I would be grateful for some guidance.......  As a newcomer to the Tour de France I have obsessively followed the last two years on television but have decided after seeing the Ventoux stage that I should experience, in the flesh,  a mountain finish next year if I can.  Or should I?  What makes it exciting on TV is the ability to see the attacks as they happen with the commentary to guide you? I guess that element would be lost and it's a trade off versus the atmosphere of being there. Maybe its better to go to a time trial and watch the mountains on TV?   

Went to France on holiday in 08 with family with a day watching a stage in mind.

Booked the accommodation pretty centrally thinking that there would be no issues with getting to see a stage pass somewhere close to us during the two weeks that we were there. When we got there and I started consulting the maps I then realised what a big country France is and that the closest the Tour got was a 3.1/2hr drive away...

We went to see Stage 6 Aigurande Super-Besse and decided to watch from the Cat 2 climb above Mont Dore. We set off early along the toll road but to my horror our exit was closed when we got there as the Tour passed beneath it! There were no warnings until we actually got to the turn off. It was then a desperate 10mile drive to the next exit then a mad dash across country through a bit of a hill pass until we got to the race route on the hill and then struggled to find anywhere to park. It's at this point that you see all the painted names on the road and you start getting a bit excited.

The race is well organised (obviously) and the roads are closed very early so make sure you get to where you want to get to in plenty of time. Even though this was a relatively tame 'mountain' on an incosequential stage and we wasn't anywhere near the finish is was very busy but we managed to get a bit of grass by the side of the road to put our travel blanket down and have a picnic.

The French have got this bit well sussed. It is a big family outing and the camping tables, table cloths, chairs & umbrellas were out as they sat eating a sit down meal with wine and food whilst the tour could be heard in the background on a radio. Even better were the camper vans with the side sun canopies extended with the families sat in the shade with the TV live coverage through the open door.

By contrast we just sat with no idea what was happening during the day in the sun waiting for the tour to arrive. It was a very hot day, if it had been raining then at this point it would have been a bit of a nightmare. 

Eventually after a number of hrs of the offical tour mercahndisers selling their wares the caravan arrived. This is a number of sponsored floats that throw some freebies out to the waiting crowd. This bit was quite pleasant and was enjoyed most by the rest of the family!

After a wait for about a further hr the police motorbikes arrived followed by a multitude of other race vehicles and cars. You would not believe how many cars are involved. Then a small breakaway went past in a second, followed by a few others, then the peleton, then Cavendish hiding amongst the team cars going up the hill, then there were a few more stragglers then a load more cars carrying bikes and that was it. It litrally took about 3mins total for everyone of the riders to get past and it all happened so quick that it was very hard to distingush any of the favourites from the peleton, although I did manage to get a few staps of Cav as he passed. It is just a wall of colour. So we walked to the car and went home!  

I've got to say that I enjoyed it but it was a bit of an anti-climax. Without any commentary you basically sit at the roadside bored for 4hrs then there is 3mins of confusing activity then you go home.

Holiday over I came home and continued to watch on the TV and took the decision to take my daughter to the final in Paris. We flew out early in the morning returning home late at night. We got to Paris about 3hrs before the tour was due to arrive in a blistering hot day. We made our way towards the Place De La Concorde where we got stuck in the crowd and the barriers near the 1km to go flag. We could go no further onto the Champs-Élysées and it was packed. We were about three rows back from the road barrier but eventually, with people moving on, we got to the front. We then stood in a relatively comfortable position, which soon became uncomfortouble, as the sun beat down unable to move if we wanted to keep our places.

It was the same formula as before, the caravan, the officials, the bikes, the team cars, but obviously there were the laps which got quicker and quicker. The atmosphere was electric and the bikes were really racing. You just couldn't see who was passing it was all so quick. I have a decent digital SLR camera which I just set to continuous shoot and pointed in the direction of the peleton as it zoomed passed. Only later could I pick out the Schleck brothers and then Sastre with Evans about 6 riders back.

A bit of a negative report after watching two stages? I suppose so but I enjoyed both experiences and would do it again although the family probably wouldn't.

To answer your question 'The best way to watch a stage?'

The actual finish is too busy as you can't move and wont see anything unless you get there early and stay in position for an uncomfortable length of time. Enroute is better and the mountain stage means they go past you a bit slower and you might see 'The' break where one of the leaders is dropped and the winner of the Tour is made. If you are watching on the roadside then take plenty of stuff to keep you comfy for an extended period of time and if you have got an English speaking radio, live TV coverage in English or a laptop and mobile internet so you can watch or listen to it developing as you wait for it to arrive then I would say that this would make the experience that much more exciting.

 

Silo,

Many many thanks for taking the time to give me the benefit of your experience and some tips to make the day better.  I guess leaving plenty of time and preparing well are critical.

Stay outside Paris near a train station. Get a train to centre of Paris and the metro to Champs Elysee. Find a spot about halfway down on the side of the finish - you get to see the race on both passes, You need to get to centre of Paris early. I did this in 91 and 93. The crowds were huge in 91 - loads of Basque, hard to believe it is any busier now. Second time I took my kids, harder work, but they still have the bidon thrown by a Carerra rider after the stage was over. My son had a Carerra jersey on, as we made our way out on the back streets a small group of domestiques rode past and the Carerra rider threw his Bidon, I guess these days even the domestiques get a bus ride from the finish. Magic days. Get there early (about 8) but there is loads to see without wandering far from your chosen spot, then elbows out for the railings as it starts to fill up.

I was there in 91 too! We got a spot right at L'arc de Triomphe which is a good place as the riders slow by on the turn and you can actually, almost see who's who.

I would love to get to a mountain stage at some time but I wondered how enjoyable it would actually be not being able to follow the day's racing and seeing everything go by in the blink of an eye.

Nothing wrong with a nice weekend in Paris!

The prologue is in Rotterdam next year - maybe that could be a manageable and fun place to start.

I have been obsessed with the TDF since 1995 when I came across it on the TV. Since then I have been to Paris twice, London, Canterbury, 3 stages in the Pyrenees & 2 in the Alps! Amazing time was had on each of them. In Paris we stood on the bend by the L'Arc de Triomphe - you need to get there early (10am ish) and remember to wait for the lap of honour after the presentations to get lots of pictures. London was of course the prologue & Canterbury we were there early to be about 50m from the finish line. We had a large TV screen right next to us to follow the race which was good. The wait is long but you get talking to other fans & time passes pretty quick. In the Pyrenees we went with Sporting Tours (official tour guide) & they dropped us off at the bottom of the last climbs of the day. Again, it was a long wait but we partied with a bunch of Rabobank supporters and the peloton was quite strung out & took 20 mins to go past. Just got back from the Alps where friends & I got up at 4am to drive to the top of the Col du Petit St Bernard! They closed the road at 9.30am but we were already there & claiming our spot. Long day but well worth it. We were up early on the Col de la Colombiere the next day which was awesome - so close to the likes of Contador (amazing guy) and Bradley. Would highly recommend you going to see a live stage, there is nothing quite like it in the world! Just be prepared for the gendarmerie closing the roads when they feel like it & you'll be fine. Roll on next year!!

 

I've been watching the tour since 1992 and haven't managed to go yet but it's on a (long list) of things still to be done....it's good to get some insight from people who've already experienced it, good and bad! The atmosphere does look electric on the mountain stages! A former colleague who retired this year has got himself a camper van and gone off with his partner to follow it for a couple of weeks this year, I'm awaiting his report on how it went!

Not the same I know but I went out to watch the Tour of Britain pass near to where I worked last year and that was great fun, got chatting to other cycling fans which passed the time and although it did go by in a blur we were by the top a hill that had points attached to it so there were officials around who kept us informed as to who was leading...when the motobikes started to come through it was a pretty exciting buildup and it's nice to feel you're playing a part in supporting the efforts of the riders.

I endorse many of the comments above. I've watched a few stages from the roadside, mostly Pyrennean climbs, which I'd recommend as a great party day out. - I agree the sprint finishes can be great spectacles too, but my personal preference was for a day on the mountains.

I've never gone as part of an organised trip, just got the Tour Schedule, and chose the mountain that I fancied. Arrive a couple of days ahead and make a holiday of it. - Check with locals the day before to find out what road closures there will be. One night we camped right under the Summit Banner of Col de Marie Blanque, because we'd heard the road would be closed before breakfast on race day. - Was a party atmosphere on the mountain, and good banter.

A couple of times we've cycled the climb on day before to spy out a good vantage point, and tap the locals for info about camping & road closures. - Don't trust published info, the times of closures will vary and the locals can help you. Occasionally a local Gendarme will be around to advise.

On the day it's just a big picnic, a day in the sun if all goes to plan. - Loads of promo vehicles in the "caravan" which runs ahead of the race. If you have kids, put them at the front of the roadside, and let them shout & catch the freebies. :)

I like a big climb because it spreads the bunch out. You get to see what real cyclists do on climbs, and it can be impressive. - With web on your mobile you can get updates, and radio of your French is OK?

It's a bit like a music festival....yes, the sound is better on CD, but it's more about being there and knowing what it was like in real life. - You would see it better on TV, but you won't forget a day at the Tour, and you'll enjoy the TV coverage better afterwards. :)

And you can bore your mates to death:  "Oh yes I know the Tourmalet quite well....those hairpins are treacherous...I recall one descent, blah, blah..."

We were in France several years ago and happened to be staying on a campsite near to a town the Tour was going through (if you already read this on another thread....) so we arrived, ate lunch in a bar/restaurant (steak, very nice), then stepped outside for the caravan and race. The race itself was there and gone in a matter of seconds, whooooossssh! Armstrong was there....somewhere. Next time (we holiday in France most years) I think I'd rather see a time trial with cyclists going past every couple of minutes. That way you can get more autographs...