After a week in Paris, we will take a train to Beaune, stay three nights, rent a car and continue to the Loire Valley, Vezalay, Mont St Michele, and Bayeux. We'll then return the car and return to Paris on the train. I planned the trip in this order so my husband and I would be in Beaune for our anniversary. I thought we wouldn't feel like celebrating if we'd spent a somber day visiting D Day beaches and cemeteries. But I've just learned that the 2016 Tour de France will commence on July 2; the first leg route will be Mont St. Michele to Utah Beach. Of course, July 2nd is the day we will be visiting some of the beaches and cemeteries. So now I wonder if our touring will be impeded by all the bikes. Although we have all our hotels (b and b's) booked, should I consider doing the trip in reverse order and hoping that I can apply our reservations to different dates? All opinions are sought and welcomed. Has anyone run into a major bike race and experienced "interference?" Thanks for any and all insights. Please note that I am unable to add another day to Bayeux, so my choices are limited to taking my chances or doing the trip in reverse order.
Posted by
Long Beach, California, USA
3398 posts
It could very well interfere with your plans.
We had to cancel plans to visit a group of caverns in the south of France one year because we could not cross the route of the TDF. Another village we stayed in was completely shut down the morning the Tour came through and the main road closed.
If you go to the TDF website they should have a very detailed route map that you can zoom in on and see the exact roads that will be closed, when they will close, and how for how long.
We found that roads were closed for about 2-3 hours before the race but opened quite soon after the main peleton and support vehicles came through. Before they come through there is a vendors parade that comes through (about an hour before), throwing out free samples and selling t-shirts.
Posted by
Copenhagen, Denmark
971 posts
You can see the route on the tours website http://www.letour.fr/le-tour/2015/us/grand-depart-2016.html
From what i can tell, the race will not interfere with a trip to the american cemetery and the more popular beaches at Omaha and Pointe du Hoc. Basicly you have to consider if you are going to cross the route, since that might cause problems, if not i think you will be fine.
I saw the Tour last year at l'Alp du Huez and the town was pretty much shut off, since there is only one road in or out in the mountain pass, but this is not the case in Normandy, where it is relatively flat. Also we found that it's the local police who decide when the roads will be shut, so there is really no way of knowing in advance.
Posted by
Pittsburg
19 posts
I would not worry too much since you have accommodations booked. There is always a way around the TDF. We went to 3 stages in 2015 and stayed in arrival or departure towns. The only real difficulty was staying in Vannes and arriving the day of the time trial. We had to park outside the center of town until after the race before we could get in to park at the hotel. The hotel warned us ahead and were helpful. Even after the race I had to do my best with my limited French to tell the gendarme that our hotel was just over there and could we please drive to it. He let us by after 3 tries. Have a great trip.