TdF - watching a stage start

[kent_rider]

Hi All
firstly, thanks to all regular poster's here - I have passively enjoyed your contributions here for some time, and secondly, my apologies if this is in wrong place or the question has been asked before.

I'm interested to know if anyone has been to start of a TdF Stage, and if so, is it a worthwhile experience? - do you get to see riders warming up, are the crowds bearable etc ?

I've been to finishes and halfway before, but the route this year makes a trip to the start of stage 5 in Arras the only real practical option for a "1 day off work" trip from the UK - evening ferry to Calais, morning train to Arras to arrive 1100, watch the start 1300 (ish) then 110kms ride back to Calais with dinner on the way for the 2000 ferry

any comments / thoughts would be most welcome

 

[Master50]

Except for TTs you won't see too much warming up. Some riders don't come out of the bus until they go to sign on. The teams usually arrive 1 /1/2 to 2 hours before the start in their bus. There are bikes and mechanics, team signers loading the cars. maybe a tent with a few riders having a coffee. It is often a lot quieter than the finishes, As the time to start approaches the tempo goes up and if you are near the sign on there are often autograph hounds and there is usually some crowd by 40 minutes to start. Then there is the publicity caravan that starts out an hour or more before the race. I went to the tour in the 80s but in general my description applies to the tour as much as any high level bike race.
Some riders will line up a while before the start but most riders come 10 to 15 minutes to the start line. I find the biggest names often arrive at sign on with only a few minutes to close of sign on.
You understand the jersey wearers can arrive seconds to start and get a free path to the front. Actually they are obliged to be at the start ahead of the general peloton for publicity. Just that if you are looking to get an autograph these are the hardest to get near and are often only out in the open for a few minutes.