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2004 le Tour de France: Alps (Sold Out)
Since the first tour became so popular, we added a second: le Tour de France: Pyrenees
Tour Dates: July 16 - 27, 2004 (updated: 10/21/2004)
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Summary Tour Includes:
- 12 days / 11 nights
- Round trip airfare from select cities arriving the next day in France .
- 7 nights 3 star pension with breakfast and dinner.
- 3 nights in Paris 3 star hotel Jardin de Neuilly a "Châteaux and Hôtels de France" with buffet breakfast.
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Photo credit: Paris Tourism Office
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- Transfers from Nice to meeting place and from end of cycling tour to Paris hotel.
- Experienced Guides fluent in English and French (one cycling, one courier, one van driver, one bus driver)
- Travel materials and route maps
- Detailed tour descriptions
- Luggage transport (including bike transport cases) and cycling support van with riding option on difficult stages.
- Catering before, during and after all stages with energy bars, sport drinks, fruit, sweets, juice and water while cycling
- T-Shirt
Not Included: rental bike or personal bike shipping (approximately $65-$120), training programs, meals not listed, all beverages and gratuities, ground transportation in Paris and airport transfers, taxes, plus other personal items and/or other travel needs not listed above.
The 2004 le Tour de France promises to be one of the most exciting Tours ever, with Lance Armstrong going for number six! Why not be there in person for this amazing event? Rather than going it alone, wouldn’t it be great to hook up on a reasonably priced eleven-day fully sagged tour? You bet it would be! That’s why Cascade Bicycle Club is happy to announce a new Affiliated International Tour produced by StarkTours, Inc.
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Photo Credit: Karin Scholz
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The le Tour de France: Alps Bicycle Tour for the summer of 2004 will follow the “Tour” through the beautiful French Alps, and culminates in an unforgettable weekend in Paris to catch the final day of the Tour.
This tour is offered by our newest tour partner from Kirkland, Washington, StarkTours (a fully insured and accredited Washington State Seller of Travel). Cascade Bicycle Club members can take advantage of this special one-time promotional pricing for these packages. Connie Stark, President of StarkTours, Inc. is sure that once you try her company you will be back for more and be happy to bring your friends and family along!
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The new Cascade Affiliated Tours Program is produced by StarkTours, Inc. and hosted by a Cascade Ride Representative. The emphasis is on the appreciation & immersion in the local areas we visit. You will meet and travel with locals; you will camp in some of the most beautiful and scenic European campgrounds as well as view two stages of the le Tour de France race, starting with a mountaintop stage and finishing with the final day in Paris. The mountain stage will include an overnight stay in a traditional mountain hut or local pension, the same way people have watched the Tour for 100 years! Breakfast and dinner will be provided on most days: beer, wine & cheese will always be close at hand at the end of the days ride. As a CBC Member you will get 10% off any StarkTours that you book, including this tour; which will save you at least $400 on this trip!
For each registered rider, StarkTours donates $50 to the Cascade Bicycle Club Education Foundation. If this trip is as successful as planned, look for more trips to be added in the future, including a 2005 Giro d’Italia and more.
Hosts:
The trip will be co-hosted by Cascade Bicycle Club Representative Peter Verbrugge and CBC Executive Director Chuck Ayers, who will host the second group of 20 (after the first 20 spots have been filled). Peter, 42, is originally from London, England and is the WRQ Bike to Work Month event director. He has traveled by bike across Cuba, along the Pacific Coast (Seattle - San Diego) and participated in many week-long camping style tours; Pete will act as a club liaison for the trip. Once in France, we have the services of a wonderful local tour guide company each day, plus all our gear will be sagged with full support vans.
Language Classes:
Let’s face it, the French are known world wide not only for their fabulous wine, food and countryside, but also for their wonderful language. In conjunction with this trip join CBC Ride host Peter Verbrugge in taking a special “le Tour de France” 8-week French for traveler’s class at Sand Point, close to the Cascade Bike Club offices! North Seattle Community College’s Continuing Education program will be offering a class this spring just for us. Contact Peter directly for details on the French program at peterv@cascadebicycleclub.org
E-Tour de France Newsletter
Would you like to receive training ride info, language class news, possible custom Jersey options and other updates from the club ride representative? Please email Peter (peterv@cascadebicycleclub.org) to sign up for the E-Tour de France Newsletter. It will be mailed to you about once a month; Please let us know which trip you have registered for, the Pyrenees or Alps.
Training:
Worried you might not be in good shape to tackle the hills? Join Cascade Ride Leaders this spring in the Cascade Training series. We’ll be leading rides every weekend geared to getting YOU ready for next summer’s big CBC rides. Visit the Activities Calendar for more information and ride listings.
le Tour de France: Alps suggested itinerary:
Some dates and locations will change in order to meet the official tour route. As with all travel and tour companies price is subject to change until the tour route has been announced (end of October) and payment has been received in full.
Friday – July 16
The group will depart Seattle in the evening with a flight to Nice, France.
Saturday, July 17
The group will arrive in France and transfer to the meeting place outside of Nice. Meet tour operator for an overview of the tour ride with highlights and sightseeing options. Tonight we will enjoy a group welcome dinner.
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Sunday – July 18
First day of riding, we head from outside Nice towards the many villages in the Alpes Maritimes. A rather easy stage to get going after the long flight you will ride on small back roads of the Cote d’ Azur (hilly but not steep). Riding through the spectacular Gorges de Daluis, a famous canyon, we enter the Alps area and finish our day at a mountain ski resort village.
Monday – July 19
Second day of riding, today we climb up one of the most beautiful cols in the Alps as we pass through the Mercantour National Parc. Riding through many valley areas with a 12 mile descent into a very picturesque village which has previously hosted the Tour de France several times.
Tuesday – July 20
Third day of riding, the day of the most famous cols! Riding through the wild and gorgeous Queyras National Parc. Today we ride up the famous col du Izouard, where on top there is a little Tour de France museum showing historic facts and pictures. We will ride to the highest city in Europe which marks our end of the ride for today. From here we will enjoy an evening in a mountain village and rest up for a day of viewing the tour tomorrow.
Wednesday – July 21
Fourth day, you will visit the individual Mountain Time trial of the Tour de France from Bourg d’ Oisans to L’ Alpe d’ Huez. Enjoy watching the pros tackle the shortest (9 miles) but most important stage of the race.
Thursday – July 22
Fifth day, as you are well recovered and highly motivated after seeing the pros climb L’Alpe! Today you too will ride the 21 most famous switchbacks of the cycling world.
Friday – July 23
Sixth day, Today you will ride up a small forgotten road to a rarely known pass. We don’t want to change its “local insider” tip status, so you’ll have to wait until that day to learn more about it.
Saturday – July 24
Transfer from Uriage-les-Bains to Paris hotel. You will be taken directly to the hotel door with transport of all luggage and bikes as well. Free evening in Paris, no official group activities offered while in Paris.
Sunday – July 25
Finish stages of the 2004 Tour de France in Paris. Individuals will spend the day viewing the final stages of the tour as all the riders arrive in Paris. Followed by the closing and award ceremonies that afternoon. As there are so many different options for today no group activities will be set up in advance.
Monday – July 26
Enjoy the day in Paris
For an additional fee, we will offer a ½ day city walking tour. Some individuals may want to cycle in and around Paris, sightsee or visit area museums while others will want to prepare for the final race day viewing areas.
Tuesday, July 27
Individual airport transfers can be arranged at the hotel. Majority of the group will return on a flight from Paris to Seattle.
Tour details:
Ride routes:
6 days of rides out of 7 days with one rest day to view a mountains top stage of the 2004 tour.
Distance and route difficulty:
40 – 70 miles each day with 6-12% climbs and one mountain stage should be suitable for intermediate cyclists. Sag wagons will be available for those not wanting to ride the real steep sections.
Guides :
1 local guide rider and 1 CBC group leader and van supports with option for riders, luggage and bike transport per 30 riders. The group is almost sold out, we are working on additional 20 riders for the Pyrenees tour option.
Accommodations:
By popular demand, we upgraded the whole group, added more meals (half board, most lunches, awesome snacks, etc) plus an additional night in Paris (most individuals wanted another day in Paris after the Tour de France ends for sightseeing) for only an additional $200 total on the package.
Meals:
Breakfast and dinner daily along with catering for lunch with sandwiches, fruit, cakes, juices and water on all stage but rest day, while on the Bicycle Tour, 1 welcome dinner. For all other meals you are free to explore & enjoy the incredible cuisine of France to suit your own budget.
Bicycles:
Prefer BYOB! Bikes and cases will travel with you as extra luggage (price not included if over regular dimensions and weight as per airline regulations). All cases will be transported via our travel coach.
Estimated costs:
Including round trip airfare from Seattle for $3,475 per person (CBC Members save $400 off the regular list price of $3,875.00 or more per person!) Fully refundable (until Dec 1st ) deposits of $500 are now being taken now to insure your space. StarkTours has the right to cancel this trip if the minimum number of participants (20) is not met by Jan 15th, 2004 . Please contact info@starktours.com for full information on the deposit policy.
Extra costs:
Tour or Mountain bike, training programs, meals not listed, all beverages and gratuities, local transfers, plus other personal items and/or other travel needs not listed on final tour details, bike shipping, and tipping, passport, airport transfers from Paris. Suggested budget of additional travel costs $50 per day for food, sightseeing, shopping and fun!
Trip insurance:
Buy it in case you have an injury or have to cancel; StarkTours can help with this.
Contact:
Please call or email StarkTours, info@starktours.com or (425) 820-8880 to reserve your spot or get further information on any part of this event. Get your name in right away if you are interested in this fun event!
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