Traveling to watch TdF mountain stage

DeadMan1

Hi guys,
I'm looking at finishing off next summer's holidays by catching Stage 8 of the TDF, the first big mountain stage, which goes over Col de Pailheres and finishes at Ax 3 Domaines.

I've never been at a big mountain stage of the tour and was looking for some advice … Is it possible to get far up one of these mountains on the morning of the stage? By car? or bike? How difficult is it to get off a mountain in the evening time? What should be in the survival kit?

After viewing this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-iMggpoykPo
the Col de Pailheres looks like a better place to watch the action than Ax 3.

We'll be traveling up from a nearby wedding, so I reckon I won't be allowed rent a camper van!

Thanks in advance for the help

manwithaplan

I'd leave now

kincsem

No idea, but from watching TDF DVDs you would need to get up the mountain early. I suggest a bicycle for getting down the mountain.

Paint brush
Paint
Bicycle
Sunscreen
Hat
Food & drink
National flag
Big bird costume
Air Horn (or cow bell)

07Lapierre

kincsem wrote: »

No idea, but from watching TDF DVDs you would need to get up the mountain early. I suggest a bicycle for getting down the mountain.

Paint brush
Paint
Bicycle
Sunscreen
Hat
Food & drink
National flag
Big bird costume
Air Horn (or cow bell)

And BEER! Jesus don't forget the BEER!!

Idleater

Col du palheres is a lovely climb. The bottom half has a stream beside the road.
This is about half way up. Got bitten by something that drew blood.

The top is wide open so if it's sunny, be prepared to get burnt :-)

fixie fox

Forget completely about getting a car up there the morning of the event.
You might get a car up the day before, but finding someplace to park it could be a problem.
Cycling up is best option, but then you have to find a place to stay within cycling distance.
Be prepared for huge delays on the roads after the stage.

DeadMan1

Thanks for the feedback,
I think the big bird suit will help with the sunburn.

It sounds like bikes and finding accommodation as close as possible will be key. Looks like a brute of a climb

Flandria

Sunscreen - lots of it. Surely the centenary of the Tour of Flanders is the 'must do' for 2013?

*It is the world's greatest race...

velopeloton

It is possible to drive (if you like traffic jams) onto the intermediate climbs on race day, but not the finishing climb. To see Le Tour on Ax-3-Domain will need some planning and some effort.

Options:

Camper van:

Go up in a camper van and camp there for up to a week before hand. You will need to pick your spot very well as the Gendarmerie will move any campers they are not happy with. That could be a disaster if there are no other spaces available.

Camping with a tent:

It is possible to do this the day before, make sure you go up early in the day as the Gendarmerie could decide to close the road at any time if they think there is already more than enough people up there. Be prepared, with food and water and for the pleasures of wild toileting (that’s not a phrase you hear every day!).

Going up on race day:

Either walking or cycling is the only option. You will not be able to cycle all the way to the top. The Gendarmerie will stop you from where the road is barred, usually 2 to 3km from the finish. Also be aware that you will not be able to ride the climb properly with the hundreds of thousands of people walking and cycling. If you want to ride the climb do it another day. On race day cycling is for transporting you to your chosen spot only.

Leave early and make sure you are at your chosen spot by mid-day. The Gendarmerie usually stops all cycling by 12:30 or 13:00. After that there is a constant stream of traffic, official cars, team cars and coaches, thousands of journalists, etc. The Publicity Caravan will be along at about 15:30.

After the race passes there is a mass exodus, with tens of thousands of people cycling and walking down. Cars and vans will usually be held up by the Gendarmerie until the numbers have lessened and it is safe. It will be a brief window for drivers before the road is closed again for the convoy of race and team vehicles to get off the mountain. This can take several hours so if you have driven up there don’t expect to get anywhere before 21:00. Throughout the night there will be a constant stream of cars and trucks moving the finish equipment and the campers moving on to the next climb or to the Alps for the following week. The next day the local government crews will be up there cleaning up. It is amazing how little litter is left by cycling fans, but there is a bit. By mid-day the only evidence that Le Tour was there will be the riders’ names on the road.

Col de Pailheres is great, as already said it is remote and very exposed to either very hot or very cold weather.


View from the summit looking east.

DeadMan1

velopeloton wrote: »

Going up on race day:

Either walking or cycling is the only option. You will not be able to cycle all the way to the top. The Gendarmerie will stop you from where the road is barred, usually 2 to 3km from the finish. Also be aware that you will not be able to ride the climb properly with the hundreds of thousands of people walking and cycling. If you want to ride the climb do it another day. On race day cycling is for transporting you to your chosen spot only.

Leave early and make sure you are at your chosen spot by mid-day. The Gendarmerie usually stops all cycling by 12:30 or 13:00..

Cool, thanks for the detailed advice, stunning view from the summit.
This may be a stupid idea, but would it be possible to drive up the west side of the Col de Pailheres and walk the last few kms over the summit on the morning of the stage? Or would there be a one-way system in place all day.
Trying to figure out which part of Ariege I should be looking for accommodation in.
Thanks for the advice

velopeloton

DeadMan1 wrote: »

Cool, thanks for the detailed advice, stunning view from the summit.
This may be a stupid idea, but would it be possible to drive up the west side of the Col de Pailheres and walk the last few kms over the summit on the morning of the stage? Or would there be a one-way system in place all day.
Trying to figure out which part of Ariege I should be looking for accommodation in.
Thanks for the advice

Personally I would not go anywhere near the climb in a car, get a bike and ride. It may be possible to drive up from Ax on the morning, but there is no way of knowing until then, it's up to the Gendamerie in Ax as to when the road closes. That could be the day before if they think it necessary. If you go on a bike you can get off the mountain easily after the stage, in a car be prepared for the mother of all traffic jams. Ax, Tarrascon or Foix for accommodation.

DeadMan1

velopeloton wrote: »

Personally I would not go anywhere near the climb in a car, get a bike and ride. It may be possible to drive up from Ax on the morning, but there is no way of knowing until then, it's up to the Gendamerie in Ax as to when the road closes. That could be the day before if they think it necessary. If you go on a bike you can get off the mountain easily after the stage, in a car be prepared for the mother of all traffic jams. Ax, Tarrascon or Foix for accommodation.

Better get the missus on a bike soon so!
thanks again