How to Watch the Tour de France as they Ride into Paris

After three weeks, the Tour de France has its climax in Paris. The riders ride through the countryside to the heart of Paris and the Champs-Élysées. While there are more critical stages in the course of the Tour, no part of the tour is more dramatic and emotional.

Instructions

1. Decide if you want to watch the riders on television or if you want to attend the race. While watching the event on television will give you a much better perspective and allow you to see the entire stage, waiting for the racers to pass by in Paris is a much more visceral experience.

2. Decide where in Paris you want to watch the race. There is a tradition in the Tour de France that the riders come into the city slowly and sip champagne while on their bikes. Once they reach the Champs-Élysées, though, all bets are off. They take a number of laps up and down the boulevard, so you get the most bang for your buck here.

3. Get to Paris. You can fly into Charles de Gaulle airport or take one of the trains from the outlying areas. France has an excellent and reliable public transportation system that is very simple to use.

4. Find accommodations if you plan on staying in the city. Make your reservations early as the city tends to fill up when the Tour comes to town.

5. Watch the Tour! This will be an amazing experience. Bring your camera.

Tips & Warnings

• Bring sunscreen. You may be waiting for a while.

• Get your hands on a clapper or a cowbell. You can really make a lot of noise that contributes to the atmosphere.

• If you watch the riders at the Champs-Élysées, be sure you don't step into the road. The riders will be moving as fast as 50 miles-per-hour, and they tend to ride very close to the curb. The road surface on the Champs-Élysées is cobblestones except for the very edge. Riders try to stay where it is smoother. If you step into the road or catch a rider with your hand accidentally, you may ruin the race. You may also get hurt.