Paris on the 25th

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Anonymous's picture
Anonymous

HI -
I was wondering if anyone who's been to Paris to watch the last day of the Tour before had any advice on how early to get to the Champs-Elysees, how to try getting a good view and deal with the crowds, etc. I'm going to watch, and have never been to Paris before. Any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks!
Bern

Anonymous's picture
John Z (not verified)
Me too...

I don't have any advice, but I am staying at the est Western Etoile Friedland Champs-Elysees which is about 1/2 KM east of the Arc de Triomphe on Friedland. Maybe some of use from NYC could meet at my Hotel, time TBD?

stgeist's picture
stgeist
Offline
Joined: Mar 26 2013
John Z in Paris

Hi John,

 

If you are the John Z. I rode with hundreds of times, I am in Paris and we could ride at Longchamp for an hour or two or in the Vallée de Chevreuse (rolling terrain) for a longish ride. If other riders from NYCC are in Paris and need help to find routes etc., write or give me a call.

Best,

Stephen (33) 06 50 71 18 05

Anonymous's picture
anon (not verified)
viewing in paris

was there in 1996, so things may have changed. i do remember that it was absolutely packed, could push my way through the crowds to view the riding -- but probably need to get there considerably earlier in order to get near the podium area. it was similar in many ways in trying to get ideal viewing for the macy's thanksgiving parade.

i just stood somewhere near the louis vuitton store and only had a view of the street itself. all i saw (and captured in photos) was a whirl of riders going around and around several times. but overall, it was wonderful to be out there with the crowds -- very festive atmosphere with tons of people from all over europe.

Anonymous's picture
Ronald Birnbaum (not verified)
Paris TdF viewing

I was in Paris in 2003 for the finish of the Tour de France.

I was fortunate to be an invited guest of the mayor's office and had an invitation-only spot in a viewing stand directly across from the finish line. Although I cannot furnish anyone such a spot for 2004, I can tell you where the best spots are public viewing.

First of all, you want to be on the Champs Elysees. As you know, the riders go around it something like ten times, affording the viewer something like twenty viewings of them passing by if you are alongside the boulevard.

The closed off area, invitation only, is on both the North and the South sides of the Champs Elysees from the Place de la Concorde heading up to the Grand Palais/Petit Palais. The finish-line is situated within this this closed-off zone, so one could not expect to see that at all.

However, at the end of the race, the awards podium is positioned into an area opposite the Grand Palais/Petit Palais that is already in the public viewing zone. Even from our spot-on-high down the road, we couldn't see the podium, but the public fans could.

That being said, for the public areas it was crowded. There is plenty of room to walk around, but people are ten-deep along the barricades and it is impossible to appreciate the passing riders unless you are in the front.

You would need to check the official website to know when the riders arrive. Last year I think it was something like 1 PM. I remember getting there at around 11 AM and the public areas were already pretty thick with bodies around the Grand Palais/Petit Palais area. It is anyone's guess as to how early you should be there to get a good spot. If you are the type to stake it out at 4 AM, I think you will be right-on target for this most exciting event. Bring food drink a hat and your camera. Them people out there are pushy so hold your ground and have fun at le tour!

Ronald

Anonymous's picture
Bern (not verified)
Thanks

Thanks for the information! Very helpful. And if anyone is going to be there and wants to try meeting up Sunday morning send me an e-mail.
Bern

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