Price: US$1729/person July 21-23, 2012 - Includes seeing the Chartres time trial and Paris finish; 2 nights at the 4-star Westin Hotel located on the TDF race course, hotel breakfast, on race day morning ride on the deserted Champs Elysées & around the Arc de Triomphe (a once-in-a-lifetime experience!), grandstand seats on the Champs Elysées, and send-off dinner at the Eiffel Tower.

What could be better than a weekend in Paris? Now add the Chartres time trial (stage 19) and dramatic TDF  finish (stage 20), a luxury hotel overlooking the finish race course, and the world's hardest to come by TDF grandstand seats. 'Parfait' as the French say. If you can't take one of our week-long tours, this is an exciting alternative. Spend 3-days (July 21-23, 2012) in the city of lights enjoying the sights and sounds of Europe's most beautiful city. Paris can host a sporting event like no other and it shines particularly brightly for theTDF's stage 20 finish. 

Spend two nights at the world-class Hotel Westin (Lance's favorite 4-star hotel in Paris no less) right along the finish route. Located on the famous Rue de Rivoli, the Westin is near the TDF finish line. The Westin's old-world elegance and perfect location make it the best base from which to experience the tour. And you're just two blocks away from your Paris finish grandstand seats on the Champs Elysées.

DETAILED ITINERARY

This is a tour for both riders and non-riders. On July 24, Tour de France race finish day in Paris, join your guides for an 8 a.m. fat-tire ride up the Champs Elysées. Paris is closed to traffic on race day so this is a once-in a lifetime opportunity to bike around the deserted Arc de Triomphe, down the Champs Elysées and along the Seine before the finish rolls into town. This has been a Spyns tradition for almost 10 years!

Your tour begins at 12 p.m. on July 21, 2012. Meet at hotel reception at the beautiful Hotel Westin, Lance's favourite Paris hideaway. The Westin Hotel is located along the Tour de France race course in Paris's oh so chic 1er arrondissement. It's located next door to the Louvre museum, two blocks from the river Seine, and just 2 blocks from the Champs Elysées. Countless other famous Parisian landmarks are all within walking distance or a quick ride on the metro from the Tuileries station.

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.

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:

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:

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.