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Here is our 7-Day Tour Itinerary for the 2012 Tour de France:
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July 16: After welcoming you
in the town of Argeles-Gazost, you'll ride on remote rural roads,
through small villages and over ridges offering breathtaking views of the
entire mountain chain. You'll then ride toward the mountains, and climb
Hourquette d'Ancizan, a stunning valley that was a long time hidden gem
until it was first featured in the 2011 Tour de France.
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July 17: Today
you'll ride through the rural countryside of the lower mountains and admire
the impressive architecture of a historical cathedral built in a medieval
village on top of a hill. You will then climb Port de Bales, a challenging
ascent where Andy Shleck lost the 2010 Tour de France to Alberto Contador
when he dropped in chain while attacking toward the top. Port de Bales is also the
climb the pros will ascend 2 days later in Stage 17.
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July 18: Tour de
France Stage 16 - You'll climb the famous Col d'Aspin to watch the climbers
fight toward the finish of Stage 16. From the top of Aspin, you can witness
the final ascent of the climb as well as the fast descent of the pros. Stage
16 is one of the most challenging of the 2012 tour and the battle promises
to be epic. From Aspin, it's a short descent back to your conveniently
located hotel. Avid climbers will also have the option to climb the mighty
Pla-d'Adet. Pla-d'Adet was the mountain stage finish of many Tour de France.
Some think of it to be as challenging as Tourmalet.
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July 19: Tour de
France Stage 17 - Stage 17 features the last mountains of the 2012 Tour
de France. You'll watch and experience the TDF on the final climb to col de
Peyresourde and Peyragudes. The winner today might be able to keep the
maillot-jaune all the way to Paris. Once the King of the Mountains will have
been crowned. It will be an easy descent back to our hotel. This will be a
memorable experience. You will climb col de
Peyresourde, one of the most often featured passes since mountains first
appeared in the 1910 Tour de France. Before Peyresourde, avid climbers will
also have the opportunity to climb the stunning and challenging Col d'Azet
(also known as the famous Val-Louron TDF finish).
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July 20: Today
we'll leave the TDF crowd behind to capture the real essence of the Pyrenees
on a spectacular climb filled with numerous perfect switchbacks. It's a
great place to stop to take photos of your friends 5 turns down right under
you. Today's itinerary is relatively short and challenging. Avid climbers
will have the opportunity to ascend one more climb from our lunch stop. This
day might well be one of your favorites.
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July 21: Today
we'll climb the most challenging side of Hourquette-d'Ancizan. This side
feels like and entirely
diferent climbs It is where the breakaways attacked in 2011.
It's also where Jan Voigt started to pull all the way to the top of
Tourmalet, reducing the entire peloton to a handfull of cadors. As in the
2011 Tour de France, you will continue on by climbing the famous col de
Tourmalet. Riding these two climbs in one day, you'll get a real sense of
accomplishment. You will remember this day and watching the Tour de France on TV will never be the same. Our support vehicle can take you over the
first climb, if your goal is to focus on Tourmalet.
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July 22: This tour
is all about experiencing the Tour de France. It continues with your choice
of one, two or three more spectacular and legendary climbs. Col du Soulor
and Col d'Aubisque are among the most gorgeous climbs regularly featured in
Le Tour. Nicknamed the "circle of death" in the early days of the Tour de
France, they are linked by a narrow (and now well maintained) cut into the
side of a high cliff mountain overlooking down a valley with cattle and
sheep. You'll experience Pyrenees' grand mountain vistas. Avid climbers will
also be able to climb Hautacam where in 1996 Bjarn Riss won with great
panache. It is also there that in 2000, Lance Armstrong crushed Jan Ullrich
and Marco Pantani. You'll discover why Hautacam is considered one of the
greatest climbs of the Tour de France.
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July 23: Your
Pyrenees adventure will end after breakfast unless you'd like to extend it
with a private self-guided, guided or supported tour. There is so much more
to see and ride in the Pyrenees.
Contact me now for your reservation.
* This itinerary may be changed in order to offer all participant the best
possible experience of the 2012 Tour de France.
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