Grand Tour France: Départ "Experience" Cote d’Azur

We will meet you at Nice-Cote d’Azur Airport, and transport you to our lovely hotel in Nice, where we will stay for 5 nights - right in the heart of the 107^th edition of the worlds most famous Grand Tour. Our team will help you unpack and build your bike, we'll hand out the team kit, and after lunch enjoy a warmup ride around the centre of Nice. We’ll do a short test ride near the hotel and along the Promenade des Anglais – where the sprinters will finish on the first day of Stage 1. The Team Presentation Ceremony will be held at Place Masséna. Here we will see all the members of the teams and experience the start of the passion and excitement start of Le Tour de France. Back to the hotel for our welcome meeting and first dinner in glamourous Nice.

After breakfast, we will ride from the hotel, to the square where the race will start for photo opportunities. Stage 1 is designed for the sprinters... You too can try out your sprinting abilities and compare them against the riders for the next day! Our return ride will meander along the hinterland above Nice. During this ride, we will arrange a delicious Provencal picnic. Back in Nice and after a change, we’ll take a tour of Nice with a local guide and then you are welcome to wander the old streets, stroll along the Promenade des Anglais, perhaps take an apéro at the magnificent Negresco and watch the world pass by or swim in the beautiful waters of Mediterranean. Dinner will be alfresco in old Nice and then back to the hotel for a good night’s sleep ahead of the excitement of Stage 1.

After an early breakfast we will take a short transfer Col de Porte above Luceram or a little further on to Loda, and ride to stunning La Bollene-Vesubie, with its beneficial healing waters surrounded by national park forests. The goal of today is to ride the famous (or infamous!) hairpins of Col de Turini. Col de Turini has featured 3 times in the Tour France and definitely a bucket list ride. Take it slow and steady, and enjoy this glorious climb. After a recovery break, is a long descent, passing through Luceram and we will stop at La Trinite for a transfer or ride back to Nice. A quick change and we are back out in the Nice streets to find lunch for ourselves and a good spot to watch the finish of the Stage 1 and cheer on the first winner of the Maillot Jaune.

Today you deserve a relaxing ride and some luxury – we are on the Cote d’Azur! Pack the bags for a beach swim. We will ride along the Moyenne Corniche to Monte Carlo, Monaco. We’ll reassemble at Place du Casino and have a coffee on the Terrace of Le Bar Americain. Back on the bikes we’ll continue riding along the stunning coast line past Cap d’Ail and up to Col d’Eze where we'll settle into our chosen vantage point to see the pro's climb up to the col. On our bikes back to Nice, we'll detour via the world famous and pine covered Cap-Ferrat. This is also where we find sheltered coves for swimming opportunities, and Paloma Beach is one of the most beautiful. After our swim and perhaps an apero, it's time to head back to Nice for dinner!

Today we will have a scrumptious brunch, pack day bags with shoes, swimmers and a towel, and then ride to Alliance Riviera OCG Nice Stadium where the teams will be getting ready for Stage 3. It's an opportunity to visit the team buses, watch the pros prepare for the race, and wander around taking photos and selfies. Near the departure, we’ll find a position giving us an optimal view of the teams as they set off on Stage 3 to Sisteron.

For us, our route take us along the coast to charming to Antibes for lunch and a wander of the old streets – perhaps visit the Musée Picasso - then a quick spin out to Juan-Les-Pins for a swim before riding back at a leisurely pace to enjoy our last day on our bikes. Dinner will be somewhere memorable and special.

After last night's celebratory dinner, this morning's sleep-in, a hearty breakfast and coffee, we'll help finish packing your bike and transport you to Nice-Cote d’Azur Airport for your trip home.

You'll be taking home memories of beautiful Cote d’Azur, the Grande Départ and buckets of photos, achievements and new friendships that will last forever.