Grand Depart Lille

[TakeTheHighRoad]

Im getting really excited for this now. Staying in Lens and will head over to Lille at some point

 

[cisamcgu]

Mrs Cisamcgu and I are thinking of going. Flying to Brussels and getting the train to Lille and staying there for 3 days, the back to Brussels for a day or two before home. Probably seeing the finish since the start is a few km out of town and we will be on foot, much as I would like to see the beginning. (And it is hard to actually see where it starts and if that is the real start or the 'lets race now' after 5km ..)

Any advice gratefully accepted

 

[Gwylan]

I like Lille. It's well worth staying for a couple of days to potter about if you have the time. The Grand Départ and the finish don't seem that far from the city centre. They are certainly within cycling distance (or a brisk walk from the main railway station).

Lille? Cross the border much more fun, in theory.

 

[mjr]

. (And it is hard to actually see where it starts and if that is the real start or the 'lets race now' after 5km ..)

Any advice gratefully accepted

The grand depart stage with riders signing-on and interviews was worth seeing in Leeds. Even the Tour of Britain stage start stage in Haverhill was worth seeing, but there km0 was on a loop so we could walk to it in time. If the finish is close enough that you can get between them in time, I'd go to the depart fictif and the finish. If only one, then the finish.

Also, there are trains from the UK to Lille, and boats to places with trains to Lille. Flying to another city first seems a bit 🙁 unless starting on another continent.

 

[cisamcgu]

It is only about 45 minutes by train from Brussels to Lille, and the price of a Eurostar was somewhere over £550 for the two of us, we can fly to Brussels for under £200. Plus we don't live in London or in the South, so that would add expense using the Eurostar train or ferries.

Thanks for the advice, we hope to see both the start and the end, but still trying to find the info of where the start actually is

 

[T4tomo]

It is only about 45 minutes by train from Brussels to Lille, and the price of a Eurostar was somewhere over £550 for the two of us, we can fly to Brussels for under £200. Plus we don't live in London or in the South, so that would add expense using the Eurostar train or ferries.

Thanks for the advice, we hope to see both the start and the end, but still trying to find the info of where the start actually is

nearer the time the real detail comes out with route in full detail, press pack, road closure timings, routes for support vehicles, caravan timings etc etc

 

[cisamcgu]

nearer the time the real detail comes out with route in full detail, press pack, road closure timings, routes for support vehicles, caravan timings etc etc

Thanks

 

[king of the mole hills]

It is only about 45 minutes by train from Brussels to Lille, and the price of a Eurostar was somewhere over £550 for the two of us, we can fly to Brussels for under £200. Plus we don't live in London or in the South, so that would add expense using the Eurostar train or ferries.

Thanks for the advice, we hope to see both the start and the end, but still trying to find the info of where the start actually is

 

[Cathryn]

Thank you for those maps etc! That the info I’ve been after for ages

 

[cisamcgu]

Thank you for that map, really helpful !

 

[T4tomo]

Thanks

Clearly it's already out in printed form!!!! That is what I was referring to. Obviously they sell the physical copies before putting it online....

 

[king of the mole hills]

About a tenner from Sainsbury's

 

[TakeTheHighRoad]

I will be driving to the first KOM on Stage 1, and then on into Lille afterwards. I'll be in Lens in the morning, would I be right to assume the main road through Lens towards Notre Dame de Lorette will be closed

 

[TakeTheHighRoad]

Also, if anyone wants a lift in and around Nord-Pas de Calais that weekend, I will take bottles of Ch'ti beer as payment 😅

 

[Spartak]

Does anyone know if the Team presentation will be on the Friday night, 4th ?
If so where will it be held ?

Travelling over early Friday morning ... 👍