DAY 1, July 18: Welcome to the Pyrenees!

Our amazing week of cycling starts at the Toulouse airport where we’ll meet at approximately 12PM. (Exact meeting time to be confirmed at a later date) We’ll pack the bikes and board the EUROPEDS shuttle bus for the transfer to our hotel in Cauterets. Cauterets is about a 3 hour drive from Toulouse. It’s our favorite village in the Pyrenees and you’ll discover why we love this charming spot. We’ll take this afternoon to check in, stretch the legs, and assemble the bikes. In the early evening, we’ll have an orientation meeting and welcome aperitif before heading out to a restaurant in town for our kick off dinner. Dinner tonight will be in town at one of the local restaurants. We’ll sample our fist taste of French cuisine and toast the legendary week ahead.

DAY 2, July 19: Conquer Le Tourmalet!

After breakfast at the hotel, we’ll gather outside the hotel for a final meeting and bike safety check. As the Tour riders head west today from Pamiers to Bagnères-de-Luchon, we’ll take our time to explore the area and discover the beauty of this part of the French Pyrenees. Our ride out of town is not your average morning ride. At 3000 feet, Cauterets makes for an exhilarating vantage point from which to start the day’s ride. The 9km downhill will take only minutes, and before long we’re riding through the valley floor. Today’s ride is one of the most beautiful and classic rides that we know of in France and you’ll enjoy spectacular scenery as we begin the climbing that takes us to Bagneres-de-Bigorre. We’ll stop in Bagneres-de-Bigorre for lunch before mounting the bikes to conquer the afternoon’s challenge – Le Col du Tourmalet. For those who never ridden the Tourmalet...you’re in for a treat. We’ll stop at the summit for photos and a cool beverage before we start the incredible downhill to Luz St. Saveur below. Once we’re in the valley again it’s a 20 mile ride back to our hotel in Cauterets. We’ll enjoy dinner together tonight in our Hotel’s dining room. Mileage for the day is approximately 75 with some serious hills. Not to worry though- The SAG wagon will be there every step of the way and you’re encouraged to use it whenever you want.

DAY 3, July 20: Stage 16, Bagneres-de-Luchon to Pau!

To say today will be exciting would be a serious understatement. Before the Tour de France riders begin their arduous trek from Bagneres-de-Luchon today, we’ll be up early making our way to the summit of the Col d’Aubisque to set up camp with the thousands of other fans who’ll be there too. Today’s 196km stage takes the riders over 5 huge Cols (hills) and we’ll be strategically placed on the last of the 5 hills (Col d’Aubisque) to watch this amazing stage. We’ll revel in the atmosphere as we share the experience with a world of other cycling fans. When the fireworks are over, we’ll enjoy a beautiful ride back down the valley before we commence our climb back up to Cauterets. Dinner tonight will be “on your own” in any one of Cauteret’s restaurants. Mileage for the day is approximately 60, with some serious hills.

DAY 4, July 21: Ride to the Beautiful village of Gavarnie

As the Tour riders have a jour de repos (rest day) today, we’ll use the break to discover the amazing beauty and climbs of the Pyrenees. After breakfast, we’ll descend to the valley floor again and cruise back towards Luz St. Saveur. We’ll pass the Tourmalet (we’ll be back tomorrow for the race) and begin a stunning yet mellow climb up to Gavarnie. We’ll enjoy majestic views and we’ll feast again on a EUROPEDS picnic in Gavarnie. You’ll again be amazed by this local beauty. Gavarnie is recognized as a world heritage site by UNESCO both for its natural and cultural landscape. After lunch, we’ll cycle back to Cauterets and perhaps enjoy a café along the way. Dinner tonight will be together at a restaurant in town. Mileage for the day is about 50, and the hills aren’t that bad.

DAY 5, July 22: Stage 17, Pau to Tourmalet!

The excitement builds again today as the Tour comes back to us. We’ll have to be up early today as we aim to beat the crowds and get a start to the climb of the western slopes of the Tourmalet. Today’s epic, mountain top finish will surely be an event to behold. We’ll have front row seats for the action! Find your place on the Tourmalet – whether it’s at the summit or at a café on the way up, you’ll never forget this day! We’ll be among thousands of cycling fans, and the international flavor is a huge part of the fun. When the stage is over, we’ll make our way back down the Tourmalet and then up the hill to Cauterets for the last time. Tonight’s dinner is again “on your own” in Cauterets. Mileage for the day is about 50-60 with one major hill!

DAY 6, July 23: Transfer to the Medoc Region north of Bordeaux

As the tour riders leave the hills of this year’s Tour behind and head for Bordeaux, we’ll do the same. An early departure will have us back on our motor coach and on the road for the amazing Medoc wine region. We’ll leave the hills of the Pyrenees behind and travel to the flatlands of the Medoc. The simplicity of the Pyrenees will stand in stark contrast to our experience for the next two nights. An early afternoon arrival at the Chateau de Meyre outside of Margaux will give us time to check in and go for a swim before meeting for a private tour of the chateau’s winery followed by a degustation (wine tasting). We’ll board our vans for a quick trip to an amazing local restaurant for a spectacular meal accompanied by some of the regions famous wines!

DAY 7, July 24: Stage 19 Individual Time Trial Bordeaux to Pauillac!

Due to our perfect location, today provides you with several options for stage viewing. The Chateau de Meyre is only about 5km from the actual Time Trial course, and you’ll be able to ride up to Pauillac to see the finishing area, or stay near Margaux and watch the mid section of the race. Whatever your viewing choice for day is, you’ll have front row seats, and you’ll have your bike, which is about the only way to move around on this day. Today’s Time Trial will have no doubt crowned the Tour Champion, and we’ll have plenty to talk about during dinner. Back at the Chateau we’ll have our guides and mechanic on hand to help you break down your bikes and load them into your bike boxes. Our farewell dinner is in the Chateau de Meyre’s dining room. We’ll feast on fine French cuisine and toast the end of an amazing week. Mileage for the day is between 10 and 30 miles.

Day 8, July 25: Au Revoir to the Medoc

After breakfast at the Chateau, we’ll load the bikes into our vans and then we’ll shuttle you to the Bordeaux Airport. Please call us at (415) 272-4388 if you’d like help with any of your post tour plans.

Of Special Note:
Any train times listed in this itinerary are based on the best information available at the time of publication and are thus subject to change. Definitive schedules will become available as the trip’s start date nears. We suggest that you check with your travel agent approximately prior to your trip’s start date to purchase your train tickets and make any necessary reservations.

EUROPEDS reserves the right to modify published routes due to any unforeseen circumstances. In the event that one or another hotel is unable to accept our reservation for a given date (rare that this may be), we assure you that EUROPEDS will endeavor to book another hotel of comparable class and charm.