+1 888 396 5383 617 776 4441 [email protected] DUVINE.COM

Europe / / / Bordeaux TDF Pyrenees to Paris Bike Tour Epic Cols in the Pyrenees and Chasing the Yellow Jersey from Bordeaux to the Champs-Élysées

© 2021 DuVine Adventure + Cycling Co. Cycle two HC climbs in the Pyrenees, including the and —both featured in this year’s TDF route Follow the peloton to Saint-Émilion, Bordeaux’s beloved wine region (and the setting for Stage 20’s Time Trials) Enjoy VIP access or an exciting roadside perspective at four live stage viewings, including the extra-festive Stage 17 mountaintop finish on the Col de Portet which falls on Bastille Day Take a front row seat to the TDF’s grand finale with VIP passes in Paris Benefit from a guaranteed small group size of 10 guests maximum, led by guides who know pro cycling, history, and French culture like the backs of their hands Arrival Details Departure Details Airport City: Airport City: , France Paris, France Pick-Up Location: Drop-Off Location: Pre-night hotel in Toulouse or Toulouse Hôtel Bel Ami, Paris airport Drop-Off Time: Pick-Up Time: 10:00 am 8:30 or 9:00 am

NOTE: DuVine provides group transfers to and from the tour, within reason and in accordance with the pick-up and drop-off recommendations. In the event your train, flight, or other travel falls outside the recommended departure or arrival time or location, you may be responsible for extra costs incurred in arranging a separate transfer.

Emergency Assistance For urgent assistance on your way to tour or while on tour, please always contact your guides first. You may also contact the Boston office during business hours at +1 617 776 4441 or [email protected].

Travelers Take Note In order to follow the race stages, this itinerary includes a three- to four-hour van transfer on Day 4, and a three-hour transfer by train on Day 6. Due to the unpredictability of road closures surrounding the TDF, day-of logistical changes may be required.

Please note that electric assist is not available on this tour.

Tour By Day

DAY 1 Bienvenue!

Welcome to France! Your guides will meet you at your hotel or the airport in Tolouse for a short transfer to Saint-Lary-Soulan, our home for the next two nights. Settle in at Hotel Mir before a bike fitting and safety review. For our first ride of the week, we head into the Pyrenees and climb the Col Hourquette d’Ancizan, a hidden gem of pavement that ascends into a mountain meadow. Loop back via the western front of the Col d’Aspin and through the mountain town of Arreau. During this evening’s chalet dinner, raise glass to the TDF and the epic cols just waiting to be conquered. Tomorrow, the TDF arrives at our doorstep!

Meals: Lunch / Dinner Destinations: Col Hourquette d’Ancizan, Col d’Aspin, Arreau Accomplished: 38 miles / 61 km, elevation gain: 5,485 feet / 1,672 meters Accommodation: Hotel Mir

DAY 2 Bastille Day: Stage 17

There’s a festive feeling in the air between Bastille Day and the much-anticipated arrival of the TDF in the Pyrenees. Today we’ll ride the last 23 miles of Stage 17 ahead of the peloton, previewing the race’s first major mountain stage. Tackle the Col de Lançon first, then rise high above the valley as we climb the Col d’Azet. We’ll finish on the Col de Portet, the highest pass in the French Pyrenees: a solid 17 kilometers of climbing at an average grade of 8.3%. This is where the Tour’s GC contenders will battle to gain seconds. It’s a crucial moment of the 2021 TDF, and we’ll be watching it all with VIP access. The pros may be duking it out, but we’ll be toasting with cold beers, catching replays on the big screen, and cheering as the day’s victors emerges. The VIP village is a mere 10 kilometers from our hotel, so breeze back down the mountain on our bikes before reliving the day’s excitement over dinner.

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner Destinations: Col de Lançon, Col d’Azet, Col de Portet Accomplished: 39 miles / 62 km, elevation gain: 8,884 feet / 2,708 meters Accommodation: Hotel Mir

DuVine itineraries may be subject to slight route changes, hotel substitutions, and other modifications. DAY 3 Battle on the Col du Tourmalet

Fuel up at breakfast, because today we conquer a truly iconic climb. Cycle to the base of the Col d’Aspin and begin our ascent even higher into the Pyrenees until we reach the Col du Tourmalet. At 2,150 meters, the Tourmalet needs no introduction: both feared and loved by cyclists, it’s the most frequented climb in TDF history. We’ll head up the west side, where nearly 19 kilometers average a 7.4% grade. There’s no shame in taking a breather at the top, since the team captains are on our heels as they prepare for another epic battle to conquer the mountain on this very same climb. Tourmalet is teeming with TDF ambiance: fans in funny costumes, shirtless spectators, and messages scrawled on the pavement. After all, it’s not just a celebration of the TDF, but of cycling itself! When the race passes, we’ll ride down the west side of the col and catch a bike path that follows the Ousse river right to our hotel in . Treat yourself to a well-earned massage, a power nap, or a stroll around town. Tonight, you’re free to find a restaurant in Lourdes that appeals to you (or our guides are glad to make a recommendation).

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch Destinations: Le Sarrat de Bon, Col du Tourmalet, Lourdes Accomplished: 62 miles / 101 km, elevation gain: 7,224 feet / 2,209 meters Accommodation: Grand Hôtel Gallia Chapelle & Spa

DAY 4 Aubisque and Reward

For our last day in the Pyrenees, we’ll begin with a little amuse-bouche, so to speak. The is a great way to work up our appetites for today’s main course—the Col d’Aubisque. The Aubisque is well known in TDF lore: in 1910, its inclusion in the race prompted French pro Octav Lapize to label the race organizers as “assassins.” Aubisque, the killer, has been featured in the some 70 times since. We’ll wrap up our ride in the the town of and have lunch in the main square. Reanimate your legs with a hot shower, then freshen up before our transfer to Saint-Émilion. This Bordeaux town is of course famous for its wine, but we’ll watch as history is made here during the last Individual Time Trial before Paris. Tonight, we’re treated to a fine dinner and a taste of the region’s coveted wine. Rest up for a big day tomorrow, when we cross paths with the TDF one final time for the Tour’s last dramatic stage!

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner Destinations: Argelès-Gazost, Col d’Aubisque, Laruns Accomplished: 37 miles / 60 km, elevation gain: 5,311 feet / 1,619 meters Accommodation: Château du Palanquey or Château Franc Mayne

DuVine itineraries may be subject to slight route changes, hotel substitutions, and other modifications. DAY 5 Saint-Émilion Time Trial: Stage 20

Saint-Émilion, c'est magnifique! There will be time this morning to stretch your legs with a stroll around the château grounds, but the highlight of the day is the Stage 20 TT. We’ll cover some of the course as we ride through the region’s rolling vineyards, and we’ll also cycle past some of the most important estates on the Right Bank of Bordeaux. After a relaxing vineyard lunch, head back to the hotel and watch with bated breath who will cross the finish line first in Paris tomorrow. This evening, we have much to celebrate at an exclusive wine-paired dinner in Saint- Émilion. Bon Appétit!

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner Destinations: Saint-Émilion, Pomerol, Saint-Christophe-des-Bardes Accomplished: 32 miles / 52 km, elevation gain: 1,292 feet / 394 meters Accommodation: Château du Palanquey or Château Franc Mayne

DAY 6 VIP Finish in Paris

If you’re up for it, take one last early morning ride through Saint-Émilion before we board a high- speed train to Paris and settle into our grandstand seats. The City of Light is the center of the cycling world as the TDF crosses the ultimate finish line on the Champs-Élysées. We’ll be front and center with VIP passes to witness the world’s greatest sprinters duke it out for one last shot at glory and watch the maillot jaune-wearer sip a glass of champagne as he spins to victory. Tonight, we celebrate our own victories in the Pyrenees with a memorable only-in-Paris dining experience.

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner Destinations: Paris Accommodation: Hôtel Bel Ami

DuVine itineraries may be subject to slight route changes, hotel substitutions, and other modifications. DAY 7 Au Revoir Paris

Enjoy a relaxed breakfast and reflect on all the spectacular moments from the past week of the TDF. Our guides will make sure your transportation is arranged to head off to your next destination from the hotel.

Meals: Breakfast

DuVine itineraries may be subject to slight route changes, hotel substitutions, and other modifications.