18 Jul 2022 - 25 Jul 2022
Our final week of chasing the greatest cycling race through France. At this stage the race teams will be aggressively chasing down their rivals, there would have already been dramas across northern France and into Switzerland. The French Alps will have tested the best and then they are in the hot Occitanie region and into more mountain climbing and dangerous descent pursuits in the French Pyrenees.
We start from Toulouse and will arrange transfers to avoid some of the hot flat routes, and to access a few of the beautiful but strenuous climbs in the French Pyrenees. Then we are back into central France, passing Toulouse and heading to the Dordogne and the individual time trial before driving back to Paris for the final stage. Flexibility is key for this week so we offer different distances and climbs to fulfil the aims of different riding abilities. We believe we have designed a week that will challenge and engage you.
See you in Toulouse!
Please note - Grand Tours Project is not an "Official Tour Operator" of the Tour de France. You can find these Official Tour Operators on the TDF website.
Total price: Under Request
Bienvenue en France
Welcome to our final week of France’s Grand Boucle. Change over day today. We’ll collect you from the airport and help you check in to the hotel. Bikes will be reassembled or fitted to your requirements and in the afternoon, we head out for a short ride before returning to discuss this week's plans.
Dinner nearby.
Foix Loop
74km /1,288m or 100km / 1,947m
Into the deep end with an early start! We have a 100km loop today with almost 2,000m of climbing that is on the race route, if you are up for it. Otherwise we have a shorter loop that joins the route from Col des Caougnous and Mur de Péguère before the descent to the finish in Foix. We will regroup to watch the pros arrive and then transfer to our hotel in Tarbes.
Payolle - Loudenvielle - (Peyragudes) - Arreau
55km / 1,300m or 65km / 1,960m
Today is a massive day of climbing for the pros. Lucky for you we can offer a couple of easier route options that will encompass challenging climbs and thrilling descents. The GTP support vehicle will drop riders at Payolle and you will ride to Loudenvielle. This is where you decide whether to continue on the race route to the finish, an extra 660m or to stop and watch the pros come through Loudenvielle before their last climb. We will then coast down (15km) to Arreau for the transfer back to Tarbes.
Tarbes - Lourdes - Argeles-Gazost - Lourdes
46km / 238m
This morning we can ride from our hotel to the famous Catholic pilgrimage town of Lourdes, where we can watch the riders depart before riding along the valley floor to Argeles-Gazost. We'll stop for lunch and watch the racers pass through Argeles-Gazost towards Hautacam. We will then descend back to Lourdes, and if there is time, visit the Sanctuaires Notre-Dame de Lourdes.
We will transfer to our beautiful hotel in Montauban.
Montauban - Cahors
Estimate 70km / 500m
No stress today, sleep in a bit, enjoy breakfast and then we are riding 70 odd kilometres to stunning Cahors, an apt place to finish Stage 19 as the Chateau de Cayx is owned by the Danish Royal family.
The official course is flat and fast but we aim to ride from our hotel to Cahors to quaff the local red wine and cheer on the pros as they arrive in Cahors. After the podium presentations, we will transfer to our hotel in Montpazier.
Dinner in town.
LACAPELLE-MARIVAL - ROCAMADOUR
Individual Time Trial 40km / 250m
Our final day in central France and perhaps the winner of the Grand Boucle will be decided at today’s 40km Individual Time Trial. Relatively flat with 2 small climbs, it will be fun to attempt our own time trials and compare our results with the pros after they have arrived!
We will start early in Lacapelle-Marival in order to avoid possible road closures and arrive along the race route in Rocamadour.
We will watch some of the riders cross the finish line but we have a long journey ahead in the GTP van to our hotel in Paris.
PARIS LA DÉFENSE ARENA - PARIS CHAMPS-ÉLYSÉES
Final Stage 21
Bravo! We’re in Paris for Stage 21, the final race day.
Provided we arrived at a reasonable time the night before, we are on our bikes early to ride from Paris La Defense Arena and one or two laps of Champs-Elysees before it is closed. We can then head back to the hotel to change and return to a special guest place by the finish line to watch the sprinters battle it out and cheer on the winners of this fantastic cycling spectacle.
After the podium presentations, we’ll head off into Paris for our final superb dinner.
Au Revoir
We hope that the celebrations from last night did not do too much damage. Well done for completing a fast and frantic week through the French countryside and into Paris. You have had a little taste of the essence of France’s premier race and seen how it is applauded and celebrated in each of the communes, towns, villages and cities as it approaches and passes through. And every year it is different. An excuse to return another time.
We’ll help you get packed and take you to the airport or train station. Until next time bon voyage.
Viva La France!