My French trip

[Milzy]

I’m staying at a friends holiday let on the 20th July. Deep into the TDF but a few stages left. Sadly the Alpe de Huez would be a 6.5 hour drive even in a camper would be a stretch.
So what would be more realistic to drive to? The address is:

CHEZ MOURGOUT
16310 MOUZON
CHARENTE
FRANCE

Toodles.

 

[vickster]

I’m staying at a friends holiday let on the 20th July. Deep into the TDF but a few stages left. Sadly the Alpe de Huez would be a 6.5 hour drive even in a camper would be a stretch.
So what would be more realistic to drive to? The address is:

CHEZ MOURGOUT
16310 MOUZON
CHARENTE
FRANCE

Toodles.

Google maps not working for you?

 

[Beebo]

Google maps not working for you?

AI could probably give you a decent list of option.

 

[Dogtrousers]

You'll be on the wrong side of the country/ arriving at the wrong time.

Charente is over in the West, near-ish to Bordeaux. The 20th is a rest day, before stage 16. All of stages 16-20 are in the Alps, in the East. None of these would be appreciably easier than Alpe d'Huez to drive to (21 is Paris, obvs).

Arrive 10 days earlier and stages 7-9 should be driveable.

Or just enjoy your holiday and forget about the Tour

 

[roubaixtuesday]

Or just enjoy your holiday and forget about the Tour

This. We cycled through the area a couple of years ago. It's lovely.

 

[T4tomo]

Drive to the nearest bar and watch it on TV.

 

[fossyant]

Drive to the nearest bar and watch it on TV.

Cycle !

 

[Homers Double]

Someone once asked where the best place to watch the tour was, the answer was "on the couch"

 

[Beebo]

Someone once asked where the best place to watch the tour was, the answer was "on the couch"

Yes.
Having watched in when it went through London about 18 years ago, I can confirm that a fleeting 10 second view of the peloton with no idea of how the race is developing is no substitute for actual TV coverage. And I only had a 5 minute walk,
In fact there can’t be many live spectator sports that are worse than road racing. Especially on a flat stage.

 

[Milzy]

It’s a shame, can’t go earlier because of school. Even the train to Paris might be a bit much. I’ll watch it in a bar or on Tiz cycling. Hope they have it on in local bars.

 

[T4tomo]

It’s a shame, can’t go earlier because of school. Even the train to Paris might be a bit much. I’ll watch it in a bar or on Tiz cycling. Hope they have it on in local bars.

Can't you bunk off school?

 

[Pinno718]

Yes.
Having watched in when it went through London about 18 years ago, I can confirm that a fleeting 10 second view of the peloton with no idea of how the race is developing is no substitute for actual TV coverage. And I only had a 5 minute walk,
In fact there can’t be many live spectator sports that are worse than road racing. Especially on a flat stage.

Unless you are up a mountain - that's why those stages are so popular.
Perhaps they should have a crit stage or two

 

[Pinno718]

Yes, that makes sense. It's a long way from Charente to anything tour-related later on, particularly with the stages in the Alps. Instead of going half the way, it would probably be preferable to enjoy the holiday and watch the tour on TV this time.

Café viewing is highly recommended.
My 'diet' in Dieppe when I was there for a while was hot footing it down to the café for the final hour of any stage.

 

[Dogtrousers]

in 2016 the local village hall (or similar concept, but French) had a big screen and seats. Perfect for us to watch the hatful of stages that Cav took that year. It was one of his comebacks.