Are you a cycling enthusiast? Do you like watching cycling races (on TV)? If you have answered both of the questions with no, it\u2019s crucial you read further. Especially, if you are a tour operator. Why is that? Cycling races are the best possible sport that can be used for promoting countries beautiful natural characteristics. And Le Tour de France is a great example to prove us right on this one.<\/p>\n
The route of the 105th edition of the cycling race, which run from Saturday, 7 July, to Sunday, 29 July, was made up of 21 stages and covered a total distance of 3,351 km. 12 stages took place in the Alps, 4 in the Massif central and 10 in the Pyrenees.<\/p>\n
What strikes us most over and over again, apart from amazing cycling performances, of course, are the mesmerizing beauties of the landscape that the tour passes by. Have you ever though of taking your clients to the places that the Tour of France passes by?<\/p>\n
Let us take a look at where this year\u2019s edition took the cyclists (and the fans): the first week took the riders to the northern half of France. It all started on the island of Noirmoutier, south of the Loire estuary, then moved to the region of Loire and further on to Brittany. In the following days cyclists started moving northeast, passing the charming towns of Charthres and Amiens and the historic cobbled highways of French Flanders, which were put back on the route as a historic feature of the race. The second week took place in the Alps, the C\u00e9vennes, and the south of the Massif Central. It offered a number of breathtaking views along the Alpine passes and further down to the Rhone valley: from the smallish town of Saint Paul Trois Chateaux across the Rhone and the C\u00e9vennes to Mende, all the way to the historic walled city of Carcassone.
\nThe final week, which is traditionally called the Pyrenean week, first took the cyclists from Carcassonne, across the hills of the Aude and the Ari\u00e8ge, and up to the High Pyrenean resort of Bagn\u00e8res de Luchon. Also the next four days were spent in the Pyrenees, taking in a number of classic Pyrenean passes, including the Col de Portet and the Col du Tourmalet. After time trials in the Basque, cyclists finally arrive to Paris, for the short final leg and the traditional sprint to the finish on the Champs Elys\u00e9es.<\/p>\n