France and cycling are synonymous with the Tour de France attracting worldwide coverage. Fans come from all over France and the world to watch.
It’s worth being aware when planning your day. Roads are usually shut to traffic several hours before the race is due to pass. It may also be some time after the first riders pass before the roads re-open.
The Tour de France
This summer the Tour is spending just 3 days in the Alps before the final stage 21 in Paris. As a cyclist myself, I raced in my late teens alongside Sean Yates and Tony Doyle (showing my age!), I enjoy watching this great event.
Stage 18 – 17 km – Sallanches / Meg?ve ? there’s not too much detail of this stage on the Tour’s site but it looks like a time-trial.
Stage 19 – 146 km – Albertville / Saint-Gervais Mont Blanc. This looks like a great stage for some attacking climbers. The Col de Tamie above Albertville before a descent to the shores of Lac d’Annecy. The race then goes up the Col de la Forclaz (a paragliders mecca), a steep climb followed by a steep technical descent. The route then follows the valley bottom to Ugine where another short, steep climb to another Col de la Forclaz and the subsequent descent to Villard-sur-Doron and the heart of the Beaufortain. The riders will then go back over the Col des Saisies before heading through Megeve to finish in St Gervais.
Stage 20 – 146 km – Meg?ve / Morzine-Avoriaz ? a mountain stage with a final chance to change the overall standings before the final day in Paris.
Other races this summer
Criterium du Dauphine 5 ? 12 June 2016
Saturday, 11 June ? La Rochette ? Meribel via the Col de la Madeleine.
Tour de l’Avenir 20 ? 27 August ? this race was created in 1961 by Jacques Marchand, editor of the french sport newspaper L??quipe. The competition has been entirely dedicated to young riders between 19 and 22 years old. The Tour de l’Avenir is part of the UCI Europe Tour and the U23 Nations Cup. Therefore, it brings together international teams with riders aged less than 23
