How to Find the Best Places to Watch the Tour de France

Photo courtesy of Graham Watson

The Tour de France is one of the longest and most widely watched sporting events in the world. This three-week cycling event takes place in July and runs well over 3,000 kilometers. In order to compete in the Tour de France, riders have to dedicate their lives to the sport. With the popularity of Lance Armstrong, the Tour de France has taken a greater hold on the American public. It is also a tremendously popular sport throughout the rest of the world.

Instructions

1. Watch the Tour de France on television if you want the very best vantage point. Watching the Tour on TV offers professional commentators and moving coverage. You will be able to see the entire race from many different viewpoints.

2. Watch the Tour de France from the course if you really want to be part of the event. Crowds surpassing one million people will jam into a few miles at the most critical stages of the race. In years where l'Alpe d'Huez is ridden, it is the place to be.

3. Check the race schedule at the Tour de France Web site to see the stages. Check the commentary Web sites to determine which will be the most crucial. They are likely to be the mountain stages and the time trials.

4. Decide if you want to watch in the middle of a stage or at a finish line. The finish line tends to be very dramatic, but it is also tremendously crowded.

5. Don't plan on watching the stage on the flats of the European countryside. You will wait for hours only for the racers to pass by very quickly.

Tips & Warnings

• Book your accommodations early.

• Allow extra time to get to your planned vantage points. There may be thousands of other people trying to get to the same spot.

• Bring sunscreen or rain gear or both depending on the forecast.

• Consider getting to your vantage point on a bicycle. It is a fast way to move around on closed roads and will give you a great connection to the race.

Resources

• LIVESTRONG's Tour de France Coverage