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Price: US$2259/person for the July 19-23, 2012 tour. This includes: 4 nights' hotel, 3 stage viewings (stage 18 finish Brive; stage 19 time trial Chartres; stage 20 finish Paris), all breakfasts, 3 dinners, 2 lunches, all transfers and activities (such as tastings, cooking classes, etc.) during the tour. |
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Overview: This "truffels and Tour de France" trip is perfect for riders and non-riders - each with a different itinerary. Our 5-day romp (July 19-23, 2012) through France allows the rider to enjoy a daily dose of spinning while the non-riders have their own daily activities. The advantage is you always enjoy breakfast and dinner together and often the occasional lunch. In addition to seeing 3 TDF stages together, including the Brive finish (stage 18), Chartres time trial (stage 19), you'll see no fewer than two regions of France (Dordogne and Paris), while drinking fine wine and enjoying gourmet meals. Your Paris hotel is on the race course and send-off dinner is at the Eiffel Tower. We've been leading TDF adventures since 2003 and have learned it all comes down to geography. Take your Paris hotel for example. Why fight the crowds along the Champs Elysées when you can sleep in, open the hotel's bay windows and watch from your hotel room overlooking the race course. Magnifique. Before Paris, riders can sweat through the hills of France's Dordogne region while our non-riders hike through dramatic river valleys, hunt truffels, and learn to make foie gras. Whether you love to ride or just love a rider, everyone joins our traditional pre-finish bike ride up the deserted Champs Elysées on race day.
Day 1 (July 19): Chateau la Fleunie (Perigord): Spend 2 days cycling, dining, or simply enjoying the view at your own private chateau nestled among the verdant hills of the Perigord region (also known as Dordogne). Early afternoon rendez-vous in the city of Brive-la-Gaillarde. Following introductions, 40-minute bus transfer to your home for the next 2 nights - the Chateau la Fleunie. Non-riders will enjoy an afternoon cooking class to learn how to make one of the region's delicacies - foie gras. After the work comes the reward with a cocktail party and optional afternoon hike. So you can choose to work off the foie gras on your feet or in the chateau's swimming pool. Riders will set off with a bike guide to do a 22.9 km (14 mile) loop ride from the chateau through the beautiful surrounding hills. Bike through the medieval villages of Coly, Saint Amand, and stunning Montignac before heading back to the castle. Gourmet dinner prepared in the chateau's dining room.
Day 2 (July 20): Chateau la Fleunie (Perigord): Today's focus will be firmly on seeing the stage 18 finish in nearby Brive-la-Gaillarde. But before heading to Brive, non-riders will have a morning truffle hunt at a nearby farm. One of the region's delicacies, the hunt will end with a champagne reception and truffle tasting. Non-riders will then transfer to nearby Brive la Gaillarde (45 mins) to enjoy gourmet lunch, Spyns' VIP room, and the exciting Brive finish. You'll see the publicity caravan and riders finish in beautiful Brive. Optional walking tour of this historic city before the finish. Riders will have a 40 km (24.8 mile) full-day ride from the Chateau to nearby Brive-la-Gaillarde. A bike guide and support van will follow the group so everyone can ride at their own pace. You'll explore the spectacular hills and rugged valleys as you cross from Dordogne into the neighbouring Correze region. The group will have a mid-ride picnic near the a lake called the 'Lac du Causse' before ending the ride in Brive around 2 p.m. We will rendez-vous with the non-riders in Spyns VIP room before seeing the stage 18 finish in downtown Brive.
Day 3 (July 21) Stage 19 Time Trial Chartres Hotel Regina: The group will have another exciting day full of options so you can head directly to Paris (option 1) or see the Chartres Time Trial (option 2). If you'd prefer Paris to pedals, sleep in, have a late breakfast, and 11:30 a.m. check out before transfer to nearby Brive and highspeed train trip to Paris. You'll arrive early afternoon and will have free time in the afternoon and evening to explore the city of lights. Option 2 (see Stage 19 time trial): Hop a morning train to Paris, with connecting train to Chartres. Spend an afternoon in Chartres to see the individual time trial with full access to Spyns VIP room near the finish line. Early evening transfer back to Paris following the time trial. Please note the total travel time for Option 2 will be 4-5 hours so this will be a long and tiring day. This will be a free night for dinner.
Days 4 & 5 (July 22-23) Stage 29 Finish Paris Hotel Regina: On race finish day, Spyns hosts its classic morning bike ride (suitable for all abilities) on the Champs Elysees. Enjoy a fat-tire spin on the Tour de France race course when downtown Paris is closed to traffic. This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to bike around the Arc de Triomphe, down the Champs Elysees, along the Seine and next to the Eiffel Tower. Late morning breakfast. Enjoy the finish from your balcony (overlooking the Rue de Rivoli and race course) or join us in Spyns’ VIP room for cocktails and finish viewing. Send off dinner at the Eiffel Tower’s restaurant “Le 58”. The following day you can sleep in, enjoy a late breakfast, and check out before heading to the Paris airport, train station, or your next hotel. The perfect holiday!
How we select your hotels: Before planning any of our tours, a Spyns guide always conducts a full hotel inspection. While we always meet with the hotel manager, Ryan King (Spyns President) always seeks out the hotel’s two most important employees: its porter and bartender. Porters & bartenders always tell us which rooms have squeaky floors or whether the pool is really heated. Once we’ve toured, filmed, photographed, and catalogued a hotel, we then add it to our tours. You're planning to cross an ocean for Spyns TDF trip. The least we could do is check if your room has air conditioning.
DETAILED ITINERARY
| DAY |
CITY / HOTEL |
DETAILS |
MEALS |
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Day 1
July 19
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Chateau la Fleunie
Brive-la-Gaillarde
(Dordogne)
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Tour begins 1:00 p.m. at the Brive TGV station. Bus transfer to nearby Condat sur Verzere (40 mins). Riders: 22.9 km / 14 mile warm up loop ride with bike guide and van support. Non-riders: Cooking class in the chateau. Learn to make foie gras, a regional delicacy. Work off the calories during an optional afternoon hike. |
Dinner Included
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Day 2
July 20
Stage 18
Finish
Brive
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Chateau la Fleunie
Brive-la-Gaillarde
(Dordogne)
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Stage Viewing: See stage 18 finish in beautiful, historic Brive-la-Gaillarde.
Riders: Full-day 40 km (24.8 mile) guided ride through the rolling hills of Perigord and Dordogne to Brive. Mid-ride picnic at the lake "Lac du Causse". Rendez-vous with non-riders in Brive at Spyns VIP room before seeing stage. Non-Riders: Morning truffle hunt at a nearby farm. After lunch, van transfer to Brive for the finish. Optional walking tour in Brive before the caravan and riders roll through town.
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Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included
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Day 3
July 21
Stage 19 Time Trial Chartres
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Paris
Hotel Regina |
Two Options Today:
Option 1 Skip Time Trial: Sleep in, have a late breakfast, check out and enjoy a midday high-speed train to Paris (2-3 hour trip). You'll arrive early afternoon with plenty of time to explore the city of lights before dinner.
Option 2 See Time Trial: Hop a morning train to Paris, with connecting train to Chartres (travel time 3-4 hours). Spend afternoon in Chartres to see the individual time trial with full access to Spyns VIP room near the start/finish line. Early evening transfer back to Paris. Total travel time will be 4-5 hours so this will be a long, tiring day.
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Breakfast, Snacks on Train included. Free night for dinner. |
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Day 4 July 22
Stage 20
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Paris
Hotel Regina |
Stage Viewing: Stage 21 Finish Paris. Enjoy Spyns' traditional early morning fat-tire ride up the Champs Elysées before viewing the riders from your hotel room, complete with views over the race course. Or upgrade to grandstand seats (ask for details). Send off dinner at the Eiffel Tower. |
Breakfast & Dinner (at the Eiffel Tower!) included |
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Day 5
July 23
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Departure |
Today we have planned...absolutely nothing! Sleep in and enjoy a late breakfast before your departure for the airport, train station, or your final destination. |
Breakfast Included |
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[Map this hotel]
Price Rating : $$$
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Chateau la Fleunie
Condat sur Vézère, France
24570
Rooms :33
Our Review :Driving up to Château la Fleunie is truly one of life's 'pinch me' moments. A stunning Renaissance castle with just 33 rooms, Fleunie is an elegant hotel but wholly unpretentious.
Pros :Location: in the rolling hills of Dordogne and less than 1 hour from the stage in Brive. Scenery: Dordogne is known for its hilltop castles, lush scenery, and truffels. Service: a family-run hotel, working with owners ensures excellent service quality.
Cons :Some of the rooms are located in a newer building adjacent to the chateau. So you may not have a room in the 'big house'.
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[Map this hotel]
Price Rating : $$$$
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Hotel Regina
Place des Pyramides
Paris, France
75001
Rooms :90
Our Review :A little worn, but still the best hotel in Paris to see a Tour de France finish. The Regina is a bit like a trip to Grandma's house. The curtains may be a bit frayed but it's still the most welcoming place in town. With just 90 rooms and the perfect location, along a hairpin turn right on the tour finish route, the location is unbeatable.
Pros :Location: right on the Rue de Rivoli and finish route.
Service: The Regina's staff are friendly, motivated, and hard-working.
Rooms: Bright, comfortable rooms, with great views (many overlooking the Eiffel Tower and TDF).
Cons :The hotel is looking its age and some rooms, while clean, could use some renovating. This hotel is also in downtown Paris so there can be street noise on the rooms facing the Place de la Pyramide.
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Please note this trip has 2 days of moderate rides plus a light right in Paris before the finish.
| Day/TDF Stage |
Region |
Difficulty |
Distance |
Details |
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Day One
July 19
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Dordogne
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Easy |
22.9 km / 14 miles |
Bike sizing, tune up, followed by a warm up loop ride through the villages surrounding the chateau. This is an excellent opportunity to work off the worst of your jet lag and test yourself on some short but challenging local hills. Guide and van will accompany group.
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Day Two
July 20
Stage 18
Brive-la-Gaillarde
Finish
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Dordogne |
Moderate |
40 km / 24.8 miles
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Full-day ride from the chateau through the rolling Dordogne hills to Brive. Riders will explore the rugged countryside as you cross from Dordogne into neighboring Correze. Enjoy a mid-ride picnic lakeside before early afternoon finish in Brive.
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Day Four
July 22
Stage 20
Paris Finish
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Paris |
N/A |
4 km / 2.5 miles |
Early morning fattire bike ride through the deserted streets of Paris on TDF race finish day. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to ride up the Champs Elysées, around the Arc de Triomphe, and down to the Place de la Concorde to see the finish line. Suitable for all riding levels.
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Day Seven
July 23 |
Paris |
Departure Day |
Departure Day |
Departure Day |
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BRIVE LA GAILLARDE
Brive is located in the French departement (province/state) of Correze. It is roughly 2 hours' drive east of Bordeaux (199 kms / 123 miles) and 6 hours' drive south of Paris (481 km / 298 miles). Brive is easily accessible from Paris through France's excellent high-speed rail system (called the TGV). Below are the daily train times from Paris to Brive.
| Daily TGV trains from Paris to Brive |
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| Depart |
Arrive |
Misc |
Estimated Price (Adult Ticket) |
| 06:37 a.m. |
10:45 a.m. |
Direct |
$65.00 - $140.00
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| 07:40 a.m. |
11:56 a.m. |
Direct |
$65.00 - $140.00
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| 08:55 a.m. |
1:18 p.m. |
Direct |
$65.00 - $140.00
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| 1:52 p.m. |
6:00 p.m. |
Direct |
$65.00 - $140.00 |
| 4:03 p.m. |
8:19 p.m. |
Direct |
$65.00 - $140.00 |
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| Please note that prices and timetables are subject to change. |
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Spyns TDF 2012 Cycling Jerseys (2011 version picuted above). The perfect souvenir for your trip with us to France. Our jerseys combine stylish design with the highest quality fabrics. Available in men's and women's sizes. Price: US$75.00/jersey.
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| Maps |
Below is the selection from our Maps Section
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How to get to your tour's starting point
Shows the location of our tour’s starting points (in Pau or Brive), and travel times via train.
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Paris Hotels
This map shows you the locations of the three Paris hotels for our various tours.
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Challenging rides map
For the avid rider, this map provides additional information about the various peaks you'll conquer during your Spyns Tour de France tour.
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| FAQs |
How much of the tour will I see?
How much are your tours?
What are the dates for your tours?
Do your tours include airfare?
Where should I fly?
How do I get to the start of the tour?
I’m an avid rider, will there be enough riding for me?
I’m an average rider, will this tour be too difficult for me?
I don’t ride but my partner is an avid rider, will we enjoy the tour?
What kind of bikes do you provide?
Should I bring my own bike?
Why should I travel with your company?
What are your terms & conditions?
How do I reserve a tour?
What if I have to cancel?
How much of the tour will I see?
That depends on your 2012 Tour de France tour. Spyns only offers tours the final week le Tour. Longer tours logically include more stage viewing. For detailed stage information, please visit our All Tours page but here is a brief summary.
| Tour |
Stages |
| Paris Finish Deluxe (Non-Rider Tour) |
2 stages: Stage 19 Chartres (Time Trial) / Stage 20 Paris Finish July 22, 2012 |
| Paris Finish Premiere (Non-Rider Tour) |
2 stages: Stage 19 Chartres (Time Trial) / Stage 20 Paris Finish July 22, 2012 |
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Pyrenees-Paris Premiere Tour (Mixed: Riders/Non- Riders)
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5 stages: Stage 15 Pau (Pyrenees); Stage 16 (Pyrenees) Col du Tourmalet; Stage 17 (Pyrenees) Peyragudes; Stage 19 Chartres (Time Trial); Stage 20 Paris Finish
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Pyrenees-Paris Classic Tour
(Non-riders only) |
5 stages: Stage 15 Pau (Pyrenees); Stage 16 (Pyrenees) Col du Tourmalet; Stage 17 (Pyrenees) Peyragudes; Stage 19 Chartres (Time Trial); Stage 20 Paris Finish
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Dordogne-Paris Premiere Tour
(Mixed: Riders/Non-Riders) |
3 stages: Stage 18 Brive; Stage 19 Chartres (Time Trial); Stage 20 Paris Finish
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For more information, please visit our All Tours page.
How much are your tours?
We offer a variety of dates, activities, and prices to suit most budgets. For more information, please visit our our All Tours page but here is a summary:
| Tour |
Date |
Price/Person (US$) |
| Paris Finish Deluxe |
July 21-23 |
$1729/person |
| Paris Finish Premiere |
July 21-23 |
$1329/person |
| Pyrenees-Paris Premiere Tour |
July 16-23 |
$4389/person
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| Pyrenees-Paris Classic Tour |
July 16-23 |
$3989/person
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| Dordogne-Paris Premiere Tour |
July 19-23 |
$2259/person
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What are the dates for your tour?
We offer a variety of 2012 TDF packages. For more information, please visit our All Tours page but here is a summary:
| Tour |
Date |
Price/Person (US$) |
| Paris Finish Deluxe |
July 21-23 |
$1729/person |
| Paris Finish Premiere |
July 21-23 |
$1329/person |
| Pyrenees-Paris Premiere Tour |
July 16-23 |
$4389/person
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| Pyrenees-Paris Classic Tour |
July 16-23 |
$3989/person
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| Dordogne-Paris Premiere Tour |
July 19-23 |
$2259/per person
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Do your tours include airfare?
No. Our tours do not include airfare. You are responsible for getting to the tour’s starting point in (either Pau or Brive la Gaillarde depending on your tour). However, once in France we can help with your pre-trip hotel and train arrangements.
Where should I fly?
Most of our clients will fly in and out of Paris. There are at least 4 daily high-speed trains from Paris (Gare de Lyon) to the different starting points (in Pau and Brive la Gaillarde) - depending on your tour.
How do I get to the start of the tour?
Fly to Paris and from downtown Paris you can then travel by train to your tour's starting point (either Pau or Brive la Gaillarde depending on your tour). We're more than happy to help with train and pre-trip hotel arrangements.
I’m an avid rider, will there be enough riding for me?
We have both riding and non-riding tours. Serious riders should join our 8-Day Pyrenees-Paris Tour as it has the most mileage (see below). For more information, please visit our All Tours page but here is a summary:
| Riding Tours |
Date |
Mileage |
| Pyrenees-Paris Premiere Tour (Mixed Riders and Non-Riders) |
July 16-23, 2012 |
175.3 miles (282.8 km)
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| Dordogne-Paris Premiere Tour (Mixed Riders and Non-Riders) |
July 19-23, 2012 |
41.5 miles (66.9 km)
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The Pyrenees to Paris tours included riding the Col d'Aubisque, Sulor, and Tourmalet to name a few. For more information, please visit our All Tours page
I’m an average rider, will the riding tours be too difficult for me?
You should avoid our Pyrenees to Paris premiere tour as it caters to very serious riders and doesn't offer non-riding activities. If you are an average rider, you should try our mixed Dordogne-Paris it includes light rides. For more information, please visit our All Tours page.
I don’t ride but my partner is an avid rider, will we enjoy the tour?
If you take one of our mixed tours, yes. The Pyrenees to Paris Premiere Tour and Dordogne-Paris Premiere Tour both include activities for riders and non-riders. All groups go in the same direction, see the same stages, and enjoy breakfast/dinner together. So the most you’ll be apart is normally a half day. Please visit our All Tours page for a detailed summary of the riding and non-riding activities.
What kind of bikes do you provide?
If you’re a fanatical rider, we strongly suggest you bring your own bike. If you’d like to use one of ours, we have two options: a Trek Ultra (rental included) or a Scott Carbon (rental price $150/bike). What follows are some additional details: Trek Ultra SL Aluminium bikes with alloy hubs, Alex Rims, Shimano Gears / Derailer, and Bontrager seat & stem (rental included); Scott CR1 Team Carbon Shimano 105 10V Triple 50x39x30 12x25 Mavic Askium Hubs (rental price $175/bike). If you plan to use one of our bikes, we suggest you still bring your pedals, shoes, seat and stem.
Should I bring my own bike?
If you are a serious rider (150-200 miles/week), you should bring your own bike. We strongly recommend you ship your bike to your first hotel but please note that we assume no risk/liability during shipping and transport during the tour. Please see our terms & conditions for more information. Following registration, we will send you detailed shipping instructions. Our mechanic can have your bike set up and ready before you arrive based on your specifications of course.
Why should I travel with your company?
Here are three main reasons: 1. Our prices are, on average, $1000 less than our competitors yet our TDF itineraries are by far the best. 2. Our average group size is 10-15 clients compared to 30-40+ for our competitors. 3. We are the only company that provides a complete itinerary for non-riders and light riders traveling in the same groups. Traveling with Spyns means enjoying your holiday even if you don’t touch a bike. Don't take our word for it, look at our testimonials. We're also more than happy to provide references upon request.
What are your Terms & Conditions?
We require payment of a non-refundable deposit upon registration followed by full non-refundable payment of your balance on Aril 20, 2012.
How do I reserve a tour?
By phone: Call us with a credit card number at 1.888.825.4720. By fax: Print, complete, sign and fax our registration form to us toll-free at 1.866.573.4248. Online: visit our All Tours page and click the corresponding 'book now' button.
What if I have to cancel?
We recommend you obtain cancellation insurance (www.travelinsured.com is a good choice) as all payments to Spyns are non-transferable and non-refundable. |
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