Mike,
Where are you staying? In Ax-L-T or further afield? I go down to the Pyrenees every year (staying in
Puivert) and have seen 2x finishes at PdeB. Leave plenty of time if you're riding in over the Col de
Pailleres (on last years route) as this climb is a bit of a stinker.
In Ax they completely shut the road up to the ski station 2 hours before the peloton hits town,
which makes even walking up the climb tricky.
A good place to see the non-climbing fraternity suffering would be on the Portet d'Aspet up past the
the Fabio Casartelli memorial, but it is fairly early in the day. If you're mad, like me, you might
consider parking in St. Girons and riding back to the Portet d'Aspet watching the peloton pass then
following it back along the same road (not turningt off at Audressein towards the Col de la Core)
and driving like a bat out of hell from St. Girons via Massat and back towards the Col d'Agnes to
catch it again on the way to that summit or descending. The main drag from Tarascon to Ax has a
couple of rises but parking would be tricky.
With time to regroup after the descent from the Col d'Agnes, I'd imagine a closer finish than last
year, so you might prefer to camp up at PdB and see the finish, as at least then you can catch a
bite to eat in Ax (and soak your feet in the spa) on the way back.
If you want any more info on the area (Ariege), good rides etc, drop me a line.
Trevor.
"Mike Jacoubowsky" <
[email protected]> wrote in message
news:7LV%b.3894$%[email protected]...
> > Help please - fully booked flights and hotels car hire sorted all done......I am taking my 2
> > boys to see the finish of this stage, got the michelin map out and can see where the road goes
> > up to the finish and where the ski station is. However can anyone tell me what is the best
> > place to park up and ride up to get a good view, what time the road closes and what the timing
> > is likely to be when the peleton hits the climb etc....etc...etc...all info gratefully
> > received! Rob
>
> You may want to reconsider viewing a stage finish; it's doubtful you'll
get
> a chance to see much beyond, maybe, a few helmets racing past, heavily obscured by a crowd maybe
> 10-15 deep all along the last kilometer or so.
>
> A better choice would be to plant yourself along one of the earlier
summits,
> either the Col de Latrape or the Col d'Agnes. You'll have a much better chance of actually viewing
> the action, and if you choose the penultimate climb (the Col d' Agnes), things will probably have
> split up pretty well
by
> then.
>
> If you've never viewed a Grand Tour stage before, you might check out this piece on our website-
>
> www.ChainReaction.com\tdfwatching.htm. Lots of information in that
article,
> based on the previous four TDFs I've attended (definitely an addiction, as I'm going back again
> this year!).
>
> You might let us know the age of your boys and their cycling capabilities and you'll get more
> helpful responses.
>
> --Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
http://www.ChainReactionBicycles.com
