admiring the decorations in towns and villages and spending some money in the tearooms etc. Evening meal at the hostel with lots of TdeF enthusiasts.
Race day morning we walked to the end of the hostel drive, set up two seats and then walked up to the summit of the Cote de Grinton, surprised that the finish gantry etc were still being erected. Huge crowds already, food stalls, and loads of riders trundling up imagining they were part of the race.
Back to the YH for a trip to the loo and to pick up our lunch then to the roadside where our two seats were still in situ, respected by the many folks who had now arrived. The build up was immersive, cheers for a helicopter, spotting which police force each moto was from, here comes the caravan and the scramble for tat. Then a lul - quiet.... More helicopters, more motos, front car telling us Jens was on a solo break, everyone cheering, jumping up and down. Then another pause before the peleton whizzed past and we tried to pick out one or two riders in the flash of colour. All the following team cars, emergency services, motos, broom wagon.
Then phut - road open, you can all go home....
You need to make a day or several of it and soak up the experience.
We took no photos - there would be far better photos than we could get in the press and on-line.
Put the phone/camera away and take it all in.
Come 2014, we went a day early and toured some of the surrounding areas, admiring the decorations in towns and villages and spending some money in the tearooms etc. Evening meal at the hostel with lots of TdeF enthusiasts.
Race day morning we walked to the end of the hostel drive, set up two seats and then walked up to the summit of the Cote de Grinton, surprised that the finish gantry etc were still being erected. Huge crowds already, food stalls, and loads of riders trundling up imagining they were part of the race.
Back to the YH for a trip to the loo and to pick up our lunch then to the roadside where our two seats were still in situ, respected by the many folks who had now arrived. The build up was immersive, cheers for a helicopter, spotting which police force each moto was from, here comes the caravan and the scramble for tat. Then a lul - quiet.... More helicopters, more motos, front car telling us Jens was on a solo break, everyone cheering, jumping up and down. Then another pause before the peleton whizzed past and we tried to pick out one or two riders in the flash of colour. All the following team cars, emergency services, motos, broom wagon.
Then phut - road open, you can all go home....
You need to make a day or several of it and soak up the experience.
We took no photos - there would be far better photos than we could get in the press and on-line.
Put the phone/camera away and take it all in.
Funny story, last time it came to Kent and went through Rochester, it went right past my sister's house. My sister lives in a very quaint old house and they were sitting on chairs on the pavement, drinking pints of beer.
A few of the spectators mistakenly thought it was a pub and went inside looking for the bar!
A few of the spectators mistakenly thought it was a pub and went inside looking for the bar!
CarbonClem
Well-Known Member
I, through a convoluted route, ended up in a private event in a hotel in Harrogate in 2014 that had a balcony overlooking the finishing straight. Had TV's to watch the days events on, food and drink was all included and Barry Hobarn was in there. Also George Clarke was filming some bits for a show he was doing on a local property developer. It carried on into the evening at an art gallery where they had raffles and a big archive memorabilia display. As well as Barry H, Brian Robinson was there too. I recall it costing a small fortune but looking back, it was pretty cool. It was also payback to my wife and daughter who I had previously subjected to a 'day out' watching the final stage in Paris - which was multiple hours amongst aggressive people in 30 degree heat with just the sanctuary provided by the Champs Elysees McDonalds.
Pross
Guru
Went to Portsmouth for that stage, it was such a novelty to have a UK stage. With hindsight it was a bit anti-climactic seeing them roll out and then a few hours later a blur of colour as they flew past again in a huge bunch sprint. I was hoping for an Abdu win but Zinali took it, just looked up who was in yellow on the day and I’m still none the wiser (Flavio Vanzella, he only won 3 races in his career but wore yellow for 2 days after GB-MG won the TTT).
Stage 2 of the 2014 Tour was a far better experience, I watched on the climb from Oughtibridge and the race was split to bits. On paper it appears that the Welsh stage next year could be similar in elevation gain but it just doesn’t look like a route that can split it up the same plus it doesn’t have a killer climb at the finish.
Stage 2 of the 2014 Tour was a far better experience, I watched on the climb from Oughtibridge and the race was split to bits. On paper it appears that the Welsh stage next year could be similar in elevation gain but it just doesn’t look like a route that can split it up the same plus it doesn’t have a killer climb at the finish.
mididoctors
Über Member
I was there that day in Portsmouth.....and the day before in Brighton. I rode from brighton that morning then rode back to London. Long summer days
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mididoctors
Über Member
I was there that day ...guessed where the break would go on a ramp leaving London. Saw Millar attack
