Tour de France Bike Tour Packages: Too Many Professional Races to Choose From

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"Should I stay or should I go now..."
Too many races to choose from in 2011.

I was just looking at the Tour de France website and am thrilled a stage of June's Critérium du Dauphiné will finish in Macon. My wife is from there so it's a good excuse to visit with her family, eat some of my mother-in-law's delectable gratin, and size up the 2011 Tour de France contendors. The question is: with such a crowded race schedule, who will show up?

As we gear up for our 2011 Tour de France tours, I wonder if the field of professional races has become too crowded and, maybe, a bit too greedy. Case in point: riders have to choose between the Giro or Tour de California; in June Tour de France contenders must choose between June’s Critérium du Dauphiné in France and the Tour of Switzerland (Tour de Suisse) to hone their form July. This year, the choice is going to be a difficult one. One of the principal Tour candidates, Dutch climber Robert Gesink of Rabobank, said earlier this year when he saw the ultra-mountainous nature of the Swiss race, with its three challenging mountaintop stage finishes (plus one other stiff mountain stage) and two time trials, that it was too tough to race just two weeks before the Tour. So he marked down the Dauphiné on his 2011 season schedule. I'm sure Cadel Evans with his new "taking it easy" training style will also choose the Dauphiné.


So what does Gesink do now? The just-announced route for the 63rd Dauphiné has all four of its mountain stages finishing on summits, along with one hilltop finish, just one sprinters’ stage and two time trials. Looks even tougher than Switzerland! But Gesink, like many other Tour contenders, will be intrigued that the stage 3 time trial is identical to the only individual TT in this year’s Tour: a hilly 42.5km circuit at Grenoble (see profile). Although the stage in July will come at the end of three weeks of racing on the eve of the Paris finish, when riders are tired and those still with some zip in their legs will come out on top, just riding at race speeds on the course a month earlier will be of great benefit. But will they be too tired?

It’s not an easy TT course. Besides its solid distance and more than 1,600 feet (500 meters) of climbing, the circuit features a variety of roads (both wide and narrow) and some tricky descents. It’s a course on which Gesink could actually do well at the Tour, possibly better than rivals Andy and Fränk Schleck (who have again chosen the Tour de Suisse as their last pre-Tour stage race). The Grenoble TT comes early on, following a brief prologue TT at Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne, a valley town in the French Alps; a first mountain stage with a Cat. 2 finishing climb up a spectacular canyon road to Saint-Pierre-de-Chartreuse; and the flattish stage 2 to Lyon that features the steep uphill finish. The only sprint stage, to my wife's home town of Mâcon (in Burgundy), follows the TT; and then comes a decidedly rugged finale of three alpine stage with mountaintop finishes at Les Gets, Collet d’Allevard and La Toussuire.

Lance Armstrong was often criticised for his all-out focus on winning the Tour de France. I can't see how the Critérium du Dauphiné's winner will have enough energy to win the 2011 Tour de France. I'd look for a lot of riders holding back while doing reconnaissance for the coveted yellow jersey.

Spyns is an active travel company based in Whister, BC (Canada) and Beaujolais France. Spyns specializes in 2011 Tour de France packages for both riders and non-riders. We specialize in providing clients with Tour de France bike and non-biking packages with Paris grandstand seats and VIP access. Spyns offers active holidays to Europe including trips to the 2011 Tour de France. For more information about Spyns 2011 Tour de France tours, please go to http://www.tdf-tours.com/ or http://www.spyns.com/. You can also call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.

Can Anything Stop Contador? : Spyns Tour de France tours, hotels, and grandstands

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"What me worry?"

If Tour de France history has taught us anything, it seems there is a rule that anyone can train to race the Tour de France however it takes passion to win it. Look at Lance Armstrong back in 1995. A virtual unknown then, Lance went on to win stage 18 of the 1995 Tour de France following the death of fellow teammate Fabio Casartelli. Who could forget the image of Lance pointing skyward as he won the stage in tribute to his fallen teammate? Would Lance have won had he not battled cancer? I don't think so. I thought Andy Schleck was the odds-on favorite to win this year but I'm not sure the doe-eye Luxemburger he has the drive. Alberto Contador on the other hand is clearly a man on a mission.

The three-time Tour de France winner defended his lead in the final stage to clinch the Tour of Catalunya in Barcelona on Sunday. Not surprisingly, his win came after the International Cycling Union (UCI) said on Thursday that it would challenge Contador's domestic acquittal on doping charges. Italy's Michele Scarponi finished 23 seconds behind the Spaniard with Ireland's Dan Martin in third. "I haven't raced here to make any response to anybody," said Contador. Bullshit. The man is clearly on a mission to win the Tour de France.


Spyns former clients may recall that I am no fan of Contador but I have a new found respect for the man. Lance was such a saint in the twilight of his career that it inevitably led to negative feelings about the Spanish rider. Who could love the man who destroyed the myth of Lance's invincibility? But the man can ride. The result was Contador's second successive title, after the Vuelta de Murcia, since winning his appeal to the Royal Spanish Cycling Federation against a provisional one-year doping ban in February. Contador laid the foundations of victory in a powerful performance on the mountain stage in Andorra on Wednesday and he comfortably contained Scarponi's challenge as the field headed into the centre of Barcelona. And now he's looking towards Italy. Said Contador, "This was one of the hardest week-long races I've ever done. I've done others with more mountains in them that were far easier. This has been a very good way of sharpening my form for the Tour of Italy."


Enter the authorities. Contador's participation for the rest of the season is still in doubt after the UCI announced that it would take his case to the the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Cycling's governing body doubts Contador's claim he ate contaminated beef with clenbuterol resulted in a postive test during the 2010 Tour de France. CAS is set to rule on his case before the start of this year's Tour de France on 2 July. If his ban is reinstated, Contador, 28, could pursue his case through the Swiss civil courts. Something tells me the feisty Spaniard won't be giving up without a fight.


As we diligently prepare for Spyns 2011 Tour de France tours, I can't help but think of the sport has become a victim of its own success. Were there not such a money-driven drive for better ratings, stronger riders, and faster races, perhaps there wouldn’t be so much doping. Contador is a victim of his own success. It would be very difficult if not altogether impossible for someone to perform at his level "naturally". Clearly the man has the talent, given his numerous wins, but now he's become the poster boy for the anti-doping lobby. I for one hope that he will compete in the 2011 Tour de France simply because he's a great athlete.

Spyns is an active travel company based in Whister, BC (Canada) and Beaujolais France. Spyns specializes in 2011 Tour de France packages for both riders and non-riders. We specialize in providing clients with Tour de France bike and non-biking packages with Paris grandstand seats and VIP access. Spyns offers active holidays to Europe including trips to the 2011 Tour de France. For more information about Spyns 2011 Tour de France tours, please go to http://www.tdf-tours.com/ or http://www.spyns.com/. You can also call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.

Tour de France Tours, Trips and Travel Packages: Tasmanian Matt Goss Joins a Growing List of Contenders

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Matt Goss joins a growing
list of contendors for the 2011
Tour de France's yellow jersey

He's the best pro rider you've never heard of. Contador may be banned (again), Lance Armstrong has retired, and with many favourites floundering, Tasmanian Matt Goss looks more than capable of winning the yellow jersey this July. Look no further than his recent victory in Italy.

As Spyns diligently prepares for its 2011 Tour de France tours, I'm seeing a fairly crowded list of favorites like Wiggins, Cavendish, Evans, Schleck, and Contador to name a few. But we at Spyns love an underdog so while I was originally rooting for Andy with a strong second going to Cavesh, I would enjoy seeing someone like Matt Goss win Yellow in Paris. Moreover, he's humble, polite, and is anything but a prima donna.

Fueled by nothing more than a bowl of pasta, corn flakes and confidence from some recent recon, Goss rode off with his greatest ever victory when he became the first Australian in 104 years to win the famous Milan-San Remo race. Goss put into practice a lesson learned from watching the race on TV a few years ago to win one of the Five Monuments of world one-day cycling with his victory over two of the best sprinters in the world in Swiss rider Fabian Cancellara and Belgian Philippe Gilbert.


Cancellara, who was expected to dominate the eight-man rush for the line, later paid Goss the compliment of his career. "I think I had one of the best sprints of my life but Goss was very strong," said the multiple world time trial champion considered one of the fastest men on two wheels. With seven wins behind him already this season, the likeable Goss was installed as one of the pre-race favourites for victory in the 298km classic which dates back to 1907 and is with the Tour of Flanders, Paris-Roubaix, Liege-Bastogne-Liege and the Tour of Lombardy one of the five Monuments of one-day racing.


But employing the tactic of staying close to Cancellara in the final run for the line - something he opted to do after studying the big Swiss rider on TV - set Goss up for the biggest win of his career. "It's been absolutely incredible," said Goss who has now won eight races in a season which kicked off with his second overall in the Tour Down Under in January. "I couldn't have dreamed up a better start to the year. I knew I'd been going well, I knew I could get a good result, but actually to get the win is incredible.'' The win saw Goss ride out of the long shadow cast by his multiple Tour de France stage winning teammate Mark Cavendish who finshed well back in the peloton yesterday.

My feeling is Cavendish will hold back this yea as his focus is winning cycling gold in London at next summer's Olympic Games. Andy Schleck seems to be floundering and I'm not quite sure if he has the stuff to win the yellow jersey. A well rested Cadel Evans has an outside chance but he's so accident prone and may likely get injured in the month-long 2011 Tour de France. Goss, on the other hand, has never looked better. He lives in nearby Monaco and was part of a breakaway group which formed around 70km from the finish, said he knew the route well, particularly the Cipressa and Poggio climbs near the end of the race. "It was an advantage knowing the route. I live nearby and I've trained over the Poggio a few times in the last few days just to check it again," he said.

Spyns is an active travel company based in Whister, BC (Canada) and Beaujolais France. Spyns specializes in 2011 Tour de France packages for both riders and non-riders. We specialize in providing clients with Tour de France bike and non-biking packages with Paris grandstand seats and VIP access. Spyns offers active holidays to Europe including trips to the 2011 Tour de France. For more information about Spyns 2011 Tour de France tours, please go to http://www.tdf-tours.com/ or http://www.spyns.com/. You can also call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.

Tour de France Tour Packages Spyns 2011: Contador

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Contador wearing a tainted
meat protector.

Love him or hate him, Alberto Contador is certainly the man to beat at this years' Tour de France. We are less than four months away from Spyns 2011 Tour de France trips and Contador is clearly focusing on a fourth yellow jersey. Spain's three-time Tour de France winner will have a lot on his mind when he begins his challenge on Monday to be crowned champion in the Tour of Catalonia (Spain) which is celebrating its centenary. All things considered, the 28-year-old has been in good form this season finishing fourth in the Tour of the Algarve and winning the Tour of Murcia. In just a few months, Contador has gone from has-been to main rival. I ask Spyns former clients: can anything stop the plucky Spaniard?


However strong he may be, Contador's mental and physical strength will be tested in the coming months. Aside from competing against a strong field he will also learn whether the International Cycling Union intends to appeal the decision by Spain's national federation to exonerate him over a positive doping test. Spain has a repuation for rather lax enforcement and I believe the ICU will likely appeal the decision. This would all but guarantee Contador's absence from the 2011 Tour de France. Contador, though, was more focused in the riders that will be competing for the title. "The riders who are here are some of my main rivals for the Tour de France," said the Saxo Bank rider. "There will be Cadel Evans (the crack Australian recent winner of the Tirreno-Adriatico), Ivan Basso (two-time Tour of Italy winner), Dennis Menchov (Russia's two-time Tour of Spain champion), Michele Scarponi (fourth in last year's Tour of Italy) and others I forget," he said. "They will be very difficult adversaries. They have begun the season in very good form and that is going to be clear in this race." Notice the conspicuous absence of Andy Schleck - the Luxemburger has struggled this season and no longer appears to be Contador's main rival.


Contador, whose positive test came at last year's Tour de France where he claims it emanated from a piece of contaminated meat he ate, pinpointed Wednesday's mountainous third stage as the pivotal one. "The third stage will be the key day, with the finish in Andorra, but the other days will be complicated as well," he said. I think Contador is in for many many complicated days in the run up to the 2011 Tour de France.

Spyns is an active travel company based in Whister, BC (Canada) and Beaujolais France. Spyns specializes in 2011 Tour de France packages for both riders and non-riders. We specialize in providing clients with Tour de France bike and non-biking packages with Paris grandstand seats and VIP access. Spyns offers active holidays to Europe including trips to the 2011 Tour de France. For more information about Spyns 2011 Tour de France tours, please go to http://www.tdf-tours.com/ or http://www.spyns.com/. You can also call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.

Tour de France Tours Spyns 2011: Cadel Evans...a Favourite?

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Classic Cadel Evans...giving it his
all. I'm rooting for you...kind of.

Loyal follows to this blog know that I don't pull any punches when it comes to Cadel Evans. The Aussie is accident prone, quick to anger, and espouses an "all or nothing" riding style completely in contrast to Lance Armstrong's mnemonic type of pedaling. But Evans is clearly what my dad always referred to as "a 10 year overnight success." Now Evans finds himself in the strange position of favourite in the upcoming pro races. We are just 4 months away from the Spyns 2011 Tour de France tours and I ask: can Cadel finally win the yellow jersey?

The competition is stiff with Contador, Schleck, and Cavendish to name a few. Spyns former clients recall that Evans finished second not once but twice in previous Tours de France. At the conclusion of the 2010 Tour de France, you may have thought Cadel Evans was burnt out and on the decline. But the “Little Aussie Battler” fights on. With early season form showing he is not done yet, does our man have one final push left in his legs? Following his win in the Tirreno-Adriatico, Cadel has Australians dreaming once more.

With Alberto Contador’s immediate future still unclear and Andy Schleck struggling for form, the outspoken Evans may have one final say before the next generation of stars begin emerging.
There is no denying he will be an outside shot, but there is something that Cadel has in him that you will not find anywhere else in professional cycling. He has the will and determination that finds him that little bit extra when all is seemingly lost. It is safe to say that many in Europe will have him returning to outsider status once again this year. However, readers are reminded that two of Cadel’s best Tour performances have come when he was not listed among the favourites. Many may not like him but to many Down Under he is a hero – a man who apologised to Australia for finishing second in the world’s toughest sporting event; a man who has done so much for the sport in his native Australia.

This is an apology of sorts and in a way I'm rooting for Cadel to win in Paris this summer...if not to keep the evil Contador at bay.


Spyns is an active travel company based in Whister, BC (Canada) and Beaujolais France. Spyns specializes in 2011 Tour de France packages for both riders and non-riders. We specialize in providing clients with Tour de France bike and non-biking packages with Paris grandstand seats and VIP access. Spyns offers active holidays to Europe including trips to the 2011 Tour de France. For more information about Spyns 2011 Tour de France tours, please go to http://www.tdf-tours.com/ or http://www.spyns.com/. You can also call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.

Spyns 2011 Tour de France Tours: A Message About Japan's Meltdown

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Map of Japan's 2011 earthquake
and resulting tsunami.

It is a relatively slow day today as far as Tour de France news is concerned, so I thought it would blog about my favorite subject -- economics! I blogged yesterday that Cadel Evans looked very strong on his bike in Italy but the problem is Cadel has such a hard time staying on his bike. He has such a "balls out" riding style. If he can keep his head down and ass in the saddle he may be a contender for the 2011 Tour de France. In other news, Alberto Contador’s lawyer believes that he has a "solid case" in his appeal against the doping charges. Only time will tell. If he is eventually excluded from the race, he will join a growing list of banned, yet talented, riders. Spyns former clients know that professional cycling is far from a clean sport. Like all professional sports, no one can perform at this level naturally.



Moving on from the 2011 Tour de France, I wanted to blog briefly about this latest trend of minimizing or at least blue skying everything. After listening to 2 solid years of "it's getting better" from politicians commenting on the economy, I wonder when we’re going to have our Churchill moment. For those who study the history of the 2nd world war, Chamberlain was prime minister before Churchill. He famously negotiated a peace settlement with Hitler and waving a letter signed by the Fuhrer boasted about "peace in our time" just before the outbreak of hostilities. While we are currently not at war, at least outside of the Middle East, recent developments suggest that things are getting a lot worse. What we currently lack is a leader who is going to tell us the truth as Churchill did in 1939.


This dawned on me while watching CNN coverage of the nuclear disaster in Japan. The story went something along the lines of "Japanese authorities say they have significantly reduced the risk of nuclear meltdown". Unfortunately while this was being read by the commentator, live coverage showed the lid being blown off of a reactor. Clearly this was not a controlled explosion and as we've seen in recent days the Japanese are looking at a Chernobyl style meltdown. The same thing could be said about the financial markets .


I have watched with interest as stock markets continued to climb despite rather shaky fundamentals. There has been a rather brutal correction in the aftermath of the Japanese earthquake, but my feeling is markets will continue to trend downward. After almost 24 months of stock markets reacting to not so bad news as if it were positive news, I believe the period of "the Emperor has no clothes" is ending. When you think about it, there really isn't that much of a difference between 2008 and now. Banks remain highly leveraged, consumers are deeply in debt, trade deficits with China are growing, the housing market is collapsing, and in a new development most Western governments have piled on debt to support anaemic economic growth. Strange how it took a natural disaster like an earthquake to shake people to their senses.


While my thoughts go out to everyone suffering in Japan at the moment, I would find it very hard to believe that the Bank of Japan is currently buying US treasuries and other forms of debt from developed countries. The Japanese are by far one of the largest buyers of international debt and particularly American debt. With a major purchaser now out of action perhaps indefinitely, fewer buyers will likely mean higher interest rates and that's not a good thing for debt markets. While the United States has the backstop of the U.S. Treasury buying its own debt via quantitative easing,  Europe does not have the same type of mechanism. This is bad news for little Portugal so I would expect to see a bailout for that country in the next month or so.


There are three other factors that may derail the worldwide "recovery": Middle East unrest; an oil shock; and the US budget conundrum. Again we're seeing politicians downplay the effects of expensive oil, virtual civil war in the Middle East, and the apparent inability of the U.S. Congress to reach some form of compromise on the federal budget. Any one of these factors alone is capable of sending the world into a tailspin, at least financially speaking, but now all three are happening simultaneously. Something has to give eventually.

Spyns is an active travel company based in Whister, BC (Canada) and Beaujolais France. Spyns specializes in 2011 Tour de France packages for both riders and non-riders. We specialize in providing clients with Tour de France bike and non-biking packages with Paris grandstand seats and VIP access. Spyns offers active holidays to Europe including trips to the 2011 Tour de France. For more information about Spyns 2011 Tour de France tours, please go to http://www.tdf-tours.com/ or http://www.spyns.com/. You can also call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.

Tour de France Bike Tours: Me Eating Crow About Cadel Evans...

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Cadel Evans looked very strong
in Italy recently. Now let's hope
he doesn't crash (again).

With just a few months to go before the 2011 Tour de France (can't wait) and Spyns Tour de France trips (shameless promo), you might have heard a strange sound lately. That was the sound of me eating humble pie over Cadel Evans. Followers of the Spyns 2011 Tour de France (shameless plug) blog know that I've often dismissed the accident-prone Aussie. But given his recent and decisive stage win in Italy, he may be a contender for this year's yellow jersey.

Evans won the Tirreno-Adriatico stage race following Tuesday's final stage, a 9.3 km time-trial around San Benedetto del Tronto, won by Swiss Fabian Cancellara. Having taken the overall race lead on Sunday and consolidated it with victory on Monday, Evans was in a strong position coming into the final time-trial. However the BMC team leader, a former two-time runner-up in the Tour de France, took plenty of risks early on, coming close to potential disaster on several tight bends. Cadel tends to ride a bit recklessly as Spyns former clients clients may recall, so he tends to fall and break things...a lot.


In the end the Aussie, who only kicked his season off two weeks ago, did enough to finish 11secs ahead of Dutchman Robert Gesink of Rabobank, who leapfrogged Italian Michele Scarponi into second place. Despite the comparatively short distance, no one could touch world and Olympic time-trial champion Cancellara, whose time of 10min 33sec left the rest trailing in the Leopard-Trek rider's wake - that's Andy Schleck's team for those who didn't know he's no longer with Saxobank.


Dutchman Lars Boom, also of Rabobank, took second on the stage, nine seconds back, with Italy's Adriano Malori third at 18 seconds. Australia's 2009 world road race champion Cadel Evans won the Tirreno-Adriatico stage race following Tuesday's final stage, a 9.3km time-trial around San Benedetto del Tronto, won by Swiss Fabian Cancellara. Having taken the overall race lead on Sunday and consolidated it with victory on Monday, Evans was in a strong position coming into the final time-trial.


In the end the Australian, who only kicked his season off two weeks ago, did enough to finish 11secs ahead of Dutchman Robert Gesink of Rabobank, who leapfrogged Italian Michele Scarponi into second place. "First stage race of the year is done and a good start to 2011 if I say so myself," said the 34-year-old on his website. Evans, who also finished third in the 2009 Tour of Spain, conceded that the stage had been set for specialist Cancellara but he had been concerned that overall victory might slip away because of rustiness.

I criticized Cadel for taking so much time off when others were sweating away at training camps or racing. Evans isn't the youngest rider but the hiatus from competition and intensive training appear to have worked. He looked very solid on his bike despite the traditional Cadel near misses. "I was okay, it took me 2-3km to get into my rhythm, having eight months since my last 'crono', not surprising, but a bit of a worry when you only have 6km to make for lost time. "My time trial legs eventually got into gear, enough to hold onto my general classification position, and happily get the trophy." Evans' next target is the Tour of Catalonia - which runs from March 21-27 - and admitted that the tougher climbs would test him. "A different style of race there, on longer climbs against a field of climbers," said Evans. "We'll see ...I am not quite there yet on the really long passes like we will face in Andorra, but I won't be bad...."

We'll see how he performs in the 2011 Tour de France.

Spyns is an active travel company based in Whister, BC (Canada) and Beaujolais France. Spyns specializes in 2011 Tour de France packages for both riders and non-riders. We specialize in providing clients with Tour de France bike and non-biking packages with Paris grandstand seats and VIP access. Spyns offers active holidays to Europe including trips to the 2011 Tour de France. For more information about Spyns 2011 Tour de France tours, please go to http://www.tdf-tours.com/ or http://www.spyns.com/. You can also call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.

2011 Tour de France Tours: Paris-Nice Results - Tony Martin Wins!

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Tony Martin Paris-Nice 2011 Winner

As we diligently prepare for the 2011 Tour de France tours, we shouldn't forget the Amaury Sport Association's other races like the Paris-Nice which ended today in a sodden finish. HTC Highroad's Tony Martin held firm to claim victory as Bradley Wiggins, finishing third, became the first Briton to finish on the podium since 1996. Thomas Voeckler was first rider home on the eighth and final stage, but it was Martin who claimed overall glory with a 36-second cushion from fellow German Andreas Klöden (RadioShack). Team Sky's Wiggins was a further five seconds back, making him the first man from Great Britain to finish in the top three since Chris Boardman 15 years ago. As Spyns former clients may recall, this is only the 3rd time in the race's history that a German has won.

There were two standouts from the race in my opinion: Levi Leipheimer finished a respectable 8th in the race. My fellow Canadian Ryder Hesjedal finished 33rd, not bad for someone so new to the professional cycling circuit. Getting back to the winner, Martin entered today's stage to Nice with a 36-second advantage from Klöden and did what he needed to do to stay in pole. In soaking wet conditions in the south of France, the 25-year-old finished in the peloton alongside Klöden and Wiggins. Voeckler led a mid-stage breakaway and stayed out in front with his only real challenger, Diego Ulissi (Lampre-ISD), fading away to finish 23 seconds back in second. Julien El Fares (Cofidis) was third. Martin said after sealing victory: "The biggest worry was having an accident or crashing. It was cold and the roads were very slippery because of the rain."I think [Klöden and Wiggins] were happy with their position, they knew that I had the legs to follow [any attacks]. I didn't expect them to attack, I was mostly concerned by the guys who were a bit further behind in the standings." Wiggins said on Twitter: "Paris-Nice finally over, Team Sky have been fantastic all week and today especially a big thank you to the guys, cheers."

One thing Spyns' Tour de France tour clients can expect in July - better weather!

Spyns is an active travel company based in Whister, BC (Canada) and Beaujolais France. Spyns specializes in 2011 Tour de France packages for both riders and non-riders. We specialize in providing clients with Tour de France bike and non-biking packages with Paris grandstand seats and VIP access. Spyns offers active holidays to Europe including trips to the 2011 Tour de France. For more information about Spyns 2011 Tour de France tours, please go to http://www.tdf-tours.com/ or http://www.spyns.com/. You can also call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.

Paris Grandstand Seats Tour de France Tours Spyns 2011: Need 'em?

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Spyns traditional morning ride on
the Champs Elysees, pre-race.

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As the entire Spyns team diligently prepares for the 2011 Tour de France, a number of clients have had questions about the Paris finish. As our loyal blog readers may already know we offer both week long Tour de France trips and shorter 3 day Paris finish tours. The Paris finish tours include grandstand seats to watch the Tour de France finish whereas our week long tours include either rooms overlooking the race course and or grandstand seats. The question is: do you need Tour de France grandstand seats?

I believe it's purely a question of cost. Demand far outstrips supply as far as grandstand seats are concerned. If you're unfamiliar with the Tour de France grandstand seat system, allow me to explain it. Every year the Tour de France finishes in Paris. This is always stage 21. The final stage is usually a formality as the winner is generally known. The riders start roughly 20 to 30 km outside Paris and ride into the city center following the same route along the Seine River up the rue de Rivoli and up the Champs Élysées. While the route into Paris changes from year to year as does the stage starting point, the Paris race route remains unchanged.

As you can imagine the crowds watching the tour arrive are enormous. If you're familiar with the New York City Macy's Day Parade, the crowds are roughly the same size and composition. That is to say people who are standing four deep, waiting 5 to 6 hours before the tour arrives, and rowdy but good-natured. If you'd rather not wait with the riffraff then you can reserve grandstand seats for the Paris finish. But they come at a price.

Spyns has offered Paris finish grandstand seats as part of tours for the past 3 years. In any given year I estimate that 80% of the seats have already been pre-sold by the Tour de France organizers to corporate sponsors or to the French government. This means that 20% capacity is left for the general public - including our clients. The grandstands are set up in tents or temporary structures at the base of the Champs Elysees. There are roughly 5 to 6 different kinds of tents each with a different name. For example, this year Spyns was able to purchase Grand Palais and Triomphe grandstand seats. Both grandstands are located at the base of the Champs Elysees but to gain access to them is quite expensive.

The Grand Palais is located on the east side of the street about 100 yards from the podium (where they award the yellow jersey). There are 15 to 20 rows under each tent not unlike what you would see at any outdoor sporting event. The Triomphe tent on the other hand is the more exclusive grandstand area and so seats are quite a bit more expensive. This particular area is more like a press center with a small white picket fence separating the tent's tables from the race course, various tables set up, bar service, and appetizers served all day so you can leisurely watch the tour.

For pricing information please see our website, a link to which is provided at the end of this blog. If you're traveling to France on a budget and can't afford Tour de France grandstand seats, you have the option of watching from the street. Here are a few tips if you're planning to do so. First, I would avoid the Champs Elysees altogether. People start lining up along the street 5 to 7 hours before the riders arrive (around 10 AM) and by the time the tour arrives at around 3:30 PM, unless you're in the front row along the barriers you won't see anything. If you do plan to watch from the street, I'd suggest 3 locations: near the Place de la Concorde which is at the base of the Champs Elysees (think the square with Napoleon's obelisk); anywhere along the Seine River; or along the Rue de Rivoli.

If you don't fancy waiting streetside for hours another possibility is to rent a hotel room along the racecourse. This too can be expensive unfortunately. When Lance Armstrong decided to return to pro cycling in 2009 and 2010 demand for hotel rooms during the Paris finish shot up and so did hotel rates. Hotels like the Westin which is located on the rue de Rivoli started charging 2 to 3 times more their regular rates for rooms with views. Still it's often less expensive than Paris grandstand seats during the Tour de France. From my experience, there is nothing better than opening your window and watching the tour below while having access to your own bathroom, room service, and a minibar. It's heaven!

In closing I have the following suggestions: if money is no object then by all means you should reserve Tour de France grandstand seats. These are part of our week long Tour de France tours and Paris finish packages. If you reserve one of our premier packages, you won't have Tour de France grandstand seats but rather a room that overlooks the race course. If you do choose to watch the race from the street, my only advice would be to avoid the crowds on the Champs Elysees.

I hope you've enjoyed my blog but please feel free to call me toll-free at 1.888.825.4720 with your questions about Tour de France grandstand seats.

Spyns is an active travel company based in Whister, BC (Canada) and Beaujolais France. Spyns specializes in 2011 Tour de France packages for both riders and non-riders. We specialize in providing clients with Tour de France bike and non-biking packages with Paris grandstand seats and VIP access. Spyns offers active holidays to Europe including trips to the 2011 Tour de France. For more information about Spyns 2011 Tour de France tours, please go to http://www.tdf-tours.com/ or http://www.spyns.com/. You can also call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.

Spyns 2011 Tour de France Trip Packages: While Contador Fights on Armstrong Eats Steak

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"Where's the beef?"

Spanish cyclist Alberto Contador has today vowed to fight any attempts to reimpose doping sanctions against him following a positive test during last year's Tour de France. Both the International Cycling Union and the World Anti-Doping Agency still have the right to challenge a decision taken by the Spanish Cycling Federation not to issue Contador with a one-year ban from all competitions. The outcome could change final standings for the 2011 Tour de France. Without Contador, Andy Schleck was favored to win as he came a close second in the 2010 race.  

Steak may be off the menu now for Alberto Contador, but another multiple Tour de France champion, the recently retired Lance Armstrong, has put a date in his diary to tuck into a nice, juicy T-bone., The 39-year-old, who last month announced that he had permanently retired from competitive cycling, is to be the guest of honour in April at the Steak & Steak Dinner fundraiser for Boys & Girls Clubs of Springfield. Armstrong is clearly in his permanent off season. The cancer survivor and seven time Tour de France winner has given his backing to a proposed new tax on sales of tobacco in California that would add one dollar to the price of a packet of cigarettes in that state, with the proceeds being used to fund research into cancer and other conditions caused by tobacco.

The legislation, which it is believed would raise more than $500 million a year, could be put to a public vote in either June this year or February 2012, and is supported by organisations including the American Cancer Society, the American Lung Association and the American Heart Association.

Spyns is an active travel company based in Whister, BC (Canada) and Beaujolais France. Spyns specializes in 2011 Tour de France packages for both riders and non-riders. We specialize in providing clients with Tour de France bike and non-biking packages with Paris grandstand seats and VIP access. Spyns offers active holidays to Europe including trips to the 2011 Tour de France. For more information about Spyns 2011 Tour de France tours, please go to http://www.tdf-tours.com/ or http://www.spyns.com/. You can also call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.

2011 Tour de France Bike Tours Spyns: Cadel Evans - Tortise or Hare?

Cadel Evans hopes to win
the 2011...but his training schedule
is a bit...ahem...light.

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It seems that Spyns is taking preparations for its 2011 Tour de France tours a bit more seriously than some. Case in point: Aussie rider Cadel Evans. The accident prone Evans has admitted he's taking a laid-back approach to the 2011 cycling season, although, he claims, it's all part of his bigger plans to get back in contention for victory at the Tour de France. Evans finished runner-up in the three week epic in 2007 and 2008, but has failed to challenge for the race's coveted yellow jersey in the past two years. Maybe it's because he's always crashing or crying or both we say.
Having come to the Tour last year after a solid campaign in the three-week Giro d'Italia in May/June -- which left him fatigued for the start of the Tour -- Evans this season is taking a far more relaxed approach. He will only kickstart his 2011 season on Thursday, at the Giro del Friuli in Italy, according to his BMC team. "There are a lot of riders who are far ahead of me in terms of physical condition," said Evans. At 34, Evans is also past his prime some would say.

"This is the latest start to a season I have had since 2004. It will be an adjustment for me, as well as those who are used to seeing me in front early in the season. People seem to forget how long and hard the cycling season is." Evans will notably be joined at the race by Italian teammate Alessandro Ballan.

My loyal Spyns co-worker Vicky Johnstone (head of guest services) absolutely loves Cadel. I believe she's the only Australian I know who does. Spyns former clients saw Evans come within a hair of winning in 2007 and 2008 but he crashed out of the 2010 Tour de France. We'll have to wait for Spyns 2011 Tour de France bike trips (shameless plug) to see how he performs this year.

Spyns is an active travel company based in Whister, BC (Canada) and Beaujolais France. Spyns specializes in 2011 Tour de France packages for both riders and non-riders. We specialize in providing clients with Tour de France bike and non-biking packages with Paris grandstand seats and VIP access. Spyns offers active holidays to Europe including trips to the 2011 Tour de France. For more information about Spyns 2011 Tour de France tours, please go to http://www.tdf-tours.com/ or http://www.spyns.com/. You can also call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.

Tour de France Trip Packages: Cavendish Confirms He'll Ride the Giro d'Italia

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Mark Cavendish...it's 1 o'clock
by my watch.

While few Spyns former clients know his name, I've always maintained British rider Mark Cavendish has more than a decent chance of winning the 2011 Tour de France. He's young enough, fast enough, and has the looks/smarts to get the much-needed endorsements. Most importantly, he speaks English. But why don't more Spyns Tour de France clients know him?

I think Lance Armstrong's presence at the 2009 and 2010 Tours de France sucked up most of the media attention just when the young Cavendish was getting his legs. Sadly, I'm not sure if he'll have a decent showing at the 2011 Tour de France because he's going to ride too many races in my opinon. Cavendish has confirmed that he will ride this year's Giro d'Italia, the first of three Grand Tours that he will ride in 2011. Speaking at a special Giro d'Italia presentation with race director Angelo Zomegnan at the iconic Bar Italia in London, Cavendish suggested there were at least four stages that he could target in the first part of the race. "I love the country, the Giro and the passion of the race. I had some great success in the Giro and other races such as Milan-San Remo in 2009. They're some of my fondest memories, so it’s great to go back there and race," Cavendish said. Unforunately, the Giro is just a month before le Tour and most riders are too exhausted to place in both.

Regardless, Cavendish seemed upbeat. "It's a beautiful Giro this year and it starts with a team time trial. We won the team time trial in 2009 and I got the maglia rosa and won three other stages. It was a special race for me and so it's back on my programme. To get some results would be incredible." This year's race starts in Turin on May 7 and ends in Milan on May 29. The race will celebrate the 150th anniversary of the unification of Italy, visiting 17 of the 20 regions of the country, including Sicily in the far south, before the final ten days in the Dolomites and the Alps. It was suggested that seven stages could finish in sprints. Cavendish reckoned there would be four, with a chance of one or two others

Cavendish won two stages in the 2008 Giro d'Italia and others in 2009. He rode the Amgen Tour of California in 2010 but seems happy to be heading back to Italy in May. "It was a really important moment in my career," he said. "I did the Tour in 2007, it was my first Grand Tour but it wasn't that successful. The Giro in 2008 was the first Grand Tour I finished and I got two stage wins. It was a massive boost racing 21 days solid and winning and racing against the best guys in the world. It was a really big stepping stone to who I am today. It helped make me what I am." Cavendish travelled to London from his base in Quarrata in Tuscany. He now speaks some Italian and loves the passion that Italians have for cycling. "Angelo [Zomegnan] likes to include little climbs and corners and that makes it hectic but everything is relaxed around the race. It's more relaxed than other races, there's great scenery, great food and… the ladies too. It's exciting for everyone to ride it."

Cavendish insisted that his form is good for Milan-San Remo. He will ride the Strade Bianche race on Saturday and then Tirreno-Adriatico as final preparation for the Classicissima. After riding some of the cobbled classics, Cavendish will focus on preparing for the Giro d'Italia. My feeling is he's focusing on his real goal: Olympic gold at the London 2012 summer games. We'll just have to wait and see. Just 5 1/2 months to go before Spyns 2011 Tour de France trips.

Spyns is an active travel company based in Whister, BC (Canada) and Beaujolais France. Spyns specializes in 2011 Tour de France packages for both riders and non-riders. We specialize in providing clients with Tour de France bike and non-biking packages with Paris grandstand seats and VIP access. Spyns offers active holidays to Europe including trips to the 2011 Tour de France. For more information about Spyns 2011 Tour de France tours, please go to http://www.tdf-tours.com/ or http://www.spyns.com/. You can also call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.