Mountain stages in the pyrenees

Ok,
first WBT will give you an earfull for just leeching the boards info 🙂

Check this thread: http://www.cyclingforums.com/t327786.html

I have not yet been at the tdf, but to your question. From what I've read you should forget about the stage to Pau and go straight to the finish at Pla-de-Beret and get a good view. Go all the way and get a good view on the mountain finish where there will be differences instead of rushing to see both stages which will only mean you will get a poor view on the stage that counts, in this case to on to pla-de-beret.

I give up ! 🙂

Bjørn P.Dal said:

Ok,
first WBT will give you an earfull for just leeching the boards info 🙂

Check this thread: cyclingforums.comt327786.htmlOpen ↗

I have not yet been at the tdf, but to your question. From what I've read you should forget about the stage to Pau and go straight to the finish at Pla-de-Beret and get a good view. Go all the way and get a good view on the mountain finish where there will be differences instead of rushing to see both stages which will only mean you will get a poor view on the stage that counts, in this case to on to pla-de-beret.

Bjørn P.Dal said:

Ok,
first WBT will give you an earfull for just leeching the boards info 🙂

Check this thread: http://www.cyclingforums.com/t327786.html

I have not yet been at the tdf, but to your question. From what I've read you should forget about the stage to Pau and go straight to the finish at Pla-de-Beret and get a good view. Go all the way and get a good view on the mountain finish where there will be differences instead of rushing to see both stages which will only mean you will get a poor view on the stage that counts, in this case to on to pla-de-beret.

thanks Bjørn. I don't mean to be a pain in anybodys ass, but i find it quite hard to get good practical information.

einarpost said:

thanks Bjørn. I don't mean to be a pain in anybodys ass, but i find it quite hard to get good practical information.

I take it you found http://www.cyclingforums.com/t242650-.html that thread?
Be sure to come back and post your pictures in the end of july! 😉

Bjørn P.Dal said:

I take it you found cyclingforums.comt242650 .htmlOpen ↗ that thread?
Be sure to come back and post your pictures in the end of july! 😉

Yeah. i've looked over the forum and it has been very usefull. If anybody knows of other usefull treads: please link.

I'm still not sure of when we are going, we are attending a wedding in santander on the 15th and should arrive a day early. Beeing on the finish at val d' aran sounds awesome and I want to be there, but it might be hard to sell the idea to my fellow travellers. Thats why I need information. The day before is probably easier to sell.

anyways. i'll try to remember to post a couple of pictures on flickr(or something) and i'll pick up this tread when i get back and write a little diary/guide.

maybe it would be a good idea to have a place in the forum for experiences in following the tour and the giro etc. This way it would be easier for first time tour followers to find the information they need.

Fark Off !

einarpost said:

Yeah. i've looked over the forum and it has been very usefull. If anybody knows of other usefull treads: please link.

I'm still not sure of when we are going, we are attending a wedding in santander on the 15th and should arrive a day early. Beeing on the finish at val d' aran sounds awesome and I want to be there, but it might be hard to sell the idea to my fellow travellers. Thats why I need information. The day before is probably easier to sell.

anyways. i'll try to remember to post a couple of pictures on flickr(or something) and i'll pick up this tread when i get back and write a little diary/guide.

maybe it would be a good idea to have a place in the forum for experiences in following the tour and the giro etc. This way it would be easier for first time tour followers to find the information they need.

whiteboytrash said:

Fark Off !

Is that your way of giving up?

Hi einarpost:

I read that you wanted to follow the next stages:

july 12th Cambo-les-bains - Pau and
july 13th Tarbes - Val d'Aran Pla-de-Beret

First, the roads will not be as crowded as last year as both stages are out of weekend.
For the 12th stage I would choose col du Marie Blanque. It is a bit far from the end, but it is a short but hard climb. We will probably see a great battle there and it is a good chance to see the them streuggling over their bikes.
In the 13th stage I wouldn't choose the last climb Pla de Beret. It is much easier than it looks (i did it 2 years ago), riders will flying there. Col du Portillon is probably a better choice, last but one climb.

After this las stage, if you want to travel to Santander you must do it parallel to the Piriness but always trhough the french side (much faster). It could take you 5 hours from the end of stage 13th to Santander. If you choose the Portillon the traffic for getting out of the mouintains will probably be much easier.

Anyway, have a nice time.

einarpost said:

Hi.
Myself and a couple of friends are going to be very close to the pyrenees in july and would like to follow the mountain stages. This is the first time i'll be on the tour and since no-one i know have been there I hope someone could help me with some information.

I would like to follow the following stages.
july 12th Cambo-les-bains - Pau and
july 13th Tarbes - Val d'Aran Pla-de-Beret

where is the place to be on these stages? what is the car situation? is it possible to park by the side of the road etc? how early do we need to arrive? how is it to drive in terms of congestion, closed roads etc? camping in tents etc?

I also wonder if anybody could reccomend a good book about the tour, (available on a internet bookshop).

thanks