Tour questions

[McLovin]

Hello,
I will assist for the first time this year at the Tour. I will stay near Briancon so I will be very close for 4 stages. I have a few questions for those who have been with the caravan before: How long before and after the peloton passes the road is closed? If i'll try to assist the Galibier mtf and Alp d'Huez mtf, how many hours before should I be there to find a parking spot? ( dumb question but your experience might give me an ideea) .
I am waiting for any advices! Thank you very much!

 

[Cobblestoned]

Hello,
I will assist for the first time this year at the Tour. I will stay near Briancon so I will be very close for 4 stages. I have a few questions for those who have been with the caravan before: How long before and after the peloton passes the road is closed? If i'll try to assist the Galibier mtf and Alp d'Huez mtf, how many hours before should I be there to find a parking spot? ( dumb question but your experience might give me an ideea) .
I am waiting for any advices! Thank you very much!

Roads closed around 2 h before caravane comes, means in the morning, most times around 10:00. But you should look for a nice spot around 8:00, if you want to avoid stress and chaos.

If you want a nice spot for your caravan at MTF, especially Huez,, you have to be there 2 days before.

Perhaps a Dutch person can help you even more. They have a lot of passion for caravan-trips.

 

[McLovin]

tahnks. actually I will stay at a studio in serre chevalier and i'll try to go to galibier with my car. I guess it will be full maybe lautaret will be more possible

 

[ezwicky]

If i'll try to assist the Galibier mtf and Alp d'Huez mtf, how many hours before should I be there to find a parking spot?

as cobblestoned says, you need to be at the top of alpe d'huez a few days before the arrivee. the roadside spots fill up quickly too, all the way up. the best way to see the finish is to ride your bike up the morning of, then get yourself a spot by the giant screen at the last corner before the uphill straight to the finish on the avenue rif nel.

i've been there four times, but we always stay at the same hotel and walk around. i hope this helps!

 

[McLovin]

So no chance to 'climb' with my car. I'm also with my wife so I don't think she'll love me as much as today if in July, in one morning I'll say to her: pumpkin, grab your bag, you'll climb the Galibier today. Don't worry, is smaller than Bonnete.
Then I'll open a thread here so you can help me put my mariage on track

 

[ezwicky]

haha, sorry, no chance for the car on the day of the event. i col dkick myself for not getting my usual hotel in time (hotel castillan). i waited just a few days tool ong after the route announcement last october and they were all booked up.

i might still think about getting a place in bourg d'oisans and renting bikes for me and my son to ride up the alpe.

 

[luckyboy]

Is it possible to get up the Galibier from the other side on race day? That's the only way I'll be able to get to the top.

 

[McLovin]

i waited just a few days tool ong after the route announcement last october and they were all booked up.

interesting....i booked in serre chevalier last month ( the tour will pass 3 times in that area), and I think they still have places to rent.

 

[ezwicky]

yeah but alpe d'huez is different for some reason. you really have to book within a few days of the route announcement. but i am going to go online and see if there might be anything still available... sometimes there might be a cancellation.

 

[SennHeiser]

Is it possible to get up the Galibier from the other side on race day? That's the only way I'll be able to get to the top.

Yup, a lot of people get up via the other side with their bikes.
I did it on foot in '05, comming from la grave (camping) up to the foot of the Lautaret. Took a couple of hours. Next time on a bike.

 

[Cobblestoned]

Is it possible to get up the Galibier from the other side on race day? That's the only way I'll be able to get to the top.

Whether this is possible, just depends on you.