Le Tour de France 2014 With Thomson Bike Tours

My husband, Greg, and one of our Sons, Christopher,  decided (on the spur of the moment) to attend Le Tour de France Cycle Race.

Initially I had planned to join them. However, not being all that passionate about the Tour myself, I thought it could a Father and Son’s trip of a lifetime. Without the cost of excess baggage (Moi, and the expense of ME joining them) it meant my husband could afford the more expensive (but worth EVERY cent) VIP Spectator Tour with American company Thomson Bike Tours

Greg and Chris met at the airport in Paris before flying to Toulouse where they were to meet up with the Thomson crew. They were lucky to be joining the final week of Le Tour de France, so they were excited beyond words.

Day 1:

The guys (and some other VIP guests) were picked up from their hotel by Jordi, their coach driver, and Jacinta, their tour guide.

Jacinta and Jordie

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After stopping at another hotel for the remaining tour guests they embarked on the two hour drive to the Mercure Hotel in St Lary-Soulan, their home for the next four nights.

Mercure Hotel St Lary Soulan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

St Lary Soulan

On the way Jacinta told everyone about how well the previous weeks’ tours had gone, and filled them in on the plans for the week ahead.

Of utmost importance was learning the theme song for the week: Spanish song Bailando, by Enrique Iglesias, a truly memorable experience, according to Greg.

Another vital component of the week’s entertainment was the Aussie inspired game of ‘Spotto’, the rules of which changed frequently and without notice, according to Chris.

Being a rest day for Le Tour de France meant that the Thomson Tour guests had time to travel without missing any cycling action.

On arrival at the hotel the VIP guests settled in before gathering in the outdoor entertaining area where they were welcomed to the city by the Mayor, and greeted by hotel management.

Day 2: (Stage 16 of Le Tour)

Everyone rose early to drive to the first VIP Tour spectator point, near the finish line in Bagneres-de-Luchon. The scenery was spectacular along the way, the views breathtaking. The group strolled through the town several hours before the roads were closed to spectators. They walked along the cycle route, and as close to the finish line as they were allowed…… They had plenty of time to soak up the atmosphere and have lunch with some other VIP guests, before being taken behind the scenes where they saw all the media trucks and vans which add to the spectacle which is Le Tour de France.

On the Winners Podium

 

 

The highlight of their day was gaining access to the winner’s podium, where the Thomson group were allowed to pose for photos.

 

 

 

Michael Rogers Crosses the Finish Line

 

Aussie Michael Rogers

Watching Aussie Michael Rogers cross the finish line first to win stage 16 was an exciting bonus for the Australian guests.

 

 

The ‘Transformer’ Bus Entertainment Area

 

 

 

 

 

 

Greg was astonished to see that the bar/entertaining area for the afternoon was what he nicknamed a ‘transformer bus’. This was an incredible entertainment centre on wheels which expanded in all directions to become a three storey entertainment platform.

 

 

Day 3 (Stage 17)

Greg and Chris spent the morning meandering through the village of St Lary-Soulan before heading up to check out the finish line at the summit of Pla d’Adet by cable car. As they said, this was much easier than the cyclists’ ascent would be via pedal power later in the day.

Greg with Sports Commentator Phil Liggett

 

 

According to Greg one of the highlights of day three was meeting world renowned sports commentator Phil Liggett who was covering the tour. The American guests were also thrilled to meet their NBC commentators.

 

 

 

Later the group headed back down to the village to soak up the atmosphere and wait for the promotional procession (known as the Caravan) to come through. This happens about an hour in advance of the peloton. They throw an enormous array of sponsors’ promotional products. Greg and Chris enjoyed collecting up as many items as possible, before redistributing the goodies to families nearby. There were food items, t shirts, hats, key rings and many other items.

When the peloton came through Greg and Chris were amazed to be standing only about a metre away as the cyclists came through, downhill at top speed.

Knowing there wasn’t time to get back up to the summit before the leaders crossed the finish line, the group took  the short walk back to the hotel, where they watched the finish on television screens. Rafal Majka was the winner of Stage 17.

 

Rafal Majka Stage 17 Winner

Day 4 (Stage 18)

Greg said everyone was up and ready to go super early on day 4. They had to be on the coach and getting tuned into the Bailando theme song by 7am, ready to travel to their private race viewing hospitality area in Hautacam.

The Thomson Bike Tour VIP Spectators and Cyclists

This is where the entire Thomson Bike Tour group (cyclists and spectators) met in a car park for group photos. The tour cyclists rode to the top while the VIP spectators travelled comfortably up in small vans, tooting and encouraging the riders as they drove by. One cyclist (Tom) was almost 80 years young!

 

The excitement was building as the vans drove past campsites where people had been waiting for weeks, in anticipation of getting close to the cycling action. Other spectators were walking with their picnic gear, out for a day trip to soak up the sunshine and make the most of the Tour de France atmosphere.

VIP Marquees at Hautacam

On arrival at the designated parking area the group settled in to the Thomson VIP spectator area which was about 1.5 KM from the finish line.

Many guests took the option of walking up to the finish line for a look before heading back for lunch, while they waited for the tour to come through.

 

 

Chris said that the Hautacam VIP Experience was second to none: A live Salsa band, huge plasma TV screens, and coffee machines to accompany an extensive range of delicious food – the Thomson group’s very own five star experience in this famous resort town.

The group used recycled materials gathered from previous days’ races to make signs with personal messages, hoping to get their 5 minutes of fame on the world TV stage.

How Many Signs Can We Collect?

Jacinta with her Thomson Tour sign

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The excitement built to fever pitch as the promotional Caravan came through, raining goodies down on top of everyone. Again the VIP spectators had an excellent vantage point; on a curve about 1.5km from the finish line. Greg said the cyclists passed by so close that he could have reached out and touched them.

Immediately preceding the peloton was a huge entourage of helicopters, official cars, media/photographer motor bikes and other support vehicles. The spectators rushed to the fence and started cheering loudly, again with excitement reaching fever pitch.

By this time Italian Vincenzo Nibali had stormed to the lead. The group watched on the big screen as he crossed the finish line, winning stage 18 comfortably. A highlight for the Thomson Tour cyclists was that they were allowed to ride back down the climb alongside the professionals, ‘an unforgettable experience’, they said.

It took an hour or more before the spectator vans moved out of the car park, and another hour to move down from Hautacam. It had been a very long and tiring day (by now it was after 10pm) hence a very quiet trip back to the hotel in St Lary-Soulan

Day 5 (stage 19)

After breakfast the Thomson coach departed, with Bailando fired up yet again, to travel to the departure town of Maubourguet, which was staging the tour for the first time in Le Tour’s 101 year history. The Thomson group had VIP access to the departure village which was fascinating. Greg said it was like an expo, where the sponsors and the host town showcase their produce and wares.

BMC Swiss Team Coach

The crowd was rapidly building as the professional cyclists’ support crews and team coaches rolled into the departure village.The mechanics cordoned off their areas and finished preparing the bikes while the cyclists remained in their coaches for team meetings, massages and any other preparations they required. About an hour before the start the cyclists rode through the spectators, down to an area where they were required to sign in for the day’s racing.

BMC Swiss Team Support Car

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This was where theVIP spectators were able to be up close and personal with some of the world’s greatest cyclists.

Whilst walking back to their designated meeting point Greg stopped to ask a cyclist if he could have a photo with him. It turned out it was Garmin Sharp cyclist, New Zealander, Jack Bauer . Jack was very friendly and obliging, happy to engage in a great chat and some NZ/Aussie banter. ‘A super nice guy’, Greg said.

Greg with NZ Cyclist Jack Bauer

The tour group met for lunch before travelling back to St Lary-Soulan where they watched the race on the big screens. Several cyclists had crashed just a few km from the finish line. It was raining, which made the roads dangerously slippery. Lithuanian Cyclist Ramunas Navardauskas (Garmin Sharp team mate of Kiwi Jack Bauer) won stage 19 by being ahead of the peloton when the crashes were upsetting those in his wake.

Chris and Greg dined at a local French Hotel, enjoying some quiet Father and Son time after another full on day.

Day 6 (Stage 20, and Bonjour Paris!)

Another long day began with an early breakfast before leaving the spectacular Pyrenees and heading to Bordeaux, where the group caught the TGV train to Paris. Capable of speeds up to 300kmh, the TGV hurtled through the picturesque French countryside, reaching Paris in no time.  On arrival the Thomson tour group was taken to the Edouard V11 Hotel on Avenue de L’Opera. After checking in the group found a cafe nearby where staff agreed to turn on the telecast of the individual time trials. Chris and Greg tried traditional French cuisine: Foie Gras, and Escargot. Chris said he’d line up for Foie Gras again, but the snails ‘weren’t anything special’.  The Thomson group relaxed and socialised for the afternoon before retiring early, ready for the Grand Finale. Winner of Stage 20 was German Cyclist Tony Martin.

Day 7 (Stage 21)

Chris and Greg went for an early morning run/walk along the nearby Champs Elysees, up to the Arc de Triomphe. Some spectators had already taken their places by 8am, prepared to wait all day at their favourite vantage points, in readiness for the cyclists to start rolling through late in the afternoon.

The Arc de Triomphe

 

For the first time in Le Tour’s 101 year history professional women cyclists were invited to participate in the final stage, completing several exhibition laps along the Champs Elysees and around the Arc de Triomphe.

 

 

The Thomson group had a VIP marquee from which they could see the finish line. The excitement was ramping up by late afternoon as the sponsor caravans and support crews preceded the cyclists’ arrival.

 

The VIP Marquee on the Camps Elysses

First to cross the finish line was German Marcel Kittel, who won the day’s final sprint. The overall Tour de France winner for 2014 was Italian Vincenzo Nibali who crossed the line in the main peloton, closely flanked by his excited Astana team mates. The crowd erupted with raucous clapping and cheering. Their excitement reached fever pitch when two French riders took their places on the podium.

 

After the race the cyclists completed additional parade laps, giving high fives and showing the spectators some tricky manoeuvres on their bikes.

Chris was nicknamed ‘Krittel’ by Jacinta, who thought he resembled Marcel Kittel. Hmmm, what do YOU think?

Chris was nicknamed ‘Krittel’

Which is the real Marcel Kittel?

Thomson Bike Tours VIP Spectators

Dinner on the Sein

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Thomson Bike Tour group later walked to the Seine River where they enjoyed a dinner cruise to top off an incredible week of fun, fellowship and all things French.

 

 

 

Day 8 Au Revoir France!

Greg and Chris bade the other guests farewell and took a quick walk to the magnificent Sacre Couer Basilica before parting company and beginning the long journey back to their respective homelands…..

Would Greg and Chris recommend Thomson Bike Tours to family & friends?  ‘Absolutely!’ 

In fact they enjoyed the VIP Spectator trip so much that they’d like to return and do a cycling tour. As accomplished cyclists themselves, they admitted to feeling a little (OK, a LOT!) envious of the Thomson Bike Tour Cyclists.

Sacre Coeur Basilica