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Tour de France Cycling Race
Annually
The Tour de France is synonymous with cycling and is a great event for both cyclists and spectators from all around the world. The first race was staged in 1903 and it is now held annually in France and nearby countries. The race covers more than 3,600 kilometres (2,200 mi) and lasts three weeks.
The course changes every year and people specifically travel to the villages en route to celebrate the cyclists passing through. For some villages it is easily the busiest time of year and hotels and holiday homes are booked well in advance by spectators and supporters.
Some of the main villages that are passed through on the Tour de France are:
Dinan: a medieval town in Brittany which is in easy reach of beautiful countryside and great coastlines. Browse our list of gorgeous farmhouse, cottage and gite accommodation in Dinan town and enjoy staying in some great accommodation in this historic town whilst enjoying catching a glimpse of the race.
Le Mans/Pays de la Loire - is famous for its racetrack which is a must see if you are spending time in the Pays de la Loire area of France. Aside from racing this area is known for its agriculture with many farms and smallholdings set within the countryside. We have a great selection of accommmodation in Pays de la Loire, particularly if you're looking for a large family or group of friends as you can have spacious comfort in beautiful surroundings
Lourdes – Staying in accommodation in the amazing Aquitaine/Dordogne region which is perfect for those seeking ultimate relaxation or those who want to explore the area by foot, bike or horse.
Stay in accommodation in Limoux and enjoy the setting on the banks of the river Aude, the cuisine here is excellent and the locals will keep you well supplied with Blanquette wine!
The race is broken into day-long segments, called stages. Individual times to finish each stage are aggregated to determine the overall winner at the end of the race.
The rider with the lowest aggregate time at the end of each day wears a yellow jersey. The course changes every year, but the race has always finished in Paris. Since 1975, the climax of the final stage has been along the Champs-Élysées.
About the Tour de France 2011
The 98th Tour de France starts on 2nd July and sees cyclists from all around the world completing 21 stages over 3430 km/2131 miles to finish on July 24th. The ride begins with the Grand Depart at Vendee on the west coast of France looking out to the Atlantic once the cyclists have completed 10 flat stages, 6 mountainous stages, 3 medium mountainous stages, 1 individual time trial stage and 1 team time trial stage it will finish up in Paris.