Prelim France plans

Be sure to explore the links I have as well!

Saturday July 18

Depart Newark airport for Geneva, Switzerland (CH)

Sunday 19

Morning - Land in Geneva CH

           Transfer to Grenoble, France by TGV (French Rail Service)

Afternoon - Meet with Cycling Classics guides, transfer to hotel on Les Duex Alpe, assemble bike, go for a spin ride

Monday 20

Ride the Alpe D'Huez, Croix de Fer, Col du Glandon, Les Duex Alpe.

Tuesday 21

Ride from Les Duex Alpe to Duingt France at southern end of Lake Annecy to hotel - 112 Miles total riding.  Includes the Col du Galibier,  Col Du Lautaret, and the Col du Telegraphe

Wednesday 22

Ride to Grand Bornand to watch the Tour de France (TdF) stage finish.

Thursday 23

Ride to Annecy to watch the riders warm up and depart for the TdF TT (Time Trial).  This is going to be a very important stage depending which riders are where on GC (General Classification or standings).

Friday 24

Morning - Transfer to Vacqueyras at the foot of Mount Ventoux

Afternoon - Ride up Mount Ventoux

Saturday 25

THE BIG DAY.  The tour arrives at Mount Ventoux and the mountain will most likely crown the final victor for the final ride into Paris tomorrow afternoon.  I will be perched on the side of the mountain with millions of other fans (seriously, it's going to be that many) and  I have something special up my sleeve to get on international TV (more on that in a later post).

Sunday 26

Morning - Transfer to Paris via TGV

Afternoon - Watch the big finish of the TdF and see the final victor crowned on the Champs-Elysées.

Monday 27

Morning - Mid-afternoon - Visit the Louvre art muesum (for a history click here)

Late Afternoon - Bike tour of Paris

Evening - Night bike tour of Paris.  This promises to be an awesome experience and includes an one hour boat ride on the Siene River, and see the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, the Louvre, Hotel de Ville, the Musée D'Orsay, and other Paris landmarks  fully lit at night.

Tuesday 28 

Depart Paris for Newark/Home

B2B ride/France

     After much thought it looks like the Harpoon Brewery to Brewery ride 2009 isn't going to happen for me.  With my trip to France being moved up from September to July, my schedule, but more importantly finances, will not allow it to work out.  I am already planning on making it a priority ride in 2010 to help with my 50 states challenge.  I want to ride in all 50 states and I'm currently at 7 (NY, NJ, NC, VA, PA, ME, MD).  Jim and myself are kicking around the idea of riding to Wallkill again - so I would still get the valuable training miles.

My France plans are slowly coming together.  I will be leaving for Grenoble via Geneva on the 18th of July and be returning to Newark, NJ via Paris on the 28th.  I am planning on spending Sunday afternoon and all day Monday in Paris seeing some the sights.  Regarding my comments about the tour in my last post check out this video from the Alpe De Huez TT from 2004.

Best!

Captain Crunch